Children’s Liturgy
SOURCE: 52 Sundays
Making Connections
Grades 1-3
28th Sunday of Year A
Being invited to birthday parties is fun for many younger children. Being invited helps them feel a sense of love and belonging. Teach children that Jesus invites all of us to be his disciples.
Grades 4-6
Older children may already have internalized a particular expectation of heaven and may judge others accordingly. Today’s Gospel presents an opportunity to reconsider these assumptions and judgments and to consider the virtue of humility.
Grades 7-8
Being accepted as part of the in-group is very important to young people at this age. To receive an invitation to a party is a sign of acceptance. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches that we should not take for granted God’s invitation to the heavenly banquet.
SOURCE: Loyola Press: Sunday Connection
Videos for Children
CATHOLIC
GENERAL
Animated Bible Stories (Saddleback Kids)
Bible Crafts (Ministry to Children)
Object Lesson Sermons (Ministry to Children)
Videos are from a variety of Christian sources. Use your own judgment and discretion when adapting content for your children.
Children Messages
28th Sunday of Year A
GENERAL
Object Lessons
Bible Crafts for Sunday school
Kristin Schmidt holds a Master’s degree in teaching (from Biola University) as well as one in theology (from Concordia University). She currently serves at the Epiphany Lutheran Church in Castle Rock, Colorado.
Everyone’s invited! In this children’s message sample, children will learn the importance that the Gospel is for all people. Start with a celebratory “party” atmosphere, and rejoice in the fact that we can all be part of God’s Heavenly family.
CATHOLIC
Theresa, a mom in Canada who is happy to share this resource to help children learn the truth and beauty of the Faith.
Feel free to use the puzzles and/or comics separately, but acknowledgement of the source would be appreciated. –
READ MORE
SOURCE: Catholic Kids Bullein
Dinner Party
Plan a dinner party and give thanks to God as a family. Plan the guest list together and get everyone involved in sending out invitations. Talk about what foods to serve and how to decorate. Use a special meal prayer of thanksgiving for the occasion.
Participate in the Banquet of the Lord by attending Sunday Eucharist together as a family. Talk to the family about preparing our hearts for the Eucharist. What can we do to be better prepared for the liturgy celebration? Arrive at church a few minutes early to prepare for this special Eucharistic meal.
SOURCE: OSV Lifelong Catechesis
Wearing Appropriate Attire
28th Sunday of Year A
As you gather as a family, discuss what you consider appropriate attire for various occasions. For example, if your family were invited to a neighbor’s barbecue, what would you wear? If you were planning to attend the symphony, what might you wear? If invited to an evening wedding, what might you wear? Discuss how our preparations for an event and our choice of attire indicates the importance and value we place on the occasion.
In today’s Gospel Jesus uses this metaphor to talk about the kingdom of heaven. Read Matthew 22:1-14. Discuss why the guest was thrown out of the wedding feast. What does Jesus expect of those who accept his invitation of salvation? What would be the evidence of our conversion to God’s salvation? Pray together as a family that you will respond wholeheartedly to God’s invitation to salvation. Pray together today’s psalm, Psalm 23.
SOURCE: Loyola Press: Sunday Connection
GENERAL
Richard Niell Donovan, a retired Disciples of Christ clergyman, published Sermon writer for more than two decades. When Dick died in 2020, his wife, Dale, has graciously kept the website online free of charge.
Children sermons have been written by
Lois Parker Edstrom
Dell Smith Klein
Dr. Carol J Miller
Dr. Dan Wuori
God’s Invitation
Suggested Objects: None
Have you ever received an invitation?
An invitation is a special way of asking “would you like to?”
Would you like to come to my birthday party? (That’s a kind of invitation, isn’t it?)
Would you like to come over and play?
Would you like to go to the movies?
Do those sound like invitations you’d like to receive? (Me too!)
But receiving an invitation is really just the beginning, isn’t it? It’s nice to be invited, but then we have to accept. Birthday parties are only fun if we actually GO to them, right?
So a successful invitation has two parts: one person makes the invitation and (we hope) another person accepts it.
SOURCE: Sermon Writer
Good Intentions
OBJECT SUGGESTED: A report card, a book, a pillow to represent intentions listed below – all optional. Write the word “intention” on poster board or a blackboard.
Intention is a word that means you decide to do something or plan to get a certain result. You could say you intend to get good grades at school; that is your intention. You might decide to read a certain book; you intend to read and finish that book. You tell your mother that you intend to make your bed every morning.
Sometimes we have good intentions, but we don’t follow through and complete the task. You may decide that it is more fun to play than study and your school grades are not what you intended them to be. Perhaps you did not finish that book you meant to read because you played video games instead. And, maybe there are mornings you forget to make your bed.
Jesus tells a story in the Bible about intentions. There was a king who gave a wedding party for his son. People were invited, but when it was time to come to the party, the people who had been invited had other plans and did not come. They may have had good intentions, but they chose to do other things.
SOURCE: Sermon Writer
A Personal Invitation
Object suggested: Musical instrument, music book or sheet music.
Do any of you play a musical instrument? If you do, can you tell us how you learned to make music? You probably didn’t play melodies right from the start.
Most of us need instruction to learn to play a musical instrument. Depending on which type of instrument you play, you learn how to hold the instrument, where to place your fingers, how to use your mouth, and you even need to learn how to breathe to be relaxed and play beautiful sounding notes.
There are many things to think about when you learn to play a musical instrument. You recognize the various musical notes and learn about timing – how fast or slow and in what kind of rhythm to play the notes. All of this takes time. You must practice, practice, practice.
Some of you may have played in a recital or concert. If so, you know how much preparation is required to get the songs ready to perform. When all is prepared, the result is wonderful music that will delight those who come to listen.
SOURCE: Sermon Writer
Handouts for Children
28th Sunday of Year A
CATHOLIC
Theresa, a mom in Canada who is happy to share this resource to help children learn the truth and beauty of the Faith.
Feel free to use the puzzles and/or comics separately, but acknowledgement of the source would be appreciated. –
READ MORE
SOURCE: Catholic Kids Bullein
SOURCE: SDC
GENERAL
There are two telling’s of this story. This week’s gospel from Matthew puts in some deep symbolism. The activity at right, which follows Luke’s telling, sticks to the bare bones of the story: the idea that there was a banquet where everyone uninvited was welcomed.
SOURCE: Jesus Without Language
Read Alouds
28th Sunday of Year A
Build.
Plant.
Grow.
Santa Clara University
Sunday Index for children ages 5-13
Using each lesson plan, directors of religious education, school teachers, and parents can:
- Use the recommended key discussion points when reading weekly messages with your children.
- Read aloud a classic picture storybook linked to the moral virtue in the weekly readings.
- Manage creative activities including arts and crafts, games, and gardening projects.
- End with a reflection activity using a case study and a prayer.
THE WORD THIS WEEK
Hospitality
SUNDAY READ ALOUD
Seven Fathers
Written by Ashley Ramsden
Illustrated by Ed Young
This retelling of a Norwegian folktale speaks beautifully to the virtue of hospitality from both the perspectives of the one seeking and the one providing hospitality.
On a winter’s night, in blinding snow, a solitary traveler is searching for refuge from the cold. Suddenly he comes upon a house blazing with lights and he has a sense of relief. Essentially, the traveler encounters a number of individuals one by one in his search for respite from his travels. In each encounter one can experience the respect, patience and sense of trust the traveler shows in order to receive what he needs. This is a rare story for today’s society for seldom do we hear of the importance of the guest/ host relationship, and in this case it is what keeps the traveler alive. Hospitality to the stranger, throughout the scriptures and in ancient societies focused a great deal on whether a person lived or died in a hostile environment.
SOURCE: Teaching Catholic Kids
Welcome to All
First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a
Opening Question: Where do people feel in danger? Why do people feel danger in those places?
Robert loved his stuffed teddy bear. Holding the bear made him feel safe. He even had a name for the bear “Baby.” When Baby looked out over Robert’s room, he knew he was safe.
One day, Robert walked home after school alone. Usually he walked with his friends, but this day they were no where to be found. As he walked closer to home, Robert began to think about Baby and how good it would feel to hold his stuffed bear.
When Robert got home, he didn’t find his mother there to greet him. So, he ran back to his room where Baby would be sitting on the shelf. When Robert entered his room, he gasped. Robert did not see his prized bear! Robert became frantic. He even began to look in places that scared him. Underneath his bed. And, finally his closet. He hated that closet! Monsters lived in there.
Bridging Question: Have you ever planned a surprise party? Who did you throw the party for? What happened?
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14
Danielle planned the best surprise party for her best friend, Sheila. Danielle got her entire family involved. Her mother ordered the cake, her father ordered the games, her brothers and sisters bought the decorations. Danielle personally picked out the invitations, wrote each one by hand, and mailed them to all her friends. Danielle’s mother called Sheila’s mother to make arrangements. Both women laughed on the phone as they made up the story they would tell Sheila on the day of her party. Sheila’s mother would drive her over to Danielle’s house. There, everyone would spring the surprise.
The day before the party, Sheila’s mother called Danielle’s house with bad news. Sheila’s grandmother suddenly died and her family would travel out of town for the funeral. Danielle was very sad. Sad for her friend and sad for her own family who put in so much time and effort for the party. “What are we going to do with all the food and the decorations?” Danielle asked. That was a good question.
Closing Question: How can we share what we have with others? How can we celebrate our sharing? How can you talk to God about your sharing?
SOURCE: Word-Sunday.com – All materials found in word-sunday.com are the property of Larry Broding (Copyright 1999-2022). Viewers may copy any material found in these pages for their personal use or for use in any non-profit ministry. Materials may not be sold or used for personal financial gain.
“Knight Owl”
“Nebraska: The State of Volleyball”
By Lincoln Journal Star.
Lincoln Journal Star Books, Lincoln, Neb., 2009, 111 pages, Grades 7-11.
This story is a great read-aloud for a class in primary school. The pictures are humorous and readers will enjoy watching Little Owl grow into knighthood. This book is also beneficial for older family members to read to the younger members of the family. You just have to cheer for Little Owl as he succeeds in his quest to become Knight Owl.
SOURCE: Southern Nebraska Register, Catholic Diocese of Lincoln (The image and link to the video embedded above are not part of Terrence Nollen’s review.)
Catechist Resources
28th Sunday of Year A
