Submitted by
G. Lownsbrough

Age Group
8-12

Aim
To consider our faults
To prepare for Ash Wednesday, Lent and Easter
To be aware of reconciliation

Faith Group
Christian

Resources
Last year's palms, paper, metal bin, sandpit, seed, bulb, two flowerpots

Time of Year
A couple of days before Ash Wednesday, or Ash Wednesday itself

Other Details
If a priest is available, he can be asked to give the blessing at the end Anybody can give a blessing though
Part or all of this assembly can take place outdoors for safety reasons
There are more details about this assembly here

Script
LEADER: Today we are going to do something very special. We will burn the palms which were left over from last year's Palm Sunday.
Some of you have brought in your own palms, which you have had in your homes for nearly a year. They are looking very dry and dusty now. We will burn them and then on Wednesday they will be blessed with Holy Water. As you know, it is the custom on Ash Wednesday to receive the ashes on our foreheads to remind us that we must try to get rid of the things which spoil our friendship with God.

PALMS BURNT

We are now going to burn something else. You have all been asked to write or draw something which spoils our relationship with God.
These slips will be burnt as a sign that what has happened in the past is over and that we are going to try to replace bad with good.

PAPERS BURNT

FIRST READER
Let us now look at the ashes from the palms.
When they are cold they look dead.

SECOND READER
They have no light or warmth.

THIRD READER
They are dull and uninteresting.
We are like this sometimes when we refuse to share, to love, to give help to others. This is why we wear ashes on our foreheads on the first day of Lent, to remind us that we need to improve our life with Jesus and with others, so that we can be filled with the light and life, and warmth and love of God.

FOURTH READER
We are now going to plant a seed and a bulb in these ashes and watch carefully over the next five weeks of Lent to see if life will grow from these ashes. At the same time we will try to grow more in our love for God.

PRIEST
Dear God, help us as we prepare ourselves for Lent and Easter. We are sorry for all the wrong things we have done. Today we have chosen one fault which we are ashamed of. We ask you to help us to improve. If we fail encourage us to start again so that by the end of Lent we will be stronger in our love for you. Amen.