Liturgical color for Lent is purple.

 

Virtue: Love

Saint: St. Bakhita

Bible Verse: “...repent, and believe in the Gospel.” Mark 1:15

 

 

JOURNEY WITH JESUS TO THE CROSS

 

 

Theme Connection:

Have you ever heard of the Stations of the Cross? Every Catholic Church has Stations of the Cross. It’s a special way to remember the journey Jesus took on the day He died (Good Friday). The Stations are a series of fourteen pictures/images that tell the story of Jesus’ suffering and love for us. (show a station poster) Each station shows a specific moment in Jesus’ journey to the cross, like when Jesus is condemned to death (Station 1), or when he meets his mother, Mary. (Station 4) As we Journey With Jesus through these stations, let’s remember His sacrifice in dying on the cross for us. At each station, let’s say: “Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for us.”

 

You’ll Need:

• Stations of the Cross posters (PDF)
• Station game sheet (1/team)
• Rope (1/team)
• Colored markers

Set up:

• Set up the 14 station posters around the playing area.

Activity:

1. Form teams of three to four players and give each team a game sheet and a rope.
2. Each team will start at a different station holding their rope and sticking together as a team.
3. #1 Rule: The teams must walk to each station. Why do you think we need to walk and not run? Our Lenten Journey with Jesus to the Cross is not a race. If a player is caught running, the team must all sit down for fourteen seconds.
4. Players will walk together as a team to each station and answer the question on their game sheet by circling the answer: Yes or No. Do a demonstration by giving an example.
5. For kids (ages 4-6): Group leaders can read the question and circle the answer for their team.
6. This continues until all stations have been visited by the teams or the team to have the most correct answers within five minutes wins.

LITURGICAL COLOR RUN

 

Theme Connection:

Have you ever noticed the different colors at Mass? The next time you’re at Mass, take a look at the color of vestment the priest is wearing. Each color has a special meaning that helps us understand the different seasons in the church year. This Liturgical Color Run Game is a fun way to learn the liturgical colors of the church year.

 

Purple: (show or point to the color posters) The color purple is special during Advent (the time before Christmas) and Lent (the time before Easter). This is the color that represents preparation and waiting.

White or Gold: You’ll see this color at Mass during Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Christ and at Easter, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

Green: This color symbolizes growth and life. We see this color at Mass during Ordinary Time, which helps us remember to grow in our faith and learn more about the life of Christ and his teachings.

Red: Red is the color for Pentecost, which celebrates the birthday of the church and coming of the Holy Spirit, and on special feast days.

Rose/pink: This joyful color appears one Sunday during Advent and one Sunday during Lent, reminding us to be joyful and hopeful, even in times of waiting.

 

You’ll need:

• Green (painter’s) tape
• Colored poster paper or t-shirt in purple, white, green, red, and pink colors

Set Up: 

• Form a circle in your games area using tape.
• Designate five areas in your games area with five liturgical colors. Use large purple, white, green, red, and pink poster paper taped to a wall (or chair):

Activity:

1. Gather kids inside the circle.

2. Call out a color and have the kids run to the colored poster or to a leader dressed in that specific t-shirt color. See who can touch the color poster or leader first. Award points or prizes to the winner of each round.

3. Have everyone run back to the center circle. Call out another liturgical color.

4. Play several rounds by continuing to call out different liturgical colors in random order.

5. Important rule: No pushing or shoving other players or you will be asked to sit out a round.

Game variations for older kids: Call out a liturgical season (Advent, Christmas, Lent, etc.) and have the kids run to the color of that season.

Another challenge: Call out a message related to the season, and have kids run to the appropriate color. (Ex. This color symbolizes growth and life (kids run to the green poster), the priest wears this color at Mass during Advent, (run to the purple poster), Christ is risen (kids run to the white poster), we see this color on Pentecost (kids run to the red poster), this joyful color appears one Sunday during Advent and one Sunday during Lent, (run to pink poster), etc.) 

 

 

Offer It Up

 

Theme Connection:

Lent is a special time for many Christians. It lasts for 40 days and leads up to Easter. During Lent, people often stop eating certain foods (like candy or chocolate) and give up favorite activities (like watching movies) as a sacrifice and prayer to God. This offering helps us grow closer to God and remember the sacrifices Jesus made for us. This game makes us reflect and think about the things we can offer up as a prayer during Lent!

 

You’ll Need:

• Offer It Up List (PDF) (1/child)
• Baskets or boxes (six or more)

Set up:

• Print and cut out the list items.
• Scatter baskets (or boxes) around the playing area. Have different leaders monitor the baskets to ensure players are only dropping one offering into each basket.

Activity:

1. All players are given six (or more) cards to (“offer up”/get rid of) as quickly as they can! 
2. Every player must race to place only one card/offering into each basket.
3. First child to offer up all their cards wins! 

Play a couple rounds.

 

Game variation for older kids: Play this game in teams in which players need to stick together as they offer up items from basket to basket.

 

TUG OF WAR

 

Theme Connection:

In this Tug of War Game, it’s not about individual strength, but working together as a team to win. Our journey through the season of Lent is not something we should do alone. We are in this journey together to grow closer to God and to become saints. By praying, fasting, giving and making sacrifices, we help each other grow in our faith. This game can remind us that we can encourage each other during Lent, especially when it gets tough. Remember to work as a team, not just pulling individually. Shout things such as, “Pull together!” or “One, two, three, pull!”

 

You’ll Need:

• A long, strong rope (at least 20 feet long)
• A piece of tape to mark the center point on the rope a and to mark the centerline and goal lines on the ground.

Set up:

• Mark a centerline on the ground.
• Ensure there’s enough space on either side of the center line for the teams to pull.

Activity:

1. Divide the kids into two even teams . Each team grabs one end of the rope.
2. The teams should grip the rope firmly with both hands. The rope’s center should be aligned with the center marker. The goal of the game is to pull the other team across the line.
3. On “Go”, both teams pull the rope as hard as they can across their goal line.
4. The team that successfully pulls the opposing team over the line wins! Play a couple rounds.

 

 

Find Your Saint Partner

 

Theme Connection:

Throughout Lent, there are many saints who celebrate their feast days! The saints are great examples of heroes in the faith who served the poor, the sick, and the outcasts. For example St. Bakhita (our VBS Saint of the day) dedicated her life to serving others, particularly the poor and lonely. This Find Your Saint Partner game will remind us to ask the Saints to pray for us so we may help others just like they did.

Note: Find Your “Saint” Partner game is an all-time favorite Cat.Chat VBS game. We want to emphasize the importance of the Saints in the lives of children.

 

You’ll Need:

• Find your Saint Partner Cards (PDF)

Set up:

• Print the Find your Saint Partner game cards. For durability, print the cards on cardstock.
• Cut enough matching cards so that each player will have one game card, and their partner will have the other matching card. Ex. If you have twenty kids playing the game, be sure to print two copies of ten different saints. (2 cards of Saint Nicholas, 2 cards of St. Peter, 2 cards of St. Mary Magdalene, etc).
• Mix up the cards and scatter them in your games area.

Activity:

1. On “Go”, everyone will race to grab ONE card and then try to find one other player with the same matching card.
2. When you find your partner, you must run together, linked arm-in-arm, and be the first team to show (the games leader) your matching cards.
3. Collect all the sets of cards from all the groups, mix them up and scatter them in the games area. Award prizes each round. Play several rounds. 

The Yes or No Lent Game

 

Age level: 7 and up

 

Theme Connection:

During Lent, we take a moment to think about how we can grow closer to God and show kindness to others. Many people choose to give up something they enjoy, like sweets or video games, as a way to make room for more prayer and good deeds. It’s also a time to help others, whether that means sharing toys, doing chores, or just being a good friend. By focusing on love, kindness, and prayer, we prepare our hearts to celebrate the joy of Easter!

 

You’ll Need:

• 4 Chairs

 

Set up:

• Place 2 YES chairs on one side  
• Place 2 NO chairs on the other side.
• Divide the players into two equal teams.
• Have two teams sit facing each other, about 6 feet  apart.

Note: Be sure to assign the same numbers to the players on the other team with a #1 on each team, #2, #3, etc. (see illustration)

 

Activity

1. The first person on each team will be #1, the next person # 2, then #3, etc.
2. THere are 2 YES chairs on one side of the playing area and 2 NO chairs on the other side (point to the chairs). Each team has a YES chair and a NO chair, the chair closest to your team’s side is your team’s chair. It’s important to set up 2 chairs/team to avoid injuries competing over one chair.
3. I’m going to read out a question and say a number. If I call your number, you are going to decide if the answer is YES or NO. If the answer is Yes, then the two people who’s number I call out will race to be the first to sit on their team’s yes chair. The first person to sit down on the correct chair gets a point for their team. If the answer is NO to the question, then you will race to sit on a no chair. The first team to 5 points wins, or highest score wins after approx. 7 minutes of play. Do a practice round/demonstration.

 Questions

1. Did Jesus die on the cross for all of us? Yes or No? Call out #3. Both #3 players from each team must run up and be first to sit on their team’s YES chair.

2. Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples. Yes or No. Yes. 

3. Lent lasts for 50 days. Yes or no? No.

4. Do Catholics usually eat fish on Fridays during Lent? Yes or No? Yes.

5. Is it a good idea to go to Confession during Lent? Yes or No? Yes.

6. Did Jesus spend only 5 days in the desert? Yes or No? No. 

7. Did Jesus share a special meal with his friends during the Last supper? Yes. 

8. Is Lent just for adults? No. 

9. Is Ash Wednesday the start of Lent? Yes or No? Yes.

10. The color green is the liturgical color for Lent. Yes or No? Yes.

11. Lent is a time to prepare for Christmas. Yes or No? No.

12. Lent is a time to grow closer to God. Yes or No? Yes.

13. Is it okay to forget about Lent if you’re busy? Yes or No? No.

14. Do you have to tell everyone what you’re giving up for Lent? Yes or No? No.

15. Can you sing or say the word “Alleluia” during Lent? No.

16. Can you give up something small for Lent?  Yes or No? Yes.

17. Is it important to reflect on your actions during Lent? Yes or No? Yes.

18. Can you learn something new about your faith during Lent?  Yes or No? Yes.

 

 

Ten Commandment Race

 

Theme Connection:

 Did you know that God gave us rules to help us become Champions for Christ? He wants what’s best for us, so He gave us the Ten Commandments. This fun, teamwork game will help us remember the Ten Commandments!

 

You’ll Need

• Ten Commandments Posters
• Ten Commandments Checklist (1/team)
• Different colored markers (1/team)  
• Tape and string

 

Set up:

• Post the Ten Commandments Posters in ten different locations in your games area. To make the game more challenging, you can hide the posters.
• Put the designated colored marker at each poster location and attach it to the poster using the tape and string. This will ensure that the kids don’t run off with the markers. 

 

Activity:

1. Get into equal teams.
2. Each team will receive a checklist.
3. Your team must link arms to find all the Ten Commandments Posters. If a team leader catches your team not linked together, your team will have to stop and sit down for 30 seconds. 
4. When you find a poster, you must check it off on your list with the correct colored marker. There will be a different colored marker at each poster location. Ex. You’ll find an orange colored marker at the “First Commandment” poster. Be sure to check off that box on your list with the orange marker.
5. The first team to check off all the commandments with the correct colors wins.

Younger kids (with the help of a group leader) can play this game too as they can match the numbers on their checklist with the posters.