29th Sunday Ordinary Time Cycle B

Children's Liturgy Instructions

 

Twenty-ninth 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 

Explain: Today is the Twenty-ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Ask:  Does anyone remember what our symbol was for last Sunday? ( a treasure chest)  And what did it mean?  <it stood for the things we have on earth that come between us and God, and for things that God considers treasure that we don’t always recognize>

Explain:  As a people, we value money.  We forget that money is only useful for what it can do to help us be the people God wants us to be.  The gifts that we have are to be used for the glory of God.

Introduce symbol

Say:  Today’s readings are about being what God wants us to be, about being first in God’s eyes.  Our symbol <hold up symbol - the #1 > represents what we want to be in the kingdom of God.

Ask:  What do you think we have to do to be the people God wants us to be?  <wait for discussion....>  Last week, Jesus told a young man something that he had to do.  Does anyone remember what that was?  <give away all his money>  So, for us, that might mean that we have to give away some of the things that are important to us but would keep us away from doing the good things God wants us to do.

Ask:  A couple of weeks ago, we talked about serving others.  What does serving mean?  <doing things for other people, putting other people first in our thoughts>

Ask:  What can you do to serve?  <help parents, feed pets, run errands>

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, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.  Can you say this with me?  <Have the children repeat it.>

Introduce readings

Say:  Let’s light the candle to show that we are ready to listen to the Words of God.

Say: Today’s first reading is from the New Testament, the book of Hebrews. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Explain: This is a letter written to the Hebrew people explaining how their friend Jesus is the son of God.  Because Jesus was also human just like us, he understands how hard it is to serve others.

Have the reader read the first reading.

Ask:  What message did you hear in the letter today?

Say: Now it is time for the Responsorial Psalm.  Your part is to say:

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Say:  Next we’ll have the Gospel reading.  The Gospel selection today is from the book of Mark. (Mark 10:35-45).  Mark tells the story about how two friends of his, James and John, were arguing about who would sit closer to Jesus in the kingdom of heaven.  The other apostles were upset with James and John for even thinking they were more important than the rest of them.  Jesus called them all together and explained how they needed to behave to be important in heaven.  Pretend that you are one of Jesus’ disciples and listen in to what Jesus said.

Say:  Now we will get ready to hear the Gospel

(hold up card)  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Have the reader begin: “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:  What do you think?   What did Jesus tell them? <told His disciples if they really wanted to be important, they had to serve others  >  What did that mean?  < it meant that thinking of others first, taking care of other people is more important than thinking about yourself.  If you serve others, you act like Jesus acted>

Hand out the poster and Offertory symbols to color and cut out. (The symbol is the number 1) Remind the children that we are making a poster for each Sunday and that they will sign the small symbol and glue it on when they are here.

Explain: Color this symbol of the number 1 and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!)  to show that we have learned about what the Scripture tells us about  being important.

Ask:  What can you do this week to serve others?  If you can, write that on the back of your symbol.

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.

Count out the parent letters and hand-outs to go home.

Give out stickers and hand-outs as they leave.

 

Use this rectangle for the communal participation poster

Use this graphic for the mid-sized banner symbol and the Offertory gift

Parent Letter

Twenty-ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

                                                       

              Today your children heard a simplified version of the same readings that you heard: Hebrews 4:14-16 and Mark 10:35-45

To reinforce at home:

Today’s readings emphasized the importance of service.  We heard the story of James and John arguing about who Jesus liked best.  And then Jesus telling them what they needed to do to be first in the kingdom of heaven. 

It is difficult to learn the concept of helping others, of thinking of someone else before yourself, and of having a good time even if you don’t exactly get your way.  These are all ways to serve by making someone else happy.

Activities to do at home:

*Show your child a time and a way that you put another person first and still feel good about it.

*Help your child find a way to serve someone else.

*Do a secret good deed together and enjoy watching someone else be surprised!

Thank you for sharing your children!