Last week in our Junior School and Little Saints Ash Wednesday chapel service, we spoke about what Lent means and some of the things we do in Lent.

Following Christian tradition, we put away the flowers and the Alleluia. Traditionally, the act of burying the Alleluia is symbolic, a solemn way to say goodbye to the joyous word until Easter. This ritual helps us mark the change in the liturgical season tangibly. The practice of not having flowers in the chapel and saying or singing Alleluia is part of simplifying our worship.

In our services, the children shared what they would be giving up for Lent. These practices remind us by giving up something, we make space for something else.

We looked to the Junior Primary teachers to help us fill the space left by our putting away the flowers and the Alleluia. The teachers suggested that we take-up:

Being kind

Being considerate

Being helpful to one another

On Monday, after the first Sunday in Lent, our theme for the chapel service was God’s creation, our relationship with creation. We looked at what it means to be kind, considerate and helpful in relating to creation.

I walked away from the service believing we can trust children with holy things: creation, stories, liturgy, and truth. There is no need to dumb things down or take something out. Ask questions and be prepared to be surprised by how insightful and knowledgeable the children are.

When children see that even the precious things belong to them, they rise to the occasion. We see this with Grade 2s and Grade 3s who have led us in prayer in chapel. They pray for things one might think are too heavy for children, praying for the alleviation of suffering in the world and cancer. To them, this is what is important. By involving them in chapel, children learn to trust themselves - they learn that they are full members of the community. When we act like children are holy, intelligent, and reverent, more often than not, they act this way.

REVD RAKGADI KHOBO
CHAPLAIN