3rd Sunday in Lent Cycle C
Welcome children to their worship space.
Explain: Today is the Third Sunday of Lent. Does anyone remember anything about Lent? (40 days of preparing for Easter, etc.) What do we do in Lent? (we make small sacrifices, we might fast, we think about ways to be closer to God)
Ask: Have any of you discovered any ways that you can get closer to God? <prayer, kind acts, save money for the rice bowl, etc>
Introduce symbol
Say: Today’s symbol <hold up the symbol> is a bush. Both of our readings have something to do with live plants.
Say: Let’s look at the poster. What does it say? < The Lord is kind and merciful> This is our Responsorial Psalm for today. The Responsorial Psalms also come from Scripture, from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament.
We heard this same psalm just a few weeks ago. Does anyone remember what it means? <discuss> The Lord, our God, gives us lots of chances to be good and lots of chances to mess up. He loves us and forgives us any time that we are really sorry.
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 book of Exodus. (Ex 3:1 –8a,13 - 15) Do you remember a few weeks ago when we learned about being called to do God’s work? <we read about the call of Isaiah> Who else does God call? <us>
Explain: We are all called by our Baptism to do the work of God. Today’s reading from the book of Exodus describes the call of Moses in an event that really got Moses’ attention. Listen closely and see if you can find out what happened?
Have the reader read the first reading.
Ask: So what happened? <God spoke to him from a burning bush> What did God ask Moses to do? <lead the Israelites out of Egypt> How do you think Moses felt? <discuss> Do you think Moses felt like he was the man for the job or do you think he might have been frightened? <discuss> Sometimes doing what God wants us to do feels scary, but God is always with us to make it work. Have you had a time in your life when doing the right thing has been a little scary?
Say: Now it is time for the Responsorial Psalm. Your part is to say:
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Say: Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of Luke. (Lk 13:6-9) Today’s Gospel reading is a kind of story that Jesus told to give a message. Do you remember what the stories Jesus told were called? <parables> These parables were stories that the people listening to Jesus could understand. He often used ideas that were common on those days but not so common now. Today’s parable is about a fig tree. Does anyone know what a fig is? <a fruit> You can think of it kind of like an apple. So the story is about a man who had some fig trees and he is upset about this particular one that isn’t growing right. Let’s listen to see if we can understand what Jesus is telling us.
Say: Now we will get ready to hear the Gospel
(hold up card) Glory and praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Have the reader begin: “a reading from the holy gospel.....”
Read: Read the Gospel
Ask: What do you think Jesus is trying to tell us? Should we just give up on people? Or should we try to teach and guide and help them? What does God do for us?
Ask children to add their names to the cutouts (leaves) provided. Remind the children that we are making a poster for each Sunday and that they will sign a cutout and glue it on when they are here.
Hand out the symbols to color. (The symbol is a bush).
Explain: Color this symbol of the bush and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!) to show that we have learned about trusting God.
If there is time, ask questions and go over the lessons one more time to help the children remember.
Give out stickers and hand-outs as they leave.
Parent Letter
3rd Sunday Lent C
Today is the 3rd Sunday of Lent. Your children have heard a simplified version of two of the same reading you heard: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15 and Luke 13:6-9
To Reinforce at Home:
Our symbol is a bush. God used a burning bush to give Moses a message in the Old Testament reading from Exodus. God often uses the ordinary, everyday events in our lives to communicate with us. It is our job to listen to God and hear his message of love and faith.
In the reading from Luke, Jesus used a plant, a fig tree, to teach us about caring for others.
Activities to do at Home:
* Help your child to take care of a plant. Share with them the way to trim off dead leaves so that the plant will grow better. Talk with them how this is like loving people and helping them become closer to Jesus.
* Perform a random act of kindness this week. Help your child think of someone they do not particularly like that they could do something nice for.
*Spend a day paying close attention looking for God’s messages to you. Look for other people’s kindnesses, consequences that your actions merit, special things that bring God’s loving attention to you. Help your child understand that God talks to all of his children.
Thank you for sharing your children!
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