Shrove Tuesday and A Collection of Lenten Ideas

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Today is Shrove Tuesday.   Traditionally this day marks the last day of indulgence before Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent).  We will be making pancakes tonight in honor of the day before Lent.  

Beginning tomorrow we will be a bit more somber and reflective about our faith and about Jesus' death on the cross.  I have printed a Lenten calendar for each of my children and will be doing a special activity each week with them to dig deeper into the true meaning of Lent.

These next couple of months will be spent focusing on some of our harder academics "buckling down" a bit more.  I want everything to take on a more serious and reflective tone in our home (not losing the wonder, mind you - just adopting a slightly more pensive attitude).

No, my family isn't Catholic - but we are Lutheran (which is almost Catholic but not quite!), so we Lent is perhaps the most important season of our church year.  

I heard a couple of years ago  maybe we should focus on taking something ON for Lent rather than giving something up.   I take this to mean perhaps we should adopt more of a spirit of self control, generosity, and thoughtfulness during these 40 days of Lent.   It's not about giving up chocolate or Coke!

I love this list of 40 Ideas for Lent by Rachel Held Evans... you will get some wonderful ideas here.  

One resource we will be revisiting is Amon's Adventure - we read this last year and it was an amazing gift to our entire family.  

I also found a craft for Jesus' Crown of Thorns - which we will be making this weekend and then pulling out the thorns when a child does something loving, caring, or generous for someone else.   

Do you observe Lent in your homeschool?   What will you be doing over the next 40 days to prepare for the Resurrection of our Lord?

    

Comments

[Phyllis]

Happy Pancake Day!

[Rachel E.]

I never thought to celebrate Lent in some way. It is actually a great idea. It does good for a person to look at some aspect of it in detail.

[Homegrown Learners]

My kids said "oooh I remember - it's pancake Tuesday!@

[Homegrown Learners]

I know it deepens our faith and our awareness of God's ultimate sacrifice.

[Jen @ Forever, For Always...]

Mary, I'm printing out the same calendar this year. The last couple of years I have made our own, but due to time, I'm using this one. I think the kids will enjoy the change of pace too. I'm looking forward to reading Amon's Adventure as well. We try to buckle down with a lot of things around our home during Lent. It's such a beautiful time in a liturgical church!

[KC]

I have never celebrated Lent as we are not Catholic or Lutheran, but I think these activities and calendar is wonderful.

I definitely want to incorporate it this year.

[Kelli- AdventurezInChild'Reari]

I like the idea behind Lent- I've never learned a whole lot about it but I'd like to know more- I'll pay attention to what you are doing :) we aren't Catholic or Lutheran (obviously) but we are happy to be your Christian friends ;) thanks for sharing!