1 March
Made in God's image
Lent is a time when Christians journey towards Easter. We try to turn away from doing wrong and ask God to help us become more like Jesus in how we treat other people and our world.
Today's activity
Read: Genesis 1.24-31Then God said, 'Let us make humankind in our own image, according to our likeness ... ' Prayer
Generous God, help us to find you in everyone we meet and share the gifts you give us with the world and its people. Amen.
2 March
Help others by giving something up for Lent
Today's activity
Is there a treat you could give up for the next few weeks?
If you can, put aside any money you save to give to charity.
3 March
Try to see the good in everyone you meet
Today's activity
This week’s Bible reading tells us that God made everyone in his image.
Remember this as you encounter different people today.
4 March
Imagine a fair and equal world
Today's activity
Write about – or draw – a world where humans live in harmony with each other, nature and God.
What would be different to today’s world?
5 March
Read about what Jesus said about judging others
Today's activity
In Matthew 7.3,4 Jesus tells his listeners to take the log out of their own eye before trying to take a speck out of their neighbour’s eye!
What do you think he means?
6 March
Justice and freedom
Exodus, the second book of the Bible, tells the story of God delivering the people of Israel from slavery to freedom. This week we will explore how God guides Moses as he seeks justice for his people.
Today's activity
Read: Exodus 3.1-12
‘I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt ... and I have come down to deliver them.’
Just and loving God, help us, like Moses, to be changed and guided by your presence as we journey through life’s challenges. Amen.
7 March
Watch the news today
Today's activity
Notice anyone being treated unfairly, or anyone whose freedom has been taken away.
8 March
Try to notice every person you see or hear today
Today's activity
It’s easy for us to stop noticing or treating others as being human like us.
But God notices and cares for everyone.
9 March
Remember that God is with you
Today's activity
When God asked Moses to lead his people, Moses didn’t think he was good enough.
But God promised to be with him.
10 March
Find out how Jewish people celebrate Passover
Today's activity
Jewish people all over the world remember the Exodus each Passover.
Find out about the Seder – especially what the special foods are and what they mean.
11 March
Can you spare any food or toiletries for a local foodbank?
Today's activity
God fed the ancient Israelites with a special bread which did not stay fresh long, so no one could keep too much for themselves.
12 March
Watch an animation that tells the story of the Exodus
Today's activity
‘The Prince of Egypt’ might make a good film to watch.
Make time to talk about the different characters in the story.
13 March
Communities of justice
In Exodus, God does much more than free the Israelites from Egypt. God helps them establish a new community with new laws for everyday life designed to ensure justice and fairness for everyone.
Today's activity
Read: Exodus 19.1-8
So Moses ... set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.
Prayer
God of justice and mercy, teach us to live well, to take special care for the vulnerable and to love our neighbour as ourselves. Amen.
14 March
Read about the Ten Commandments
Today's activity
God gave the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5.6-21) to the Israelites to help them build a new life.
They still shape our world today.
15 March
Think about how we should respond when others treat us badly
Today's activity
If we always did bad things to those who do bad things to us, would that be ‘fair’?
Or is there another way?
16 March
Find time today to enjoy doing nothing and have a rest!
Today's activity
The laws God gave his people included regular time to rest.
Life is better when we are not always trying to do or to have more.
17 March
Try to say hi to all the members of your class
Today's activity
We don’t get on with everyone all the time. But everyone – friend or not – matters to God and is a part of our community.
18 March
Pray for charities and people working to make the world fairer
Today's activity
Faith in God inspires many people to work for a fairer world.
Pray for those who work for charities seeking to help.
19 March
Say sorry for any times you have been unkind or unfair this week
Today's activity
No one is kind and loving to others all the time.
But God loves us all and forgives us when we are sorry.
20 March
Just relationships
This week we follow Jesus as he meets many different people who each have their own struggles and problems. We will explore how Jesus teaches about – and shows – the way God wants us to treat the people we encounter.
Today's activity
Read: Luke 10.25-28
‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart … and your neighbour as yourself.’
Prayer
Lord Jesus, open our eyes this week to everyone we meet, that we may see all people as your children and share your love with them. Amen.
21 March
Chat to someone you already know but would not normally speak with
Today's activity
Getting to know other people better can help us treat them better.
22 March
Do something kind for someone younger than you
Today's activity
Jesus made time to meet with and help everyone – including little children!
23 March
Read or watch Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan
Today's activity
Read Luke 10.25-37 or for an animation search online for ‘The Good Samaritan BBC Teach’.
24 March
Make a list of people who keep your home, school or church going
Today's activity
Think about the people who help in our daily lives – cleaning, delivering food, collecting waste.
25 March
Pray for those who need a fresh start
Today's activity
Jesus treated everyone – even those who had done wrong – with dignity, and offered them hope.
26 March
Pass on some kindness this Mothering Sunday weekend
Today's activity
Why not make a card to say ‘thank you’ to someone who helps you?
27 March
Jesus' way of justice
Human beings often struggle to treat each other with justice. This week we look at Jesus – whose life, death and resurrection show us what it means to act justly and love mercy.
Today's activity
Read: Luke 4.16-21
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.’
PrayerLord Jesus, we thank you for coming to bring down the barriers that divide people from each other and from God. Amen.
28 March
Pray for people who really need good news
Today's activity
Jesus brought good news to those who were struggling.
Pray for all who are hungry, sick, lonely or suffering.
29 March
Hunt for spare toys, books or games you no longer need
Today's activity
When Jesus fed a crowd he made sure the leftovers were collected and shared.
Ask a parent or carer if there are any ‘leftovers’ your household could donate to charity.
30 March
Think about what - or who - is most important in your life
Today's activity
Adverts can make us think buying things will make us happy. Ask yourself, your friends or family what really matters to them in life.
Are the answers things that can be bought?
31 March
Offer to do a chore to help your household
Today's activity
Jesus showed his disciples how he wanted them to treat others by washing their feet – a job no one expected him to do.
1 April
Read how Jesus forgave others right to the end
Today's activity
Luke 23.32-43 shows how even while he suffered on the cross, Jesus loved and forgave others.
2 April
Listen to - or sing - 'Amazing Grace'
Today's activity
Performed around 10 million times every year, this muchloved song celebrates God’s free gift of love to us – God’s amazing grace.
3 April
Remembering Jesus' example
Jesus invites his followers to become like him: just, loving and holy. Worshipping together – especially sharing Holy Communion – helps us to remember Jesus’ example and get into good habits which help us follow it.
Today's activity
Read: Luke 22.14-20
‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’
Prayer
Lord Jesus, may our worship, our prayers and our actions help us to grow more like you as we share our lives as your people. Amen.
4 April
Say thank you to God every time you eat today
Today's activity
We know Jesus gave thanks to God before sharing bread with his friends. Remembering to thank God for our food – and to pray for those who don’t have enough – is a good habit.
5 April
Find out what your church (or your school) does to help those in need
Today's activity
Could you do or give something to help as a family or as a class?
6 April
Look for anyone who feels 'left out' at school or at home
Today's activity
The Gospels show us Jesus helping and befriending people who others ignored or kept at a distance – and encouraging his followers to do the same.
7 April
Read the Lord's Prayer and notice what each line is about
Today's activity
The Lord’s Prayer reminds us each day to praise God, to ask for what we need and to ask forgiveness for what we have done wrong.
8 April
Ask someone else who goes to church why it is important to them
Today's activity
Meeting together for worship – especially sharing Holy Communion – reminds us that we are not alone on our journey of faith: God is with us, and we journey with others.
9 April
Read - or watch - the story of the Road to Emmaus
Today's activity
Read Luke 24.13-35 or search online for ‘The Seriously Surprising Story’ from the Bible Society to find out about what happened on the evening of the first Easter Day.
10 April
Walking through Holy Week
As we begin Holy Week, we remember the amazing love Jesus has shown us and the new commandment he gives us – that we treat others with the same generous love.
Today's activity
Read: John 13.3-16; 34-35
Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.’
PrayerLoving God, may we grow to love you as you have loved us and have the courage to share this love with our neighbour. Amen.
11 April
Choose a charity helping to improve a situation you care about
Today's activity
If you’ve been able to save any money from giving up treats this Lent, could you donate this to them?
12 April
Find or make a Palm Cross to display at home
Today's activity
Many churches give these out on Palm Sunday. Find out how they are folded. Can you make a paper cross in the same way?
13 April
Learn the song 'A new commandment I give unto you'
Today's activity
This song is easy to learn and it can help us remember how Jesus tells his disciples they should treat others: ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’
14 April
Read about Jesus washing Peter's feet
Today's activity
This week’s Bible reading from John 13 shows Peter at first refusing to have his feet washed by Jesus. But he needs Jesus’ love and care to be able to care for others.
15 April
Remember Jesus' suffering - and all those who suffer today
Today's activity
Pray for those who suffer today, and pray that God will give strength to those working to end suffering and injustice.
16 April
Spend some time quietly today
Today's activity
Today we wait for the joy and hope that comes with Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Day.
17 April
Celebrate Jesus' rising from the dead!
Today's activity
Join Christians around the world meeting together to celebrate God bringing new life out of suffering – overcoming evil with good.