Ash Wednesday at Home Liturgy – for Children and Families – St. John

Please take time to find a moment of peace and prayer together as a family this Ash Wednesday. Maybe make a prayerful place in your house with a candle and gather to pray and to distribute and receive Ashes as a sign of your intent to turn once again toward God in prayer, fasting and almsgiving during this Holy Season of Lent.

Choose someone from your family to read the scripture passages aloud and pray the prayers together. Whichever way works for your family is fine. After the final prayer go outside together to dispose of the remainder of your ashes near the foundation of your house.

(Click here for a printable version: Ash Wednesday Liturgy for Children and Families)

OPENING PRAYER

We begin, as we do whenever we pray,

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord, may everything we do begin with your inspiration, continue with your help, and reflect your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

INTRODUCTION

Today is the first day of Lent. It is the most important season of the Church year, because it prepares us for Easter, which is the holiest, most special day of the year for Christians.

Today is called Ash Wednesday, because we are marked with ashes in the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads. This reminds us that we are children of God.

At Baptism, when we became part of God’s family, we were anointed with special oil in a cross on our foreheads. The ashes today remind us that we are human and we make mistakes. The cross reminds us that since we are God’s children, we can ask God for His forgiveness and his help in becoming the children He wants us to be.

During Lent, we become closer to God in three ways: Reflection, Sacrifice and Service.

REFLECTION

Just as we get to know our friends better by talking with them, we get closer to God when we talk to Him. We can do this by praying the prayers we’ve learned or just by saying what’s in our heart and trying to listen back. During Lent, we think especially about how we act and treat others and how we can improve our relationship with God. You can pray anywhere, anytime. You might want to try praying when you first wake up or before bed.

SACRIFICE

We get closer to God through Sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed His life for us by dying on the cross. By giving something up during Lent, we remember how much Jesus gave up for us. Maybe giving up dessert or computer games would help remind us of what Jesus did. The money saved or extra time could go toward helping others.

SERVICE

We get closer to God by serving others. At the Last Supper before Jesus died he washed his disciples’ feet as a way of showing them that they needed to serve others. He said to his disciples, “Love one another, as I have loved you.” This means loving not just family and friends, but all God’s people, especially those in need.

By doing these three things – Reflection, Sacrifice, and Service – we move away from sin and we are doing as Jesus taught in the Gospel. This is why when we receive ashes today we say “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

READING

Isaiah 58:6-9

The Lord says this:
I’ll tell you what it really means to worship the Lord.
Remove the chains of the prisoners who are chained unjustly.
Free those who are abused!

Share your food with everyone who is hungry;
share your home with the poor and homeless.
Give clothes to those in need;
don’t turn away your relatives.

Then your light will shine like the dawning sun,
and you will quickly be healed.
Your honesty will protect you as you advance,
and the glory of the Lord will defend you from behind.
Then you will call for help,
and the Lord will answer, “Here I am!”

Don’t oppress others or falsely accuse them or say cruel things.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

You are kind, God!
Please have pity on me.
You are always merciful!
Please wipe away my sins.
Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Make me as happy as you did when you saved me;
make me want to obey!
Help me to speak, and I will praise you, Lord.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples:
“When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off.
If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.”

“When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn.
That’s what showoffs do in the meeting places and on the street corners,
because they are always looking for praise.
I promise you that they already have their reward.”

“When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it.
Then your gift will be given in secret.
Your Father knows what is done in secret and he will reward you.”

“When you pray,
don’t be like those showoffs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners.
They do this just to look good.
I promise you that they already have their reward.”

“When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door.
Pray to your Father in private.
He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.”

“When you go without eating, don’t try to look gloomy as those showoffs do when they go without eating.
I promise you that they already have their reward.”

“Instead, comb your hair and wash your face.
Then others won’t know that you are going without eating.
But your Father sees what is done in private and he will reward you.”

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

We now take a moment to pray for others with Prayers of the Faithful. After each prayer we reply, “Lord, Hear Our Prayer.”

Let us pray for the Church. That all God’s people will remember their lonely, poor and forgotten brothers and sisters, by sharing their food, money and time with them this Lent and always.