Lent has arrived. It isn't something I grew up marking, but as I've got older and explored ways of living my faith, it makes a lot of sense and has always proved to be a rich time. I'll admit I'm not too good at giving things up, but I do like the idea of taking things up, or making time to do things that bring me closer to God. More thinking time, more reading time, more praying time...which I suppose means giving up that time when I might be doing other things. It's always felt like a rich time, rather than a gloomy season. I like the simplicity of Lent.
As a family we are using a figure of Jesus (made by my beloved) in the wilderness on our kitchen table. We'll add a stone to each day to mark the passing of Lent. Then we will make a garden at Easter time. We also shared together the 'Mystery of Easter' last Sunday. The boys seemed to really enjoy it. I really love this story and all the meaning it conveys.
At L'Arche, we met together on Tuesday for our traditional feast of pancakes and I shared the story again. As I had my head in the story, it was hard to tell how people received it, but there was a lot of 'wondering' and interaction as I told it, so I think it went well.
As a community, we also decided to use the material for the 'Faces of Easter' in each of our Community houses - so I had to prepare no less than six sets of materials! Happily, one house took on the job of cutting out and laminating the pictures. We are using the material from the CD Time and Space to Wonder. I managed to find some lovely and inexpensive purple fleece for the underlay needed.
Our friendly Episcopal bishop also came to L'Arche to host an Ash Wednesday service. He is very good at connecting and communicating. I gave him a basket of fabric, figures and other props for Jesus' baptism and temptation and then sat back and watched him bring the story to life, along with ashes, oil and water.
Two blogs that I've found helpful and inspiring for Godly Play are hosting a Lenten Link Party that I've decided to join in with. Thank you for the invitation, Wonderful in an Easter Kind of Way and Explore and Express!
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Thank you for the kind words, and for joining our link party. I sympathize with that feeling that because you have been "in" the story you don't really know how it was received. I'd be interested to know what you did for the Wondering in your groups.
ReplyDeleteOn both occasions we were quite a big group - more than 25 people, so I didn't have a formal time of wondering. But there was plenty of out loud wondering during the story - that's the gift of adults with learning disabilities - no polite restraint - but rather plenty of (often) playful participation. However, I am working towards a small monthly meeting where there will be 'all the time we need'.
DeleteI especially like the Jesus figure in the desert and the idea of adding a stone each day to mark the passing of Lent. I will also be interested to check out the Time and Space to Wonder materials. Thanks so much for posting this and joining Celebrating Lent!
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