20th Sunday Ordinary Time B

Twentieth 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 (chalices) provided.  Remind the children that we are making a poster for each Sunday and that they will sign a cutout and glue it on when they are here.

Introduce

Explain: Today is the Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Ask:  Can anyone tell me some of the things you and your parents have been learning in church for the last few weeks?  What have the readings been about?

<point to the symbols on the banner>

symbols with bread - we talked about Jesus being the bread of life.

bread & fish - the miracle of the loaves and fishes -

suitcase & heart - have to do with Faith

Miracles happen around us all the time, but we need FAITH to feel them.  God gives us the gift of FAITH so we can believe in Jesus.  And we need Jesus in our lives in order to be the best we can be.

Introduce symbol

Say:  Our symbol today is the chalice and host.  Can anyone tell me what a chalice is? <the cup used by the priest on the altar for wine>  And what is a *host*?  <the bread> 

Ask:  What do you think this symbol might mean?

Explain:  For the last few Sundays (and this one too) John’s Gospel tells about all the people who were coming to Jesus looking for food.  A couple of weeks ago, we talked about Jesus feeding 5000 people with a few loaves of bread and some fishes.  Then we continued the story with Jesus getting away from the people for a little while and when the people were hungry again, they came to Him looking for food.  Jesus tried to explain about the kind of nourishment He was going to bring to them.  This week, the story continues.  The people crowded around Jesus. They were hungry and they were confused.  Some of them were beginning to get angry.  They believed in Jesus but they did not understand.  Some people left Him.  Some people didn’t understand but stayed anyway.

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: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.  Can you say this with me?  <Have the children repeat it.>

Introduce readings

Say:  The first reading is from the Book of Proverbs.  (Proverbs 9:1-6)  Proverbs is a book of the Bible which is sometimes hard to understand.  It is written like a story or like sayings.  Today’s reading is about a banquet, which is another word for a feast.  While you are listening, try to think of another feast that this reading might be talking about.

Say:  Now we will have the first reading (light the candle)

Have the first reading

Ask: Did anyone think of another feast?  <Eucharist at Mass>

Say:  Next we will have the Responsorial Psalm

Your part will be to say:

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. (hold up card with psalm)

Have reader read the psalm

Say:  The Gospel reading for today was written by John.  (John 6:51-58)   John tells us what Jesus said to the confused and angry people who were surrounding Him.  He was trying hard to help them understand.  Many of these people believed in Jesus and wanted to understand Him.  The things He did and said were so unusual that it was not easy for them.  Jesus is very clear that we need to participate in a certain Sacrament <when we are old enough> to be with Him.  When you hear the words that Jesus used, see if you can think of another time that Jesus said the same things.  And see if you can guess which Sacrament He is talking about.

Say:  Now we will get ready to hear the Gospel

(hold up card)  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Read: “a reading from the holy gospel.....”

All respond:  Lord, let your Word be in my mind <make cross on forehead>, on my lips <make cross on lips>, and in my heart <make cross on heart>

Read:  Read the Gospel

 

Ask:  Do you remember what Jesus said to the people?  <If you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you are one with me and I am one with you>  Does that remind you of a time when Jesus said something very similar to his friends?  <Last Supper>  Which Sacrament do we celebrate where we do the same thing? <Eucharist>

Hand out the symbols to color and cut out. (The symbol is chalice and host) 

Explain: Color this symbol and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!)  to show that we have learned about what Jesus said to us about taking His Body and Blood into our own bodies to help us be more like Him.

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.

Use this symbol for the communal poster

This graphic is for the banner symbol & the Offertory gift

 

Parent Letter

Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time

                                                                

               Today your children heard a simplified version of the same readings that you heard: Proverbs 9:1-6 and John 6:51-58.

            

To reinforce at home:

For the past several weeks, we have talked about the Biblical references to the Eucharist.  The readings have all had to do with Jesus providing bread and nourishment to the people around Him <and thus, to us>.

Activities to do at home:

*Talk with your child about the word “nourishment”.  It can be to feed, to water, to love, in essence, to take care of something or someone.  Jesus nourishes us through the Sacrament of the Eucharist but offering Himself in a special way.  What are some ways that your child can nourish someone else by offering themselves?

*Write a thank you letter to someone who lives far away and tell them how much they mean to you.

*Make a card for someone who is sick or shut-in.

*Give a hug to someone you see today!

Thank you for sharing your children!