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 1st Sunday of Lent. The season of Lent officially began last Wednesday on Ash Wednesday. Does anyone know what great feast comes at the end of Lent? <Easter> What else does anyone know about Lent? <discuss>
Explain: Lent is a time to prepare for Easter by getting closer to God. It is a time to think about God and to try really hard to learn more about what God wants us to do. It is a time that is often thought of like the cold of winter that comes before the warmth and beauty of Spring.
During the Sundays in Lent, we will be learning about promises, the promises between God and us.
Ask: Does anyone know what a promise is? <discuss> Another word for promise is covenant. Say “covenant”. How many people are involved in a promise?
Explain: There are always at least 2 people involved in a promise, the one who makes the promise and the one who the promise is made to. There are responsibilities on both sides of the promise.
Introduce symbol
Say: Today’s symbol <hold up the symbol> is a rainbow. A rainbow represents a special promise that God made to us.
Say: Let’s look at the poster we will make today. What does it say? <Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.> This is our Responsorial Psalm for today. During Lent we will use only one small symbol on our posters, a leaf. You will each put your name on the leaf. During the long wait until Easter, our bare chapel will be like Spring outside with more leaves appearing every week. We will be preparing our hearts for Easter like the world outside is getting ready for Spring.
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 Genesis. (Gen 9:8-15) This reading will be familiar to many of you. It is about a special promise that God made to a man called Noah. Do you remember the new word for Promise? <covenant>
Have the reader read the first reading.
Ask: What did you hear? <discuss>
Say: Now it is time for the Responsorial Psalm. Your part is to pray the words of praise nice and loud:
Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Say: Today’s Gospel reading comes from the New Testament book of Mark. (Mark 1:12-15) In the Gospel today, we hear about a time when Jesus lived in the desert before fulfilling the rest of God’s promise to us, the promise of new life. Do you know what a desert is? What does a desert look like? <right, lots of sand, very little water and few plants or animals> Pretend that you are in the desert with Jesus listening to God’s Word.
Say: Now let’s stand and get ready to hear the Gospel
(hold up card) Alleluia, Alleluia.
Have the reader begin: “a reading from the holy gospel.....”
Read: Read the Gospel
Say: What happened? <discuss> How did God keep His covenant with us? <Jesus became one of us and died and rose for us>
Hand out the poster cut-outs and Offertory symbols.
Ask children to add their names to the cutouts (leaves) so that they can be glued onto the poster.
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Explain: Color this symbol of the rainbow and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!) to show what we have learned about being part of God’s covenant.
Ask the older children to write down one thing they can do this week to become closer to God.
If there is time, review the lesson.
Give out stickers and hand-outs as they leave.
Parent Letter
First Sunday in Lent B
Dear Parents,
Today is the First Sunday in Lent. The children listened to two of the same readings you did: Genesis 9:8-15; Mark 1:12-15
Symbol: Rainbow
To reinforce at home:
We introduced the concept of Lent as a time of preparation for the great feast of Easter. We encouraged your children to try their best to get closer to God during this time. We encourage and challenge you to make the most of the season of Lent in your own home.
Our overall theme for Lent is PROMISE. Each week we will explore some part of the promise between God and us.
Today we talked about the promise that God has made to each of us and the concept of two sides to an agreement (promise)
Activities to do at home:
*Pray together.
*Read the story of Noah together..
*Set up a “desert” centerpiece for your table to remind you of Lent when you are together. (the easy way—get a cactus garden!)
*Observe fast and abstinence opportunities together
*Mark the Lenten observances on your family calendar.
Thank you for sharing your children!
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