We know it can be hard to have young kids participate in church activities. For those who participate in the Sunday Mass from home, here is a process you can use to help your children keep Sundays holy and celebrate church at home the best you can. Pray this together each week with your children to help them hear and live out God’s Good News! At the end you’ll find a challenge of the week and some age appropriate activities that can help illustrate the message fo the Gospel and live it out throughout the week.
Step One – Prepare your heart
Begin by making the sign of the cross.
Then, ask God to offer his forgiveness and love:
Option 1
You call us to love one another: Lord, have mercy
You make us all children of God: Christ, have mercy
You invite us all to call God our Father: Lord, have mercy
Option 2
Risen Lord, you came to give us life: Lord, have mercy
Risen Lord, you call us friends, not servants: Christ, have mercy
Risen Lord, you call us to love one another: Lord, have mercy
Step Two- Praise and thank God
Share together some things you may be thankful for, praise God for the different ways he has revealed his love. Has anyone had any unexpected good surprises this past week? Maybe some fortunate event has happened in someone’s life. We can always thank and price God for our friends, family and for all those who reveal God’s love to us.
Step Three – Listen to the Word of God
Through this video, listen to God’s Word of Good News for us all. The video also has a short reflection for us to think about too.
Step Four- Pray
Together with your children, share some things that you would like to pray for. Maybe there is someone sick among the friends and relatives of your family. Maybe someone has a big test or life moment coming up. Perhaps you would like to pray together for others in the world who may be in need. Together, bring these to God.
Pray together the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Finish your time of prayer by making the sign of the cross.
Live out the Word of God
Sometimes it’s hard to trust Jesus. Think about a time when you found it hard to trust Jesus. Sometime when you’re praying this week, ask Jesus to help you trust him in those times when it’s hard to trust.
Activity
Here’s a couple of activities you might want to try at home this week.
Downloadable craft directions for children up to grade one
Downloadable printable activity page for children in grades two through four