Ever wonder what to do when the world around you feels unpredictable? Ever struggle to plan meaningful, spiritual worship and classes for your congregation when you don’t feel grounded yourself? Me too. That’s why I’m so glad to be a part of the team that launched Bread of Life, a complete, churchwide resource for Lent. It has everything you need, from children’s and youth curriculum to liturgy for every Sunday in Lent (including Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter). This resource was not just created to help you plan; it’s also what you and the rest of our Illustrated Ministry community have told us they need. Bread of Life invites everyone to come be nourished at the table, savor in the divine generosity of God, and then rise to share what we have been given with others.
If you like what you’ve read so far, come with me, and I’ll unpack a few of my favorite products and how I’d use them. And if you’d like a free set of the spiritual practice bookmarks that come in a few of the products, you can fill out the form below!
Lent Devotional
This exquisitely crafted product takes the reader on a journey each week, following a personal narrative from the writer, Erika. She beautifully connects everyday life to each week’s theme and scripture passage, followed by five discussion questions for self-reflection or to discuss in a group. The IM team has designed a devotional booklet making it easy for churches to print and pass out to congregation members. I would print these and have them available for pick up at the Ash Wednesday service and the first Sunday in Lent.
Or, if you have adult Sunday School classes looking to follow along with the Bread of Life theme in their classes, you could easily pass on this resource to their leaders. Invite a different person each week to read the devotional aloud to the class and then lead the group in a discussion using the provided questions. Two very simple and meaningful ways to engage the adults in your community!
Lenten Spiral
The bread is in the oven; can you smell it? This visually stimulating product will help families with children of all ages find deeper spiritual connections this Lenten season. It has 40 activities for families to do each day in Lent. I know what you are thinking. That’s a lot of activities to ask families to do in their already busy schedules. Don’t worry; some are very simple and won’t take long at all. And the way the IM team has designed it, you can skip a day (or two) and pick right back up where you left off. Easy peasy.
The activities include nature walks, spiritual practices, scripture readings, and feast days! I would print these in full color and send them home with all families in the church who have kids. Better yet, mail them to even those families you may not see very often. Written by a mom and church practitioner, Marta, we know you will love this year’s spiral!
Youth/Intergenerational Curriculum
This curriculum was intentionally created for intergenerational conversations. It is based on an ancient cultural practice of Indigenous people, often referred to as a “Talking Circle.” Read more about this tradition here. Perfectly woven around the scriptures and themes for each week, this curriculum can easily be handed to a volunteer to lead on short notice.
If I were leading this curriculum, I would include youth (middle and high school students), young adults, or college students and invite one or two adult Sunday school classes. I would then divide that large group into smaller groups of six to ten people, ensuring a good age mix. I would make sure each smaller group has its own stack of Sharing Cards, but I would lead the other pieces as a whole, all together. There is something very powerful about learning from one another and bringing this mix of ages together. The church is one of the few remaining places where conversations like this can happen.
At the end of this curriculum, you will find “Spiritual Practice Bookmarks” to print and pass out to all participants. These spiritual practices connect with each week’s theme and offer a simple way to encourage faith formation at home throughout the week. We have also included them as a freebie for this blog post. Just make sure you fill out the form at the top of this post.
Bread of Life Song
And finally, the song: “Bread of Life.” This beautifully written and produced song will keep you humming all Lenten season. Unlike some traditionally somber Lenten tunes you’ll hear at church, this original song will bring new life to your community. Not only can you sing it in church, but you can also sing it at home! It can be found wherever you stream music, making it extremely convenient for church members to enjoy wherever they are. My family loves to ask Alexa, “Alexa, play Bread of Life by Illustrated Ministry,” and it is so magical to hear my four-year-old sing along.
You can watch the official lyric video here, and if you aren’t sure how your congregation could make this song work, please watch the video below of how you can lead your congregation in “Bread of Life,” whether you have a piano or an organ. We also have recently added a cello arrangement for this piece.
But wait…there’s more!
I hope this gives you just a taste of what is possible with this incredible resource, Bread of Life. You can learn more about it on this website, head straight to the Illustrated Ministry store, or check out the other available Bread of Life resources below.
- Liturgy & Scripture Commentary: Thought-provoking Scripture commentary for each week and a complete liturgy including prayers, communion liturgy, affirmation of faith, and more. This product includes everything you need for each Sunday in Lent, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.
- Lent for Families: An interactive faith experience at home, including a brief reflection, guiding questions, and memory-making activity, plus an audio recording—perfect for listening while commuting, preparing meals, or unwinding at the end of the day.
- Interactive Worship Bulletins: Similar to Illustrated Ministry’s Children’s Bulletins, these expand to include all ages with slightly more advanced puzzles and activities.
- Children’s Moments: Our children’s moments have a new and improved format! This resource thoroughly prepares whoever leads the time for children during the worship service.
- Children’s Curriculum: This curriculum uses the Bread of Life scripture passages chosen for each week and perfectly equips children’s Sunday school teachers to guide the children through questions and activities. A beautifully crafted story booklet and video are also included, as well as activities for preschool-aged children.
- Coloring Page & Poster: A beautiful image of the Bread of Life logo is available to print in 8.5×11, 11×17, or larger poster sizes.
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