3rd Sunday Easter Cycle C

3rd  Sunday in Easter   Cycle C

Welcome children to their worship space.

 

Explain: Today is the Third Sunday of Lent.

Ask:  Does anyone remember the symbol for last week?  <hand>  We are building our church just like the apostles were building.  We learned that we are needed to build our church – to continue Jesus’ work.

Introduce symbol

Say:  Today’s symbol <hold up the symbol> is a fish.  Does anyone have any ideas what this fish might stand for?  <discuss> What have we heard about fish in the New Testament? <talk about some of the references during Jesus’ lifetime>  Does anyone remember when Jesus first met Simon Peter?  What was his occupation?  <fishermen>  What did Jesus tell him?  <I will make you a fisher of men>

Say:  Let’s look at the poster.  What does it say? <I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me>  This is our Responsorial Psalm for today.  The Responsorial Psalms also come from Scripture, from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament.

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 Acts of the Apostles. (Acts 5:27b-32, 40b-41)   Does anyone remember who Jesus chose to lead his new church?  <Peter>  Listen closely to this passage and see if you can discover why he was chosen?

Have the reader read the first reading.

Ask:  What happened?  <discuss> Do you think that the apostles obeyed the high priest? <no>  Who did Peter obey?  <Jesus>  Do you know who is taking Peter’s place right now – today?  <the pope>  And what is his name?  <Pope John Paul ll>  Who are some of the other leaders in our church?  <the bishop, priests, teachers, parents, US>

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

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Say:  Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of John.  (Jn 21:1-14)  This reading tells us about one of the times that Jesus appeared to his friends after the resurrection. 

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.....”

Read:  Read the Gospel

Ask:  What happened?  <discuss>  Because Jesus kept appearing to the Apostles, they knew that they had a special job to do.  They were still confused and trying to figure it all out – but it became very obvious that something really important was going on – and they were part of it. 

Did anything else strike you as important about this Gospel?  < the symbolism of sharing the meal – Eucharist, or anything else that the children notice>

Ask children to add their names to the cutouts (fish) 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 fish). 

 

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 another thing needed in our church – leaders.

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

Third Sunday of Easter  C

Dear Parents,

             Today is the Third Sunday of Easter.  The children listened to the same readings you did:  Acts 5:27b-32, 40b-41  and  John 21: 1-14

To reinforce at home:

Last week, we talked about how much Jesus needs us to continue his work; that he works through all of us.  Our symbol today was a fish.  We discussed some of the scriptural references to fish – particularly fishing, as the occupation of Simon Peter, who was called to be a “fisher of men”.  In continuing our discussion about what was needed to build Jesus’ church, we brought up leaders – the pope, the bishop, the pastor, the teachers and parents and all the other leaders that work hard to help us follow Jesus.

Activities to do at home:

*Review the specific names of the pope, the local bishop, the pastor, other priests that you may know and the people in your church that are leaders in different ministries.

*Go over the specific names of church leaders who are present to your child.  Choose one to write a letter of appreciation thanking him or her for sharing God’s Word with others.

 

Thank you for sharing your children!