Liturgy Instructions
6th Sunday Ordinary Time 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.
Review
Ask: Last week’s symbol was a hand. We talked about how when we follow Jesus, God uses our hands to share his love with others
Say: Today is the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Introduce symbol
Say: Today is the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our symbol is a person. We have talked the last few weeks about following Jesus. When we do that, God uses us to do his work.
We talked about God using our voices. Does anyone remember how we can use our voices for God? <singing praise, saying thank you, comforting others>
We talked about God using our hands. Can anyone tell me how God can use our hands? <running errands, hugging, sign of peace>
Say: Today we are going to talk about God using our WHOLE selves.
Say: Let’s look at today’s poster. What does it say? <I turn to you, Lord, in times of trouble.> 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 first letter of St Paul to the people who lived in Corinth. (1 Cor 10:31-11:1) St Paul has some advice for the early followers of Jesus. Listen carefully and see if you understand what St Paul is telling them (and US!)
Have the reader read the first reading.
Ask: What did you hear? <let the children retell the reading> What does it mean “to honor God”? <when we act like Jesus did, we show God that we love him> St Paul tells the people to honor God even when eating and drinking. What do you think he meant? < he meant that whatever you do, do it for God – even the most basic things – like brushing your teeth!>
Say: Now it is time for the Responsorial Psalm. Your part is to say:
I turn to you, Lord, in times of trouble.
Say: Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of St. Mark. (Mark 1:40-45). Do you remember last week that we talked about bad things happening to people? And the people who lived when Jesus did thought that bad things only happened to bad people. Today we know better because Jesus taught us that bad things happen to everyone.
There was a disease of the skin called leprosy. It made the skin look really ugly. Most people were afraid of leprosy. If someone had leprosy, they had to go live alone outside of town. They had to leave their families and go live in caves with other sick people. Sometimes they even had to wear bells so others could hear them coming and run away. Jesus didn’t act like other people. Listen to St. Mark’s gospel and hear what Jesus did.
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: What did Jesus do? <he touched the leper and healed him> Jesus showed us that it is okay to touch and care for sick people. He taught us that we should not run away from others. He taught us that we should care for all God’s children. Every person is God’s child no matter what they look like!
Hand out the poster cut-outs of a person so that the children can write their names on them for the poster.
Hand out the symbols to color. (The symbol is a person). Ask the older children to write one thing they can do this week to take care of a child of God.
Explain: Color this symbol of person and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!) to show that we have learned about taking care of others.
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.
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| Use this graphic for all 3 symbols |
Parent Letter
6th Sunday Ordinary Time B
Dear parents,
Today your children heard simplified versions of similar readings that you heard: 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 and Mark 1:40-45.
Symbol: person
To reinforce at home:
God uses our whole selves to follow Jesus. In the last few weeks, we have talked about following Jesus. Following Jesus means turning your whole self over to God to use in the way God thinks best. This means we have to listen to God and do our best to do the things he wants us to do.
Jesus came to tell us that all of us are God’s children no matter what we look like or act like. It is up to us to find the “God” in the people we meet and, sometimes harder yet, to find the “God” in us.
Activities to do at home:
*Be kind to others! Together with your child, think of someone you know who needs your friendship. (It might be two different people – someone in school that no one likes for your child to befriend, and a difficult co-worker for you to befriend.)
*Take care of God’s children! Together with your child, choose some gifts for a child to donate anonymously.
*Honor God with your life! St. Paul tells us to honor God when eating or drinking. Even in the most ordinary parts of our lives, we should honor God. Talk with your child about how doing your best at anything honors God. Talk about how important it is to remember to honor God while brushing teeth or while driving a car or folding laundry.
Thank you for sharing your children!
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