An Ashy Valentine?

Lent arrives next week with many churches hosting pancake suppers on Tuesday night before Ash Wednesday kicks off this season of reflection. This year, and I’m not sure how often this happens, the interesting conundrum is that Wednesday is also Valentine’s Day.

I’ve already seen some hilarious Ash Wednesday themed Valentine cards on facebook showing the potential awkwardness of this shared day. I’ve also read a brilliant article by friend and author Laura Alary in the January/February issue of Glad Tidings magazine called “Chocolate and Ashes”. In it she muses about how it really isn’t all that strange to have the two together, and how Lent is far more about love than about self-denial and “rigid asceticism”.

How we frame this journey to Easter as we begin is important. Our learners and congregations benefit from experiencing deeply the story that led to Jesus’ sacrificial death for us. At the same time, it is important for us to recognize that these stories are ultimately about God’s love for us. The various human responses to that love in scripture are important to consider, but the basis is love. Here are some ideas for Lent this year:

1. Getting your learners together on Ash Wednesday itself, especially with it being Valentine’s Day, is likely to be a bit challenging. Nothing says you can’t kick off Lent this Sunday instead and do something special, even if it is after the regular service. If you saved palm branches from last year, burn them and talk about where the ashes came from. Invite people to either receive the mark of the cross on their forehead or to take a small container of ash so they can do this themselves on Wednesday. A brief reading could be provided as a reminder of the meaning of this ritual.

2. Create hearts from whatever materials you have taking up space in your Sunday school craft cupboards – meat trays, felt, rocks and paint, etc. – and make a black cross representing the ashes with “For You” in another colour of paint or marker.

3. Make valentines from God with John 3:16 printed and pasted inside, or a cross with “Jesus loved us enough to make the journey for us” or whatever message you feel appropriate. It could even be Jesus’ arms reaching out wide as the card is opened with the words “Jesus loves you this much”.

4. Praying in Color by Sybil MacBeth is an amazing resource for opening a different pathway to meditation and connecting to God. If you haven’t encountered Illustrated Children’s Ministry yet, take a look, particularly at their Lenten offerings for this year – huge posters or single sheet colouring pages with scripture tied to the season. I’ve seen people of all ages enjoy their posters.

5. Brainstorm ways of sharing Jesus’ incredible love during Lent. How can this time be used by your learners to impact the lives of others? Could extra valentines be made and handed out to shut ins or others who need a lift? With your learners, gather names of those who need prayer and pray together.

6. Find a creative way to allow learners to walk where Jesus walked on the journey to Jerusalem. Post the names of towns and regions on the way (Capernaum, Judea, Jericho, etc.) with paper footprints on the floor to follow and a brief summary of the story that happened in the town that is posted on the wall. This could be set up in a classroom or a large hall with a map. If you have access to a labyrinth, make it available with some explanation of this ancient spiritual walk.

This is a short list of ideas that can be used for a Sunday or available throughout the five weeks of Lent. Perhaps it will spark some other possibilities for you.

Be sure to make the most out of this time for yourself as well. If you don’t have a Lenten devotional look online for something to accompany you on your journey to the cross as well and to renew your spirit and remind you of God’s great love.