Children
Children Activities for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Curated children’s ministry resources and sermons (object lessons) for Sunday Readings from SermonWriter, Ministry-to-Children, Religion Teacher and other sources.
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
SOURCE: Catholic Kids Media
Catholic Resources
The readings for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C speak about being called by God and sent to do His work.
THEMES: Discipleship, Unworthiness, Saying Yes to Jesus
SOURCE: Young Catholics
SOURCE: Society of Christian Doctrine, Catholic Mom, Diocese of Salford Office for Liturgy,
More Resources
Liturgical Activities
THE LITURGY CENTRE
SOURCE: the Liturgy Centre, Catholic Diocese of Auckland. Click to download PDF
“Here I Am, Lord”
Children and others with limited biblical knowledge will miss many of the symbols in the verses.
“Will You Come and Follow Me”
More for the youth than for elementary children. Point out the “will you” questions in the first 4 verses and our response to Jesus in verse 5 before singing it.
Family Activities
OUR SUNDAY VISITOR
Decide as a family upon one action that would show your willingness to follow the way of Jesus. For example, visit a neighbor who is sick, offer to take a homebound person shopping, invite someone who lives alone to dinner.- Light a candle and dim the light in the room….
- Take your family on a fishing expedition…
- Discuss the following questions with your family: In what ways can you use your gifts and talents to catch people for Jesus? What prevents you from following Jesus?
SOURCE: Our Sunday Visitor: Lifelong Catechesis
Word Sunday
Fishin’ for Everyday Miracles
Jesus called Simon with a large catch of fish. Like any good fisherman, Simon would cast his net at the first light of dawn when fish would seek the heat and oxygen of the day. Later in the day, the fish would swim lower and avoid dangerous shadows (from boats). Fishing in the mid-day was counter-initiative to a fisherman. Such a large catch in mid-day would be truly miraculous! In the face of a great catch, Simon tried to withdraw from the presence of the miracle worker. But, Jesus called Simon to a greater cause: to call others to faith.
Jesus calls everyone in great or small ways. He uses miracles directly and other people indirectly. Some have seen miracles, while other have come to faith through the actions of others. Make both points with your family with the “Fishing Game.” Draw and cut fish shapes out of construction paper. On each fish, write down miracles people see everyday (the birth of a child, the kindness of a stranger, the love of family, etc.). String the fish on a line and pole. Ask your family members who would be attracted by each fish. Hang the fish and pole as a reminder to pray for those people.
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.
Non-Denominational
KID’S BIBLE TIPS & CRAFTS (5:37)
Fishers of Men
PDF packets with handouts designed for Sunday School students in preschool through 4th grade.
SOURCE: Free Sunday School Curriculum – New Testament Lessons | Old Testament Lessons
Sermon’s 4 Kids
Jesus Calls the Disciples
› Crossword › Multiple Choice › Word Search › Coloring Page › Coloring Page › Group Activities › Alphabet Soup › Worship Bulletin
SOURCE: Sermons4kids.com
LOYOLA
PRESS
LOYOLA PRESS
The fishermen (Simon, James, and John) leave their fishing boats and follow Jesus.
Making the Connection
1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣
Grades 1-3
Younger children love to hear and tell stories. Learning and retelling stories about Jesus’ life is a way for children to joyfully share the Good News.
SOURCE: SUNDAY CONNECTION (LOYOLA PRESS) – All Rights Reserved
Making the Connection
4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣
Grades 4-6
At Baptism, even as infants, we were given a share in the mission of the Church: to lead others to Jesus. We can invite children to begin to reflect on this mission and to participate in appropriate ways.
SOURCE: SUNDAY CONNECTION (LOYOLA PRESS) – All Rights Reserved
Making the Connection
7️⃣8️⃣
Grades 7 and 8
Young people can recognize that others have power to influence their behavior, for good or for ill. We can invite them to judge when they are being influenced in positive ways and to choose ways to be a positive influence on others.
SOURCE: SUNDAY CONNECTION (LOYOLA PRESS) – All Rights Reserved
Lectionary Resources
Catechist Background and Preparation
Primary Session
Intermediate Session
Junior High School
Catholic Doctrine
Tradition
Jesus called others to follow him and take on his mission of spreading the good news of the kingdom of God to the world. Peter and others accepted his invitation. They told others about Jesus’ life, his works and the importance of the resurrection. Eventually, followers of Jesus wrote down the good news. God’s revelation to us is not just a long-ago event that focuses on the first disciples. Catholics believe that while nothing is added to the content of God’s revelation through Jesus Christ, the mystery of God’s presence is unfolded throughout our lives today. God continues to speak to us through Scripture and Tradition. We have inherited from the apostles the sacred deposit of faith, contained in Scripture and Tradition. Tradition is “everything that serves to make the People of God live their lives in holiness and increase their faith.”
SOURCE: LECTIONARY RESOURCES (RCL Benzinger) – All Rights Reserved
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
Following Jesus
In today’s Gospel we see Jesus getting into a boat to teach the people and then asking Peter to lower the nets so that they could catch fish. Peter had already spent all that day fishing in the hot sun and had not caught a single fish and was very tired, if it had been you instead of Peter would you have lowered the nets just because Jesus asked you to? Peter was a fisherman and when the boats were about to sink from all the fish that were in the nets he had to call for help, could you have just leave everything that you owned to follow Jesus? Peter left his boats all those fish and everything he owned just because Jesus asked him to, could you do also do that? Jesus told Peter that he was going to bring in people in the future and not fish, what do you think Jesus meant by that? If Jesus asked you to follow Him, do you think you would need go some place other than where you live or do something different to be a follower of Him, if so why and if not why?
SOURCE: Children’s Liturgy
SERMONS 4 KIDS – GOSPEL
Jesus Calls the Disciples
Objects suggested: A rod and reel or some other fishing gear
EXCERPT: Do you like to go fishing? If someone were to ask me that question, I guess I would have to say, “No.” I like to catch fish, but I don’t enjoy fishing unless I am catching fish. I have heard some people say that they don’t care whether they catch any fish or not — they just enjoy going fishing. Not me!…
I remember one time when I went fishing with my son. He was about the age of some of you boys and girls — about seven or eight, I guess. We got up early in the morning and went to the lake. We had been fishing for about five minutes when he turned to me and said, “Dad, when are we going to catch something?” After about thirty minutes, he gave up and went to play with some other children. I sat there and fished all day. I never did catch a fish. Now, that is not my idea of a good time!
SOURCE: SERMONS 4 Kids – All Rights Reserved; Click on title to read entire sermon.
SERMONS 4 KIDS – FIRST READING
“Go Fish!”
Objects suggested: A deck of playing cards
EXCERPT:
The player whose turn it is asks another player for their cards of a particular kind. For example, the person whose turn it is might say, “Mary, do you have any threes?” If Mary has any threes, she must give them to the person who asked for them. If Mary doesn’t have any threes, she says, “Go fish,” and the person who asked draws a card from the “ocean.” When you collect a set of four cards of the same kind, you show the set to the other players and place the four cards face down in front of yourself.
Go Fish continues until either someone has no cards left in their hand or the draw pile runs out. The winner is the player who then has the most sets of four.
SOURCE: SERMONS 4 Kids – All Rights Reserved; Click on title to read entire sermon.
SERMON WRITER – GOSPEL
Peter’s Boat
Objects suggested: None
EXCERPT:
Do you like fishing? (Allow the children to respond.) Kyle and Kelly like going out fishing on their grandfather’s boat. One time, they were disappointed because even though they fished all morning, they hadn’t caught any fish. Their grandfather told them a story from the Holy Bible about Jesus and Simon Peter’s boat.
Jesus was trying to teach the people on the shore, but it must have been very crowded, because when Jesus saw two boats nearby, he recognized that one of them belonged to Simon Peter. Jesus asked to come aboard. Then he and his disciples moved out from the shore where Jesus could speak to the people who were crowding along the shore to hear him.
SOURCE: Sermon Writer: Children’s Sermons – All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan; Click on title to read entire sermon.
SERMON WRITER – GOSPEL
Who is Called?
By Dr. Carol J Miller
Objects suggested: a baseball and glove
EXCERPT: When I went to grade school, some time ago, a bunch of neighborhood kids would get together to play baseball. [Put on the glove a toss the ball into it a few times as you talk about baseball]. They would pick two captains and the captains would take turns choosing kids to be on their teams. The captains would pick the best hitters first, and then choose the good fielders or runners. The kids who weren’t good at sports, or weren’t as popular got picked last. The last two to be chosen would stand there, staring at the ground, trying not to look embarrassed. We all knew who would be chosen first and who would be chosen last.
SOURCE: Sermon Writer: Children’s Sermons – All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan; Click on title to read entire sermon.
SERMON WRITER – GOSPEL
God’s Unexpected Blessings
Objects suggested: Fishing pole and/or other items of fishing gear.
EXCERPT: Have any of you ever gone fishing? Did you catch anything? Catching fish is not an easy thing to do. Even though there are thousands of different types of fish in the oceans and many more in lakes and streams, you must have patience to catch fish.
Let’s see what we can learn from today’s lesson which is a story about fishing. A huge crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear him speak. It was so crowded that Jesus got into a nearby boat which belonged to Simon, a fisherman. He pushed off from the shore, sat in the boat and spoke to the people, telling them about God’s love.
When he had finished speaking he asked Simon to take the boat out into deep water and let down the nets to catch fish.
SOURCE: Sermon Writer: Children’s Sermons – All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan; Click on title to read entire sermon.
MARKKULA CENTER
Virtue of the Week
In today’s first reading, we witness God’s call to Isaiah to become a prophet… Isaiah protests this call because he believes that he is unworthy to be a prophet. – READ MORE
In the Second Reading, Saint Paul reminds the Corinthians of their call to be a community. – READ MORE
In the Gospel, Peter also felt unworthy of his call, yet it is important to remember that God calls us just as we are and works with us wherever we are in life. – READ MORE
SOURCE: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University; “Build. Plant. Grow.” = a free faith formation resource which aligns with the Liturgical Year of the Roman Catholic Church. The accompanying video is NOT associated with Markkula Center.
WORSHIPING WITH CHILDREN
“Here I Am, Lord”
Children and others with limited biblical knowledge will miss many of the symbols in the verses of “Here I Am, Lord”. But even non readers can pick up on the chorus. In congregations that sing it frequently, they start picking up the verses too.
“Will You Come and Follow Me”
More for the youth than for elementary children. Point out the “will you” questions in the first 4 verses and our response to Jesus in verse 5 before singing it.
SOURCE: Worshiping with Children: A blog by Carolyn C. Brown, a Certified Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA).
BRIGHTLY STORYTIME (9:54)
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
This book by Dr. Seuss is a great source of encouragement in understanding what it means to be called to do things. From soaring to high heights and seeing great sights to being left in a lurch on a prickly perch, Dr. Seuss addresses life’s ups and downs with his trademark humor and illustrations that encourage the reader to reach for success. This story is ideal for addressing new beginnings and allowing each student to understand that in living life and in answering God’s call, there will be many ups and downs.
SOURCE: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University; “Build. Plant. Grow.” = a free faith formation resource which aligns with the Liturgical Year of the Roman Catholic Church. The accompanying video is NOT associated with Markkula Center.
STORYTIME AT AWNIE’S HOUSE (5:40)
On the Night You Were Born
Read On the Night You Were Born, by Nancy Tillman, especially with younger children (but also with the older children too). It is a very simple picture book celebrating each child’s uniqueness. “there had never been anyone like you… ever in the world.” Pause as you read the page on which the wind and rain whisper the child’s name to invite the whole congregation to say the names of some of the children they see on the steps. If time is a concern, skip from the polar bear page to the page that begins, “For never before in story or rhyme…”
Just like Isaiah and Peter and Paul were unique, special people, each of us is also.
SOURCE: Worshiping with Children: A blog by Carolyn C. Brown, a Certified Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA).
Word-Sunday
God Calls Our Names
Children’s Readings
Opening Question: How many of you have had a nightmare so strong that you just had to tell someone? What was it?
In the story for the first reading, In the story for the first reading, Danny had a nightmare because he lied to his mother. He was afraid, like Isaiah in his Temple vision, because he was a sinner. But, like Danny’s mother, God forgave Isaiah and gave him a mission.
Like Danny, Isaiah was afraid. He was a sinner who lived with a sinful people, a people who lived a lie. They worshiped God and then broke his law by cheating and stealing. But like Danny’s mom, God forgave Isaiah and sent him to speak God’s truth to the people.
Bridge Question: How many of you have gone fishing? What happened?
In the story for the gospel, In the story for the gospel, Grandpa took Nancy fishing early in the morning. A few hours after sunrise, Nancy was surprised when her grandfather announced they were done. Fishing is only good in the early morning. Simon Peter didn’t catch any fish early one morning, but Jesus took him out to fish. They caught two boats full. After that, Jesus called Simon to follow him and catch people for the Kingdom.
We can experience many things that will change us. We will feel bound to tell others what happened to us and how we have changed. Isaiah saw God in a vision and was changed. Simon saw God’s power in Jesus and was changed. Both went out to tell others about God and his power. Let us pray God will help us do the same.
Closing Question: How can you tell others you were caught by Jesus?
