Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day Lenten season. It is traditionally a period of fasting and prayer in preparation for the celebration of Easter – the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Here is a guide that may help you and encourage you and your family during this period.
It is prepared by The Church of Ceylon Board of Christian Education Diocese of Colombo
We are pleased to share with you the World Council 2026 Prayer Calendar put together by the World team (see attached). It starts in September and goes through to just after the World Council next year. Their hope is that this becomes a meaningful opportunity to unite in prayer as friends across our link groups, you may use the special World Council 2026 Prayer Calendar, along with your own country’s needs, GFS intentions, and personal prayer requests.
Prayer is telephoning God?
Prayer is the breath of the Soul?
Prayer is a way of getting things from God?
What do you think is meant when it is said that someone uses prayer as a parachute?
Is that your conception of prayer: just something to use in event of emergency – when someone is dying, when you are about to fail an exam, or when you have lost some money?
Of course it is not wrong to pray about any of these things but if that is the only time you pray, you are making a mistake.
Which of these definitions is how you think about prayer? Here is another one for you to consider: Prayer is going on record that we are willing for God to act on behalf of others or ourselves.
Winning a game of basketball depends on two things, observing the rules and skill in playing.
Are there rules for praying, just as there are rules for playing a game? Let’s see what the Bible has to say that might constitute rules of prayer.
There is one more point that it is well to think about. Is God always pleased to have us pray? See what Proverbs 28:9 says. God is not pleased to have us pray if we are violating the rules.
Praying Effectively
As GFS Leaders, how can we learn to take a theme and develop it into a wonderful learning experience for our branch/group? By working together we can develop ideas and create an exciting programme.
SOME GUIDELINES: Look at a theme (see ideas below) under the following headings and try and think in a new, fresh way about the topic.
TEACHING: What teaching from God’s Word reminds you of this topic?
EXPLORATION / DISCUSSION TIME: Is there a problem to solve or a topic for your girls to “debate”?
DECOR: How could you create an atmosphere for this programme?
CRAFT: Think of a craft that fits, or design a craft with an appropriate verse on it. Try to use different materials.
GAMES: Think of some games that are suitable or create some new games to complement the topic.
MUSIC: Slot in some songs–write a new song to a known tune
ACTIVITY SHEETS OR PUZZLES: Ideas? Find-a-word, crosswords, mazes, codes/ciphers, colouring sheets, etc
VIDEO: Is there an applicable video or teaching aid you could use?
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Branch leaders as a group should write their creative ideas on sheets of paper and then bring them all together on a large sheet for everyone to share their CREATIVE BRILLIANCE! From the list of ideas branch leaders can develop a programme based on a theme.
Here is a Creative Programming Worksheet
Some themes you could try this with are:
| Lost & Found | Serving |
| Choices | Following |
| Surprise | Hands |
| Seasons | Belonging |
| Light | Animals |
| Passports | Treasure |