Third Sunday of Lent (Year C)
– Sunday 20th March 2022
– Colour: Purple
Theme: Figtree
==== 7:00 - 7:03 ====
Welcome;
Today Jesus tells us a parable about a tree that did not bear any fruit and all the things that the gardener planned to try to make it grow better. People are like trees, they need certain things to grow and be healthy too. Let’s think a bit more about all this today.
Entrance Song:
1 When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God! All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
//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
Forgiving God, we thank you for the love and care that you
show for us all. Help us to grow in your love, and to do all that we can to help each other and bring a special meaning to the people around us. Amen…
=== 7:14 - 7:19 ====
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading, Introduce the reading. Today’s first reading is from the Old Testament, the book of Exodus 3:1-8,13-15
The Wandering in the Wilderness
A prepared child comes and takes the first reading or second reading.
Moses at the Burning Bush
3 Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord said, “I have
observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites..
The Divine Name Revealed 13 But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’:
“This is the word of the Lord” All say; “Thanks be to God”.
Let us focus on our responsorial Psalm: < The Lord is kind and merciful.....>3x.
Introduce the Gospel
Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of Luke. So the story is about a man who had some fig trees and he is upset about this particular one that isn’t growing right. Let’s listen to see if we can understand what Jesus is telling us.
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 (Lk 13:6-9) 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.
The Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree
6 Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none. 7 So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?’ 8 But the gardener answered, ‘Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer. 9 Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.’”
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; In both 1st reading and the Gospel, we read about trees. Today’s Gospel reading is a kind of story that Jesus told to give a message. Do you remember what the stories Jesus told were called? <parables> These parables were stories that the people listening to Jesus could understand. What do you think Jesus is trying to tell us? Should we just give up on people? Or should we try to teach and guide and help them? What does God do for us? 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, Priests and all the clergy, that they may not
give up on God’s people even when they have no use but they may love them and tell them more good news of God.
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 through God’s grace, we may
share what we have with others, and help make sure that all people have the chance to grow and live life to the full. We pray to the Lord….
Prayer 5. And for all of us gathered here, may we be as obedient as Moses was obedient when God called on him.
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....
Bring up A child in a way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
