Lent 2021 - Calendar of Kindness
Traditionally, calendars are only for Advent, but we are introducing a Calendar of Kindness for use during the season of Lent. Because Lent starts on the Wednesday during half term, we have started this calendar from the first day back after half term with the story of Jesus in the desert.
Every day, as part of our Calendar of Kindness for Lent, you will find a Bible reference for the day, a video link to a story, a thought for you to ponder and a prompt for an act of kindness.
Day 1 - Monday 22nd February 2021
Story: Jesus puts God first
Bible Reference: Matthew 4:1-11
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc-x4qKY6Wc&feature=emb_logo
Thought for the day: Think about the times when you’ve been tempted to put your own needs first – think about what would have been better.
Act of Kindness: Put someone else first today.
Day 2 - Tuesday 23rd February 2021
Story: Parable of the Yeast
Bible Reference: Matthew 13:33 & Luke 13:20-21
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc-x4qKY6Wc&feature=emb_logo
Thought for the day: How might you be an ‘agent of change’ during Lent?
Act of Kindness: Make a promise today that you will make a difference during Lent.
Day 3 - Wednesday 24th February 2021
Story: Jesus chooses the first disciples
Bible Reference: John 1:35-51
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWiqXIn9tyg
Thought for the day: How does having friends make a difference?
Act of Kindness: Do something for yours today.
Day 4 - Thursday 25th February 2021
Story: Wedding at Cana
Bible Reference: John 2: 1-11
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7plJa_qnVug&feature=emb_logo
Thought for the day: How was Jesus an ‘agent of change here?
Act of Kindness: Try to change a bad situation for the better today.
Day 5 - Friday 26th February 2021
Story: Woman at the well
Bible Reference: John 4: 1-42
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNxNWv6KZ7s&feature=emb_logo
Thought for the day: Jesus showed he valued an ‘outsider’.
Act of Kindness: Be welcoming to someone outside of your friendship circle today.
Day 6 - Saturday 27th February 2021
Story: Preaching in the synagogue
Bible Reference: Luke 4:14-22
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL6W5Dwbm8g&feature=emb_logo
Thought for the day: Who are the ‘poor’ and ‘broken-hearted’ in our community? How might we help them?
Act of Kindness: Try to change a bad situation for the better today.
Day 7 - Sunday 28th February 2021
Story: Jesus chooses Matthew
Bible Reference: Luke 5: 27-32
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgy6TWuUkK0&feature=emb_logo
Thought for the day: Matthew did a surprising thing in following Jesus. Jesus did a surprising thing by choosing him.
Act of Kindness: Do a surprising thing (in a good way!) for someone else today.
Day 8 - Monday 1st March 2021
Story: St. David’s Day
Bible Reference: Story of St. David’s life
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7wYvFPPDpw&feature=emb_logo
Thought for the day: What do you think David meant by the ‘small things’?
Act of Kindness: What ‘small things’ could you do today?
Day 9 - Tuesday 2nd March 2021
Story: Little things
Bible Reference: Can little things really make a difference?
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3ld9_p2bS0
Thought for the day: Create a catalogue of ‘small deeds’ from this video. How many similar deeds could you think of for yourself?
Act of Kindness: Do a good deed for someone else today.
Day 10 - Wednesday 3rd March 2021
Story: Jesus and the four friends
Bible Reference: Luke 5: 17-26
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWDgdPiNpz0
Thought for the day: What small thing amazed Jesus about these friends? How did Jesus respond to their faith?
Act of Kindness: How could you be a good friend to others today like these friends were?
Day 11 - Thursday 4th March 2021
Story: When I was…
Bible Reference: Matthew 25: 34-40
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7CaLypwQgo
Thought for the day: What were the ‘small things’ here? How can we be compassionate like Jesus taught?
Act of Kindness: Be compassionate today.
Day 12 - Friday 5th March 2021
Story: The sermon on the mountain part 1
Bible Reference: Matthew 5: 13-16
Video/Picture/PPT: https://freebibleimages.org/photos/lumo-salt-light/
Thought for the day: Can a person be like a light? How?
Act of Kindness: Do a deed today that is like light in the darkness.
Day 13 - Saturday 6th March 2021
Story: The sermon on the mountain part 2
Bible Reference: Matthew 6
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG1LjFO99dA&list=PLue6MXzGz0DJmramRHEzV1Q_f-zLYpFck
Thought for the day: What are the ‘small things’ that Jesus spoke about here? How might you store up ‘treasure in heaven’ by your actions?
Act of Kindness: Do something that someone else will treasure.
Day 14 - Sunday 7th March 2021
Story: The sermon on the mountain part 3
Bible Reference: Matthew chapters 5-7
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze7w3-BL3OM
Thought for the day: Jesus’ words always matched his actions. He was always loving, fair, just, merciful and actedfor peace. Do your words always match your actions?
Act of Kindness: Think carefully before you speak today.
Day 15 - Monday 8th March 2021
Story: Hidden treasure
Bible Reference: Matthew 13: 44-45
Video/Picture/PPT: None available
Thought for the day: What do you value most? What does this parable tell of God’s kingdom?
Act of Kindness: Do something that others will value today.
Day 16 - Tuesday 9th March 2021
Story: Jesus’ feet are washed
Bible Reference: Luke 7: 36-50
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ti9BtBrqc8
Thought for the day: What did this woman do to show how much she valued Jesus?
Act of Kindness: Do something for the people you value today.
Day 17 - Wednesday 10th March 2021
Story: The Kingdom parables
Bible Reference: Matthew 13
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ti9BtBrqc8
Thought for the day: What does this show about the important things in God’s kingdom?
Act of Kindness: Choose to do what is good and right today.
Day 18 - Thursday 11th March 2021
Story: Lost – and found!
Bible Reference: Connections can be found in any of the ‘Lost’ parables in Luke 15
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFl9hBSGleU
Thought for the day: Can you find connections with any of the ‘Lost’ parables? How did Jesus show value for the lost? Who might be the ‘lost’ people in your school/community?
Act of Kindness: Show someone who’s lonely that you value them today.
Day 19 - Friday 12th March 2021
Story: Feeding the 5000
Bible Reference: John 6:1-13
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5GZVgcwYLI
Thought for the day: Jesus values a little boy’s lunch.
Act of Kindness: What ‘little’ could you offer to God, or to someone else today?
Day 20 - Saturday 13th March 2021
Story: Good Samaritan
Bible Reference: Luke 10
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeARU_ksb0c
Thought for the day: Why is it sometimes difficult to help other people?
Act of Kindness: Be a ‘good neighbour’ to others today.
Day 21 - Sunday 14th March 2021
Story: Martha and Mary
Bible Reference: Luke 10: 38-42
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2-l5pN9um8
Thought for the day: How did the sisters show what was important to them? Have a think about what you ou spend a lot of time
doing. Is it important?
Act of Kindness: Be busy doing the ‘important’ things today.
Day 22 - Monday 15th March 2021
Story: Lost – and found!
Bible Reference: Connections can be found in any of the ‘Lost’ parables in Luke 15
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VMNO2MAmwA
Thought for the day: Can you find connections with any of the ‘Lost’ parables? How did Jesus show value for the lost? Who might be the ‘lost’ people in your school/community?
Act of Kindness: Show someone who’s lonely that you value them today.
Day 23 - Tuesday 16th March 2021
Story: Calming the storm
Bible Reference: Luke 8
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMquxJlOp1M
Thought for the day: How does Jesus show he is God here?
Act of Kindness: Bring ‘calm’ to someone’s storm today. You might like to ask God to help you.
Day 24 - Wednesday 17th March 2021
Story: St. Patrick’s Day
Bible Reference: Patrick’s own parable
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmNc-NTfmPc
Thought for the day: How does Patrick’s illustration and his life show what God is like?
Act of Kindness: Be inspired by St. Patrick’s actions in what you do today.
Day 25 - Thursday 18th March 2021
Story: Bless you!
Bible Reference: 2 Corinthians 13:14 Trinity blessing
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INPoOfjFJ5s
Thought for the day: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.” These words are often spoken as a blessing. Listen to the words of the song. How many times did you hear the three ‘persons’ in the Trinity mentioned?
Act of Kindness: Act in ways that show grace, love and friendship today.
Day 26 - Friday 19th March 2021
Story: Walking on water
Bible Reference: Matthew 14: 24-33
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY9PlTO8U_M
Thought for the day: How does Jesus show he is God here? What did Peter learn about following Jesus in this story? Peter tried to do what Jesus did.
Act of Kindness: Be a good example for someone else to follow.
Day 27 - Saturday 20th March 2021
Story: The Transfiguration
Bible Reference: Mark 9: 21-28
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT-S1F3gsVI
Thought for the day: What does this story show about Jesus? What questions do you think the disciples asked? The friends saw Jesus in a different way today. They also heard God’s voice.
Act of Kindness: Ask that you will hear God’s voice today. Try to see someone else differently today.
Day 25 - Sunday 21st March 2021
Story: Jesus’ Prayer
Bible Reference: Luke 11
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwWHs4ccYps
Thought for the day: Even though he was God, Jesus still prayed, and taught his friends to pray too. This is the story of prayer that Jesus taught that Christians call the Lord's Prayer. Why do you think Jesus taught his disciples this prayer? Why do you think Christians still pray it?
Act of Kindness: Take a moment to pray today if you’d like to.
Day 26 - Monday 22nd March 2021
Story: Good fish, bad fish?!
Bible Reference: Matthew 13: 47-48
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LPQ-iYcaho
Thought for the day: Life – and God’s kingdom – is all about making choices. What choices do you make every day? How do you decide what’s right?
Act of Kindness: Do the right thing today.
Day 27 - Tuesday 23rd March 2021
Story: Healing ten lepers
Bible Reference: Luke 17: 11-16
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBZHz8oRp0
Thought for the day: Who chooses what is right? How can this story help you today?
Act of Kindness: Say thank you to someone today.
Day 28 - Wednesday 24th March 2021
Story: Pharisee & tax collector
Bible Reference: Luke 18:9-14
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufe6zouTq8g
Thought for the day: Who chooses what is right in this story? How can this story help you today?
Act of Kindness: Be humble, not boastful, today.
Day 29 - Thursday 25th March 2021
Story: Wise & Foolish
Bible Reference: Luke 6:46-49
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXWHLB1f6_U
Thought for the day: Who chooses what is right in this story? How can this story help you today?
Act of Kindness: Make wise choices.
Day 30 - Friday 26th March 2021
Story: Zacchaeus
Bible Reference: Luke 19
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3z1xTabYr0
Thought for the day: Jesus chose to spend time with Zacchaeus even though Zacchaeus hadn't been kind to people. Zacchaeus chooses a new life. How can this story help you today?
Act of Kindness: Give someone a second (or third!) chance today.
Day 31 - Saturday 27th March 2021
Story: Jesus & the children
Bible Reference: Luke 18:15-17
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYgoGdf-nC0
Thought for the day: Jesus chooses to be with children. Why do you think others wanted them to go away? Why do you think Jesus valued children?
Act of Kindness: Remind yourself that you are precious today….then show someone else you value them by choosing to spend time with them.
Day 32 - Sunday 28th March 2021
Story: Palm Sunday
Bible Reference: Matthew 21: 1-11
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-39h0xYqdE
Thought for the day: Have you ever seen a procession, carnival or parade? How did you feel while you watched it go past? What makes you say ‘hooray!’? Why did people cheer for Jesus?
Act of Kindness: Be cheerful today!
Day 33 - Monday 29th March 2021
Story: Good v evil
Bible Reference: The big themes of Easter
Video/Picture/PPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur3PZoQEGGk
Thought for the day: Why are so many stories about good v. evil? Name as many as you can.
Act of Kindness: Be a ‘hero’ to someone today!
Day 34 - Tuesday 30th March 2021
Story: Angry Jesus
Bible Reference: Matthew 21: 12-13
Slideshow: https://www.freebibleimages.org/photos/cleansing-temple/
Thought for the day: What makes you angry? Is it always bad to be angry? Have you ever felt like Jesus did when he saw how people had treated the temple? Is there such a thing as ‘good’ anger? Have you ever felt ‘good’ anger?
Act of Kindness: Try not to be angry (at least for the wrong reasons!) today.
Day 34 - Wednesday 31st March 2021
Story: Maundy Thursday
Bible Reference: Last Supper & Gethsemane
Slideshow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE22l8ERA1s&list=PLlYkZkY1KaVZTHFP2135R3LQGk9HnS_wG&index=8
Thought for the day: Jesus felt alone in the garden. Have you ever felt like this?
Act of Kindness: Be kind to someone lonely – because you know how it feels. Christians believe Jesus does too.
Day 34 - Thursday 1st April 2021
Story: Easter narrative
Bible Reference: Resurrection
Slideshow: https: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgFZDCguR8E
Thought for the day: This is the whole big story – and good wins over the darkness! When all seemed lost, the victory was won. How does this story seem topsy-turvy, like the things Jesus said about God’s kingdom? Christians believe that Jesus changed things forever on Easter Day.
Act of Kindness: Which actions might you try to continue now that Lent is coming to an end?
