Church Family Moment for Sunday, March 16, 2025

By Director of Spiritual Formation Rebecca Guzman

1. To explore the gentle care of a mother hen, read Five Little Chicks by Nancy Tafuri. In this story, a mother hen leads her little chicks to find good things to eat, then gathers them close under her wings to snuggle and sleep. It’s a beautiful picture of the way Jesus cares for us—gently, lovingly, and always keeping us close. If you don’t have a copy, you can listen to the story here: Five Little Chicks Read Aloud. (Idea from Worshiping With Children.)
2. Play a simple game of “Hen and Chicks Tag” to remind everyone how it feels to be gathered close and safe. One person plays the mother hen while the others are chicks. The hen gently tags the chicks to bring them in close, and they hold hands or link arms as they stay together. Keep going until the mother hen has gathered all her chicks. Talk about how being gentle can be powerful and loving, just like Jesus.
3. Create a cozy “nest” craft to remember how Jesus gathers us in love. Cut out a hen shape from paper or cardboard. Underneath her wings, glue cotton balls, tissue paper, or yarn to look like soft feathers and tiny chicks. You can even write your name on one of the chicks to remember that Jesus gathers you under his wings. Hang your art somewhere you can see it during Lent.
4. Journal, considering the following:
   1. How is Jesus like a mother hen?
   2. Why do you think Jesus chooses gentleness instead of force?
   3. When have you felt safe and loved like the chicks under their mother’s wings?
   4. How can we show gentle love to others this week?