THE LITURGY CENTRE

Liturgical Action

SOURCE: the Liturgy Centre, Catholic Diocese of Auckland. Click to download PDF

OUR SUNDAY VISITOR

Family Activities

• Together as a family, read the second reading for Sunday, 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13, before the evening meal. During the meal, discuss one way your family will show love this week.
• Talk about the problems of injustice that family members see in your community…
• Make a tree of love to remind your family of the gift of love…
• Prepare a meal from another culture…

SOURCE: Our Sunday Visitor: Lifelong Catechesis

Word Sunday Family Activity

“Happy-Mad Faces” Game

This gospel reading falls on the heels of last week’s. Jesus told the synagogue audience a prophecy in Isaiah was fulfilled. Now the audience reacted. Who was this traveling preacher? Wasn’t he the son of a carpenter? (This was a “put down” since carpenters were really semi-skilled day laborers.) The skepticism grew to the point the audience grew into an angry mob ready to kill Jesus.

Luke’s gospel points out an obvious fact: some will believe, others will not. Those who believe will be happy. Those who do not will be angry. Emphasize this point with the “Happy-Mad Face” game.

Draw happy and mad faces on paper plates. Read Luke 4:15-30. As you read have your family hold up the happy face when Jesus talks. Have them hold up a mad face when the crowd reacts to his words.

At the end of the reading, ask your family if they want to throw away the happy face of Jesus, like the crowd did when they tried to kill him. Or, would they like to throw away the mad face of the crowd? (Throw away the plates with the mad faces and hold up the happy faces.)

End the game with prayer where your family accepts Jesus and his word.

SOURCE: Word-Sunday.com All materials found in word-sunday.com are the property of Larry Broding (©1999-2021). Viewers may copy any material found in these pages for their personal use or for use in any non-profit ministry. Materials may not be sold or used for personal financial gain.

CATHOLIC KIDS BULLETIN

Teacher and mom, THERESA, creates Kids’ Bulletins, a resource for Catholic kids about the readings for Sunday’s Mass every week. More resources from Theresa can be found at Teachers Pay Teachers website. Click on image/text to download entire bulletin for your children.

ADORERS OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

Loving Deeds

As we read the list of love’s characteristics, we realize just how simple and yet challenging love is. Our society does not always reward us when we are patient, or even kind. In fact, it regularly says: Watch out for Number One; Don’t be taken advantage of; etc. By making icons of movie stars, sports heroes and musical artists, we see their power and fame as more often praised and sought after than love, care and truth.

If we stop for a moment and reflect, we might discover that the people we really admire the most are those who are indeed patient and kind. The ones who make our days and nights more safe and enjoyable not by doing big things but by doing simple things in a big way. They are people who genuinely love, people after whom we might want to model ourselves, people who have discovered the “more excellent way.” You might use a newspaper, bulletin, Diocesan Paper or magazine to find stories that show ordinary people doing loving deeds.

SOURCE: Children’s Liturgy

SERMONS 4 KIDS – GOSPEL

Hometown Boy
Makes Good

Objects suggested: Picture of Del Ennis

EXCERPT: I doubt if any of you have ever heard of Del Ennis. He was a professional baseball player—and a very good one too. He played in the Major Leagues, and during his fourteen-year career, he hit 288 home runs. Seven times during his career he hit 25 or more home runs in a season.

Del Ennis played for his hometown Philadelphia Phillies. You would think that being such a good player and being a hometown boy would make Del Ennis very popular with the Philadelphia fans, but for some reason, it didn’t. During the eleven years that he played for the Phillies, the fans booed him every time he came up to bat. No matter what he did, it never seemed to be good enough. He never understood it. It didn’t make sense.

SOURCE: SERMONS 4 Kids – All Rights Reserved; Click on title to read entire sermon.

SERMONS 4 KIDS – FIRST READING

Yes, You Can

Objects suggested: None

EXCERPT: Do you ever feel like you’re just too young or too small to do something? Can anyone think of a time when you might have said, “I just can’t do it!” (Pause for responses.) We have all said that at one time or another. Maybe you said it when the coach asked you to play a new position for the first time, or while you were trying to do your homework. (Hold up textbook). We’ve all found ourselves feeling defeated, saying, “I just can’t do it.”

Our Bible lesson today is about a man named Jeremiah. One day, God spoke to Jeremiah and said, “Before you were even born, I chose you to be My prophet to all the nations.”

SOURCE: SERMONS 4 Kids – All Rights Reserved; Click on title to read entire sermon.

SERMON WRITER – GOSPEL

Kind Words

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Objects suggested: Books, a newspaper, a crossword puzzle.

EXCERPT:  Today let’s talk about words. It’s exciting when a baby begins to make sounds and tries to talk. The first words are usually “mama” or “dada.” If you have a little brother or sister in your home you probably have heard this. The baby is trying to communicate – make a connection with others.

As you grow older you begin to recognize words in printed form and soon you are reading. Wow, how exciting is that? Now the world of books is open to you and you can read wonderful stories, learn about animals, plants, mountains, rivers, and also learn about people who live in different parts of the world.

SOURCE: Sermon Writer: Children’s Sermons – All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan; Click on title to read entire sermon.

SERMON WRITER – GOSPEL

All Spoke Well of Him

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Objects suggested: Memento or picture of a well-known person specific to your area.

EXCERPT: Do you know of a famous person who grew up in your town? Perhaps there is a street named after that person or a museum that contains information about a well-known person from your area.

In my small town the famous person is a sea captain who sailed from the east coast of the United States, around the tip of South America, to the west coast of the United States. He settled on an island in Puget Sound and our small town is named after him.

SOURCE: Sermon Writer: Children’s Sermons – All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan; Click on title to read entire sermon.

Word-Sunday

Children’s Readings

Rejection

Opening Question: Who do you know is really good at sports? At school?

In the story for the first reading, Jackie overcame self-rejection to become a star basketball player. All it took was a little encouragement from a coach. God encouraged a shy man named Jeremiah, who would become one of Israel’s greatest prophets.

READ THE STORY

Like Jackie, Jeremiah didn’t think he could do what God wanted him to. Like the coach, God encouraged Jeremiah by saying “Yes you can.”

Bridging Question: How do you feel when people don’t believe in you? How can you change their minds about you?

In the story for the gospel, Charlie was the class clown. He always tried to make others laugh in class, even if he got in trouble. Charlie soon found out, however, that no one took him seriously because of his reputation. Jesus had a reputation, and was rejected for it. So, Jesus traveled to an area where he was accepted.

READ THE STORY

Unlike Charlie, Jesus had a reputation as a healer and a wise teacher. But, no one at his hometown accepted him. So he walked away.

Closing Question: Has anyone ever told you that you couldn’t do something? What happened? Pray for those people who have told us we can’t do something.

SOURCE: Word-Sunday.com