Children’s Liturgy

FEATURED VIDEOSHeidi WitteMary Jo ColeHoly HeroesChildren of God Catholic
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Each week, Mrs. Cole presents the Sunday Gospel using a Bible Bag, props and prayer to encourage kindness, love, respect, honesty and the Golden Rule in children. She is a lawyer, wife and mom who teaches Sunday School music at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Minnesota.
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Rapper Brandon Wells explains the parable of the workers in the vineyard
Videos are from a variety of Christian sources. Use your own judgment and discretion when adapting content for your children. Videos are sorted by most popular.

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Children Messages

25th Sunday of Year A

OSV Lifelong Catechesis

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Family Blessings

To help your family celebrate the Generosity of God, before grace at meals, join hands and thank God for the ways in which God has entered and become part of your life. Thank God for the individual blessings each one has received and for the family blessings.

As a game, count your family blessings. Sit in a circle and take turns naming one blessing you have from God. For an additional challenge, use the alphabet; begin with a gift that begins with “A,” then “B,” and so forth. See how long you can keep going.

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SOURCE: OSV Lifelong Catechesis
SERMON ONE

All of God’s Love

Suggested Objects: This week’s sermon begins with several personal references. Adapt to your own circumstances as appropriate.

Did I ever tell you that I have two sisters? How about you? Raise your hand if you have any brothers or sisters. Now, I am the oldest child in my family – but that doesn’t mean I was (or am) any more special to my parents. When they tucked my sisters into bed they never once said, “I love you…but I love your brother a little bit more because he’s been here longer.” That sounds almost silly, doesn’t it? Our parents loved us all just the same – and as much as they could.

The same thing is true at school, isn’t it? When a new student come into class we wouldn’t expect the teacher to say, “I’ll teach you a few things, but not as many as the kids who were here first.” Instead he or she becomes a part of the class – and just as important as everyone else.

In this week’s Gospel lesson Jesus tells a story to help us understand that God’s love is just the same way.

He tells about a man… 

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SOURCE: Sermon Writer

SERMON TWO

An Unending Supply

OBJECT SUGGESTED: A Dictionary

There are over one half million words in our English language – more than one person could ever use. Words are used combinations and can be used over and over again. We use words to express ourselves and to tell others how we feel. When you like or love someone you appreciate what they do for you, but that isn’t the reason you love them — you love them because of who they are and you use your words to express that love.

There is a story in the Bible about workers…

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SOURCE: Sermon Writer

SERMON THREE

Generosity Everywhere

Object suggested: None

In the Bible Jesus tells a story that seems to have an unfair outcome. It is about a landowner who went out early in the morning and hired workers to work in his vineyard. The workers agreed with the landowner as to how much he would pay them to work for him. Later that morning the landowner hired more workers. The landowner went out again at noon, mid afternoon, and about an hour before quitting time and hired yet more workers. When the day was over he paid all the workers the same amount of money. Those who had been working hard all day were upset because the workers who had been hired later in the day had not worked as long and yet they received the same amount of money.

When the workers that had been hired in the morning complained (in the words of Jesus) the landowner said, “Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?” (20:15). The landowner is asking the workers if they are angry because the landowner is generous.

Here is the word that will help us understand this story: the word is generous. A generous person is someone…

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SOURCE: Sermon Writer

Handouts for Children

25th Sunday of Year A

CATHOLIC

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A resource created for catechists, teachers, students and families

CHRISTIAN

This craft is really just a bit of fun rather than something deep and theological, it depicts the three characters in the parable of the forgiven debt or unforgiving servant. Once made it can be a storytelling prop, a way to ask deeper questions about forgiveness, or just a toy to play with.

Read Alouds

25th 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

Generosity

SUNDAY READ ALOUD

The Quilt Maker’s Gift

Written by Jeff Brumbeau Illustrated by Gail de Marcken

A charitable seamstress makes beautiful quilts and the recipients of these quilts are the needy and the poor. When a greedy king hears of these exquisite creations, he demands that the seamstress make one for him. The seamstress refuses to sell the king one, but says that she will give him one if he gives away all of his possessions. As the story progresses the king travels the world to give away all of his treasures. When he returns to the village he is a happier man yet clothed in rags. The seamstress then presents him with a beautiful quilt. It is a fine book for teaching the value of generosity.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 55: 6-9

Today’s first reading is intimately connected to the Gospel parable for this Sunday. Both readings emphasize how vastly different God’s ways are from our own. Isaiah’s message declares that God is not only willing but always ready to seek out and heal the sinner. One only has to heed God’s urgent loving call . The generosity of God is unbounded and this generosity is yet another example of unconditional love at its perfection.

Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, Copyright © 2023 http://www.scu.edu/character

SECOND READING

Philippians 1: 20c-24, 27a

This letter to the Philippians presents Saint Paul in prison and facing a sentence of death. Despite this, the letter is often referred to as the “joyful letter.” Saint Paul sees that in either life or death he is absolutely linked to Christ Jesus and that relationship is the most important thing in his life. Saint Paul finds only one dilemma. He is torn, for while he prefers to “depart” this life and be with Christ, he also desires to go on living for the sake of those he has brought to Christ. In both joy and sacrifice Saint Paul exemplifies the generosity of Christ, a generosity that should be an essential part of all who follow Christ.

Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, Copyright © 2023 http://www.scu.edu/character

GOSPEL

Matthew 20: 1-16a

This parable of the generous landowner is unique to Saint Matthew’s gospel. Jesus uses this parable to express the abundant generosity that is characteristic of the economy of God’s love. The term “fair” has a wholly different meaning here, determined not by our small and petty notions, but by God’s inscrutable wisdom. We stand in awe of God’s graciousness and generosity for everyone can get a full day’s pay because payment is not earned but awarded in the Kingdom, and God can be as generous as he wants.

Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, Copyright © 2023 http://www.scu.edu/character

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SOURCE: Teaching Catholic Kids

Word-Sunday
Children’s
Reading

by Larry Broding

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The Bigger Picture

First Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9

Opening Question: How many of you have been in an airplane? What is the view like from the sky? What did you see?

For her birthday, Agnes’ father planned something special, a surprise. All week long, Agnes asked her father, pleaded with her father, screamed at him to find out what the surprise was. “You’ll just have to find out,’ her father teased.

On her birthday, Agnes and her father took a long car ride down winding country roads. Finally, they came to a meadow. When Agnes looked up, her eyes got as wide as they could get. “Hot air balloons!” she shouted. Are we going for a ride, Dad?” she asked.

“Yes, Agnes,” her father answered. “Happy Birthday.”

When they got to the balloon, Agnes’ father lifted her up and put in the balloon basket. Then he climbed in. Agnes heard the hiss from the air heater as the balloon began to rise. Higher and higher the balloon rose in the sky. Smaller and smaller people and cars became. Agnes awed at the view she got high above everything. As the balloon began to drift with the wind, she saw green mountain tops and the blue ocean. “Things look so much different up here, Dad,” Agnes said.

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Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

A player piano is a old piano with peddles. A paper roll with holes goes in the piano. As person at the piano bench pumps the pedals, the paper roll turns. And the holes in the paper passes over a bar that also has holes. The air that goes through the holes tells the piano which notes to play. Each paper roll tells the piano to play a different song.

Jillian loved Grandma’s player piano. When she went to Grandma’s house, Jillian would sit and pump the pedals and play different songs and sing with the music all day long. Ever since she could pump the pedals at the age of three, she dreamed about owning Grandma’s player piano.

Jillian worked hard to earn the privilege to visit Grandma. She did her chores, her homework, and even extra work to get points toward a trip. Once to twice a month, Jillian and her family would visit Grandma. Everyone knew where Jillian would be when they visited Grandma. In the living room, pumping away on the player piano.

On one visit, however, Jillian’s younger cousin Gregory was at Grandma’s house when she arrived. Her face turned to a frown as she heard the sound of the player piano. Young Gregory had discovered how to pump the peddles and make music. He was laughing and singing. When Jillian asked Gregory to share the piano, he shouted “No!”

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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.

Children’s Literature
Bookshelf

Reviews by Terrence
Nollen

Diocese of Lincoln

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The Women Doctors of the Church

“The Women Doctors of the Church” by Collen Pressprich, illustrated by Adalee Hude.
Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, Ind., 2022, 36 pages, Grades 3-5.

In the history of the Catholic Church, 37 saints have been named Doctors of the Church…

The text in this book is complex and needs a certain reading ability. The illustrations are gorgeous. This makes this book ideal for sharing in group sessions or in oral reading in family situations. Older readers can help younger children understand the text while enjoying the beautiful artwork. 

This book is not widely available in public libraries, but can be purchased in fine book stores like Gloria Deo in Lincoln. I encourage you to get a copy of this lovely book and share it with the younger members of your family. It is a short read, but it is packed with important, powerful information. I enjoyed it and think you will as well.

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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

25th Sunday of Year A