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 15:1-3, 11b-32, NIRV

15The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were whispering among themselves. They said, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3Then Jesus told them a story.

11Jesus continued, “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger son spoke to his father. He said, ‘Father, give me my share of the family property.’ So the father divided his property between his two sons.

13“Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. 14He spent everything he had. Then the whole country ran low on food. So, the son didn’t have what he needed. 15He went to work for someone who lived in that country. That person sent the son to the fields to feed the pigs. 16The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.

17“Then he began to think clearly again. He said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! 18I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven. And I have sinned against you. 19I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20So he got up and went to his father.

“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’

22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’ So, they began to celebrate.

25“The older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants. He asked him what was going on. 27‘Your brother has come home,’ the servant replied. ‘Your father has killed the fattest calf. He has done this because your brother is back safe and sound.’

28“The older brother became angry. He refused to go in. So, his father went out and begged him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I have always obeyed your orders. You never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But this son of yours wasted your money with some prostitutes. Now he comes home. And for him you kill the fattest calf!’

31“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me. Everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad. This brother of yours was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’”

Playlist Song:

“Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves

Materials needed:

Beads
Thin ribbon
Charm in the shape of a cross.

Message:

How is your prayer life this week? (Allow children to provide answers.) Remember, each Sunday, we pray for people in the world and place coins in our Lenten Coin Calendar jar. 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? What about your Lenten Playlist? Have the songs motivated you in your prayer life? (Allow children to provide examples.) On the First Sunday in Lent, we prayed for those in darkness. On the Second Sunday in Lent, we prayed for those who feel overwhelmed and ask that they comfort and protection in Jesus. Last week, we learned about producing fruit and how we must cling to Jesus.

Today’s Bible story is about a father with two sons. One of the sons wanted to get his share of the family’s money and leave home. So, the father gave him his money, and the son went far away.

The son quickly spent all his money and had nothing to eat. So, he decided to go home again. He knew he didn’t deserve to be forgiven for wasting all that money. But he thought perhaps his father would take him back as a servant instead of as a son.

So, the son began to walk home.

The son didn’t know it, but each day his father stood in the road and watched for his son to come home. One day, the father’s waiting ended. He saw his son coming and ran to meet him. Instantly, he forgave his son for taking the money and going away. He didn’t care about the money. He knew only that he loved his son and had him back again.

Jesus tells this story to make sure his followers know how much he loves them and forgives them. Jesus loves you too! And he wants to forgive you whenever you do something wrong. God is waiting for you, just like the father in the story, to forgive and love you on earth as it is in heaven. Another part of bringing heaven to earth is celebrating what God is doing in the world. This is what the father is inviting the older brother to celebrate.

This story reminds us that the love of God never leaves us. No matter how far, like the son in this story, we might wander, God constantly loves us. Never forget that. Our song on the playlist this week is “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves. As you listen to the song this week, see if you hear the son’s story in the words of the song.

Kacey sings about the storms of life but says there’s always been a rainbow hanging over our heads. Do you think that throughout the story of the son and his father, no matter where the son went, no matter what struggles he had, there was always a rainbow hanging over his head? (Allow children to answer.)

When I think of rainbows, I think of God’s love. I think of hope, trust, and grace that come from God. Remember the rainbow promise from God to Noah? The lyrics to this song remind me of the son from today’s story as well. No matter how far he roamed or strayed away from his father, his dad still loved him. No matter what trouble he had gotten himself into, the promise of God’s love was still there. There was always a rainbow over his head. The same is true for you.

Let’s add a bead to our prayer beads to remind us that God’s love is with us no matter what happens in our lives. As we pray let’s give thanks to God for this promise. (Add bead while talking.)

Prayer:

(Each week during the prayer, affix the bead to the ribbon when you begin the prayer.) God of forgiveness: Just like the father in the story, you are waiting for us and offer us your love and forgiveness. God, just like the younger son, you give me so much more than I deserve. Help me also celebrate with others when you give them more than they deserve. Amen.