Fourth Sunday of Lent
(Year C)
– Sunday 31st March 2019
– Colour: Purple
Theme: Prodigal Son/Peace/Love
The Prodigal son, peace and dove is our theme this Sunday.
Ask children, What do you think of when you see a dove? <peace> Can anyone think of an idea that goes along with the word “peace”? hint:: we have a sacrament for this. <forgiveness or reconciliation>
What might the heart stand for? <love> God shows us his love by forgiving us, by reconciling with us. In God’s love we become like new, we have a new life.
==== 7:00
- 7:03 ====
Welcome;
Today’s
gospel is the story known as the Prodigal Son. It’s about a child who did
lots
of things wrong, but who realised what he had done and went to say sorry,
and
so his father forgave him. Let’s listen and think about how we say sorry, and
how we forgive others today.
Entrance
Song:
Prayer, Fasting, and Alms Giving,
Hands folded in
prayer, hand on tummy, outstretched hands
We are meant, to repent.
Knock on heart 3
times
40 days of sacrifice,
One hand with 4
fingers up, one hand in shape of zero
Being super, extra nice,
Bend arms at
elbows and swing back and forth
This is Lent. This is Lent.
Right hand out
like holding a tray, then same with left.
//V// In the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
//R// Amen.
//V// May The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
And the love of God,
And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
//R// And with Your Spirit.
==== 7:03 - 7:08 ====
NEWS TIME :-)
==== 7:08 - 7:11 ====
Penitential Rite
Dear little children, let us acknowledge our
sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred
mysteries.
Confession of our sins
I confess to the Almighty
God,
and to you, my brothers
and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my
words
in what I have done and In
what I have failed to do
-strike
the breast 3 times as you say-
through my fault
through my fault
through my most grievous
fault
THEREFORE I ask Blessed
Mary Ever Virgin
all the Angels and Saints
and you, my brothers and
sisters
to pray for me to the Lord
our God
Have Mercy on us oh Lord
For we have sinned against
you.
Show us, Oh Lord, your mercy
And grant us your
salvation.
You were sent to heal the contrite
of heart.
Lord have Mercy
Lord have Mercy
You came to sinners
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
You are seated at the right hand of
the father to intercede for us.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
May the almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our
sins and bring us to life everlasting? AMEN
==== 7:11 - 7:14 ====
GLORIA (We do
not sing it in lent period)
Opening
Prayer
Loving God, help us to be
sorry when we have done wrong and to know that you always love us and are ready
to forgive us. Move us to forgive those who have hurt us and to do all that we
can to make the world a more loving place. Amen…
=== 7:14 - 7:19 ====
Liturgy of the Word
Today’s first reading is from the Old Testament, the book of Joshua 5:9-12
First
Reading, Today’s first reading is from the Old Testament of Joshua 5:9-12
A prepared child comes and takes the first reading or second reading.
9 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace
of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal, to this day.
The Passover at
Gilgal
10 While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the
evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11
On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the
land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 The manna ceased on the
day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna;
they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
“This is the word of the
Lord”
All say; “Thanks be to God”.
Let us focus on our responsorial Psalm:
< The Lord speaks of peace to His people.>3x.
Introduce the
Gospel
Today’s Gospel is one of Jesus’ parables. It is a story that many of you may be
familiar with. It is a story about a
father and his sons. Can you think of
the story? <guess> One of the sons doesn’t want to work. He wants to party all the time. So he takes his father’s money and leaves
home. <guess again - Someone will
probably have guessed it by now>
The story has a lot of messages
– one message is about the son who left home and there is a whole other message
about the son who stayed with his father and did what he was supposed to
do. Let’s hear the story Jesus told the
people and see if we can understand the message.
Now we will stand to get ready to hear the Gospel
In lent period, we shall not sing the hallelujah,
because it’s a time
for us to reflect on the
quality of our life
style. But another song without an hallelujah can be sang
Praise Him, Praise Him,
Praise him in the morning, praise him in the noon-time, Praise Him, Praise Him
Praise him when the sun goes down!!
Silently the leader says:” Cleanse my heart and my lips,
almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your Holy Gospel.
The Lord be with You,
AND with your Spirit.
The
Gospel Reading was written by (St. Luke
15:1-3, 11-32) Let Lord’s Word be in my
mind <make a cross on forehead>, and on my lips <make a
cross on lips>, and in my heart <make a cross on the
left side of the chest>
OR Glory to You Lord Jesus Christ.
(St. Luke 15:1-3, 11-32)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now all the tax
collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the
Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners
and eats with them.”
The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother
found.’
The Parable of the Prodigal and
His Brother
11 Then Jesus[a] said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12
The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the
property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13
A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant
country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14
When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that
country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself
out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed
the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with[b] the pods
that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when
he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread
enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up
and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against
heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your
son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and
went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was
filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21
Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[c] 22 But the father
said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the
fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this
son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they
began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and
approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one
of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your
brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has
got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to
go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he
answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a
slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never
given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30
But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with
prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the
father[d] said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is
yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother
of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’””
The
Gospel of the Lord”,
“Glory
and praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ”
==== 7:19 - 7:24 ====
(*)Tell an interesting story according to the Gospel and
children’s level of understanding.
Gospel
reflection:
Ask What do you think
Jesus is trying to tell us about the boy who left home? <that he made some mistakes> What happened when he went back to his
father? What did his father do?
<forgave him and made everything like it was before, like he had never
left> Who do you think the father
represents? <God> And what about the son who made the mistakes,
what do you think that means? <he
represents someone who has sinned, then he was sorry, and then he made it right
with his father>
Now, what we don’t usually talk about is the other son. What happened to him? <first he was angry at his brother… and
then angry at his father for taking his brother back like nothing had
happened> How do you think you
would have felt? Does this seem fair? <discuss>
Let us stand up and we profess our faith.
Profession
of our faith
I believe in God the Father, Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our
Lord:
--bow
down--
Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate;
was crucified, died and was buried:
He descended into hell:
The third day, He rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father
Almighty:
From there He will come to judge the living and
the
dead:
I believe in the Holy Spirit:
the holy catholic church:
the communion of saints:
The forgiveness of sins:
The resurrection of the body:
And the life everlasting,
Amen.
==== 7:24 - 7:26 ====
Prayers of the Faithful
Now is the time to pray for our stuff :-)Intercessions.
You may want to ask the children to offer their
own prayers or you can use the suggestions below.
Say: As we try to
change our lives and so the lives of others, we pray together:
Prayer
1. Let us pray for the Church leaders, Pope Francis, Bishop Cyprian Lwanga,
Priests and all the clergy, that they may not get tired to tell to good news of
Christ..
We pray to the Lord…
Prayer 2. Let us pray for our lovely
parents, that like the gardener in the
gospel story, they may continue
to work to help their children, especially the most difficult ones to change
their lives for the better.. We pray to the Lord….
Prayer 3. We pray for our parish, family
and friends: that they may follow Jesus’ example of forgiveness, love and
welcome to all people, especially those who lack or who are finding life
difficult. We pray to the Lord….
Prayer
4. And for all of us gathered here, may we be welcoming and leave a great example as Christ
Jesus did.
We pray to the Lord...
==== 7:26 - 7:28 ====
Silently, each one tell God your petition.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
Amen
==== 7:28 - 7:30 ====
Song Interlude: Walk Walk
in the light, walk walk in the light, .........
Sing as we give in our offertory and we walk to the
big church... NOTE-- after the song, is being
sung, we pick the children that will perform next Sunday....
