Children ✨
December 8, 2024
December 8, 2024
Children Liturgy of the Word resources for the Second Sunday of Advent Year C.
Children Resources Sunday Readings
Children Resources Sunday Readings
More Children’s Liturgy of the Word videos
are located in LITURGY PLANNER section. |
After clicking on the link go CHILDREN’s LITURGY.
KID TALK
Making Paths Straight
PRAYER TABLEE
Items you can place on a prayer table that reflect the themes and symbolism found in this week’s Sunday readings.
FIRST READING
- Cloak or Shawl: Representing the “cloak of justice from God,” symbolizing the importance of righteousness and virtue.
- Mitre or Crown: Reflecting the “mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name,” symbolizing honor and dignity in faith.
- Light or Candle: Representing the “light” that has come to Jerusalem, symbolizing God’s guidance and hope in times of darkness.
SECOND READING
- Bible or Prayer Book: Symbolizing the growth in faith, love, and discernment encouraged by the Apostle Paul in this passage.
- Fruit: Representing the “fruit of righteousness,” which comes through Jesus Christ, symbolizing the spiritual nourishment and growth that comes from faith.
- Heart or Symbol of Love: Reflecting Paul’s message of love and unity, symbolizing the importance of Christ’s love and the bonds between fellow believers.
GOSPEL
- River Stones or Water Feature: Representing the River Jordan and the baptism performed by John the Baptist, symbolizing spiritual cleansing and renewal.
- Crooked Path or Labyrinth: Reflecting the call to “make straight the paths of the Lord,” symbolizing the journey of spiritual growth and discernment.
- Image of John the Baptist or Jesus: Representing the key figures in the passage, serving as reminders of their teachings and example.
Key words and topics appropriate for young children related to the Sunday readings:
FIRST READING
Jerusalem: A city where God’s friends lived. God wants them to be happy!
Light: God’s love is like a bright light that makes us feel warm and safe.
Cloak of Justice: Pretend you’re wearing a superhero cape, doing good things to make God smile.
SECOND READING
Prayer: Talking to God, just like chatting with your best friend.
Love: Showing kindness, like when you share your toys or give hugs.
Good choices: God is happy when we try to do what’s right, like picking up toys or listening to mom and dad.
GOSPEL
John the Baptist: A helper who told people about Jesus, the special friend of God.
Baptism: A special bath that shows we want to be like Jesus and make God happy.
Preparing for Jesus: Getting our hearts excited to meet Jesus and learn how to be good friends with Him.
CHILDREN’S LITURGIES
SOURCE: BIshop Mark O’Connell
The Old Testament sets the stage for the New Testament by highlighting the role of John the Baptist in preparing for the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, through a message of repentance and transformation.
Join Fr. Edward as we kick off the Catholic Church’s New Year and learn more about one of the most known symbols of the season: the Advent Wreath.
SOURCE: Mary Jo Cole
It’s the second week of Advent! Today we meet John the Baptist, who tells us to “make straight a path for the Lord” – to clear out anything standing between us and Jesus. As we light the second candle on the Advent wreath, what can you clear out so you are ready for Jesus on Christmas? God bless you during Advent and always!
Advent is a time of preparation and reflection, symbolized by the lighting of candles representing hope, love, peace, and joy, as we await the coming of Jesus and are called to embody these virtues in our hearts and actions.
SOURCE: Redemptorist Publications
Advent is a joyful time of preparation for the coming of Jesus, emphasizing repentance, forgiveness, and transformation in our lives through the message of John the Baptist.
SOURCE: Most Sacred Heart Parish, Eureka, MO
God often reveals Himself through everyday acts of love and kindness instead of through dramatic signs.
HANDOUTS
Download 8 1/2 x 10 (PDF)
S.D.C. is a Catholic Society that works in the field of Catechesis and the spreading of the Word of God in different ways. READ MORE
SOURCE: SDC Sunday Liturgy Resources
Download 4-pages (PDF)
The Kids’ Bulletins are a resource for Catholic kids who would like to have some fun while learning about the readings from the Sunday Mass every week. (Ordinary Form) They are made by a mom in Canada who is happy to share them with anyone who can use them to help learn or teach about the truth and beauty of the Faith.
SOURCE: Catholic Kids Bulletin
Download Activity (PDF)
Enjoy Catholic coloring pages, lesson plans, Mass worksheets, puzzles, and more to help you prepare for Sunday Mass. These activities, prepared by the Catholic Mom Sunday Gospel Team, are free for you to print and share with your family, classroom, or parish.
SOURCE: Catholic Mom
OBJECT LESSONS
Fanfare for a King
OBJECTS: A trumpet, a shofar, or a recording of a fanfare and the advent wreath.
(If possible, begin by having someone play a fanfare on the trumpet or a blast on the shofar. If that is not possible, just show the children a trumpet or shofar or play a fanfare on a recording and adapt the sermon to fit your situation.)
Wow! That was exciting, wasn’t it? That exciting piece played on the trumpet is called a fanfare. A fanfare is a loud, short piece of music that is usually played on a trumpet to announce the arrival of someone important. For example, a trumpet fanfare is often played to announce the arrival of a king, queen or president.
The trumpet fanfare has been used to announce the coming of a king for many, many years. It was even used in Bible times! The Bible tells us that when Solomon was crowned as the King of Israel they blew the trumpet and shouted, “God save king Solomon.” (1 Kings 1:34)
SOURCE: Sermon 4 Kids
Prepare the Way
OBJECTS: A picture book featuring earth movers or photos of earth movers
Do you find it exciting to watch large construction machines at work? A few of the familiar ones you might see are bulldozers, road graders, backhoes, cranes, tractors, and forklifts. (Show pictures.) Many of these large pieces of equipment are used to move earth. You will see that some have big buckets attached so rocks and dirt can be moved from one place to another. Others lift heavy objects, drill through concrete, and dig ditches.
Perhaps you have been on a road trip with your parents and were stopped by a construction worker holding a sign. If you looked around you probably saw some of these large machines building a new road or repairing an old one. What did you notice?
In the city you may have seen these machines preparing an area where a new building would be built. Did you see a tall crane lifting a large beam or a backhoe digging a ditch?
The preparation that goes on before new roads or buildings are built is exciting stuff. This is also an exciting time of year. We prepare to celebrate Christmas, the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.
In today’s lesson we learn that a man, named John, traveled around telling, all who would listen, about Jesus. Just as the earth movers we have been talking about prepare for a new building or a new road, John came to prepare the people for the arrival of Jesus.
SOURCE: Sermon Writer
Ablavi Reads With Joy (12:44)
Word of the Week
HOPE
Hope Springs
In Hope Springs, a great drought has settled around the orphanage where the main character, Boniface, lives. The people wait desperately in long lines to draw water from a tiny spring. Boniface and other orphans are waiting in line when they are suddenly pushed to the back of the line. Boniface is confused by this, because he has learned the importance of sharing. When he discusses this with his house parent, Henry, he is told how unkindness and selfishness come out of fear. Later, after a well has been built at the orphanage, Boniface has an idea that will help all the villagers who are in need of water. This story is full of hope that comes when a young boy realizes that when fear is countered with kindness, wonderful things can happen.