9 March 2025
Bible readings for today
Liturgical Colour: VIOLET |
CollectWhakarongo mai e Īhu e te Karaiti,
kia āwhinatia mai mātou kia mōhio ai ki ngā whakawai, kia pono tonu te anga atu, kia kaha te ātete, kia whakakorōria te Atua i runga i te ngākau māhaki. Whakarongo ki tēnei īnoi i runga i tōu aroha. Āmine. Hear us, Jesus Christ, when we ask for help to recognise temptation, for honesty to face it, for strength to resist it and humility to give God the glory. Hear this prayer for your love’s sake. Amen. |
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
General Lent Resources
Help families celebrate Lent
Intergenerational LentChurch Services (Intergen)
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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 LentIf 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:
John August Swanson, The Great Catch
Lent MediaSo much Lent Media on our Strandz page! See here.
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Need more ideas?
Check out loads more Lent and Easter ideas on the Strandz website.
Desert Times (Luke 4:1-13)
Today's story talks about Jesus being tested in the desert, as the devil places three temptations before him. The Devil duels with Jesus, debating where power resides and what it is for. Jesus decides it is about serving. A tale of the Christ who walks our every point of pain, our every temptation – and even redeems us when we fail. For we will. True fact. And he will love us still.
Leaders InputAnglican Movement Series Lent 1 2025: Rev Kath Bier explains the significance of Ash Wednesday and Lent in the Anglican tradition, likening it to training for a marathon.
Anglican Movement Series Lent 1 2022: Bishop Ellie speaks on suffering and the gift of Lent.
Repentance and Freedom video: (Bishop Eleanor Sanderson)
The first in a sermon series from the Wellington Diocese in 2020, looking at the theme of repentance and freedom. |
Gospel Conversations 2025: This week we begin Lent, and we once again turn our minds and hearts to the temptations which beset Jesus and beset ourselves. It's not an easy story for our 21st C sensibilities to cope with, yet the Gospel writers clearly thought it of prime importance. (Where there were internet issues, in some parts you may find listening to the discussion easier)
Gospel Conversations 2022: Today's Gospel Conversations dives into the story of Jesus' temptations in the desert. Where, in this strange story are we to find challenges and good news for our day-to-day lives? What can it mean for us today?
Identity, Allegiance & Authority - A thought provoking read on three temptations (Gary Neal Hansen)
Visio Lectio
A beautiful image from the Visio Lectio project, created by the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. © Sarah West. All Rights reserved, shared with permission. Download Terms of use 
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Intergenerational WorshipA collection of resources and ideas, written and compiled by Beth Nicholls for Intergen Australia. Bible references: Genesis, Luke, Psalms.
Kids Talks
Seeing God as God
For more detail around Jesus' time in the desert, read the passage in Matthew 4:1-11 together. We often have this bible text at the beginning of Lent. Who knows what Lent is? What do we do in Lent? Why? So why do we have this bible reading? Has anyone ever tried to tempt you to turn stones in to bread?! No? Ever been tempted to throw yourself off a building to see if the angels will catch you? No? I’m glad!! What do you feel tempted to do sometimes? So you might be wondering what was so hard about those temptations for Jesus. Very often with the bible we have to look a bit harder than just a quick read, to find how that passage is of use to us. Because I know the bible IS of use to us and everyone, but sometimes that can be difficult to get. Where is the connection to Jesus’ temptation and ours? Well the tests that Jesus faced were very specific to him, just like temptation is different for us all. I’m not tempted to eat loads of lollies but I might be tempted to eat lots of chocolate! But what is the same is that the very basic or underlying temptation that we share with Jesus, is the temptation to treat God as less than God. To treat God as less than God. We might never be tempted to try turning stones into bread, but we are constantly tempted to mistrust God’s readiness to help us through the difficult things. We might not be tempted to test God by leaping off a cliff but we are often tempted question God’s helpfulness when things go wrong for us. It is hard to only serve God and not be influenced by wanting to do what our friends are doing or what the world thinks is cool. That is the real temptation that we all face. But especially when things are hard or life is tricky, we must try to remember that God is God and can always be relied on. because it is when things are hard that we need him more than ever! Games / ActivitiesTug of War (from Mission Bible Class)
Divide the class into two teams and play a game of “tug of war.” After the game, talk about how it feels to be pulled in two directions. “That is how temptation is. God is helping you pull in the direction of doing what is right. Satan is trying to pull you in a direction where you are doing wrong. Make Me Laugh (Mission Arlington) Play “Make Me Laugh.” One person is chosen to sit down and try not to laugh. Everyone else does silly things to try to get the person to laugh. No one can touch the person. If the person starts laughing, let someone else try. When you are ready to end the game, ask the person if it was difficult not to laugh when they really wanted to. Remind kids that it is difficult to resist temptation, but with God’s help, we can do it. Candy Minute to Win it Games (123 Homeschool 4 Me) Obstacle Game You will need blindfolds and an obstacle course around the room. Divide the children into pairs - one who will be blindfolded, and who will lead. (They can swap roles and repeat afterwards). Tell them the object of the game is for both members of the pair to reach the end of the obstacle course without talking. At the end of the game you might like to talk about what it was like, and then tie in how we need to trust and rely on God, even when we can’t see where God is leading us. |
Questions to think aboutI wonder...
Activities
Art in LentIf you want to mark Lent 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:
Simon Fletcher
Panel from Graphic Novel 'The Temptation' |
Media
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