Children’s Liturgy Instructions
Twenty-Second Sunday in 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.
Introduce Sunday
Ask: Does anyone remember what our symbol was for last Sunday? (flower and seed) And what did it symbolize? (it symbolized the faith given to us by God that we have to nourish and take care of so that it will grow)
Explain: Today is the Twenty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time.
Introduce symbol
Say: Today’s symbol is the Bible.
Explain: In order to try and understand what Jesus had to say, we must pay attention to His word and this is where we find it.
Explain: We have been talking about the new way of thinking that Jesus had been telling people about. The things He had to say sounded really strange to the people who were listening. It didn’t seem to make much sense. Many people left Him. Some tried to trick Him. Today’s Gospel is about one of those times.
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: The just will live in the presence 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 Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, or Hebrew Scriptures. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8) It tells about what Moses said about the laws that God gave the Israelites. Does anyone remember what we call the laws that God gave Moses? <the Commandments> Can anyone tell us one of the Commandments?
Moses reminded the Israelites that they had <as we have> a special God who is very close to us and tells us exactly how to be close to Him.
Have the reader read the reading.
Ask: What did God say about the Commandments? <that there are no laws anywhere that are more fair> God’s laws are the best laws because they are the most just or fair.
Say: Now is the time for the Responsorial Psalm that we practiced. <have a volunteer hold up the poster> Repeat after me: The just will live in the presence of the Lord.
Have the reader read the psalm.
Say: Now it’s time to read the Gospel. Today’s Gospel reading was written by St.Mark. (Mark 7:1-5, 14-15, 21-23). St. Mark tells us about how some people didn’t understand what Jesus had to say. They were concerned because Jesus didn’t care whether His followers followed certain social customs.
Ask: Does anyone here ever get in trouble for not following certain rules? Like maybe... talking with your mouth full? Or forgetting to wash your hands before you come to the table? What are some other examples? Here is my question: does this make you a bad person? or perhaps just a forgetful one?
Explain: The people who were listening to Jesus didn’t understand why His disciples didn’t all follow the same customs that the Jews did. The Jews felt that everyone needed to follow these customs in order to please God. Jesus replied that customs do not make a person good or bad. Their behavior, what they do and why they do it, is what God will use to judge them.
Say: Now we will get ready to read the Gospel. Please stand and say: Alleluia, Alleluia.
Read the Gospel.
Ask: What did you think about the Gospel reading?
Say: Sometimes we don’t understand the things that other people do. Reading God’s Word helps us to decide about what is really right or wrong.
Ask: Does anyone remember the sign that we give one another to show that there is God’s peace between us?
Say: Let’s give each other the sign of peace.
Hand out the Offertory symbols to color (The symbol is a Bible) and the smaller poster symbols to for each child to put their name on.
Explain: Color this symbol of the Bible and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!) to show that we have learned about paying attention to what Jesus had to say and trying to understand it.
Remind the children that the large symbol is to be offered in the Offertory procession to show the congregation what they have learned about God's Word. Remind them to put their names on the back and that they can retrieve the symbols after Mass.
Collect the smaller symbols to glue to the communal poster. Remind the children to bring their parents back after Mass to see it.
If there is time, ask questions and go over the lessons one more time to help the children remember.
Count out the parent letters and hand-outs to go home.
Give out parent letters, coloring hand-outs and stickers as the children line up.
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| Use this graphic for the small poster symbol |
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| Use this graphic to create the mid-sized banner symbol. Use a real ribbon over the dotted diagonal line as a book mark! |
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| Use this graphic for the black-line coloring page Offertory gift |
Parent Letter
22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Cycle B
Today is the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The children listened to simplified versions of two of the same readings you heard: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 and Mark 7:1-5, 14-15, 21-23.
To reinforce at home:
We discussed how difficult it is sometimes to understand Jesus’ message in our society and emphasized the importance of reading the Bible to increase our understanding. The Gospel message was that goodness or evil is determined in our hearts by our actions and thoughts rather than what we look like. Jesus told us to pay close attention and try to understand His message.
Activities to do at home:
*Help your child learn what makes a person good or sinful, ie a person who is dirty and has ragged clothes may not be a bad person. In the same way, an attractive person may not behave in a Christ-like manner. Outward appearances are not what determines a person’s worth or closeness to God.
*Read your favorite Bible story to your child and help them figure out how it applies to his or her life today. Have your child draw a picture of him or herself in the story.
Thank you for sharing your children!
1 comment:
Interestinng read
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