Children’s Liturgy (Oratorial)
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion 2nd April, 2023
Jesus enters Jerusalem.
Preparing the worship space.
Children Will first participate in blessing of the palms outside with the rest of church members then join their worship area after.
***before you begin, make sure that you have readers for the different roles in the Passion reading: You, an adult will be the narrator, good readers for Jesus and Pilate, and a few chosen readers to help lead small groups of younger children in the “priests” and the “crowd” parts. Have the parts ready for the children with highlighted sections***
This is good for children, because its simplified. In the big church the readings are mainly monotone which can easily bore the children.
Theme Colour: Red
Theme: Palms
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem
==== 7:00 - 7:03 =3===
Entrance Song
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising
1 Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
give me joy in my heart, I pray;
give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
keep me praising till the break of day:
Refrain:
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
sing hosanna to the King of kings!
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
sing hosanna to the King!
2 Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
give me peace in my heart, I pray;
give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
keep me loving till the break of day:
[Refrain]
3 Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
give me love in my heart, I pray;
give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
keep me serving till the break of day:
[Refrain]
Ask: What was last week’s theme <“Stone.”> We talked about how God is stronger than death. Next Sunday we celebrate Easter, and still see how this is very true.
Welcome: Today we hear how crowds of people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem shortly before he was crucified. We have palms to remind us of how the people cut branches and laid them in the road before Him as they shouted with joy.
****We have some extra church services this week to remember the things that happened to Jesus before he died and rose again. We gather on Holy Thursday to remember His last supper together with His friends(Disciples). We gather on Good Friday to remember how He died for us. And we will gather again on Easter Sunday to celebrate His rising from the dead, His triumph over death. ****
//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*
Still Gloria is not sung at all during the Holy Week.
Opening Prayer:
Our God most high, we welcome you into our lives as the people of Jerusalem welcomed your son our Lord Jesus Christ, with respect, love and happiness. Help us to remember that you are in all people and help us to try to make them feel welcome. Amen.
=== 7:14 - 7:19 ====
Liturgy of the Word
Introduce the first reading.
Today’s first reading is from the Old Testament book of the prophet Isaiah. In this reading, Isaiah talks about being tortured because he believed in God. He reminds us that even in the worst of times, God is with us and to never be ashamed to believe in God.
A prepared child/children come and take the reading.
First Reading is from the book of
Isaiah 50:4-7 (NRSVCE)
6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
7. The Lord God helps me; therefore, I have not been disgraced; therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
“This is the word of the Lord”
All say “Thanks be to God”.
Say: God is with us, even when we are persecuted.
Say: Let us now focus on our responsorial Psalm:
< My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? ...>3x
Introduce the Gospel
Say: Today’s Gospel reading comes from the New Testament book of Matthew. It is called the passion. It is a long reading and we shall read parts of it together. This is the story of what happened to Jesus. It is a sad story. While we read, think about how you might have acted if you were living at that time.
....
Say: Usually we stand to get ready to hear the Gospel; today we will sit because this Gospel is a little different:
..with No Alleluia!! –
Still in this Holy Week, we shall not sing the Alleluia but can sing a song short song without Alleluia.
Silently say: “Cleanse our hearts and our lips, almighty God, that we may worthily proclaim your Holy Gospel”.
The Leader starts: The Lord be with You,
And with your Spirit.
A reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John.
Glory to You, O Lord
Matthew 27:11-54 (GNT)
Readers
Narrator--- Black Adult
Pirate--- Green Child
Jesus--- Red Child
Crowd--- Yellow Children
Jesus Before Pilate
“So you say,” answered Jesus. 12 But He said nothing in response to the accusations of the chief priests and elders.
13 So Pilate said to Him, “Don't you hear all these things they accuse you of?”
14 But Jesus refused to answer a single word, with the result that the Governor was greatly surprised.
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
19 While Pilate was sitting in the judgment hall, his wife sent him a message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, because in a dream last night I suffered much on account of Him.” 20 The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask Pilate to set Barabbas free and have Jesus put to death. 21 But Pilate asked the crowd, “Which one of these two do you want me to set free for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.
22 “What, then, shall I do with Jesus called the Messiah?” Pilate asked them.
“Crucify Him!” they all answered.
23 But Pilate asked, “What crime has he committed?”
Then they started shouting at the top of their voices: “Crucify Him!”
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
The Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus
27 Then Pilate's soldiers took Jesus into the governor's palace, and the whole company gathered around him. 28 They stripped off his clothes and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on His head, and put a stick in His right hand; then they knelt before Him and made fun of him. “Long live the King of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spat on him, and took the stick and hit him over the head. 31 When they had finished making fun of Him, they took the robe off and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.
Jesus Is Crucified
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha, which means, “The Place of the Skull.” 34 There they offered Jesus wine mixed with a bi; but after tasting it, he would not drink it.
35 They crucified him and then divided his clothes among them by throwing dice. 36 After that they sat there and watched him. 37 Above his head they put the written notice of the accusation against him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then they crucified two bandits with Jesus, one on his right and the other on his left.
39 People passing by shook their heads and hurled insults at Jesus: 40 “You were going to tear down the Temple and build it back up in three days! Save yourself if you are God's Son! Come on down from the cross!”
41 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and the elders made fun of him: 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! Isn't he the king of Israel? If he will come down off the cross now, we will believe in him! 43 He trusts in God and claims to be God's Son. Well, then, let us see if God wants to save him now!” 44 Even the bandits who had been crucified with him insulted him in the same way.
The Death of Jesus
45 At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours. 46 At about three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”
47 Some of the people standing there heard him and said, “He is calling for Elijah!” 48 One of them ran up at once, took a sponge, soaked it in cheap wine, put it on the end of a stick, and tried to make him drink it.
49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah is coming to save him!”
50 Jesus again gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
51 Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart, 52 the graves broke open, and many of God's people who had died were raised to life. 53 They left the graves, and after Jesus rose from death, they went into the Holy City, where many people saw them.
54 When the army officer and the soldiers with him who were watching Jesus saw the earthquake and everything else that happened, they were terrified and said, “He really was the Son of God!”
The Gospel of the Lord”
“Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ”
==== 7:19 - 7:24 ====
(*) Tell your prepared reflecting story to motivate the children, but according to the Gospel and children’s level of understanding like in the suggestions below…
Gospel reflection:
Ask: Do you think that the people who killed Jesus were all bad people? Or do you think maybe they might have been frightened into doing the wrong thing? Maybe they don’t really understand. Say: We know that Jesus forgave the people who killed him. He regularly forgives us too as long as we recognize what we do wrong and are sorry.
Memory Verse: “….”
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 here.
Leader: As we welcome Jesus into our lives in other people, we pray together…
Prayer 1. We pray for world leaders: that they may be inspired by Jesus’ example to care for all people, especially those who are poor... We pray to the Lord...
Prayer2. We pray for our brothers and sisters throughout the world: that we may look for Jesus within them and treat each other as we would wish to be treated... We pray to the Lord...
Prayer 3. We pray for our parish, family and friends: that we may welcome all people with respect and love as Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem... We pray to the Lord....
Prayer 4. God of truth, we thank you for sending us your Son Jesus. Open our hearts so that we may welcome Him in others and bring us together to make the world a fairer place... We pray to the Lord...
==== 7:26 - 7:28 ====
Silently, each one tells 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
