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 Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time.
Ask: Does anyone remember what we learned last Sunday? About how we need to read the sacred Scripture just like Jesus did so that we can understand God’s message of love for us.
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 fish. What might the fish represent? <discuss> It represents the first men who were called to follow Jesus. Does anyone know who they were? <Simon Peter, James & John>
Explain: Let’s look at the poster. What does it say? <In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.> 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? <We must always praise God because He is good>
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 Isaiah. (Isa 6:1-2a,3-8) This reading is about a vision that the prophet Isaiah had.
Have the reader read the first reading.
Ask: What does it mean to say that one hears the call of the Lord? <that the person is doing what the Lord asks him or her to do> Have you ever wondered what to do and had a little voice in your heart tell you? It’s important to be very still sometimes and trust that little voice because often God tells us the answers. Often though, life is so busy and noisy that we don’t really pay attention.
Say: Now it is time for the Responsorial Psalm. Your part is to say:
In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Say: Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of Luke. (Lk 5:1-11)
Does anyone remember what happened in the Gospel last week? <Jesus was thrown out of town> Today we hear how Jesus continued his teaching ministry. We will hear about some of the first people who heard His call. Does anyone remember the occupation of the first people who answered Jesus’ call? What was their job? <fishermen>
Say: Now we will stand to get ready to hear the Gospel
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Have the reader begin: “a reading from the holy gospel.....”
Read: Read the Gospel
Ask: Do you think that the fishermen were brave to follow Jesus? What do you think that their friends probably thought about it? <discuss>
Hand out the Offertory symbols to color. (The symbol is a fish) Hand out the smaller poster symbols so that the children can write their names on them. Collect the poster symbols and glue them to the poster.
Explain: Color this symbol of the fish 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 calls each of us. It is a good thing to pray that we can hear when the Lord calls us and are brave enough to follow.
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 in a small size for the communal poster - in a mid-sized version for the banner symbol and a full-sized black line graphic to color for the Offertory gift |
Parent Letter
5th Sunday Ordinary Time C
Today your children heard readings that are similar to the readings that you heard. Isaiah 6: 1-2a, 3-8 and Luke 5:1-11
To reinforce at home:
We have talked in the last few weeks about praying to God and about recognizing his answers. Today’s readings remind us to listen to God.
The readings are about being called by God to do certain things. We hear in Luke about the fishermen on the shore who were called to become fishers of men. Jesus is calling us to help him “fish for people” too.
Activities to do at home:
*Talk about it. Who were the fishermen who left everything on the shore? How do you think they felt about leaving everything and following Jesus? Why do you think they did it?
*Share Jesus! We are called to be fishermen too by sharing Jesus with others. Do something nice for someone today to help them find Jesus in their own lives.
* Draw a simple fish pattern on blue construction paper. Cover it with laminating plastic to use as a place mat for meals. When you use it, say a prayer that you can be a fisher or men also and help Jesus “catch” people.
Thank you for sharing your children!
No comments:
Post a Comment