6th Sunday Easter C

6th  Sunday in Easter   Cycle C

Welcome children to their worship space.

Explain: Today is the Sixth Sunday of the Easter season.   

Ask: Does anyone know what the next major feast is? <Pentecost>   Does anyone remember what we did to prepare for the feast of Easter?  (what was the season before Easter and what did we do?)  <it was Lent and we spent time trying to get closer to God and understand more about Jesus>  What’s going on now?  What are we doing to get ready for Pentecost?  <we are happy because we know that Jesus rose from the dead – but we are working on learning about how to keep Jesus’ work growing>  We are learning about the church, what it is and what it needs to grow.

Introduce symbol

Say:  Today’s symbol <hold up the symbol> is a dove.  What do you think of when you see a dove?  <usually peace, sometimes new beginnings>  “Peace be with you”  was the first thing that Jesus said to his friends that first night when he appeared to them.  Remember the night when he saw Thomas?  Tell me what happened.  <let them retell the story of “believing without seeing” > 

Ask:  What does it mean…”to have peace”.  <to be happy, content, not sad, secure, feeling like everything is all right>   What is it like when you are not peaceful?  <confused, upset, feel sick inside, irritated>  We often talk of peace also as forgiveness – and not fighting.  When we offer each other the sign of peace at Mass, we are not only expressing forgiveness between ourselves and others, we are also wishing happiness for them.

Ask:  Can you think of one more thing a dove can represent?  <the Holy Spirit>  The Holy Spirit came to the apostles on Pentecost.  During this whole time between Easter and Pentecost, Jesus kept trying to get the message across that he had to leave – but that the Holy Spirit would come and be with us so that we will not be alone.

Say:  Let’s look at the poster.  What does it say? < O God, let all the nations praise you!> 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 book of Revelations. (Rev 21:10-14, 22–23) Remember to listen to the words in Revelations.  While this book is hard to understand, it is beautiful.  And if you listen to the words, you will have wonderful pictures in your mind.  Today’s reading talks about the city of Jerusalem after it changed.  Remember last week, we talked a little about the city of Jerusalem?  See if you can pick out a few more details.

Have the reader read the first reading.

Ask: What kind of picture did you create in your mind?   <standing on the top of the mountain with an angel, looking down on the bright and beautiful city, 12 gates, 3 on each side, with the names of the 12 apostles on them, very light-filled and bright, etc.>  

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

O God, let all the nations praise you!

Say:  Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of John.  (Jn 14:23-26)   This reading tells us about the coming of the Holy Spirit.

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>  What did Jesus say?  <let the children retell what they heard>  Jesus is very clear the Holy Spirit will come after Jesus is gone and remind us of everything that Jesus said.

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

 

Explain: Color this symbol of the dove and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!)  to show that we have learned about the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Remind the children that on Thursday of this week, we will celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven with a Mass.

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

Sixth Sunday of Easter  C

Dear Parents,

              Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter.  The children listened to the same readings you did:  Revelations 21:10-14 and John 14:23-26.

To reinforce at home:

Today we discussed the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus promised the Apostles that they would not be left alone when he went back to his home in heaven.  He promised that the Holy Spirit would come to be with them, to guide them and to remind them of the things that Jesus had taught them.

Activities to do at home:

*Help your child understand the feelings of loneliness and fear that the Apostles must have felt when they understood that Jesus was really going to leave them on their own.  Your child will understand the feeling from times when you have left them alone.

*Experience the Feast of the Ascension liturgy together.

Thank you for sharing your children!