Children’s Liturgy Instructions
Fifteenth Sunday of 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.
Ask children to add their names to the cutouts (rectangles) provided. Explain that we are making a poster for each Sunday and that they will sign a cutout and glue it on.
Ask: Does anyone remember what we were talking about last week? <how God uses regular people like us to tell about him, how we need to believe in Jesus> What is the word that means the same as “Believe”? <Faith>
Explain: Today we are going to talk some more about Faith. We are going to talk about things that get in the way of our faith.
Ask: Has anyone here ever been on a trip before? <allow a few minutes for discussion> Did you take a lot of stuff with you? <discuss> Did you ever find that you were so busy taking care of your things that you missed some of the fun?
Explain: Jesus sent his friends out to tell everyone about him but... he told them to “pack lightly” so that they could concentrate on others and not themselves.
Ask: What might that mean to us? <focus on sharing God’s love rather than spending time worrying about other things, believing that God will take care of our needs>
Introduce symbol
Say: Our symbol today is a suitcase - so we remember to “pack lightly”, to put our worries about ourselves behind and concentrate on sharing Jesus’ love.
Say: Now we are going to practice the Responsorial Psalm, that part between the readings where you get to help. The Responsorial Psalm comes from the Bible just like our readings do. Today’s psalm is: Lord, show us your mercy and love, and grant us your salvation. Can you say this with me? <Have the children repeat it.>
Introduce readings
Say: The first reading today is from the Old Testament, from the book of Amos (Amos 7:10-15). It tells the story of a man named Amos who listened to God and did what God told him to do. Amos was just an ordinary farmer but God chose him to tell some important people about things that would happen to the Israelites.
Say: Now we will have the first reading (light the candle)
Ask: What did God ask Amos to do? <leave his farm and flocks to preach to the people of Israel> Why do you think that the king of Israel didn’t want Amos talking to his people? <because he didn’t want to hear the message>
Have the first reading
Say: Next we will have the Responsorial Psalm
Your part will be to say:
Lord, show us your mercy and love, and grant us your salvation. (hold up card with psalm on it)
Have reader read the psalm
Say: Today’s Gospel reading was written by St. Mark (Mark 6:7-13). St. Mark tells us how Jesus sent his Apostles out two by two to spread the news about God. He even talks about how to pack lightly so that they can concentrate on the message and not on themselves and their needs.
Have you ever heard about missionaries? They are people who go to places, often faraway, to help other people learn about God. Many times, missionaries also help fix homes and bring food and teach children. Sometimes teenagers and adults spend time together helping people near where you live get their homes fixed. When they go on the trip, they have to pack very few items because their job is to think about Jesus and the people they will help.
Let’s pretend that God has asked us to go out on a journey and we are trying to figure out how to get ready. While you are listening, try to think of one thing you think that God would like for you to quit worrying about.
Say: Now we will get ready to hear the Gospel
Please stand up.
(hold up card) Alleluia! Alleluia!
Read: Read:
“a reading from the holy gospel.....”
All respond: Glory to you, O Lord.
Read the Gospel
Ask: What is one thing that you think God would like for you to quit worrying about?
Hand out the symbols to color and cut out. (The symbol is a suitcase )
Explain: Color this symbol of the suitcase and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!) to show that we have learned about how to get ready to share God’s love.
Say: If you have time, write one thing on the back that you would not need to bring with you on a mission trip - either in your suitcase or in your mind. <like maybe... no curling iron or worries about passing grades.>
If there is time, ask questions and go over the lessons one more time to help the children remember.
While they are coloring, explain how we will go back into the church, up to the front with our gifts and rejoin our families.
Give out stickers, parent letters and hand-outs as they leave.
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| Use this graphic in light colors for the small symbol |
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| Use this graphic for the banner and Offertory symbols |
Parent Letter
Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Today your children heard simplified versions of two of the same readings you heard: Amos 7:12-15 and Mark 6:7-13.
To reinforce at home:
Today we talked about trusting in God. Jesus sent his disciples out two by two to tell the world about Him. He instructed them to pack lightly. We talked about the extra things we carry around with us, specifically worries, that get in the way of our doing the things that Jesus asks us to do.
We touched very briefly on the mission opportunities we all have around the world and here at home.
Activities to do at home:
*Introduce the concept of mission work to your children. Share with them an article from your Catholic diocesan newsletter or some other news source that tells about mission work.
*Remind them about recent local natural disasters (like hurricanes or floods) and the great needs that were filled by regular ordinary people.
*Talk a little bit about excessive worry and how harmful it can be. Our society is crammed full of worries! It is good for all of us to remember how well God will take care of us if we will have faith in Him.
Thank you for sharing your children!
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