Seasons by Step series God's Family Tree Lent & Holy Week Catechesis

A week-by-week thematic approach to teaching the Story of Salvation during Lent

CLICK TO VIEW WEBINAR ON THIS RESOURCE!

Use this creative approach to bring your Lent and Holy Week catechesis alive for children and their families, including an optional Easter pageant.  This resource communicates the message of Lent and Easter by using the varied trees found in the Old Testament and the New Testament as a focal point for telling the stories of God's people as they struggle to find faith and hope for life.

Beginning with the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" and the arrival of sin through Adam and Eve, the series traces the sequence of God's plan for our redemption to "Calvary's Tree" and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each week the story unfolds as a different tree is featured and a new symbol makes the Biblical characters and lessons memorable and meaningful. Through their participation, people of all ages will experience the message of salvation and trace God's action in human history directly to their own branch of the "family tree."

Themes and Scripture passages for Ash Wednesday, the six weeks of Lent, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday include:

• Ash Wednesday - Choices - Genesis 3:16
• First Sunday - Covenant - Genesis 6:14
• Second Sunday - Commandments - Exodus 25:10
• Third Sunday - Connection - Isaiah 11:1
• Fourth Sunday - Challenge - Amos 7:14
• Fifth Sunday - Compassion - Luke 2
• Palm Sunday - Contrasts - John 12:13
• Holy Thursday - Contentment - Matthew 26:30
• Good Friday - Convictions - Matthew 27:29
• Easter Sunday - Celebration - Matthew 28:5-6

The content for these sessions includes:

• Worship (including Children's message)
• Nurture (at-home family learning, activities, and prayer)
• Education (creative classroom activities and Easter Pageant)
• Enhancements (reproducible designs for banners, posters, etc.)

Why choose God's Family Tree?

• Why? God's Family Tree is a week-by-week thematic approach to teaching the story of salvation during Lent and Easter.
• Biblical • Bible narratives trace the story of salvation from Creation through Resurrection. Each week features a different tree and a new symbol that helps make the biblical characters and lessons meaningful. 
• Comprehensive • Segments are available for Ash Wednesday, the six Sundays of Lent, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
• Creative • Beginning with the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" and the arrival of sin through Adam and Eve, the series traces the sequence of God's plan for redemption to "Calvary's Tree" and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 
• Complete • The content for these sessions includes:
  • Worship (children's messages, service materials)
  • Nurture (at-home family lessons and prayers)
  • Education (creative activities)
  • Enhancements (patterns for banners, posters, displays)
• Thorough • The chart, with the headings Day, Theme, Scripture, Tree, Symbol, and People with the plan for Lent and Easter in place is a goldmine!
• Flexible • Adaptable to in-person or at-home use
• Nature-oriented • Fun to use with natural elements
• Extendable • Includes a fun pageant, "Re-tracing Our Roots: God's Story of Salvation" which could be used during the season of Easter with children, youth, and adults taking part—live or through photos—inside or outside.
• Easy • Besides the download of the entire book, the publisher is providing each week's materials as a separate link for easy of planning, sending, using.
• Reasonable • This reproducible e-resource is sold with a lifetime license for use within a congregation/parish or school. You are allowed to make unlimited copies for use within your own community. You may also email them to members of your team or participants in your program. Materials may not be posted to any website without explicit permission from the publisher.