Children’s Ministry for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Curated children’s ministry resources and sermons (object lessons) for Sunday Readings from SermonWriter, Ministry-to-Children, Religion Teacher and other sources.
Curated children’s ministry resources and sermons (object lessons) for Sunday Readings from SermonWriter, Ministry-to-Children, Religion Teacher and other sources.
Objects suggested: A chicken wishbone (alternative: a branch resembling a wishbone)
For some people, the best thing about having chicken for dinner is the “wishbone.” After you finish eating, two people each hold one side of the wishbone, close your eyes and make a wish. Then you pull on the wishbone until it breaks apart. The one who gets the biggest piece is supposed to have his or her wish come true. (If you have a wishbone, allow a boy and girl to try it.)
Have you ever wished for something? On the count of three, say out loud what you wish for: 1, 2, 3. (Pause for responses.)
Sometimes we make a wish without thinking about what would happen if our wish really came true.
Have you ever planned to have a picnic and it rained? Perhaps you sat and watched the rain and grumbled to yourself, “I wish it would stop raining.” What if that wish came true and it really stopped raining FOREVER? There would be no grass, no trees, no flowers. Rivers, lakes, and streams would dry up, and all life would begin to disappear. This world would be a miserable place if it stopped raining, wouldn’t it?
James and John were two brothers who were disciples of Jesus. One day, the two of them came to Jesus and said to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
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Objects suggested: A blue ribbon, a gold medal, a trophy
As you probably know, whenever there is a contest, the person who finishes in first place is awarded a blue ribbon. Sometimes they may get a gold medal or perhaps a trophy like this one. It gives you a good feeling to be a winner, doesn’t it? After all, you have worked hard and it is nice to hear the applause of others when you are awarded the prize. When someone sees that you have a blue ribbon, a gold medal, or a trophy, they know that you have done something very special.
James and John were two brothers who were disciples of Jesus. They thought that they were deserving of special recognition in the Kingdom of God. Now they knew that Jesus didn’t hand out blue ribbons, gold medals, or trophies, so they decided between themselves just what special honor they deserved. They went to speak to Jesus privately. “Teacher,” they said, “we want to ask a favor of you.”
How many of you like to help your teachers at school? Sometimes being the special helper to someone important can make us feel important too.
When I was in 5th grade I had a teacher that I liked a lot. And one of the things I loved to do was doing special jobs for her in the classroom. I was always asking if I could help her hand out papers, or take messages to the school office. I think I must have asked her an awful lot – but it made me feel special to be her helper.
Then one day something happened that I still remember all these years later. Our class was doing some math problems and I finished doing mine much faster than most of the other kids. So as I often did I got up from my desk to go ask her if she had any special jobs I could her with.
Unfortunately, I picked a bad time to ask – because at the time she was actually crouched down next to the desk of another student helping him out. When I interrupted to ask if I could do a job for her she told me she was in the middle of helping my friend and that I needed to go sit down. But then as I was walking back to my chair she called my name and she told me that if I really wanted to help her that I should go and help another one of my classmates who was having trouble with his work.
Objects suggested: Paper crowns. One for each child.
Can you imagine how you would feel if you were king or queen of the world? Most of us would think that might be truly wonderful. We would not have to work. We could play all day and go to bed when we wished. We could eat whatever we wanted to eat, including lots of candy and ice cream. Our rooms would be filled with toys. We could throw our things about and not have to clean up after ourselves. Others would take care of all our needs. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful life? Let’s think about that a bit more.
Have you ever known a child who was given everything he or she wanted? No names, please. These children have only to think about themselves and what they need to be happy. Do you think children, who are given everything they want, are happy? I think most of them are not.
Objects suggested: King and queen coloring page
It’s fun to think about what your life might be like if you were a king or a queen. Let’s talk about that.
A king or queen is the head or leader of a country. We think of them as being rich, perhaps living in a grand palace. They have all the clothes they need and more. They may wear a crown and own many jewels. We think of them sitting at a long, beautiful table enjoying a feast. There are servants who wait on them and bring them what they need.
What kind of king or queen would you be? What would you ask for? What would you do? How would you treat people? Would you be a kind or difficult leader?
Here is what Jesus says about being a leader: “… whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant” (10:43). This sounds kind of upside down, doesn’t it? A king or queen being a servant?
Jesus teaches us that the very best leader is one who cares about all people and wants to do what is best for them. Even though a king or queen may be very powerful, they are most powerful when they serve the people of their country.
This Week’s Curated Ministry Resources
SDC is a society of lay catechists that started in Malta in 1907. Worksheets can be downloaded and printed for use during Sunday Mass or handed out to children at school prior to the weekend. They are also used by parents who download them to use with their children at home.
Feel free to copy and paste it into your parish publications.
Clipart © McCrimmons used with permission. All rights reserved; Text © 2018 Diocese of Salford Office for Liturgy
Gospel Reading, Sunday Coloring Page,Lesson Plans, Mass Worksheets, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search
This Week’s Curated Ministry Resources
CHRISTIAN SONGS (3:30) – Make me a servant / Humble and meek / Lord let me lift up / Those who are weak / And may the prayer / Of my heart always be / Make me a servant / Make me a servant / Make me a servant today
Choose one of the following activities as a way to further reflect on the Sunday readings:
Materials needed: Magazines
This is World Mission Sunday. There are people around the world who need our help. They need us to pay attention to their needs and not just be concerned about our own wishes and needs. This is the point of the Gospel story: James and John are worried for themselves. The other disciples didn’t feel it was right that Jesus promised James and John something they thought they couldn’t have. They were only concerned with ‘being important,’ they weren’t acting like Jesus would want. James and John would have to endure all that Jesus would — drinking the cup — being open to give his life blood as a sign of love and forgiveness; being baptized into eternal life in God.
Perhaps you can have magazines and the children can cut or tear pictures out that show how people need others to make their WISH for a better life come true. Our you could make a scroll and list the needs of others — to be taken back into church and placed by the altar—or somewhere acceptable to show what the children wish for the world. The Glenmary Community serves in rural, often poverty ‘rich’ communities. Perhaps you could write a letter to a ‘mission’ parish or diocese just to let them know you are praying for them. Or perhaps a parish in New Orleans or along the coast.
Opening Question: Have you or someone you know ever won an election? What was the post or office? Who did you or that person represent?
In the story for the first reading, Jennifer was popular in her class. She was friendly and nice; she went out her way to help others. When the time came for class elections came, Jennifer ran for class president. Everyone knew she would win. Three weeks after the election, Jennifer was down. “Being class president is hard work,” she complained to her teacher, “I like to please everyone, but, with school work and sports and chores at home, I am really stretched.” CONTINUE READING
Bridging Question: Some leaders yell out orders. Some speak softly and try to help. Which one would you like to follow? Why?
In the story of the gospel, For his mother’s birthday, Eddie’s family went out to a fancy restaurant. From the time Eddie walked into the restaurant, his eyes were wide open. “Wow! What a fancy place!” Eddie declared. When they were seated, a man came up to the table and introduced himself. “Hi, I’m James. I’ll be your waiter tonight,” the waiter said as he passed out the menus. CONTINUE READING
Closing Question: Who do you know that likes to help others? What makes them a good leader?
Is service more important than being in charge? Show your family that service makes someone a true leader. Have a special meal where everyone has a turn serving the others. This can be a very simple meal or a very fancy one. But have everyone serve one portion of the meal to the others sitting at the table. Have those seated show their appreciation with applause. End the meal with a prayer of thanksgiving for all leaders, no matter how small or childlike.
RECOMMENDED: Resources for Catholic Educators
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GRADES 4-6
Materials Needed: None
Images from the Readings: Jesus understands every weakness / We will find help / Will you do us a favour? / Everyone’s slave / Give his life
8-12 Year Olds
This Week’s Curated Ministry Resources
High in the mountains lies the town of Noel, surrounded by walls and a great silver gate. Every year, Alexander and his mother walk the long distance to Noel to watch the lighting of the village Christmas tree. This particular year, Alexander learns that the Keeper of the Flame will be choosing the person who has given the truest gift of Christmas to be the one to light the Christmas tree. On his way to Noel, Alexander helps a poor old man he finds lying in the snow. What Alexander doesn’t know is that the poor old man is really the Keeper of the Flame, and because of the Alexander’s great kindness and sacrifice, Alexander is chosen to light the Christmas tree. Alexander learns that it isn’t what you give, but rather how you give of yourself that matters the most. It is an ideal story to convey the virtue of sacrifice.
This first reading from the prophet Isaiah shows that a true servant of the Lord places themselves in the hands of God and trusts that God will see them through their difficulties. A faithful servant of the Lord is willing to make and be a sacrifice. By the time this passage takes place, the nation of Israel has come to believe that the suffering of one can compensate for the sins of many. Isaiah presents the suffering servant as the one designated by God to be the sacrifice for the sins of all. Later, this image and reality will be seen in Jesus Christ, who will be the sacrifice for the sins of all humanity.
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims that Jesus is the true and final High Priest: the priest, altar, and victim of sacrifice. Jesus is the atonement for the sins of all, the one who is the intermediary between God and his people. The writer makes it abundantly clear that although Jesus is the Great High Priest, he is not free from the suffering of humanity and that he is like all humans, except in sin. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, we see that he is both divine and human.
Time and again, the disciples misunderstand Jesus and his mission. In today’s reading from Mark’s Gospel, we are presented for the third time with Jesus’ prediction of his arrest, torture, and execution, yet the disciples still do not see that Jesus has come to be the sacrificial offering for the world. The disciples want Jesus to be the Messiah that they imagined rather than the true one that he is. When the disciples ask if they can have positions of prominence in the Kingdom of God, Jesus responds by saying that those positions are not his to give, and asks them if they can drink of the cup that he himself is going to drink from. Their affirmative response sets them up to recognize that they too will be called to be a sacrifice for the Kingdom. We see that with leadership, there is a need for sacrifice.
Step One: Explore whether there are students within the class, school, or parish who have relatives that are serving in the Armed Services. Discuss with your class what sacrifices they think someone in the Armed Services might have to make. What sacrifices might their families and friends have to make? Invite the students to brainstorm and list those sacrifices on the white board.
Step Two: Have the students, along with their families, gather things that might be sent to soldiers overseas. As a class, put together “care packages” for those individuals and have each student make a card to express their gratitude for the sacrifices that the soldiers are making.
This Week’s Curated Ministry Resources