Children’s Ministry for the 32nd 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: An offering plate and bills and coins in various denominations
Every week we take an offering during the worship service. As you know, the ushers walk up and down the aisles and pass the offering plate down each and every row. People place their offerings to God in the plate. When they have finished passing the offering plate, it may look like this one that I have with me this morning. Here is a twenty dollar bill, and a ten. Here is a five and there are a lot of one dollar bills. Down in the bottom of the plate there are even some coins, Look, someone even put in some pennies.
Who do you think gave the most? Was it the person who put in the twenty dollar bill? The ten? The five? We can be sure it wasn’t the one who put in the pennies, can’t we?
Crossword
Coloring Page
Word Search
Objects suggested: A poster with “Classroom Rules”
I imagine that most of you have seen a list of rules like this in your classroom at school. One day last week I walked through the school and every classroom I walked into had a list of rules on the wall. Even though there were some slight differences, most of them said pretty much the same thing. They said things like:
If you were to ask me which classroom rule is most important, I know what I would say. I would say that the most important rule is to respect and obey your teacher and the second is very much like it — be kind and show respect for your fellow students. If we would just follow those two rules, there really wouldn’t be a need for any more.
Objects suggested: Peacock feather, if available. (Check with the zoo.)
Pictures of peacocks
A peacock is one of the most colorful birds you will ever see. The male has bright blue and green tail feathers that are several feet long. When he wants to attract attention he spreads his tail feathers out into a beautiful fan. (Show pictures.) As you can see, at the end of each feather, there is a remarkable design that has the appearance of an eye.
Peacocks are large, powerful birds weighing six to thirteen pounds, but they are not strong fliers. They spend most of their time on the ground looking for food.
When a peacock spreads his tail feathers into a fan he also has a certain walk that could be called a strut. (Demonstrate) It is as if he is saying, “Look at me. Aren’t I beautiful? Please give me your attention.”
In the Bible Jesus describes people who were much like peacocks. They wore long robes that prevented them from doing practical work. They liked to be treated with respect in the marketplaces. They sat at the best places in the churches and at banquets. They liked to be seen and admired by others. Like a peacock, they seemed to be saying, “Look at me. Give me your attention.”
Objects suggested: A copy of the book “The Giving Tree”
Get a copy of “The Giving Tree,” written by Shel Silverstein, from the library and read it to the children, sharing the illustrations with them. If time is more limited, summarize the general concept of the book.
Some of you may know the story of The Giving Tree. It is a story about an apple tree that loved a little boy very much. In the beginning the little boy spent a lot of time playing in and around the tree.
As the boy got older he spent less and less time with the tree, but when he did come to visit he talked about things he wanted. First he wanted money, then he wanted to build a house and after that he wanted to build a boat so he could sail away.
Each time the tree gave him what he wanted – its apples to sell so he would have money, its branches so he could build a house, and finally its trunk so he could build a boat. Giving made the tree happy.
Objects suggested: Ten one-dollar-bills.
Have you ever worked hard at home or at your grandparent’s house and afterwards they gave you money? (Allow children to answer.) That happened to the twins, Kyle and Kelly. They worked hard every day for a week at their Grandparents’ home. They pulled up weeds and raked everything up into piles. They cleaned all the weeds and grass out of the flowerbed along the sidewalk and they helped plant flowers in the flowerbed.
That Saturday, their grandparents gave Kyle five one-dollar bills. (Pick up the stack of bills, and count out five bills.) And they gave Kelly five one-dollar bills. (Count out the second stack of bills.) They were so excited to have so much money.
On the way home, they talked about what they would buy. Kyle wanted a solar powered dump truck. Kelly decided she would like a new journal so she could write in it each day.
The next morning, when they went to church the pastor talked about a special project to give toys and food to homeless families. People could put money in a box at the back of the church if they wanted to help.
Objects suggested: Several coins of various values from small to large and a bag of pennies to pass out to the children.
I enjoy taking walks in the neighborhood where I live. Sometimes on my walk, I will find a coin in the street. If it is a penny, I might not even bother stop to pick it up. After all, a penny isn’t worth much. If I find some other coin that is worth more than a penny, I will probably stop, pick it up and put it in my pocket. If I am lucky enough to find a dollar, do you think I would stop and pick it up? You know I would!
You and I sometimes look at other people and form an opinion about them by how much money they have. If there is a child in your class at school whose parents have a lot of money, is that child treated better than others in the class? If there is someone who doesn’t have much and can’t afford to wear nice clothes, are they treated the same as those who have a lot of money? When we see a homeless person on the street, do we look at that person the same way we look at someone who lives in a big, fancy house?
Objects suggested: None
Today let’s talk about one of the Bible’s most famous characters: Elijah. Elijah had long, thick hair. He wore some type of garment tied around his waist that was probably made of leather. He sometimes wore a sheepskin cape around his shoulders. That description gives us a picture of a man quite different from someone we would see today.
He was a man of endurance and traveled in the hills where he came to know God.
God asked him to go to a place called Zarephath. At that time there was a drought. There had been no rain, the plants had died, and people were having trouble getting enough food to eat.
Elijah probably wondered how he would survive in such a place. God told Elijah there would be a woman there who will feed you.
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
The readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B challenge us to remember that all we have comes from God and we must be willing to give back. In the first reading a widow shares what little she has with Elijah, and she is rewarded with abundance. The psalm praises God for his generosity and mercy. The second reading Paul tells us that Jesus offered himself for our salvation once and for all. And in the gospel, Jesus observes the poor widow who generously gives what little she has to the treasury.
CROSSROAD KIDS (7:32)
n this week’s video, Pastor Patty recaps the last few weeks that we’ve been learning about spiritual and physical training. She shares the story of The Widow’s Offering in Mark 12 and asks us a question: what do YOU have to give? Maybe it’s your time, or your talent… tune in to hear how YOU can choose to live for God! Visit http://www.crossroadschurch.com/kids for more info about our ministry.
Choose one of the following activities as a way to further reflect on the Sunday readings:
KAREN FRANKEL (1:58)
Song credit ”Love The Lord Your God” Lincoln Brewster (c) 2005 Integrity’s Praise! Music
Activity: Ask the children to draw or write on their index cards time and talents that they could give. For example: ½ hour after school to help someone with their homework instead of going to play right away or singing at Mass. Each time or talent should be on its own card. While they are doing that, redistribute the play money from the baskets. Each child should be given $10 again. When they all have created 2 or 3 index cards and have their money again ask they to take a minute of silence to talk to God about how they should spend their time, talent and money. After a minute or two invite them to again put their money, as well as their time and talent cards, into the baskets. Count the money in each basket. Discuss the different outcome.
DEVOTIONS FOR KIDS (4:18)
ot everyone is called to give away everything, like the widow in Jesus time. But we are all called to give more because when we do we store us treasures in heaven instead of treasures on earth!
Opening Question: Have you ever shared your lunch with someone? What happened?
Bobby was starving. He forgot to take his lunch to school. And he was too embarrassed to ask anyone for something to eat. So, he sat alone while his classmates talked about many exciting things.
“Can I sit here?” a voice asked. It was Tom, one of Bobby’s better friends. Tom didn’t wait for an answer. He just sat down and opened his lunch bag. He had a sandwich, an apple, a juice box, and cookies for dessert. “What’s going on?” Tom inquired.
Bridging Question: Sacrifice means to give up something for someone else. Who has sacrificed something for you?
Jillian, Rebecca, Deanna stood in the ticket line for the movie theater at the mall. The three friends had planned for this day. They had saved for this movie. A romantic comedy. The chatting among the three girls was constant and joyful. They all had high expectations for the movie experience.
Closing Question: What little things can we give up for the good of others?
Sacrifice is an ugly word these days. No one wants to think about it, much less do anything about it. Yet, we all make choices to give up a pleasure or ambition for something greater. The gospel of the poor widow spoke volumes. This poor woman sacrificed all for the greater good. In return, she implicitly trusted God would care for her in her need.
Like the widow’s simple gift, a simple chore like cleaning out a closet can raise the question of sacrifice. Have your family members help each other clean out cluttered closets. (This weekend might be the perfect time for a “fall cleaning” in anticipation of holiday gift giving.) Divide the clutter into three piles: “Give Away,” “Might Keep,” “Definitely Keep.” After the closet is cleaned out, go through the “Keep” piles. Remind your family members about the parable of the widow’s sacrifice. How much can your family members sacrifice? How much can they do without, and trust God for the rest?
RECOMMENDED: Resources for Catholic Educators
This Week’s Curated Ministry Resources
GRADES 4-6
Generosity is a trait we wish to encourage and develop in our children. We teach generosity by encouraging trust in God, who will care for us when we share with others.
Materials Needed: a tripod
8-12 Year Olds
A good place to begin is with the question: What did you hear? Allow children the opportunity to respond in their own words to hearing the Word of God. When each has had an opportunity to speak you might begin general discussion by building on to their responses, perhaps using some prepared questions, like the following, to stimulate ideas:
This Week’s Curated Ministry Resources
Follow the Drinking Gourd is a wonderful illustration of the virtue of trust. Throughout the story, trust is essential to those who work to free others from slavery. The story begins when a peg-legged sailor aids slaves with their escape plans. While working for various plantation owners, Peg-Leg Joe teaches the slaves a song about the “drinking gourd:” the star constellation the Big Dipper. The slaves learn to make their escape by following the song’s direction.
Today’s first reading emphasizes the trust shown by both the prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarepath. Elijah is traveling into a hostile territory, but trusts that God will watch over and protect him. When he encounters the widow of Zarepath, Elijah asks her for assistance. Although the woman explains that she has little to offer him, Elijah announces that if she feeds him, the Lord will provide for her and her son. Trusting that the prophet’s words are true, she does what is requested and her trust is rewarded, for the jar of flour did not go empty nor did the jug of oil run dry as the Lord foretold through Elijah. The trust of the prophet and the widow brought about both physical and spiritual abundance as the Lord promised.
The author of the book of Hebrews speaks about how believers are called to have absolute trust in the one who gave himself as a sacrifice on the cross. The writer proclaims that Jesus is the seal to the new covenant and that this covenant will not be revoked by God. We can trust that Jesus has given his own blood to seal this new covenant with our God and that this sacrifice brings our forgiveness and reconciliation. We are called to place trust in the love that God has shown for us through this perfect sacrifice for all of humanity.
This passage in the Gospel of Mark illustrates the complete and utter trust of the widow, who believed that God would care for her. As is common in Mark’s Gospel, we find this story of trust amidst stories about people who believe that they are above others. As Jesus says, this self-confidence and lack of trust in God will be their undoing.
Materials Needed: •Cooking Oil •Water •Food coloring •Three clear containers (2 small and 1 large) •Masking tape •Sharpie
Step One: Show the students the supplies you have and identify each one.
Step Two: Pour the oil into one of the small, clear containers and as you do so, explain to the students that oil is going to represent “worry.” Ask the students what it means to be worried. Label the container “Worry.”
Step Three: Place water into the second small container and add food coloring so that the water can be seen more clearly. Explain to the students that the colored water will represent “trust in God” and label the container this. Ask the students what they think “trust in God” means.
Step Four: Ask the students if they think that God wants us to worry or to trust. Ask them if they think it is possible to worry and to trust in God at the same time.
Step Five: Pour the contents of the “worry” container and the “trust in God” container into the third container. At first, the two will appear to mix, but have the students see that they eventually separate.
Step Six: Explain to the students that our hearts cannot hold onto worry while trusting in God. Tell them that God wants us to trust him whenever we are tempted to worry because he cares for us.
This Week’s Curated Ministry Resources