Since I don't like to wait until the last minute!

[polmaven]

I will, a whole 1 1/2 hours before I need it, ask for your advice about how to explain Ash Wednesday to children. I have in mind that the ashes they will see on people's foreheads simply mean those folks are remembering that this is the season called Lent, and pretty soon, Holy week will be here, and then Easter...a really special time for Christians.

These children range from about 2 years to youth. Trying to tailor a message to such a large age range can be tricky, so the very youngest will have some chance of understanding, without using the words "suffering" and "death".

[LiberalinNC]

1. Great link...

http://www.cherbearsden.com/kidsdevos/devo35ps.html

[trotsky]

2. I suppose you could just get really general...

Say it's an expression of their religious faith and beliefs. If the older kids were aware of the Iraqi vote, you could compare it to the thing the Repukes did with putting ink on their fingers, I guess.

On edit: I misread your post - I thought it was how to explain to non-Catholic kids what it meant when people had ash on their foreheads. Sorry!

[polmaven]

3. Basically, it was!

These are UM children. Our pastor is on vacation this week, and, being the lay leader, I was in charge of the service this morning. Now, the adult message, I had no problem with. The kids, though are another story.

The group that showed up today were mainly under 10. Not one know the answer when I asked if they knew what Wednesday was. ..One did volunteer that he thought it was Chinese New Year. ...Once I said "Ash Wednesday", I got some blank stares. ...I simply explained that when they see people with marks on their foreheads, it is simply to remind that person about Jesus teachings while we lead up to Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter.

Maybe we need to do a little more about Lent, etc. in our Sunday School, Huh?