Children’s liturgy – Third Sunday of Lent (Year C) –
Sunday 28 February 2016
Preparation of the worship space
Colour: purple
Props: seeds, pots and soil to plant them in, figs
Song suggestions:
Blest are you, Lord (603, Laudate), Morning has broken (671, Laudate)
Welcome: Today Jesus tells us a story about a tree that did not bear any fruit
and all the things that the gardener planned to try to make it grow better.
People are like trees, they need certain things to grow and be healthy, too. Let’s
think a bit more about all this today.
Opening prayer: Forgiving God, we thank you for the love and care that you
show for us all. Help us to grow in your love, and to do all that we can to help
each other to live free from poverty. Amen.
First reading (optional): Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15
Psalm: Psalm 102:1-4, 6-8, 11 R. v.8
Gospel acclamation: Everyone stands and sings the acclamation together. For
Lent we use an acclamation that doesn’t use the word ‘Alleluia’. We suggest
‘Change your lives and believe in him’ by Christopher Walker (OCP Publications).
Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
Gospel reflection: What do you remember from today’s reading?
Jesus tells us a parable. Does anyone know what a parable is? A parable is a
story that teaches us something. Jesus likes to use stories to explain things that
are complicated.
The parable Jesus tells us today is about a fig tree. Has anyone tasted figs?
What were they like? You could show the children some figs so that they know
what they are. You could also let the children taste the figs (check about any
allergies etc).
The man who had planted the fig tree in his garden came out to pick some fruit,
but there wasn’t any. How do you think the man felt? What did he decide to do?
The man had been waiting for three years for the tree to give him some fruit. He
was angry and disappointed. He asked his gardener to cut down the tree.
But what did the gardener say?
The gardener asks for one more year to look after the tree – to dig round it and
give it some manure to help it grow. Plants and trees need the right conditions
to grow and the gardener hopes that by doing this, the tree will grow fruit.
Do you remember Guti in Uganda who we’ve been talking about during Lent?
Now that Guti’s school has a water pipe it means the children have more time to
be in school and learn. To learn they also need teachers to look after them, help
and challenge them. Guti’s teacher is called Jesca.
Jesca likes being a teacher and says, “Looking after the girls is a God-given
opportunity. I was given the chance to nurture these girls.”
Jesca helps the children to grow and develop, by looking after them, teaching
them, and helping them think about how they treat one another and the world
around them.
How we treat other people can help them to grow and develop, or stop them
from doing so. We all have a responsibility to look after one another: our friends
at school, our family at home, and even the people we haven’t met, like Guti
and Jesca in Uganda.
When we are not generous to other people and share what we have with those
who need it, we don’t allow them to grow. Just like plants and fig trees, humans
need water in order to grow. We need water even more than we need food in
order to survive.
The fig tree in Jesus’ story is supposed to share its fruit with the man who
planted it, but it is not doing what it is supposed to.
Sometimes we are a bit like the fig tree. We do not share as well as we could.
So, if the fig tree in Jesus’ story is a bit like us, who do you think the gardener
is?
The gardener is like Jesus. The gardener gives the fig tree another chance, and
gives it all the things it needs to live. Jesus is always ready to forgive us when
we have done something wrong. And Jesus shows us how we should live our
lives.
God gives us the chance to change, to share what we have and to do all that we
can to make sure that all people have the things that they need to live.
How does it make you feel to know this?
How will you Make a Splash! this Lent and help change the lives of other people?
Intercessions: As we try to change our lives and so the lives of others, we pray
together:
We pray for world leaders: that the Holy Spirit will inspire them to make real
changes so that we may all have access to the clean water which God has given
for us to share. Lord, in your mercy…
We pray for the Church throughout the world: that like the gardener in the
gospel story, she may continue to work to help people to change their lives for
the better. Lord, in your mercy…
We pray for our parish, family and friends: that through God’s grace, we may
share what we have with others, and help make sure that all people have the
chance to grow and live life to the full. Lord, in your mercy…
Closing prayer: Creator God, you gave us a world full of wonderful things. May
we share these fairly with each other so all people have the chance to grow and
live well. Amen.
Activity suggestions
Ask the children to colour in the accompanying illustration and to write or draw
on the leaves what they will do this Lent to Make a Splash! so all people may
have clean water. Ask the children to write or draw on the back all the things
that a plant needs to grow. And all the things that people need to live. How
many of them are the same?
Plant seeds with the children. Talk them through what a seed needs to grow. Ask
them to take it home and keep a diary of how much light and water that they
give it and see how long until it starts to grow.
Ask the children to write a prayer asking for forgiveness for all the times they
haven’t shared well with others. And to try in the coming week to share with
others at home and at school.
Ask the children to tell their family all that they have heard and thought about
today. Ask them to remember Guti and Jesca in Uganda this week, and all those
who don’t have access to water when they turn on the tap to brush their teeth.
If they have written a prayer ask them to say it at home together during the
week.
For more activities and resources for children to support CAFOD this Lent visit
cafod.org.uk/primary