Take Out Leaders Guide March/Lent 2010

Lenten Family Friday

The season of Lent is a time to deepen our faith as individuals and as a community of believers.

The March issue of Take Out highlights Friday nights as a time to come together as a family and participate in Lenten practices. Choose a Friday evening in March and gather families at your parish for a Lenten Family Friday. Encourage families to begin the evening by attending the Stations of the Cross for families and children. After stations, gather families in the social hall or auditorium for a light meal and Lenten activities.

Gather families at tables and be sure to build in time for “getting to know you” introductions. This helps parents connect with other parishioners who may have kids the same age or find that it is fun to learn from parents with older kids who have already experienced the younger phases of adolescence.

Pray

Welcome families and open the evening with prayer. Use the prayer in the March issue of Take Out or a traditional meal prayer such as “Bless Us, O Lord…”

Family Prayer
Lord, we thank you for the blessings of this day
and for this time together as family.
We thank you
for this wonderful meal
and for this hour we can share it.
Help us to remember those who have so much less than we do.
Bless us as a family.
Help us to grow in love and care for each other.
We ask you to comfort and give strength and peace
to those who are sick or struggling in any way.
And so together we pray,
Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts,
which we are about to receive
from your bounty
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Share a Light Meal

Offer families a simple meatless meal of cheese pizza, soup and bread or make one of the global recipes in the March issue of Take Out such as Vietnamese Fried Rice.

For Reflection and Discussion

Place the following discussion topics in the center of each table and encourage families to discuss these topics while they eat:

• During Lent, we are reminded that all believers are united as one Body of Christ in Jesus crucifixion, death and resurrection. Talk about what is special about you family as well as your parish family.

• During Lent, we hear the scripture story of Jesus’ faith being tested in the desert. Take turns talking about a time when your faith was tested.

• During Lent, we hear many scripture stories about forgiveness and helping people. Share a time when you really tried to live out the message of Jesus by forgiving or helping someone.

Large Group Sharing

Welcome participants to share any parts of their table discussion with the whole group.

Closing Prayer and Sending

Pray the Lord’s Prayer and bless families as they journey forth.