Children’s liturgy – The Epiphany of the Lord (Year B) – Sunday 4
January 2015
Preparing the worship space
Colour: white
Props: suitcase and items to put in it that you might take on a journey eg food,
drink, passport, item of clothing, toy, medicine etc
Welcome: Today we hear about some people who travelled a very long way to
visit the baby Jesus. Who do you think they might be? Let’s think some more
about them and their journey today.
Song suggestions: We three kings (788, Celebration Hymnal for Everyone)
Opening prayer: God of hope, your star led the wise men on their long journey
to find Jesus. Guide us as we try to follow Jesus in our lives. Amen.
First reading (optional): Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm: Psalm 71:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, r 11
Gospel acclamation: everyone stands and sings the gospel acclamation
together. Options include: ‘Change your lives and believe in him’, Christopher
Walker; ‘Halle, halle, halle’ (Caribbean) from ‘Sing With the World’, Alison Adam
& John Bell; ‘Celtic Alleluia’ (traditional).
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
Gospel reflection: What do you remember from that reading?
The wise men travelled a long way following a star to see Jesus. The star guides
them and shows them the way to Bethlehem.
How do you think the wise men felt during their journey? How do you think they
felt when they finally arrived and saw Jesus?
What’s the longest journey you have ever been on? Where did you go? How did
you get there? How long did it take you? How did you feel while you were
travelling? How did you feel when you arrived?
Many people who are poor have to go on long and difficult journeys. They may
be walking to find water for themselves and for their animals. They may be
travelling long distances to go to the doctor or the hospital.
Sometimes people have to travel to safety because of violence and fighting
where they live. They may be travelling because their home has been damaged
due to an earthquake, flooding or another problem.
For some of these journeys people have to leave very quickly. They do not know
when they might return. And they cannot take many things with them – they
can only take what they can carry. How do you think this makes them feel?
Do you think it is fair that some people have to go a long way just to find water
or a doctor? What do you think we can do to help?
What do you think we can do to help those people who have to go on even
longer journeys, leaving their homes, and who do not know when they can come
back?
This week each time you go on a journey, every time you jump in the car to go
to school or to the shops, can you try to remember our brothers and sisters
around the world who have to travel a long way just to find water or a doctor?
What will you do this week to help people who have to go on long journeys and
who do not know when they’ll be able to return home?
Intercessions: You may want to ask the children to offer their own prayers or
you can use the suggestions below.
The wise men were guided by the star on their journey and so we pray together
that we may also be guided by God on our journey through life:
We pray for all people who have to leave their homes and travel a long way:
that they may reach a place of safety and welcome. Lord, in your mercy...
We pray for those who journey to find water, food or healthcare: that with our
help their journey may be made easier. Lord, in your mercy...
We pray for our parish, family and friends: that we may reach out to others who
face difficult journeys, even though they are far away, helping them in whatever
way we can. Lord, in your mercy…
Closing prayer: God of light, guide us as we journey through life. May we reach
out and help others who find their journey difficult. Amen.
Activity suggestions
Ask the children to colour in the accompanying illustration of some people on a
journey. On the back ask them to draw a time they went on a journey and all
the things that they took with them.
Have a suitcase in the room and items to put in it, like food, water, an item of
clothing, a toy, passport, a photo etc. Ask the children which items they would
take with them and which they would leave behind if they had to leave their
homes and travel a long way.
Cut star shapes out of card. See template below. Ask the children to write a
prayer on the star for all people who have to go on a long journey, that they
may find their way to safety.
Act out the gospel story with the children.
Ask the children to go home and share all that they have heard and thought
about during the liturgy and to count how many journeys they go on in the
coming week. Each time they go somewhere during the coming week ask them
to think about those people who have to travel long distances for food, water,
medicine or safety and to think about what they can do to help these people.