Introduction This Leader s Resource for use with Children and Young People has been developed to complement the adult Lenten program Grace to you. Both these resources have been produced in response to the Brisbane Archdiocesan Vision of Jesus, Communion, Mission, with this year s focus once again on mission. For whom is this resource written? This resource is for all leaders and teachers engaged in ministry with children and young people. It is a resource not just for the children, but also for you as adults. Each week contains background information on the Scriptures to inform and focus your preparation. This year, we have also provided a creative reflection for adults. This could be used for personal or communal prayer or for personal reflection. What is in the resource for children and young people? Liturgy resources. Each week, in addition to the information for leaders, we have provided resources for celebrating liturgies with children. The format for these is Gather, Listen, Do, Go. This is the structure outlined in the Brisbane Archdiocesan Guidelines for Children s Liturgy of the Word. A copy of this document is available from the Liturgical Commission website www.litcom.net.au Guided meditations. Each week there are two guided meditations, one for use with younger children (5-9 years approx) and one for use with older children (10-16 years approx). These meditations are printed in the book and available on the accompanying audio CD. Process for exploring Scripture with children. A simple process of Remember, Reflect, Respond is suggested to further explore the Scriptures with children and to assist them to make connections with their own lives. This process can be used with the children in any context classroom, parish, or home. Set of CDs. This provides: 1. Gospels for each week are told from the Lectionary for Masses with Children (audio). 2. Guided meditations for children (audio). 3. Animated stories using PowerPoint. 4. The entire text as a Word document. Creative techniques used in this resource Chorus stories. These require adults or older children to be the readers whilst the whole group of children is the chorus. The responses for the chorus group can be written on large sheets of paper or an overhead transparency or presented as part of a PowerPoint presentation. Alternatively, one child could be assigned the task of chorus leader and provided with a copy of the story. This child says the chorus part which the rest of the group repeats. Number stories. This storytelling technique replaces words with numbers where possible. It requires the leader to indicate numbers by either holding a sign or showing the requisite number of fingers. Children join in the storytelling by saying the numbers when indicated by the leader. Creative responses. Leaders are encouraged to tell or read the Scriptures to the children first and then to use the creative reflections as a means of breaking open the Scriptures. Two reflections are provided for each week. 1
Liquid picture. A liquid picture is a form of drama which allows a story to be presented in a flowing or liquid manner. The process follows this pattern: 1. The story is written in short simple statements (provided). 2. Choose a child to say each statement two or three times and then do a simple action that is held in a frozen pose until the end of the story. 3. Alternatively choose two children for each statement one to say it and the other child to do the action. This is a simple way of involving more children. 4. Have the children line up in front of, and facing, the rest of the group. 5. One by one the children say their line a couple of times, then freeze. 6. A simple statement to both introduce and conclude the liquid picture is provided. The leader or an older child could read these. Two voice reflection. This is a simple technique involving two (older) children reading the story in a flow on, conversational tone. Tableau or Curtains up, curtains down. This is a very powerful way to present Scripture stories and involves a minimum of preparation. 1. The chosen story is divided into sections or scenes (provided). Someone reads or tells the story and children form a frozen tableau of each scene suggestions are also provided. 2. The leader gives the rest of the group the command curtains down, which is an invitation to close eyes. During this short time, the children forming the tableau take up their frozen positions. 3. Once in place the leader gives the command, curtains up which means eyes open. The group sees the frozen tableau and hears a part of the story being read. 4. To change to the next scene, the leader again gives the command curtains down, (eyes closed) allowing time for the children to take up a different frozen position. 5. Once in place the leader again gives the command, curtains up (eyes open) and so the story continues. Echo mime. The story is presented (in this resource) in a table format comprising two columns. On the left side of the table is the story rewritten in simple sentences. For younger children, a simple word or phrase is all that is required. In the right hand column a suggested action is given for each statement. A leader is chosen to say the statement and perform the action. The rest of the children copy or echo the leader. Several children could take the leader s role. Family Prayer Time: Lent to Easter Year B. This resource can be purchased separately and consists of a book and a CD. Family Prayer Time, Lent to Easter: Year B features: parent reflection; adapted Gospel story; discussion pointers; prayer; and guided meditation for each of the Sundays of Lent and continues for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. To obtain copies please contact Faith & Life (07) 3336 9168. To order online and to preview a sample of the book visit the web site: www.bne.catholic.net.au/lentprog09 2
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4 Lent
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First Sunday of Lent Reflection for adults and young people Gospel of Mark 1:12-15... How do we know what God is like? How do we know who or what God is? These are universal questions pondered over by people from every generation. Many of the stories from the bible, especially those found in the Old Testament, are stories of people s journey into the unknown and their attempt to seek out answers or explanations to life s mysteries. Bible stories present different images and understandings of God. The story of Noah, his family and the great flood (Genesis 9:8-15) tells us something about what God is like. The story refers to God s covenant with Noah and his family. A covenant is an agreement, a promise to be in relationship. Noah and his family were faith-filled people who were invited into God s dream for all creation, a dream of peace and harmony and they said Yes! Each of us is invited into God s dream for our world. The book of Genesis tells us that the symbol of the rainbow was chosen as a sign of God s care for all creation. This Lent, the rainbow could become a sign of your involvement in and commitment to renewing and recreating the world. The point of the story is God s love for and commitment to all humanity and indeed to all creation. God will never abandon us! In times of fear, failure or great stress, it is not always easy to remember these words and draw comfort from them. Believing that God will never abandon us does not necessarily cure our diseases or alleviate all fear. So what can faith in God do? For Jesus, in the desert, faith in God gave him hope and sustained him in struggles and suffering. The gospel story of Jesus in the desert, at peace with the wild animals, is also symbolic of God s dream for all creation a dream of peace, harmony and right relationships. In this story, Jesus reminds his listeners that The time has come; God s Kingdom will soon be here. The Kingdom describes a world in tune with God s priorities, a world where beauty blossoms, where compassion is the cornerstone of all relationships, where justice and integrity guide and direct people s actions and where people genuinely love one another. Ah, what a dream! It was the dream of Jesus! As we begin our Lenten journey, let us take some time to reflect on our image of God and our understanding of God s dream for the world. How do we see ourselves contributing to this dream? Is there anything we can do this Lent to deepen our relationship with Jesus? How open are we to the call of the desert to deep listening? 6
Creative reflection for adults and young people An imaginary conversation Noah! Noah! I am going to make you a promise! Me? Yes, you! Oh, and your family! And all of creation! All of us? What kind of a promise? A solemn promise! Sounds serious! It is! I promise never to destroy the earth again by flood. Really? No more floods? Listen between the lines! I m trying! Very! Go on, tell me more! I have chosen you Noah! Me? And your family! What for? What have we done? We re going to be a team, Noah, you and me! Really? I have chosen you and your family to help me Us, help you? How could we possibly help YOU? Let me finish! I have chosen you and your family to help me recreate the world. Uh, nice simple task! Careful Noah, show some respect! Come on, you know me God. I m the loyal one, remember? Sure, sure. So, re-create the world eh! Seems like a sound idea to me. Glad you approve! What s your plan, O Godly, Gracious One? My plan is for peace, not disaster! Phew! Thank God! Don t mention it! 7
Children s Liturgy of the Word Gather Prayer focus Create a simple prayer focus that articulates the liturgical flavour of the Lenten season. Purple is the penitential colour. Obtain a purple candle and a piece of purple material. For this week, include a picture of a rainbow or make a rainbow using different coloured pieces of material. Preparing to listen Leader: We come together today for the first Sunday of Lent. Let us prepare to listen to God s word. Today we will hear about God s promise to look after us always. We will also hear a story about Jesus in the desert. Listen First reading: Responsorial psalm: Gospel acclamation: Gospel: Leader: All: Genesis 9:8-15 from the Lectionary for Masses with Children Psalm 25:4-7 from the Lectionary for Masses with Children Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. No one lives on bread alone But on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Mark 1:12-15 from the Lectionary for Masses with Children The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. Do Following are some suggestions that you might use as appropriate for the age group of the children with whom you are praying. Point out to the children that the colours of the material and candle in your prayer space have changed this week (from Ordinary Time green to Lenten purple). Last week, on Ash Wednesday we began the season of Lent which lasts for six weeks. At the conclusion of Lent we will celebrate Easter. We use purple because it is the church s colour for penance. The rainbow is a symbol if necessary explain symbols to (younger) children. In this story (Genesis 9:8-15) the rainbow becomes a symbol of God s love for all creation. It is a sign of God s promise to care for all creation. 8
The Genesis story focuses on Noah and his family. It is a story, a myth, a parable, depicting the world in darkness and chaos. The point of the story is that God desires peace and harmony for humanity. God works with and through humans to bring about God s will. God continues to work through people, through you and me! God chooses different people for different jobs. What can you do this week to become a peace-maker? What are some ways you can care for creation? With younger children, read together the Echo reflection on p13. This reflection is a combination of the first reading and the gospel. The message from both readings is that God loves us all and is faithful to us. God will never leave us. Part of Jesus struggle in the wilderness was to work out his priorities. Invite children to consider: What things are really important to you and to your family? The gospel passage ends with a call to repent and believe the good news. To repent involves conversion, a change of direction. Invite children to reflect on things in their lives they wish to change. Encourage children to share their understanding of good news. What is good news for you today? What would be good news for the world today? What can you do to be a good news person? Prayer of the Faithful Leader: Reader: All: Reader: All: Reader: All: Reader: All: Leader: All: Gathered as one with all creation, let us pray for the needs of the world. We pray for the people of God, (pause). Lord hear us. Lord hear our prayer. We pray for our world, (pause). Lord hear us. Lord hear our prayer. We pray for all who feel lost and alone, (pause). Lord hear us. Lord hear our prayer. We pray for our own needs, (pause). Lord hear us. Lord hear our prayer. Loving God, listen to our prayers in Jesus name. Amen. Go Rejoining the community Leader: Let us now rejoin our families and friends for the Preparation of the Gifts. 9
Creative responses Echo reflection for younger children An Echo reflection helps young children recall and understand a Scriptural story. The leader voices a statement and the children repeat or echo part of the statement. A simple way to do this is to choose a child leader to say the All part and invite the rest of the children to repeat whatever the child leader says. Leader God told Noah and his family, I am going to make a promise. My promise is to all people and all creation. I promise to look after everyone and everything! I promise to be with you forever! There will be a special sign in the sky to remind you of my promise. One day, many years later, God s Spirit told Jesus to go to the desert. Jesus stayed in the desert for a very long time. There were wild animals in the desert, But angels looked after Jesus. After a long time Jesus left the desert and went to Galilee. He told the people to change their ways. Jesus told the people the Good news, The Good News is God loves EVERYONE! Child leader / All A promise! All people and all creation! Everyone and everything! Forever! It s a rainbow! Many years later To the desert! A very long time Wild animals! Angels looked after Jesus Galilee Change your ways! Good News! God loves everyone! 10
Echo mime for younger children Some stories from the bible God told Noah and his family, Hands open as in reading a book. Hands cupped to mouth I am going to make a promise. Place clenched fist on heart To all people and all creation! I promise to look after everyone and everything! I promise to be with you forever! Move hand from heart to the gathered group Make large circular action with hands Place clenched fist on heart Move hand from heart to the gathered group and make large circular action with hands Place clenched fist on heart Stretch two hands open to the gathered group There will be a special sign in the sky to remind you of my promise. One day many years later, God s Spirit told Jesus to go to the desert. Jesus stayed there for a very long time. There were wild animals, But angels looked after Jesus. After a long time Jesus left the desert and went to Galilee. He told the people to change their ways. He promised the people That God loves EVERYONE! The end of the stories from the bible. Make curved shape (like a rainbow) Place clenched fist on heart Hold up 1 finger Hands cupped to mouth Point in one direction Point to (imaginary) wrist watch Make animal movements Arms hugged to self Point to (imaginary) wrist watch Point in different direction Hands cupped to mouth Turn in a circle Place clenched fist on heart Move hand from heart to the gathered group Hands closed as in closing a book 11
Number story for older children Str8 after Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan by John, God s Spirit made him go in2 the desert 2 think and 2 pray. He stayed there 4 4ty days and 4ty nights and while he was there, the devil tested him. Jesus was with a gr8 number of wild animals but the 1derful angels looked after him,. He really apprecia8ed that! Some time l-8-er (later), John the Baptist was arrested! So Jesus himself went str8 2 Galilee 2 tell this 1 and that 1, God s Good news in fact God s gr8 news! Jesus said: The time has come 4 every 1 2 believe God s gr8 news! God s Kingdom will soon be here. Turn back 2 God and believe God s gr8 news! 12
Guided Meditations Guided meditation for younger children Sit in a comfortable chair, or on the floor cross legged, or lie down. Close your eyes. Relax your body. Relax! Starting at your toes, relax your feet, ankles, legs, body, shoulders, neck, relaxing all the way up to the top of your head. Take long slow breaths as you feel your body quieten. Relax. You are safe and secure. PAUSE Become aware of your breath going in and out of your body. Feel your lungs fill up with air as you count in, 2, 3, 4, 5 and out 2, 3, 4, 5. Continue this as you feel yourself relax. PAUSE Imagine a rainbow. PAUSE See the colours arch across the sky red PAUSE orange PAUSE yellow PAUSE green PAUSE blue PAUSE indigo PAUSE violet. PAUSE What a wonderful sight to see this marvel of nature God s work of art! PAUSE See yourself sitting on top of the rainbow. You feel safe and secure. PAUSE Swing your legs and look around you. Enjoy what you see. PAUSE. Now allow yourself to sink down into the bands of colour and feel each one wash over you, each bringing its own gift warm red PAUSE lively orange PAUSE mellow yellow PAUSE peaceful green PAUSE calm blue PAUSE mysterious indigo PAUSE fragrant violet PAUSE. Know that the rainbow is a symbol of God s love for all creation. PAUSE Allow yourself to float in this sea of colour for a while. PAUSE Thank God for rainbows and wonderful colours and for your eyes that can see and enjoy these. PAUSE Ask God to help you let your true colours shine out. PAUSE This is your mission. It is time now to float back to the top of the rainbow, from violet PAUSE through purple PAUSE blue PAUSE green PAUSE yellow PAUSE orange PAUSE red PAUSE. See yourself sitting on top of the rainbow again, swinging your legs. PAUSE When you are ready become aware of your body again. Feel your toes PAUSE ankles PAUSE legs PAUSE knees PAUSE hips PAUSE stomach PAUSE chest PAUSE shoulders PAUSE neck PAUSE face PAUSE ears PAUSE the top of your head PAUSE. When you are ready, open your eyes. 13
Guided meditation for older children and young people Make yourself comfortable in a chair, placing your feet flat on the floor and your hands, palms upwards in your lap or lie on the floor, chin tucked into your chest. Close your eyes and relax your body, becoming aware as you do of the soles of your feet, toes, ankles, calves, knees, thighs, hips, stomach, chest, shoulders, neck, jaw, teeth, cheeks, eyebrows, forehead, ears PAUSE. Relax. Become aware of your breath going in and out of your body. Feel your lungs fill up with air as you count in, 2, 3, 4, 5 and out 2, 3, 4, 5. Do this a few times as you feel yourself relax. PAUSE Identify sounds outside the room birds, traffic, voices PAUSE Switch off from them and tune into the sounds inside the room PAUSE then forget them. Concentrate only on your breathing. In your mind s eye, imagine a rainbow. See the colours arch across the sky - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. What a wonderful sight to see this marvel of nature God s work of art! PAUSE See yourself sitting on top of the rainbow. You feel safe and secure. PAUSE Swing your legs and look around you. Enjoy what you see. PAUSE. Now begin to sink down into the bands of colour and feel each one wash over you, each bringing its own gift warm red PAUSE lively orange PAUSE mellow yellow PAUSE peaceful green PAUSE calm blue PAUSE mysterious indigo PAUSE fragrant violet PAUSE bands of the rainbow. Feel the colours flood your mind, flowing down over your face PAUSE neck PAUSE shoulders PAUSE chest PAUSE stomach PAUSE hips PAUSE legs PAUSE feet PAUSE. Feel these colours flowing through your whole body. PAUSE Allow yourself to float in this sea of colour for a while. PAUSE Know that the rainbow is a symbol of God s love for all creation. Enter into a covenant with God, promising that you will reverence yourself and all of creation, always. PAUSE Promise that you will let your true colours shine out. Promise that you will use your true colours to brighten other people s sometimes dull worlds. PAUSE This is your mission. Thank God for rainbows and wonderful colours and for your eyes that can see and enjoy these. PAUSE Your world is full of colour. Thank God for your colourful world. PAUSE Know that God will never abandon you. It is time now to float back to the top of the rainbow, from violet PAUSE through purple PAUSE blue PAUSE green PAUSE yellow PAUSE orange PAUSE red PAUSE. See yourself sitting on top of the rainbow again, swinging your legs. PAUSE When you are ready become aware of your body again. Feel your toes PAUSE ankles PAUSE legs PAUSE knees PAUSE hips PAUSE stomach PAUSE chest PAUSE shoulders PAUSE neck PAUSE face PAUSE ears PAUSE the top of your head PAUSE. When you are ready, open your eyes 14
Exploring Scripture with children Remember Read or tell the stories from Genesis 9:8-15 and Mark 1:12-15 Use the PowerPoint stories available on the accompanying CD. Use either the Echo reflection on p13 for younger children or echo mime on p 14 and/or the number story on p15 with older children. Noah and his family were what we would call greenies, understanding the interconnectedness of people, creatures and plants with God of the universe. Tell children the complete story of Noah and his family. Refer to Genesis 6-9. Invite children to recall and draw their favourite parts of the story. Reflect Use one of the guided meditations provided for this week. The rainbow is a symbol of the commitment between God and Noah and his family to care for all creation. Discuss with the children how we are called to look after our world even in small ways. Children individually or as a group, draw and decorate a large rainbow. Record on this rainbow, practical ways of caring for creation. Use the song Heart to change the world Kids Praise to remind children that we can all make a difference in the world. View the video Electronic Campfire showing a clever and entertaining way to tell the Noah story. (Video available from Multi-media Centre, Brisbane Catholic Education). Respond Mark s gospel tells us that it was the Spirit that drove Jesus into the desert. The desert symbolises places of silence and reflection where we can still ourselves to listen to the word of God speaking to us, heart to heart. Make a commitment to find 5 minutes each day during Lent to pray and reflect. You might like to read a passage from Scripture or listen to some reflective music. Perhaps you could commence a prayer journal. An excellent (full colour) resource is Family Prayer Time Lent to Easter: Year B available from Faith and Life, Brisbane (07) 33369168. Create a Rainbow jigsaw by making a large rainbow and cutting it into small pieces. Children write or draw on individual pieces their Lenten promises. The whole group works together to reassemble the rainbow. Create a GOOD NEWS story book in which the children s stories are recorded and illustrated. Older children could research Project Compassion and perhaps organise some fundraising events. For more info, go to http://www.caritas.org.au Pray together: Loving Jesus, Teach us to care for one another. Teach us to use our time, talents and treasure to care for all creation. Amen. 15