A playlist? For the season of Lent? A Lenten playlist? What an odd idea. Lent is often seen as a somber and even silent season. Certainly, there is space for contemplation, for embracing the quiet, for being still to seek out God. Many of us, however, find music a helpful tool for contemplation. So, we offer this playlist as another tool for your worship experience this season. We chose a song for each worship moment in the series from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday. We aren’t suggesting that these are to be used in worship unless that fits your context. This is preparation work, thinking about making connections, about plumbing the depths of heart and soul, of the community of faith and the wider culture. However you use them, let the music be a guide into worship this Lent.

The Children’s Messages for this series, framed around Lent and Holy Week, will provide children and their families an opportunity to build upon contemplation with the spiritual practice of prayer. Throughout the series, the children will create prayer beads as they reflect on lyrics from the songs on the playlist. Each week, a bead will be added that connects prayer to the weekly message. This series will also connect families with the Lenten Coin Calendar and each Sunday prayer that coincides with this resource. Families can create prayer times in their homes using prayer beads. Thanks to Rev. Dr. Leanne Hadley for providing instructions on how to make prayer beads for children and their families.

Children's Message

Luke 13:34-35, NIRV

34 “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and throw stones in order to kill those who are sent to you. Many times I have wanted to gather your people together. I have wanted to be like a hen who gathers her chicks under her wings. And you would not let me. 35 Look, your house is left empty. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ” (Psalm 118:26)

Playlist Song:

“Head Above Water” by Avril Lavigne

Materials needed:

Beads
Thin ribbon
Charm in the shape of the cross

Message:

Tell me how you honored God’s name this past week. (Allow children to provide answers.) Did you use your Lenten Coin Calendar this week? How many coins are currently in your jar? (Allow children to respond.) Did you use your prayer beads? God knows what we need before we ask, so we need to have conversations to deepen our relationship with God. We must remember to come to God with respect and honor when we pray before God.

I wonder if you have ever seen a baby chick. If you have, you will agree that being a tiny little chick is dangerous. A chick is small and can’t protect itself from larger animals, such as a fox, wolf, or snake. Those animals are just waiting to eat that tiny chick. That is why the mother hen does everything she can to protect her chicks. She protects them by gathering her chicks under her wing.

In today’s scripture passage, Jesus compares himself to a mother hen. A mother bird is an excellent image of Jesus' loving care for us. Can’t you picture Jesus opening his arms and wrapping us up with a huge hug of protection? Many images of Jesus show him holding his arms open, perhaps just like the mother hen, ready to protect us in his loving care.

A real baby chick wants this care and protection from its mother. But sometimes people don’t want this care from Jesus. We think we can keep ourselves safe and don’t need any help. We don’t want to listen to the people God places in our lives to offer help and support. Jesus wanted the people of Jerusalem to accept his care, but they wouldn’t let him.

In today’s scripture passage, Jesus demonstrates compassion to Jerusalem. What does the word “compassion” mean? (Allow children to provide the definition.) Compassion is wanting to help someone suffering or hurting and doing something about it! Jesus was compassionate. He was compassionate even to people who wanted to hurt him. Even to those people, Jesus was still willing to be kind.

Sometimes, in life, we encounter difficult situations. We may meet people who don’t believe what we do or act the way we feel they should. Have you ever been in a difficult situation, and when things get harder, you just want to give up? Many people say, “I feel like I am drowning.” Have you ever heard someone say that? (Allow children to answer.) In life, people may struggle finding a job. They may struggle to find a place to live or a warm place to sleep at night. Others may feel they are drowning in the bills they need to pay. I wonder what we can do for others to help protect them and offer them support.

Today’s playlist song speaks to that. This song on our Lenten Playlist by Avril Lavigne is titled “Head Above Water.”

In the lyrics of the song, when Avril feels that she is struggling and has an overwhelming feeling of drowning, she meets God at the altar and falls on her knees in prayer.

Today, the prayer bead we add reminds us of the image of Jesus as a mother hen protecting her chicks. Jesus wants us to remember that he is our protector and is the one we can turn to when we feel overwhelmed. In those moments when we struggle and think we are drowning, we can turn to Jesus. We need to listen to the people God puts in our lives who care about and love us. We need to show compassion toward others, just as Jesus taught us, to help protect those who are hurting and struggling. This happens through our actions every minute, every day. We should show compassion to everyone we meet. We should show others what the world looks like when we demonstrate God’s love toward one another. Every day, all day, we need to act like Jesus.

I wonder what you can do to show the world that Jesus will protect us when we feel overwhelmed and drowning. What can you do this week to show people the love that Jesus has for them? (Allow children to answer.)

Those are wonderful ways to show and tell the people that Jesus loves them!

Let’s meet God at the altar. On our knees, let’s pray.

Prayer:

(Each week during the prayer, affix the bead to the ribbon when you begin the prayer.)

God of love and compassion, remind us to live life with actions that honor you, knowing your son Jesus provides protection from the hurts of this world. I know that I need you to protect and care for me. Help me to listen and offer help to the people you place in my life. God, this week, we have collected coins in our jars and give you thanks for shelter. We pray for those who have no place to sleep at night. Allow us to show them compassion. Gather us all under your wings of protection. Amen.