Advent 2006

Advent2006

Children's Liturgy Sunday, December 3rd 2006

Children's Liturgy Sunday November 5th 2006
The FIRST SUNDAY of ADVENT
Today is the First Sunday of Advent, a time for us to prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day.
The first candle is lit on the Advent wreath.
In today's Gospel, Jesus tells people that sometimes, strange and frightening things happen in the world. Everyone is invited to watch and pray.
We know that Jesus will keep us safe always; he wants us to be with him.
  
In the second reading today, Saint Paul tells the followers of Jesus to love each other more and more. This is the way to prepare for a full life with Jesus.
We started to make our Christmas cribs by colouring the background of the stables we are preparing.
We talked about the things we love most about Christmas, such as getting together with family and friends, giving out presents, decorating the house and tree, going to Midnight or Christmas Mass and all the many other traditions which have been passed down to us through the years. We realise that the most important part of Christmas is to remember that Jesus came to be born on earth because God loves us and wants us to be like Jesus.
   
 
A letter from Frankie!
Father John received this letter this week.  
Dear Boys and Girls,
What a marvellous surprise for you to remember me sharing the past year on the web, and your gift was a real surprise. Thank you very much.
I must also thank you for your prayers when I was ill a week or so ago. However, I am now quite well again and able to take my master to church and do all the other things in getting about, as you do, because without my training to use my eyes for that purpose, Paul would be very restricted indeed.
So many thanks and may you all have a very happy Christmas.
Yours truly,
Frankie the dog.

Children's Liturgy Sunday December 10th 2006

Children's Liturgy Sunday November 5th 2006
The SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT
Today we added the first figures to our cribs. We coloured and put in Mary and Joseph.
The pictures show we enjoyed it. They also help to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.
 
   
 
 
 

Children's Liturgy Sunday December 17th 2006

Children's Liturgy Sunday November 5th 2006
The THIRD SUNDAY of ADVENT

Saint Luke tells us that shepherds on a hillside, looking after their sheep, saw an angel. They were poor, ordinary people. The angel told them a special baby had been born and they were to find him. We like to think they took a lamb as a present.

This angel seems more interested in the sheep-dog than the shepherd!
Jesus is often called the Lamb of God, because he gave himself up for us all. Before Jesus came, people used to think God was frightening, and they offered up to Him animals that had been specially killed. Then Jesus gave himself once and for all, to show us God loves us.
Here is a poem by William Blake which tells us about this.
 
Today, we put the shepherds and lambs into our cribs and added the straw.
 
   
 
The straw went everywhere! Here are Maggs and Theresa at the end of the line with our cribs...and Theresa cleaning up!

Children's Liturgy Sunday December 24th 2004

Children's Liturgy Sunday November 5th 2006

The Fourth SUNDAY of ADVENT
CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS MASS
In the Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Advent, Saint Luke tells us of Mary's visit to Elizabeth, who is also expecting a baby. This baby will be John the Baptist. When Elizabeth hears Mary's voice, she feels the baby inside her jump for joy. Elizabeth is moved by the Holy Spirit. She is thrilled that Mary should go to see her and that her own baby is leaping for joy. Most of all, though, she shows her delight and wonder that Mary is so blessed by God, not only because of the baby she is expecting, but because she believes what God tells her.
Mary, shows us how to believe and accept God's will. When God told her she would have a baby who would save the world, she said, 'Yes'.
Children's Christmas Mass
At last, Christmas is here and we can put the baby Jesus in our cribs.Saint Luke tells us how Joseph and Mary set out to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born. An angel tells the shepherds on the hillside to go to see the baby lying in a manger. We come to his birthday mass dressed as characters from the Christmas story.
Happy Christmas everyone! God Bless Us All and help us to remember the message of love which Christmas brings, as we take home our cribs.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Children's Liturgy Sunday December 31st 2006

Children's Liturgy Sunday November 5th 2006

The Feast of the HOLY FAMILY
Today there was no special liturgy for the children, as it was the Feast of the Holy Family and traditionally, families sit together at mass..
In today's Gospel, we heard how, when Jesus was twelve, Mary and Joseph took him to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Afterwards, Jesus stayed behind, when his parents travelled home, until they noticed he was missing. They were very worried until they found him in the temple, asking questions. Mary asked him why he had caused them so much distress, at which he explained he thought they would know he would be in his father's house. 
Father John talked about all kinds of families, to explain to us that though there may be worries, all that really matters is love and wisdom ( being able to judge the best thing to do). A house may not be smart, but is a home if there is love. Having lots of money or toys, being left to do as they please, may seem something a child would enjoy for a short time, but they would know that their parents were not really showing love by giving them these things.
God Bless All Our Families..
Sometimes a parent has to guide us in a wise, gentle way, because they have more experience- and we have to listen, even though we find it hard to take advice!
We heard about a little girl in the parish who has just had an operation, after being ill, but still coming to our liturgy every week. We are so happy she is getting better and that her operation is a complete success.
'We pray that she will continue to get better day by day. Thank you, God, for taking care of her. '

Children's Liturgy Sunday January 7th 2007

Children's Liturgy Sunday November 5th 2006

The FEAST of the EPIPHANY
The word, epiphany, means a showing forth. Today, we think about the way the baby Jesus is showed to the world as God's Son, our King and Saviour. Saint Matthew explains this by telling us that three Wise Men came to visit Jesus after he was born in Bethlehem. The Wise Men brought gifts, we are told- gold, frankincense and myrrh; gold for a king, frankincense which is used to show the way prayers rise to God in Heaven, and myrrh, a strange gift for a baby, as it is an ointment (like a cream), used on the bodies of those who have died.
In our liturgy, we talked about special gifts that we would give to the baby Jesus; gifts that you cannot see, like love, patience and kindness.
We wrote our gifts on star-shaped cards and wrapped them up to take to the figure of baby Jesus in the crib back in the main church. Three children dressed as the three Wise Men.
Did you guess what Frankie was thinking in last week's drawing? Do you think he was looking at the bottle of myrrh as it went past the window in the hands of the third Wise Man...and is it possible he thought the bottle was a CAT?
So did Frankie think the gifts were gold, frankincense and PURR?
He knows now what the real gifts were.

Children's Liturgy Sunday January 14th 2007

Children's Liturgy Sunday 14th January 2007

WATER into WINE
In today's Gospel, Jesus is at a wedding feast where there is not enough wine. There are six stone jars of water, which is used for washing of hands and arms before people eat. Jesus is asked to help by his mother. Jesus turns the water into wine.
When Jesus turns water into wine, this reminds us that he will die for us. His blood will become the wine we drink at Communion at mass. Because he offers himself for us, we can say that the stone of the jars becomes the flesh of the Body of Christ; the water becomes the Blood of Christ. Also, because Jesus is present, the six containers become seven, a number which would have an important meaning for the Jewish people.
Jesus brings a new life and a new meaning for us. We are not stony-hearted any more; we care for each other.
Jesus makes everything new, just as he turned the water into wine. We think about new ways of living together with love.
Also, we realise that God gives us rain, which makes everything grow, including grapes, which people turn into wine in a more ordinary way. God, in fact, changes water into everything we have.

Children's Liturgy Sunday January 21st 2007

Children's Liturgy Sunday 14th January 2007
In today's Gospel, Jesus tells people he comes to bring the good news that God is here now and that they can live God's truth. This means that they are set free to help and care for each other; to share what they have with all people.
God has made those who make up his body this way so that we can realise we each need each other. When one single person suffers, we all suffer. When one single person is praised or respected, we are all praised and respected. Sometimes, the weakest parts of the body need most care; but we should remember, the person who seems the weakest may be the most gifted.
We have been thinking about how each part of the body can stand for talents that can be used to help each other.
HEADS: think of ways to help poorer countries; save the earth; make good laws; create ideas, books; work out what God wants; deal with anger; understand the other person; make someone happy; score a goal.
 
EYES: Look out for those who need help; see what is really going on; see beauty.
 
EARS: Listen; hear cries for help.
 
ARMS: Can be strong; give hugs; do heavy work; work machinery; carry people; play games.
 
HANDS: Create beauty; play music; tend the sick; show meaning.
 
LEGS: Run to help; run errands; play games; move to other places.
 
FEET: Walk God's way.
 
HIPS: Carry babies; help create new life.
 
SHOULDERS: Carry burdens; show pride in what is good.
 
BACKBONE: Stand up for what is right; support everyone; carry messages.
We all have talents and we can use them to help everyone.

Children's Liturgy Sunday January 28th 2007

Children's Liturgy Sunday 14th January 2007

Today in our liturgy, we have talked about knowing the difference between doing right and wrong.

Sometimes, even when we try to do things that we think are right, we end up in trouble too.

We have made posters that say things we think are good and things that are wrong.
 
Dear Lord, I will turn away from wrong.
I will turn to do what's right.
I will walk out of the dark.
I will walk into the light.
Amen.

Children's Liturgy Sunday February 4th 2007

Children's Liturgy Sunday 14th January 2007
We hear how Peter has been a fisherman all his life and knows a lot about fishing, but he still does as Jesus suggests.
We think about times in our lives when we need to put our trust in Jesus.
 
 
Frankie has just returned from a pilgrimage to Malta. There, the fishing boats often have 'eyes', which the fishermen think will help them keep away from danger or anything bad. Fishing can be a dangerous job.
Frankie saw lots of fish, which made his mouth water.
Frankie made new friends.
 

Children's Liturgy Sunday February 11th 2007

Children's Liturgy Sunday 11th February 2007
Jesus told his followers that in the Kingdom of God, the ways of our world will be turned upside-down. The people who are made to come last now, because they are poor or unimportant, will then come first. The sad will be happy. Those who are hurt, or shut out because they love Jesus, will be rewarded.
We can begin God's Kingdom now.
We have made a treasure-island map. The island is called Life. We played a game in which we moved around the island of Life. If we landed on a red square, we dug up treasure. Some treasures would be valued on earth. Some would be treasure in Heaven or Heaven-on-earth. There were two treasure chests and we had to decide whether the things we dug up were earthly treasure or heavenly treasure.
The children who are making their First Communion this year acted as consultants, which means they gave advice to the younger children, to help them decide.
 
 
This is some of the heavenly treasure they chose:
I listen to others;
People make fun of me for coming to Mass, but I still come to church;
I often get the chance to go first, but I make sure everyone else gets a turn to start as well;
People sometimes hurt me, but I never stop trying to be kind;
I am good at a lot of things, but I don't show off as I know I'm just lucky;
I am too shy to take the main part, but I enjoy helping to put on a good play or game.
 
 

Children's Liturgy Sunday February 18th 2007

Children's Liturgy Sunday 18th February 2007
Today in our liturgy, we have talked about treating others in the same way that we would like to be treated. With this in mind, we would like to introduce to you our friend, Mrs. Be-done-by-as-you-did. (She is with Stuart, who teaches the altar servers.)
 
She is a nice person, but feels sometimes she could be nicer and treat people in a more kind and caring way. She really wants to change and has asked us to help her.
Next week is the start of Lent, a time for spiritual spring-cleaning, so over the next six weeks, we are going to show Mrs. Be-done-by-as-you-did how she can become a better person and to earn the new name of Mrs. Do-as-you-would-be-done-by.