Family is the first community we belong to. Families come in all shapes and sizes, they bring happiness and support but also sometimes challenges.
There are people who for many reasons do not have a family or whose families are far away.
This Lent, let’s be thankful for our own families and look out to those who might appreciate an act of kindness.
Think about
Why are you thankful
for your family?
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Corinthians 13:4-8
Give up some free
time to spend with a
family member
Speak
up for those who
don’t have a family
Pray
Lord, thank you for family and help us to
show love to them. Bring comfort to those
who don’t have a family.
Amen
Act
Write an encouraging message on a post it for a family member and leave it on their bedroom door
Cook a meal for your family
Take on an extra chore to help your family
Woodrow Wilson (28th President of the USA) said, “Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.”
Friendship is important and brings joy and community into our lives. However, in our society many people are lonely and in need of good friends.
This Lent, let’s be kind and generous
friends to all those around us.
Think about
Who might need a
friend right now?
“Therefore encourage one another and
build each other up.”
1 Thessalonians: 5:11
Give a thoughtful gift to a friend
(it doesn’t have to cost money, you
could even make something)
Speak
up for those who
are lonely
Pray
Lord, thank you for friends and the joy they bring.
Bring comfort to people who feel lonely.
Let us be kind and generous friends
to everyone around us.
Amen
Act
Give a genuine compliment to three of
your friends right now
Spend time with a friend
(make sure to put your phone away
and give them your full attention)
Do something today to
make your friends laugh
We spend most of our week in
school. Our school is a community
that includes pupils, staff and families.
This Lent, let’s make our school
the most generous, supportive and
happy community it can be.
Think about
How could you make your school
a more encouraging place for everyone?
"Don’t let anyone look down on
you because you are young, but
set an example for the believers
in speech, in conduct, in love,
in faith and in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12
Give up your lunchtime
to help out the staff in your school
Speak
up against unkindness
or bullying
Pray
Lord, thank you for our school.
Let it be a loving and supportive
place for everyone. Give us courage
to stand against unkindness.
Amen
Act
Say hello to someone at school
you wouldn’t normally talk to
Show your appreciation to staff in your school.
You could bake some cakes or write cards
Share with your school council rep
ideas for improving your school for everyone
We have the potential to change our
local community for the better. Our
communities may have obvious challenges
or we might need to look under the
surface to see where change is needed.
There may be practical changes we could
make, causes we could campaign for
or people we could support. This Lent,
let’s look outwards to the people and
places around us to bring transformation
and hope.
Think about
What would you change about your community to make it a better place?
“Love your neighbour
as yourself."
Galatians 5:14
Give a donation of items to a
local charity working with
people in need in
your community
Speak
up for isolated
or vulnerable
people in your
community
Pray
Lord, give us opportunities to reach
out to people in need in our local
community. Help us to take action
to bring hope to those who
need it most.
Amen
Act
Take flowers to an elderly neighbour
or nursing home
Offer to wash someone’s car
Write a card to the volunteers who work
in your local charity shop or care home
thanking them for all they do
We are also part of the national community in the UK.
Our voices are important here too. There are many
issues and people in need in the UK where
transformation is needed.
This Lent, let’s explore how we can make a
difference to important issues in the UK.
Think about
Where do you think
our country needs hope?
“All the believers were together and had
everything in common. They sold
property and possessions to give
to anyone who had need.”
Acts 2:44-45
Give up some free time
to write to your MP
about an important
issue
Speak
up for issues that are important
to you in our country
Pray
Lord, bring your peace and unity to
our country. Give us courage to speak
up for issues that are important to us
and to look for ways to ‘be the
change we want to see’.
Amen
Act
Plan a sponsored activity for a UK charity
Collect items to donate to your local Foodbank
Research charities or campaigns in the UK
working to bring hope to people in need, for example
- homelessness
- people living in poverty
- refugees
Our global community is vast and varied. There are many
people in need across the world.
We also have a responsibility to care for the environment.
This Lent, let’s consider how our actions can
impact global needs.
Think about
What would you like
to change about our world?
“The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but
the earth he has given to mankind.”
Psalm 115:16
Give some money you would
usually spend on yourself
to support a global charity
Speak
up for people in our world who live in poverty and have no one to speak for them
Pray
Lord, thank you for our world and all its beauty
and diversity. Help us to look outwards
and consider the needs of
people all over the world.
Amen
Act
Choose 3 actions to commit to reducing your impact
on the environment e.g. less single use plastics
Research a global charity working to help people
in poverty. How could you support their work?
Commit together with others to give regularly
to help a global cause
