(Click pictures for quick links)

Lent Calendar

This yearsLent Calendar from Roots takes seven of the last sayings of Jesus on the themes of forgiveness, hope, family and friends, courage, justice, trust in God and love. Each day offers thoughts, actions or prayers for reflection and preparation.

 I thought thisshort story sequencefrom Cbeebies is well worth a look for pre-schoolers or toddler/ pram service. They also have more clips about Easterhere.

Stations of the Cross

Here's an 'All-Age Stations of the Cross'event that I put together for an Oxford Church a few years ago.

Stations: How to do it Stations: signs

Love Life Live Lent:Families

Love Life Live Lent is great to do as a whole family.

The new Family book contains all the daily actions for both adults and kids, as well as fascinating Lent and Easter facts and activities, recipes and prayers.

Love Life Live Lent:Schools

You'll find everything you need to help your school run theLove Life Live Lent initiative, including collective worship material with a supporting presentation for both primary and secondary schools.

A versatile pack for use in church services, homegroups, prayer meetings or for individual reflection. It contains producer case studies; prayers; children's activities; event ideas and a Good Friday service based on 6 prayer stations. It also has biblical reflections on the themes of poverty, faith that bears fruit, fasting, perseverance and justice.

Download the Lent and Easter PDF.

Download the producer pictures as a PDF(for use with the Good Friday service).

There are some great resources here 

Going for Growth

Transformation for children, young people, and the Church

 

Books

 The Easter Journey, Moira Curry and Gill Morgan. BRF Barnabas, ISBN - 978-1-84101-622-1

'The Easter Journey'provides and opportunity for churches and schools to link up in a way that creatively brings the Easter tory alive through storytelling, simple drama adn thought-provoking artefacts. Contains step by step how to's, assembly and classroom ideas.

 Walking with Jesus through Lent and Easter, Murray McBride. BRF Barnabas, ISBN - 978-84101-579-8

This 'Visual Pilgrmage'is designed to help adults and children prepare for Easter together. It is ideal for families and church-based groups providing weekly themes and daily reflections.

 Through the Year with Timothy Bear, Brian Sears. BRF Barnabus, ISBN - 1 84101 394 3

Stories for all key festivals for 5-7 year olds to use in assembly, circle time, PHSE or RE, following the adventures of Timothy Bear, his friends and family.

  Our Easter Play, Brian Ogden. BRF Barnabas, ISBN 978-1-84101-466-1

Our Easter Play is an easy to perform play for children in Foundation or Key Stage 1. Through the eyes of Peter the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day are explored.

Other Useful Things;                                                                                                        

 Footsteps to the Feast, Martyn Payne. BRF Barnabas, ISBN- 978-1-84101-464-7

Ideal for churches and schools offering two hour fun-filled sessions on the key festivals of the Christian Year.

Top Tips on Explaining the Cross to Children and Young People, Helen Franklin, Steve Hutchinson and Robert Willoughby. Scripture Union

This book will equip church leaders and children's workers to explain the cross to children and young people so that they not only understand the richness of the message of the cross but are encouraged to respond. Four key ways to understand the cross are explored - Jesus takes our place, Jesus triumphs over evil, Jesus as a reconciler, Jesus'dramatic rescue bid.

Talking to Children and Dealing with their Questions - link throughhere

This amazing story book bySusie Poole has fortunately come into my possession. My daughter was given it by her Godmummy and I have to say it is the best telling of the Easter Story for children that I've seen for a while. If you know examples of Susie's other work, you'll appreciate the absolutely beautiful art that illustrates and compliments the story so well which for us has created discussion points on every page. A highly recommended book for your church, your family or a great gift idea.

The Bible Reading Fellowship have stacks of books in theirBarnabascollection and from my experience BRF can be trusted for their quality and content here is a teeny tiny selection.

Barnabus schools resources for collective worship can be foundhere.

AmongstScripture Union's offerings is 'Come into the Garden with Mary'. The story of Easter is retold for under 5's in 14 rhymes and actions. Delightful illustrations combine with the text and the actions to help children get inside the story, discovering God's saving plan for the whole world. The rhymes stay true to the Bible text, sensitively dealing with Jesus'crucifixion and expressing the joy of Jesus'resurrection. A new title in their Action Rhyme series, price £2.99.

Other useful Resources from SU are;

 and

'Experience Easter'from our colleagues in Gloucester Diocese.

'An exciting way for churches to share the Easter story with children

This is an imaginative approach to help children experience the Easter story through six easy to assemble, interactive stations set up in different parts of the church.

Classes from the local primary school will be invited by the clergy to visit the church where in small groups they will be guided by a leader from the school around each station. Using a similar format to Pause for Reflection, with which schools are already familiar, the pack gives detailed instructions to church members to enable them to create the stations. Also included are careful instructions to help the school group leaders introduce and reflect on each part of the story. Cost £12.00'Booking Form Here.

Here are some resources for a Lent Course from colleagues over in Canterbury Dioceseon the theme of Discipleship.

If you're frustrated that most Easter Eggs are hollow and empty, here's an innovative idea where the egg has substance!Eggventure Beads are a plastic Easter egg containing beads that throughout Lent are collected onto a string eventually making a bracelet that tells the Easter story. There are additional activities to download from  their website.  I made up the bracelet from the sample I recieved and I must say it has proved an incredible conversation starter at Holiday Club and Kids Camp amongst children and adults, and I even ended up giving one bracelet away to a child whilst wishing I had the egg pack to give. I heartily recommend Eggventure Beads for families, children's groups or even gifts for Godchildren. Visithere to download an order form or telephone Chris Poole on 01242 574111 for more information.                                                                        

For RE & Collective Worship forPrimary and Secondary Schools have a look at these from theCulham Institute;

Resources for family worship (especially songs and music) can be foundhere.

DVD's

 In their usual inimitable styleVeggie Talesoffer 'An Easter Carol'based on Charles Dicken's classic about the other important season. In this one Bob & Larry must convince Ebenezer Nezzer that the real meaning of Easter is more than eggs and chickens and explore why it's so important for Christians past, present and future.

This classicStorykeepers is one that children will want to watch again and again.

  Friends and Heroes on theCrucifixion

They're out of stock for this year but keep an eye on the 'Real Easter Egg'here 

Other Activities; 

 For a more secular approach but with good ideas translatable to midweek kids club or holiday activity days try Kids Domain or Activity Village. (Remember that these are for ideas and Oxford Diocese is not responsible for the content of other websites including advertising pop-ups).

And finally, here are some other seasonal resources with thanks to National Adviser Mary Hawes.

Mothering Sunday

Ideas from theMothers'Union

Lent ideas for children

Palm Sunday

Good Friday

Easter Sunday

General sites for Lent/Holy Week/Easter

You'll need to register (free) but then Scripture Union's Light Live will give you plenty of ideas for the season