Lenten Prayers, Holy Week With Kids, and All the Footnotes
Fantastic Friday/Saturday
April is a parade of a month. Last weekend I traveled through stunning Appalachia to see my sister and attend the beautiful HopeWords Conference. And for the next three weeks, we have multiple kid birthdays, Easter, and more adventures.
I was up ridiculously late working on this because I made writing wait until I was finished decorating the house for the first kid on the birthday train. The iridescent pompons, buntings and banners, and confetti-filled balloons must come first!
I love creating a culture of celebration and special moments for my family1. It’s another way of setting my hands to creativity in my home and storytelling to my children. You inspire me, the decorations say.
Today’s birthday girl gets to eat her food requests using the “You are special today” plate,2 which pretty much stays on the counter all month for the rest of our celebrations. You are honored, it says.
Through all of the prep work—and coming off the heels of traveling, I knew exactly what Fantastic Friday/Weekend karaoke song I would share with you:
In the Hands of Christ My King by Austin Stone Worship
As my church has led us through the Lenten season of prayer and fasting, our pastor has reminded us of the ancient prayer, “Come, Holy Spirit.”
The need to be reminded of God’s constant presence and purpose has sidled into my prayers through these past 40 days. It’s sinking into muscle memory for me. What a relief this offers throughout my day.
Come in the morning when the toddler is up way too early after lots of night wake-ups.
Come when I’m reading the Bible and remembering the Story.
Come when my children are struggling to be peaceful.
Come when we get to do schoolwork together.
Come when it’s hard to be a grace speaker.
Come when I’m plotting the novel that takes a backseat to the other needs (and I’m truly okay with that now).
Come in the late afternoon when I’ve hit yet another wall today and have little energy.
Come when we take our evening walk.
Come when I need to stay up late (and be with me in the quiet).
Come when I write on Substack.
Come in the evening hours of rest and sleep.
Come when my mind is still reeling.
Come to my dreams.
Open my eyes.
Every time I breathe these, “Come, Holy Spirit” words, I think of this Austin Stone song, which has been on repeat in my brain during this marathon of a week.
Come Holy Spirit, move in power
Ignite my heart with Your holy fire
Show me the Father, show me the Son
Revive my soul again, Oh Spirit come- Austin Stone Worship (Full lyrics here)
Show me.
Speak to me.3
Then the Lord came and stood, and called as at the other times: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
- 1 Samuel 3:10 (NASB)
As we head into Holy Week and the final preparations for Easter (and another birthday in my household), this song will stay on a loop in my mind.
I will be praying for my church—that we will all keep asking to hear from God and that we will be still, watchful, and listening.
I will pray this for you too, kind reader.
Do you have a prayer or a song that you have especially connected with during this season?
Some Holy Week Things
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. Here is what we’re making use of in our home this coming week:
Holy Week Zine by Story Makers NYC, who I got to meet at HopeWords last week. I am eager to dig into this, as I also grabbed their Relationships: Teen Zine Vo. 4 and will do that with the girls this summer.
Holy Week printable cards (free at Overstuffed Life), which I string across the fireplace, overlapping with the tassel bunting for the birthdays. This is a multi-tasking month, after all.
These hot cross buns from Sally’s Baking Addiction. I’m NOT a baker and always intimidated by yeasty recipes, but Sally spells things out for derps like me and somehow we pull it off.
Trying this pineapple carrot cake, also from Queen Sally, who knows exactly how I want my recipes spiced.
Reading lots of Easter read-aloud books together!
A Few of Our Favorite Easter books include:
Humphrey’s First Palm Sunday by Carol Heyer (We LOVE the Christmas one too; my eyes watered the first time we read it)
The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous (Read this gorgeous work on a day you’re decorating eggs together)
The Donkey Who Carried a King by R.C. Sproul (via Ligonier Ministries, but we listened to this through our library’s Libby app)
The Legend of the Easter Robin by Dandi Daley Mackall (link for Abebooks; expensive used, but worth it)
There are tons more books that could be mentioned, but these are the first we always reach for.
What are your family’s favorite Easter read-alouds?
As for my personal reading, I’ve appreciated this book my friend Nicole gifted me with when I was struggling over the thing I chose to fast from. It’s been gold for me:
And after grabbing quite a stack of books from the Goldberry Books pop-up at HopeWords, I decided to start in on this absolute treasure. Where I grew up in Southeastern Ohio is 100% my setting muse so this has been brilliant and inspiring:
What are you reading right now?
How are you observing Holy Week with your family and your church?
Thanks to Sally Clarkson for immeasurable inspiration when it comes to family culture. All of her books and her podcast embody this idea, but one very specifically does so: The Lifegiving Table: Nurturing Faith Through Feasting, One Meal at a Time. See also Teatime Discipleship, which has a similar aim. We will be using leftover cakes for teatime this month!
Thank you to a couple in our church who gifted us this special celebration plate many years ago. See the Red Plate Store to learn about it.
Please tell me that someone else knows this song from Audio Adrenaline, “Speak to Me.” I cannot ever say, “Speak to me, God” without this chorus blaring in my mind. Does anyone else have a memory DJ always poised with these music cues? Please listen so I know I’ve got friends hearing the same song prayer this week…
Bookshop.org
If I post links to books, they often direct you to Bookshop.org. If you make a purchase through them, you get to choose an independent bookstore to support with the sale (ask me if you want suggestions). And if you purchase through the link I provided, I get a teeny tiny affiliate commission which will maybe one day offset the cost of a paperback here and there because I buy a lot of books, so thank you!
When you can avoid purchasing through Amazon, you choose to participate differently in the book buying community. Here are Six Alternatives to Buying Books From Amazon.