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 Hi Friends!   I do want to keep this resource accessible but I am no longer able to update it for you.

I just adjusted the display so that THREE versions will come up.

For example, if you search '6th Ordinary', the plan for all three cycles comes up.

Thank you for your support.  Please continue to let me know how I can help - short of keeping track weekly or providing an updated file.

Thanks to your reaching out - I figured out how to install a search bar

                                                I figured out how to adjust the display

                                                 However I can keep this within reach for you, I will try!

~~ Kay

           

3rd Sunday Advent B

3rd Sunday Advent Cycle B

Welcome children to their worship space.

Ask them to get their carpet squares and sit down in a circle.

Introduce yourself and your helpers.

Introduce

             Say:  This the 3^rd Sunday in Advent.  Did anyone notice anything different in the church today?  <the pink candle in the Advent wreath>  Why do you think we light a pink candle today? <discuss>  The pink candle stands for joy.  Purple is a serious color – to remind us to be good and work hard to be closer to God. Pink is a happy color.  We use it today on the 3^rd Sunday of Advent to show that the waiting is almost over.  Jesus’ birthday is almost here!

Ask:  Last week’s symbol was a footprint.  Does anyone remember what we talked about?  <’the path to Jesus’>  We talked again about waiting for Jesus and what we have to do to ‘stay on the path’ to him.  We talked things we can do to get closer to God. 

Introduce symbol

Say:   Today’s symbol is a scallop shell.  Can anyone tell me what the scallop shell symbolizes?  <let the children answer>  The scallop shell symbolizes two things:  baptism and John the Baptist.   

Say:  We talked a little bit about John the Baptist last week.  Does anyone remember anything about John? <he was Jesus’ cousin, he ate grasshoppers & wore animal skins, he lived in the desert – and he told everyone that Jesus was coming to save the world> 

Ask:  Last week, we also heard from another prophet who lived many years before John.  Does anyone remember who that was?  <Isaiah>  How was Isaiah like John?  <they both talked about the coming of the Messiah to save the world>

Say:  Let’s look at today’s poster.  What does it say? <My soul rejoices in the Lord.>  This is our Responsorial Psalm for today.  The Responsorial Psalms also come from Scripture, from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament.

Introduce readings

We have two readings today.

Say:  Let’s light the candle to show that we are ready to listen to the Word of God.

Say: Today’s first reading is from the Old Testament book of the prophet Isaiah. (Isa 61:1-2) Isaiah tells the people (and us!) that God sent him to tell others about God.  The Israelites who listened to Isaiah were not happy.  Many were slaves and had to do what others told them to do.  They often did not have enough to eat.  Pretend you are an Israelite and listen to the words of Isaiah. See how they make you feel.

Have the reader read the first reading.

Ask:  How did Isaiah’s words make you feel?  <discuss>  What did you hear that was important to you?

Say: Now it is time for the Responsorial Psalm.  Your part is to say:

My soul rejoices in the Lord.

Say:  Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of the Apostle John.  (John 1:19-28).  When John the Baptist talked to the people and baptized them, many people followed him.  There had been many prophets before John (like Isaiah).  The Israelites had been waiting a long time for the Lord to come to save them.  So many people liked John that many of them thought he might be the one they were waiting for.  In this reading, some of them ask John if he is the Messiah.  Listen to what he tells them.

Say:  Now we will stand and get ready to hear the Gospel

(hold up card)  Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Have the reader begin: “a reading from the holy gospel.....”

Read:  Read the Gospel

Ask:  Did you hear what John said? <let the children retell the reading>  Was John the one the people had been waiting for?  <NO – Jesus is coming very soon!>

Hand out the poster cut-outs of a shell so that the children can write their names on them for the poster.

Hand out the symbols to color. (The symbol is a scallop shell).  Ask the older children to write one thing they can do this week to celebrate that Jesus will soon be here.

 

Explain: Color this symbol of the shell and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!)  to show that we have learned about John the Baptist.

If there is time, ask questions and go over the lessons one more time to help the children remember.

Give out stickers and hand-outs as they leave.

Use this scallop shell graphic for all 3 symbols, small for the communal poster, medium for the banner symbol and large for the Offertory gift

Parent Letter

3^rd Sunday Advent  B

Dear parents

             Today is the 23^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time.  Your children have heard a simplified version of two of the same reading you heard: Isaiah 61:1-2; John 1:19-28.

Symbol:  Scallop Shell

To reinforce at Home:

The scallop shell symbolizes two things: the Sacrament of Baptism and John the Baptist.  Today we explored the relationship between the two prophets Isaiah and John the Baptist.  The prophets help us remember that Jesus is coming.

We also talked about the celebration today, that Advent is almost over, Jesus is almost here!  This is the joyful Sunday in Advent marked by the pink candle in your Advent wreath.

Activities to do at Home:

* Jesus is coming!  Choose a quiet prayer time together each day to ask God to show you what your job is for that day.

*Share Jesus’ love!  With your child, think of a person who might be lonely and go together to do something for that person.  You cold run small errands, do some light housework, or perhaps just drop in to share some cookies.

 

*Celebrate!  Light the pink candle in prayer and do something special for dinner – like a cake – to celebrate that the long wait is almost over.

Thank you for sharing your children!

2nd Sunday Advent Cycle B

2^nd Sunday Advent Cycle B

Welcome children to their worship space.

Ask them to get their carpet squares and sit down in a circle.

Introduce yourself and your helpers.

Introduce

             Ask:  Today is the 2^nd Sunday in the season of Advent.  Can anyone tell me what color candle we light today in the Advent wreath?  <purple>

Explain: There are 4 Sundays in Advent.  We use this time to think about God and try to be as good as we can to get ready for the birth of Jesus.

Ask:  Does anyone remember what last Sunday was? <show the heart>  It was the 1^st Sunday of Advent.  We talked about how to get ready for Jesus to come into our lives.

Introduce symbol

Say:  Today’s symbol <hold up the symbol> is a footprint.  What do you think the footprint might represent?  <walking>

Explain:  Today we are talking some more about getting ready for Jesus.  We are using a different idea.  We are going to hear about preparing the way for Jesus – like a path or a road. We are going to hear about a special prophet who told people that Jesus was coming.

Ask:  Can anyone guess who that special person might be?  <a hint might be…. He was Jesus’ cousin….. John the Baptist>

Say:  Let’s look at today’s poster.  What does it say? <Lord, show us your mercy and love, and grant us your salvation.>  This is our Responsorial Psalm for today.  The Responsorial Psalms also come from Scripture, from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament.

Introduce readings

We have two readings today.

Say:  Let’s light the candle to show that we are ready to listen to the Word of God.

Say: Today’s first reading is from the Old Testament book of the prophet Isaiah. (Isa 40:3-5)  Many years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah talked about preparing the way for the Lord.  Listen to the words of Isaiah and try to think of what it might mean in your life.

Have the reader read the first reading.

Ask:  What does this scripture reading mean to you?  <discuss with the children how they might “flatten mountains” or “level rough road” by doing good things for others>

Say: Now it is time for the Responsorial Psalm.  Your part is to say:

Lord, show us your mercy, and grant us your salvation.

Say:  Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of Mark.  (Mark 1:1-8)  During the time when Jesus was alive, most people were used to hearing the words of the prophet Isaiah. This reading in the New Testament begins with the words of Isaiah that you just heard.  Then we hear about the prophet John, known as the Baptist.  John came to tell about someone who was coming.  Listen to John’s words and see if you can understand who John is talking about.

Say:  Let’s stand and get ready to hear the Gospel

(hold up card)  Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Have the reader begin: “a reading from the holy gospel.....”

Read:  Read the Gospel

Ask: Do you know who John was talking about?  <Jesus> Does anyone remember how John was described in the Gospel reading?  <clothes of camel’s hair, leather strap around his waist, ate grasshoppers>  If you were a person in the crowd, do you think you would have figured out what he was talking about?  Do you even think you would have listened to such a man?  <maybe – maybe not>

Hand out the cut-outs (footprints) and ask the children to put their names on them for the poster. Collect them as the children finish.

Hand out the symbols to color  (The symbol is a footprint).

 

Explain: Color this symbol of the footprint and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!)  to show what we have learned about being on the path to Jesus.

Ask the older children to write one thing that they will do this week to show that they are on the path to be with Jesus.

If there is time, ask questions and go over the lessons one more time to help the children remember.

Give out stickers and hand-outs as they leave.

 

Use this graphic for all 3 symbols.... small for the group project, medium for the banner symbol and large for the Offertory gift

2^nd Sunday Advent Cycle B

Welcome children to their worship space.

Ask them to get their carpet squares and sit down in a circle.

Introduce yourself and your helpers.

Introduce

             Ask:  Today is the 2^nd Sunday in the season of Advent.  Can anyone tell me what color candle we light today in the Advent wreath?  <purple>

Explain: There are 4 Sundays in Advent.  We use this time to think about God and try to be as good as we can to get ready for the birth of Jesus.

Ask:  Does anyone remember what last Sunday was? <show the heart>  It was the 1^st Sunday of Advent.  We talked about how to get ready for Jesus to come into our lives.

Introduce symbol

Say:  Today’s symbol <hold up the symbol> is a footprint.  What do you think the footprint might represent?  <walking>

Explain:  Today we are talking some more about getting ready for Jesus.  We are using a different idea.  We are going to hear about preparing the way for Jesus – like a path or a road. We are going to hear about a special prophet who told people that Jesus was coming.

Ask:  Can anyone guess who that special person might be?  <a hint might be…. He was Jesus’ cousin….. John the Baptist>

Say:  Let’s look at today’s poster.  What does it say? <Lord, show us your mercy and love, and grant us your salvation.>  This is our Responsorial Psalm for today.  The Responsorial Psalms also come from Scripture, from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament.

Introduce readings

We have two readings today.

Say:  Let’s light the candle to show that we are ready to listen to the Word of God.

Say: Today’s first reading is from the Old Testament book of the prophet Isaiah. (Isa 40:3-5)  Many years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah talked about preparing the way for the Lord.  Listen to the words of Isaiah and try to think of what it might mean in your life.

Have the reader read the first reading.

Ask:  What does this scripture reading mean to you?  <discuss with the children how they might “flatten mountains” or “level rough road” by doing good things for others>

Say: Now it is time for the Responsorial Psalm.  Your part is to say:

Lord, show us your mercy, and grant us your salvation.

Say:  Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of Mark.  (Mark 1:1-8)  During the time when Jesus was alive, most people were used to hearing the words of the prophet Isaiah. This reading in the New Testament begins with the words of Isaiah that you just heard.  Then we hear about the prophet John, known as the Baptist.  John came to tell about someone who was coming.  Listen to John’s words and see if you can understand who John is talking about.

Say:  Let’s stand and get ready to hear the Gospel

(hold up card)  Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Have the reader begin: “a reading from the holy gospel.....”

Read:  Read the Gospel

Ask: Do you know who John was talking about?  <Jesus> Does anyone remember how John was described in the Gospel reading?  <clothes of camel’s hair, leather strap around his waist, ate grasshoppers>  If you were a person in the crowd, do you think you would have figured out what he was talking about?  Do you even think you would have listened to such a man?  <maybe – maybe not>

Hand out the cut-outs (footprints) and ask the children to put their names on them for the poster. Collect them as the children finish.

Hand out the symbols to color  (The symbol is a footprint).

 

Explain: Color this symbol of the footprint and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!)  to show what we have learned about being on the path to Jesus.

Ask the older children to write one thing that they will do this week to show that they are on the path to be with Jesus.

If there is time, ask questions and go over the lessons one more time to help the children remember.

Give out stickers and hand-outs as they leave.

Parent Letter

2^nd Sunday Advent  B

Dear parents,

Today is the Second Sunday in Advent.  The children listened to simplified versions of two of the same readings you heard: Isaiah 40:3-5 and Mark 1:1-8.

Symbol:  Footprint

         

To reinforce at home:

          Today we discussed staying on the path to Jesus’ coming.  We talked about John the Baptist and how he told people about Jesus’ coming.  We tied together the Old Testament reading in Isaiah to Mark’s telling about John in the desert.

          We discussed again about the things we need to do to keep trying to stay close to God during this Advent season.

Activities to do at home:

          *With your child, make a list of things you think are important for your family to do this holiday season.  Prioritize everyone’s favorite activity and make the season as hassle-free and enjoyable as you can.

          *Many organizations have drives during the holidays to give gifts or food to those less fortunate.  With your child, choose one or two drives that you would like to participate in together.

          *Weather permitting, take a walk outside together.  Experience first-hand the “rough and rugged ground” of a path.  Talk about things you could do to smooth out the path and compare this to things you can do to help your life run more smoothly.

          Thank you for sharing your children!