Lent and Easter in a global pandemic? We’ve been here before . . . a year ago. It all seemed so new and scary last year. This year, we’ve settled into a new way of living: pandemic life. We’re “pandemic fine.” Young kids may barely remember life “before,” and kids who do remember are dealing with the same collective grief and sadness that adults around the world are. 

So here we go, another not-quite-so-unprecedented season. At Minno, we want to give you practical tools for engaging your kids in the full life of faith, in the hard times and the good times. We’ve written these liturgies to share in as a family for the Lent and Easter seasons. 

These liturgies focus inward to outward; asking God to be near to us and to help us go out into our world. 

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For Lent 

God, 

Lent is here: a time for us to remember Jesus and His life before He died on the cross for us.

Today we pray for us, for our community, for our country, and for the world.

We want to remember what Jesus taught us, and follow His teachings. 

We want to remember how Jesus lived, and live like Him.

We want to remember how Jesus loved others, and love others the way He did. 

We are tired of being away from the people we love. Inspire us with creative ways to love and serve our friends and family during this time. 

We are tired of people being sick, sad, and alone. Please heal our world. Make a way for us to be together again. 

Prepare our hearts for Easter as we pray and wait. 

Prepare us for the sadness of Good Friday, and for the joy of Easter morning. 

Prepare us for the days and weeks after Easter, as we take our joy out to the whole world.

Amen. 

. . . . . . . . . . .

For Palm Sunday

Jesus,

It is Palm Sunday! The day we remember how You entered Jerusalem and the people cried “Hosanna!”

Today we cry “Hosanna!” We praise You! 

As the people in Jerusalem waved palm branches to honor You King Jesus, we look for ways to honor You today. 

You came into Jerusalem knowing what was to come: betrayal, trial, death.

Help us to anticipate the emotions this week will bring.

Help us to be present as we learn each day what happened to You, because You love us.

Hosanna! We praise You. 

The week before You died, You turned over tables. You shared meals with Your disciples. You prayed. 

Help us this week to learn from You: to fight for what is fair and just, to share with the people we love, and to pray.

Everywhere we go this week, let us go with the joy of knowing You and praising You with every step. 

Hosanna! We praise You.

Amen.

. . . . . . . . . .

For Good Friday

Jesus,

It is Good Friday, the day You went to the cross and died because you love us.

You died willingly in our place because You love us.

Today we remember the sacrifice You made because You love us. 

We remember the story: that You were betrayed, You were unjustly tried,

You were sentenced to death, You carried a heavy cross,

You were crowned with thorns, You were pierced with a sword,

because You love us.

As we sit in the quiet today, the sadness of Your death,

draw us closer to You because You love us.

Help us to live all the time, in every way, with every word and action,

remembering that we can because You love us. 

Give us space to remember the story before Easter morning. 

Amen.

. . . . . . . . . . . 

For Easter Sunday

God,

It is Easter Sunday! The day that the women went to Jesus’s tomb early in the morning and found it empty! 

Hallelujah! Jesus is alive!

Jesus is risen. Death is defeated. Sin is cast out.

The empty tomb changes everything. 

We know the world is broken still, but we know that because of the empty tomb, everything will be made right. 

May we feel the surprise of the women at the tomb. May we feel the joy of the disciples.

May we feel the doubt of Thomas, and the absolute assurance of Jesus who showed him His wounds. 

Today we cry Hallelujah! Jesus is alive!

Help us to share our joy with everyone we know today. 

Hallelujah! Jesus is alive!

Amen.