3rd Sunday Ordinary Time C

3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time   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

Explain: Today is the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Ask:  Does anyone remember what we learned last Sunday?   About the miracle at Cana <show last week’s symbol and/or poster to help them remember>

Introduce symbol

Say:  Today’s readings and all the readings until Lent are about when Jesus started teaching people about love, when He began His public ministry.  Today’s symbol <hold up the symbol> is a Bible.  This book represents Sacred Scripture. When we read Scripture each Sunday at Mass, it is just like when Jesus went to temple each week to worship God.  The Scriptures help us to do the things that Jesus wants us to do.

Explain:  Let’s look at the poster.  What does it say? <Your words, Lord, are spirit and life.>  This is our Responsorial Psalm for today.  The Responsorial Psalms also come from Scripture, from the Book of Psalms in the old Testament.

Ask: What could that mean?  What message could that psalm hold for us? < to read the Bible, to be open to hear what God wants us to do by listening to Scripture>

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 of the prophet Nehemiah. (Neh 8:1-4a,5-6,8-10)  This reading is about the prophet Ezra and a time when he read aloud to the people about God.  See if you know what exactly Ezra read to the people.

Have the reader read the first reading.

Ask:  What exactly did Ezra read to the people?  <the law of Moses>  Is this something you know about?  Is this part of our sacred Scripture?  <yes>

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

Your words, Lord, are spirit and life

Explain:  This psalm reminds us that God’s book helps us live our lives the way He wants us to live.

Say:  Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of Luke.  (Lk 4:14-21) Imagine that you are in a Jewish temple in Nazareth at the time of Christ.  Can anyone tell me what is important about Nazareth?  <Jesus’ hometown>  You are sitting around listening to each other take turns reading from the Holy Book.  All of a sudden, Jesus (the guy who you knew growing up – maybe your best friend, maybe you didn’t like Him) is taking His turn.  He begins to read and then when He finishes and closes the book, He says something rather weird.  Listen to the Gospel and let’s see what it was.

   

Say:  Now we will stand and get ready to hear the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

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

Read:  Read the Gospel

Ask:  What did Jesus  say?  <that what He had read – what the prophet Isaiah had foretold – had come true today>  He was telling his neighbors that “the Lord had chosen Him to tell the good news”.  How do you think the people felt?  <discuss>  How do you think you would feel if one of your friends tried to convince you that He was sent by God?  <discuss>

Next week’s reading continues on with what happened next in the temple – so make sure you come back and find out how the people reacted.

Hand out the small poster symbols (The symbol is a Bible ) to write their names on for the poster.  Collect the small poster symbols and glue them to the poster.

Hand out the Offertory symbols to color.

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 the way God can communicate with us through Scripture.    

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.

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

Give out stickers and hand-outs as they leave.

Use this graphic in a small size in light colors to make the communal poster

Use this graphic to create the mid-size banner symbol.  Attach a ribbon on the dotted line

Use this graphic to make the full-size coloring page to use for the Offertory gift

Parent Letter

3^rd Sunday Ordinary Time  C

                                                

           Today your children heard a simplified version of the same readings that you heard: Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10 and Luke 4:14-21

          

To reinforce at home:

Today’s readings emphasized the coming of a savior.  The reading from Nehemiah reminded us that the coming of a savior or Messiah was a part of the Jewish tradition for a very long time.  At the time Jesus was born, Jews had been waiting many years for someone to come and save them.

In Luke’s Gospel reading which will be continued next week, we hear about when Jesus stood up in his local temple and read Scripture

Activities to do at home:

*Jesus read the Holy Bible in the temple just like everyone else.  Find a time this week to read the Bible together.

*Do a surprise favor for one of your neighbors!

*Jesus participated in weekly Sabbath celebrations.  Share with your child how you participate in your weekly Sunday liturgy.  Help them understand how they can participate too.

Thank you for sharing your children!