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22 February 2026

Bible readings for today

  • Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
  • Psalm 32:1-11
  • Romans 5:12-19
  • Matthew 4:1-11

​Liturgical colour: VIOLET

Collect

God, you know better than we 
the temptations that will bring us down. 
Grant that our love for you may protect us 
from all foolish and corrupt desire. 
Praise to you our God; you answer prayer. 
Amen. 

E te Atua, nui atu āu mōhiotanga i a mātou ki ngā whakamātautau e hinga ai mātou. Tukua mā tō mātou aroha ki a koe e ārai atu i ngā hiahia pōhouhou, pōriro hoki. He whakamoemiti ki a koe,
​e tō mātou Atua; ka whakamana te īnoi. Āmine.​

The Season of Lent

Lent is a season in the Church calendar that last for forty days (not counting Sundays). It starts on Ash Wednesday and runs through to the Saturday before Easter Sunday. It is a time when Christians reflect and prepare for the celebrations of Easter. It is a time for turning away from the things that lead us away from God, and turning towards our Creator.  

Questions

  • What Season in the church year starts with Ash Wednesday?
  • Why do we have Lent?
  • Why doesn’t the forty days of Lent include Sundays?
  • What might you give up or do during Lent to prepare for Easter?

General Lent Resources

Help families celebrate Lent

Intergenerational Lent 

Church Services (Intergen) ​
Intergen Australia Lent 2023 resource
This resource contains Bible Engagement, interactive Prayer and Music
• Places of Testing – Year A Lent 1
• Places of Wondering – Year A Lent 2
• In-between Places – Year A Lent 3
• Dark places – Year A Lent 4
• Places of Death – Year A Lent 5

Area 52 Resources for Lent (Engage Worship) - creative worship resources that tie in with the lectionary. 

Pancake Day!

Have you ever celebrated Pancake Day? Did you know there was a Pancake Day? What a great excuse to eat all the pancakes you want! Also known as Shrove Tuesday, this was traditionally a chance for one big last party before Lent started. Why not encourage your church or households to throw a pancake party and invite some friends who don't know Jesus yet. 

Special Days in Lent

Art in Lent

For an art based lent exploration for leaders check out Sarah Lea West's Lent Devotional 2026.
If you want to mark Advent in a simple rich way, how about creating a space where your kids can spend some time with Jesus-related art. 

Try these questions or make up your own:
  • What do you see? 
  • What part of the bible / God's story is this painting about?
  • What might this show us about Jesus? About people? About our world?
  • What do you think is important in this picture?
  • Does anything in this picture have more than one meaning?
  • I wonder what God might be saying to you through this picture today?
John August Swanson, The Great Catch

Need more ideas?

Check out loads more Lent and Easter ideas on the Strandz website.

Lent Media

So much Lent Media on our Strandz page! See here.

Jesus is tested (Matthew 4:1-11)

Today's story talks about Jesus is tested in the desert, as the devil places three temptations before him.  

Input for leaders

​Gospel Conversations 2023 (Diocese of Dunedin) Year A Lent 1
​This week our panel tackle the strange and wonderful story of Jesus in the desert being tempted by Satan. They explore connections to our lives, to our world, and to the whole Gospel of Matthew. 
Visio Lectio
A beautiful free downloadable image by Sarah Lea West. All Rights Reserved, shared and distributed with permission.
Terms of use
PNG Download
Repentance and Freedom
Wellington Diocese has created video Lent series over the last few years, and below are two videos from Bishop Ana Fletcher (2026) and Bishop Ellie Sanderson (2023)

Intergenerational Worship

Places of Testing (Intergen Australia)
Year A 2023.
​Bible references: Genesis, Matthew, Romans
Written and compiled by Elizabeth Waldron Anstice.

Session starters

  • Talk to the children about what temptation is. Talk about how our parents and teachers teach us what is right and what is wrong and sometimes it is hard not to do the thing we’ve been asked not to!  See if they have a story to share about that.  Is it hard not to eat more lollies from the packet when your Mum/Dad has said no?

Kids Talks

Temptation (Bible Explore) - an retelling of the story with props.

A kids talk on Matthew 4:1-11 (Gary Neal Hansen) - a retelling of the story with a focus on bullying.

Questions

  • I wonder how Jesus felt being alone in the wilderness?
  • I wonder what it feels like to be very, very hungry?
  • I wonder why the devil tried to trick Jesus?
  • I wonder what helped Jesus choose what was right?
  • I wonder what it means to trust God when something is hard?
  • I wonder what kinds of things tempt us today?
  • I wonder how God helps us when we feel tempted?
  • I wonder what words from the Bible help you feel strong inside?
  • I wonder why Jesus didn’t try to prove himself by jumping off the temple?
  • I wonder what this story shows us about who Jesus is?
  • I wonder what you might say if someone tried to tempt you to do something wrong?

Activities
Trust Walk Obstacle Activity
You will need: Blindfolds and safe obstacles (chairs, tables, cushions)

Option 1: Older Children — Partner Trust Walk
  • Put children into pairs.
  • One child wears a blindfold; the other is the guide.
  • Starting at one end of the room, the guide leads their partner safely around the obstacles (no running).
  • Guides may speak quietly or use gentle touch to direct.
  • Swap roles and repeat if time allows.
Talk together: How did it feel to trust someone when you couldn’t see? How is this like trusting God?

Option 2: Younger Children — Follow the Leader
  • Children stand in a line, each with hands on the shoulders of the person in front.
  • Everyone except the leader wears a blindfold.
  • The leader slowly walks the group around the room, guiding them over, under, or around obstacles.
  • Remind children to move carefully and stay connected.
Talk together: Was it hard not being able to see? Who helped you stay safe?

Cup Stack Game

This game can be played as an upfront game or everyone can participate, either at the same time or as a relay.

What you need:
  • 10 plastic cups per player of the same colour
  • 1 plastic cup per player of a different colour

What you do:
  1. Give each player a stack of 11 cups with the different coloured cup on the bottom.
  2. When you say 'go', have each player take the bottom cup and put it on the top of the stack, repeating this action until the different coloured cup is back on the bottom.
  3. The first one to complete the stack is the winner.
​
After the game is over, you can ask something like, "Was this an easy thing to do?"  Some people might have found it easy, but for some it might have been hard to work so quickly.  Ask, "Were you tempted to cheat by taking more than 1 cup at a time?".  Say something like, "It's good that you didn't cheat!  God doesn't want us to give in to temptation and cheat, even when things get hard!"  We can remember how Jesus resisted temptation in the desert and we can try and do the same.

Media

Temptation and Fall (Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7)

Leaders Input

Gospel Conversations 2026: ​As we enter into Lent, we hear, as we do every year, the story of Jesus being tempted in the desert. But we also hear the story of the first temptation and its very different outcome in the Garden of Eden. Does this ancient story have anything to say to us today, despite all the difficulties that have surrounded it over the centuries? Eddie O'Connor, Chris Dodds, and Richard Johnston join Michael this week to find out.
Scattered People of the Good Shepherd
Check out Bishop Anne's reflections on the scriptures and the question of who we can truly trust. (13mins)
Picture
Picture
Bible Explore
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