6th Sunday of Ordinary Time Cycle A
Welcome children to their worship space.
Ask them to get their carpet squares and sit down in a circle.
Introduce yourself and your helpers.
Explain: Today is the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Ask: Can anyone tell me what we talked about last week? <hold up the symbol of the lamp under the basket> We talked about the light that God has put in each one of us and how we need to share that light with others
Say: Today’s symbol <hold up the symbol> is a gift. Scripture tells us that the way we behave is our gift to God.
Ask: What do you think that means? <discuss – how following God’s rules shows how we love God>. Do you think that other people like it when we follow God’s laws? <let the children respond>
Say: Let’s look at today’s poster. What does it say? <Happy are they who follow the law of the Lord.> This is our Responsorial Psalm for today. Psalms were originally songs, so make sure you pray the response clearly and loudly. You can sing it if you like.
Ask: What does this psalm mean? Does anyone know the name of the ‘laws of the Lord’? <Commandments> Where did we get them? <God gave them to Moses to share with us>
We have two readings today.
Say: Let’s light the candle to show that we are ready to listen to the Word of God.
Say: Today’s first reading is from the Old Testament book of Sirach. (Sirach 15:15-20) In this reading, we learn that God gives us choices.
Have the reader read the first reading.
Ask: What is this reading telling us? <that God doesn’t force us to obey , that God gives us a choice how to behave> Does anyone remember the saying that means that God gives us a choice? <free will>
Say: Now it is time for the Responsorial Psalm. Your part is to say:
Happy are they who follow the law of the Lord.
Say: Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of St. Matthew. (Matt 5:23-24). St. Matthew tells us something very important that Jesus said. Remember, that since we are followers of Jesus, the most important things in the whole Bible for us to pay attention to are the things that Jesus said.
Say: Now we will stand and get ready to hear the Gospel
Have the reader begin: “a reading from the holy gospel.....”
Read: Read the Gospel
Ask: What happened? <let the children retell what they heard> What did Jesus tell us to do? <Jesus said that it was very very important to forgive and make peace with one another> How is this behavior a gift to Jesus? <let the children respond in their own words - because we did what He told us to do, because when we forgive, we are giving love to God’s children>
Hand out the poster cut-outs and Offertory symbols.
Ask the children to add their names to the cutouts (squares) so that they can be glued onto the poster.
Explain: Color this symbol of a gift and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!) to show what we have learned about sharing the light of God (his love!) with others..
If there is time, ask the older children to write one thing that they can do this week to share God’s love with others.
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.
|Poster symbol Make small copies in any light color for the children to write their names on and create a communal poster.|
|Banner symbol Use this template to create a symbol to attach to the banner in the Children's Chapel. Make in any bright color and use ribbon to create a bow on top to look like a present.|
6th Sunday Ordinary Time A
Today we celebrate the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The children listened to two of the same readings you did: Sirach 15:15-20 and Matthew 5:23-24.
To reinforce at home:
The readings today talk about how happy we will be when we follow God’s laws. We talked about how our behavior shows how much we love God. We talked about how following God’s law is a gift to God and to other people.
Activities to do at home:
*Plan and give a non-material gift. Young children have difficulty understanding how a gift might not be a material object. Think of a way you can use actions to create a gift for someone close to you.
Do some spring cleaning in the house or yard of an elderly person you know.
Spend some time together volunteering at an organization that your family supports.
Have your child read you a story and thank him or her for that gift.
Thank you for sharing your children!