Feast of The Baptism of Jesus C

Feast of the Baptism of Jesus   Cycle C

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:  Does anyone remember what last Sunday was? (Epiphany )  And what did we learn about?  <the three Wise Men searching for a king, Herod trying to trick them, their faith in Jesus even though He didn’t look much like a king>

Explain: Today is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, the day we celebrate when Jesus was baptized.  Does anyone remember what Baptism is?  <discuss… a sacrament, cleansing of sins, welcoming into church, etc.>

Say:  Jesus is God… so Jesus had no sin.  While we listen today, let’s think about why Jesus would let his cousin John baptize him.

Introduce symbol

Say:  Today’s symbol <hold up the symbol> is a scallop shell.  Does anyone remember what the scallop shell usually reminds us of?  <Baptism>  The scallop shell is a symbol we use for John the Baptist and for the sacrament of Baptism.  Often when we see a picture of the Baptism of Jesus, He and his cousin John are in the middle of the river.  John is using a shell to scoop the water over Jesus’ head.

Explain:  Let’s look at what the poster says < The Lord will bless his people with peace>.  This is the Responsorial Psalm that we will say together after the first reading.  The psalm comes from the Old Testament in the bible.

 

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 Old Testament, the book of the prophet Isaiah. (Isa 42:1-2, 4, 6-7)   The prophet Isaiah is telling us about someone special.  Listen closely and think of who the special person might be.

Have the reader read the first reading.

Ask:  Did you listen?  Who do you think the special person might be?  <it might be Jesus, it also sounds like the person we should try to be>  Many times we hear readings from the Old Testament that give us clues about the Gospel reading.  You will hear some of the same words in the Gospel reading today.

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

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Say:  Today’s Gospel comes from the book of Luke.  (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22)  We heard several things about St John the Baptist a few weeks ago before Christmas.  Do you remember what people thought about him?  <that he was the Messiah who had come to save them>  He was very clear to them that he was not the Messiah. 

In today’s reading, St Luke tells us about John baptizing Jesus.  Listen closely to hear what happened.

Say:  Now we will stand so that we can listen to the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Have the reader begin: “a reading from the holy gospel.....”

Read:  Read the Gospel

Ask:  Did you hear what happened when John baptized Jesus?  <let the children retell>  Did you hear some of the same words that you heard in the first reading?  What were they?  <in the first reading, we hear “I am pleased with him” (about God’s servant)  In the Gospel, God says “I am pleased with you” about Jesus>  Jesus’ Baptism was the beginning of his public ministry, his teaching us.

Explain:  Jesus became a man to be like us, so that God could understand what it was actually like to be one of us.  Jesus was baptized to show us what we need to do to be like him.  Jesus lived the life that we try to live.  He is the example for all of us. 

Hand out the Offertory and poster symbols (The symbol is a scallop shell).  Have the children write their names on the small poster symbols.  Collect them and glue them to the poster. 

Explain: Color the Offertory symbol of the scallop shell and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!)  to show that we have learned about the Baptism of Jesus.    

Ask:  What can you do this week to be like Jesus?  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 graphic of a shell for all three applications

Parent Letter

Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord  C

                                              

            Today your children heard simplified versions of two of the same readings you heard: Isaiah 42:1-2, 4, 6-7 and Luke 3:15-16, 21-22.

To reinforce at home:

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that Jews had waited for thousands of years for the arrival of the Messiah.  They waited for someone who would come from Heaven to save them.  The reading from Isaiah today is an example of how the Old Testament foretells the New Testament.  Jesus came to fulfill all the promises God made in the Old Testament.

Jesus’ Baptism signified the beginning of his public ministry.  Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s covenant (promise) with us.  Our own Baptism also signifies the beginning of our Christ-like ministry to each other.

Activities to do at home:

*Attend a Baptism at your church together.

*Tell your child all about his or her Baptism (who was there, what was done, how it was celebrated, etc.).

*What does Baptism mean in your life?  Share with your child how you fulfill your Baptismal promises to God.

 

Thank you for sharing your children!