Post on 25-May-2020
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session essentialsP r ima r y
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5 th Sunday o f Eas t e r – B
Living the Good News | Primary | 5th Sunday of Easter – B
Helps for Catechists◆ More about Today’s Scriptures◆ Reflection◆ The Scriptures and the Catechism◆ Praying with Music◆ The World of the Bible: Hellenists
Enrichment◆ Welcome the Good News◆ Singing Together◆ Make-a-Game: Person Link (box
or paper bag, roll of butcher or shelf paper, scraps of paper and fabric)
◆ Info: Multiple Intelligences◆ Info: Children and the Gospel◆ Info: Where You’ll Find Everything
Else
Core Session◆ Getting Started (raisins)◆ Gospel Story: Vine and
Branches (optional: vining plant)
◆ Friendship Talk: Vines and Branches (optional: pictures of friends in books or magazines)
◆ Praying Together
In and through Jesus we have life.◆ Jesus calls himself the true vine and the bread of life.◆ The emphasis of both of today’s gospels is on the presence of Jesus with his friends.◆ In today’s session, children explore this central gospel image through sensory explorations,
discussion and making their own “matching” game.
Abide and ObeyScriptureJohn 15:1-8
Question of the WeekWhen do you feel close to Jesus? to God?
core sessionyour b
asic and co
mple
te session
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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Living the Good News | Primary | 5th Sunday of Easter – B
Getting Started (10-15 minutes)Children eat fruit that grows from a vine.
Share raisins with the children. Ask:◆ What do we call this fruit?◆ What do we know about how this fruit grows?
As necessary, explain that grapes grow on a thick, green vine. The vine puts out many branches; the branches can bear fruit in bunches. Raisins are made by drying the grapes until they are shriveled and sweet.
Close by saying:◆ Listen for the grapes and vine in today’s story.
Gospel Story (5-10 minutes)Vine and BranchesStory Focus: A real vine would make an ideal visual focus for today’s story.
A vine grows from the ground in spring. The sun shines on the vine. Rain waters the ground around the vine. A gardener takes care of the vine.
The vine grows tall and green. Branches grow from the vine, thick and sturdy. Flowers grow on the branches, and then sweet fruit.
The gardener is glad to see the sweet fruit grow on the branches of the vine.
Jesus says, “I am like the vine. I have many friends who stay as close to me as branches are to a vine.”
Jesus says, “You are like branches, my friends. You need to stay close to one another and to me so you can have good things in your life, like the good fruit that grows on a branch.”
Jesus says, “God is like a gardener. God takes care of me and of all the friends who stay close to me.”
Jesus says, “I love you just as God loves me. Stay close to one another. Stay close to me. Stay close to God.”
Friendship Talk (5-15 minutes)Vines and BranchesThen show children Malcah Zeldis’ painting A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna Pavlova, attached to this document. This vibrant poster shows diverse figures gathered in a parklike setting. Ask:◆ Do you think the people in these pictures are
friends? Why or why not?
Say:◆ In today’s story, Jesus calls us friends. Who are some
of the friends we have?◆ What do we like about our friends?◆ What do we like to do with our friends?◆ How can we have good times with our friends?◆ What do we like about Jesus?◆ What do we like to do with Jesus?◆ How can we have good times with Jesus?
Praying Together (5 minutes)Sit with the children in a circle. Say:◆ Jesus promises he is with us, even though we cannot
see him.◆ Jesus asks us to stay close to him and to one
another.◆ Praying is one way we can stay close to Jesus and to
one another.◆ Let’s pray together to Jesus.
— You can pray to Jesus by listening quietly for Jesus’ voice.
— You can pray to Jesus by saying his name aloud or silently.
— You can pray to Jesus by saying whatever you want to Jesus, aloud or silently.
— You don’t have to pray unless you want to.
Pray in one of the ways listed; allow 1 minute for the children’s prayers. Then invite children to conclude today’s prayer with the Easter greeting:
Greeter: Alleluia! Jesus is risen!Children: Jesus is risen! Alleluia!
Note: Distribute this week’s At Home with the Good News to children before they leave, or e-mail it to their parents after the session.
enhance your core
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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Living the Good News | Primary | 5th Sunday of Easter – B
Welcome the Good News (10-15 minutes)On page 1 of today’s Welcome the Good News, you’ll find a discussion starter about the people we love.
We extend the gospel theme on page 2 by inviting children to imagine love letters to and from God. Children will also find a With Your Family activity they can lead at home or practice in the group.
Singing Together (5-10 minutes)From Singing the Good News you and the children can sing together:◆ “Just Imagine” (p. 38 in the songbook)◆ “God’s Alive” (p. 40 in the songbook; also available
as an MP3)◆ “Jesus Says to Us” (p. 46 of the songbook; also
available as an MP3)
(Open your Spring-B Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Singing the Good News to access both the songbook and the MP3s.)
Make-a-Game (15-40 minutes)Person LinkActivity Soundtrack: Play “I Am the True Vine.” (Open your Spring-B Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Companion Music for options on obtaining this music.) Arvo Pärt developed his modern sacred music after long study of medieval chant styles. The result is a purity of tone and rhythm that has been likened to the ringing of bells. Here the music embodies the gospel text from John in which Jesus calls himself the true vine.
Children make game pieces and then play together a friendship game. If time grows short you can make the pieces this week and play the game next week.
Directions to the children:◆ Cut four to six people shapes from construction
paper. The people should have extended hands. (Children can do this freestyle or with the pattern attached to this document.)
◆ Use scraps of paper, fabric and trim to make features, hair and clothing for each person. You can also use felt pens or crayons to add detail to the paper people.
◆ Decorate each person in a distinctive way. Try making people of different ages or cultures.
Explain that each paper person will “hold” two game symbols, one symbol in each hand. The symbols should be of distinct shapes and colors; for example:◆ a green leaf◆ a purple grape◆ an orange flower◆ a yellow sun
Continue:◆ Draw and cut these symbols from more
construction paper.◆ Glue one symbol to each hand of a paper person.◆ Make sure each paper person has two different
symbols.
Children play the game by matching symbols to make a row of paper people with hands linked together. Tape or tack a length of butcher paper, newsprint or shelf paper to a wall or other playing surface. The paper should be long enough to hold all the paper dolls in a row. (Allow approximately 1' for every four paper people.)
Game directions:◆ Put all the paper people into a box or bag.◆ Each player draws three paper people.◆ The first player tacks one paper person to the shelf
paper.◆ The next player tacks a paper person to the shelf
paper so that the two hands of the paper people touch. Only hands with the same symbol can touch.
◆ If a player has no paper person with the right matching symbol, he or she can draw one more paper person from the box or bag.
◆ If a player has run out of paper people, he or she can draw one more paper person from the box or bag.
◆ Continue play until all the paper people are standing in a row.
Because the children chose symbols at random, you may end up with several paper people that cannot be tacked up because the symbols do not match. If so, issue this challenge to the children:◆ What other paper people could we make so that all
the paper people can be tacked up?
enhance your core
sessio
n w
ith enrich
me
nt a
ctivities
enrichment
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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Living the Good News | Primary | 5th Sunday of Easter – B
Let children test their ideas by making these extra paper people. Continue until all the paper people are tacked in a single chain on the paper.
As their Bible Skills Activity, third graders can letter a verse from today’s gospel onto the finished game board. Help children find John 15:4-5. Ask children to follow along as you read the verses aloud. Invite children to choose words from these verses to letter onto the sheet of paper people.
Multiple IntelligencesOne of the best ways to create and present
engaging and meaningful sessions—for children of all ages—is to pay attention to what Howard Gardner calls the “multiple intelligences” each child and each group brings with them into your session room.
We suggest the following books as references to Gardner’s ideas and how they apply specifically to religious education:◆ Gifts of the Spirit: Multiple Intelligences in Religious
Education, by Ronald Nuzzi (Washington: National Catholic Education Association, 1999).
◆ How Each Child Learns: Using Multiple Intelligence in Faith Formation, by Bernadette T. Stankard (Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 2003).
◆ Prayer and Multiple Intelligences: Who I Am Is How I Pray, by Bernadette T. Stankard (Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 2005).
Children and the GospelIn today’s gospel, Jesus uses the metaphor of a
gardener and vine to assert the unity of God, Jesus and the Church.
In today’s session, we teach that Jesus invites us to stay close to God, close to Jesus and close to one another.
Where You’ll Find Everything Else
◆ Attached to this Session Plan you will find:— Backgrounds and reflections for today’s
readings, titled More about Today’s Scriptures.— A shareable story script of today’s Gospel Story:
Vine and Branches.— A Paper Doll Pattern for use in today’s
Make-a-Game activity.— An optional, on-going activity exploring the
Eucharist.— An optional activity titled Catholic Basics.— Zeldis’s A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna
Pavlova, to be used in today’s Friendship Talk. — This week’s At Home with the Good News, to
distribute or email to group members after the session.
◆ Open your Spring-B Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Seasonal Articles to find:— Information on Spring-B’s Models of the Faith.— For catechists and/or families, an article titled
The Gospel According to John.— For catechists and/or families, an article titled
The Passover: Old and New.
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helps for catechistsbackground in
form
atio
n and bonus m
ate
rials
© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Living the Good News | Primary | 5th Sunday of Easter – B
More about Today ScripturesToday’s readings reveal what it means to live in and through Jesus. Paul boldly witnesses to his new-found faith in Christ, while the Church experiences peaceful growth. The author of 1 John reveals that true faith becomes visible through the obedience of active love. Jesus explains that, like branches connected to a vine, we abide with him and experience great fruitfulness.
Acts 9:26-31Luke tells of Saul’s experiences in the months following his conversion. Because of Saul’s earlier zealous and cruel persecution of the disciples, the believers suspected him of deception and entrapment. Barnabas, a member of the Christian community, trusted Saul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus and introduced
Saul to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem.
Because of a plot on Saul’s life, the disciples sent Saul away where he would remain for several years until Barnabas again drew him into active ministry, this time to the Gentiles.
In verse 31, Luke briefly reports on the steady growth of the Church, which enjoyed a respite from persecution since Saul had become a disciple of Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:18-24This passage discusses the marks of the life of God’s children, the life of love. This love is the sign that Christians have passed from death to life because they embody what is God’s essential quality.
True love for one another is manifested in action, modeled upon the experience of Jesus’ love for us. It is shown forth as self-sacrifice, both at the heroic level and in the daily exercise of generosity. Deeds, not devout protestations or guilty feelings, reveal our true standing before God, who knows us better than we know ourselves.
Through Jesus we have “boldness before God” (v. 21). When our hearts are aligned with Jesus’ heart and we keep his commandments, God gives us what we need. The word translated boldness (Greek, parrāsia) is related
to the right of a Greek citizen to speak freely before the assembly. In God’s presence we can be bold and confident because we are assured of God’s love for us. Thus John joins together both faith and works, belief and obedience, union with God and love of others.
John 15:1-8Chapter 15, the discourse on the vine and the branches, contains the last of the great “I am” discourses in the Gospel of John. These discourses parallel in function the synoptic gospels’ parables of the kingdom.
Jesus, as Son, the representative of Israel, is “the true vine” (v. 1) who fulfills the calling of Israel. The Father is the vinegrower who “prunes” (v. 2, “trims clean”) the branches. Jesus reassures the disciples that they are already “pruned” (v. 3, translated “cleansed” in the NRSV) by his word.
For John, Christian life is an active and committed life. There cannot be a living, unproductive branch. Those who do not remain, or abide, are taken away. Those who do abide through prayer bear fruit and show themselves as Jesus’ disciples.
ReflectionTo stroll through a peach orchard in August reveals what Jesus describes in today’s gospel. The fragrance, the colors of sunset on the round globes, the sense of abundance, finally the taste: sweet juices oozing from mouth to elbows. It’s so sensual it’s not seemly in church—let alone the Bible!
Jesus has no delusions about our worth, even our best efforts: “apart from me you can do nothing” (15:5). Deep down, we suspect we need help; Jesus confirms that intuition. But he can make us as fruitful as Anne Porter describes in “Another Sarah”:
A wave of living sweetnessA nation of white petalsA dynasty of apples.
Or peaches. Hidden in the wonderful, organic vine-and-branches metaphor is a caution: don’t get detached from the vine. We can be so caught up in our charitable works, our marvelous endeavors or our efforts to save the world, we overlook the source of our energy. Since we are speaking metaphorically anyway, another poet (Denise Levertov) reminds us—the branches—how to stay connected with the vine:
“John teaches how we live in Christ and Christ lives in us. Just as the trunk of the vine gives its natural properties to each of the branches, so, by bestowing the Holy Spirit, Christ gives Christians a certain kinship with himself.”
—St. Cyril of Alexandria
helps for catechistsbackground in
form
atio
n and bonus m
ate
rials
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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Living the Good News | Primary | 5th Sunday of Easter – B
so would I learn to attainfreefall, and floatinto Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,knowing no effort earnsthat all-surrounding grace.
The Scriptures and the CatechismToday we recall that our discipleship is characterized by love. Love describes our attempt to respond fully to God with our life (CCC, #1812–13, 1822–29, 2093–94). Through being joined by baptism into the Christian community, we are bonded in love with Jesus and his life courses through us. Jesus is the vine; we are the branches that share his life. To share this life is what holiness is all about. As Christians we are called to holiness, which means living out our loving rela-tionship with God (CCC, #825, 2012–16, 2028–29).
Praying with MusicMusic is the connecting point to a thousand memories and emotions. We associate music with the places we have been, the times we have experienced and the people in our lives.
Music is all around us. There is no denying the ef-fectiveness of music, so why not use it to affect our emotions and enhance our personal environment when we pray? Do we ever think about how music can help us to grow closer to God, or even if music can be a form of prayer?
Resonances in Our SoulMusic affects our whole person—mind and body, spirit and emotion. It moves us by going straight to our heart. When music and song come though our ears into our hearts, they set up a kind of vibration or resonance that can give us pleasure, set us on edge, calm our aching and anxious hearts, or set our toes to tapping. Music can touch people profoundly on levels that words alone cannot. So why not use music to shape our spirituality?
Let us make music the basis of our prayer by listening to it, singing along with it, using it as starting point for praise, thanks, lament, etc. as the ancient biblical authors did in the psalms. There is no question that it can help us to shape our environment effectively and can be changed to suit or influence the moods of our lives—sadness, joy, consolation, gratitude, celebration,
etc.—through its beauty, harmony, shared community with others when we join our voices to theirs in song.
Instrumental MusicWe need different types of music for various times and styles of prayer. Sometimes we need peaceful music just to sit and relax in the stillness of God’s presence and to help focus on Jesus and wait on him without getting distracted by all the things of this world. Worship music can help, but often there are so many words or catchy melodies that distract us when we are trying to be in God’s presence.
Hymns or SongsMost sacred songs and hymns were not written to be background music but to be sung aloud with others. Sacred music is not just an addition that frames the liturgy and makes it more pleasing, but an important means of active participation in worship whether at home or at church.
The community dimension of singing is important because it connects the group into a into a unified, worshiping assembly—one voice lifted in song to the Lord. As you use music for your personal, household or small group prayer, let the music take you to the One to whom you are singing. Remember the words of St. Augustine, “One who sings, prays twice.”
The World of the BibleHellenistsHellenists (derived from the Greek word for Greece, Hellas) were those persons from other nations who spoke Greek and were more receptive to the influence of Greek customs and culture.
Though the Romans ruled the Mediterranean nations, Greek literature and ideas formed the basis for education, and the Greek language was used for international communication and business. Thus to be educated often meant to be able to speak and read Greek (like St. Paul and the other New Testament authors who all wrote in Greek).
For Jews, Hellenism posed a threat because its education was rooted in religious beliefs and social values that were not compatible with the Jewish belief that Yahweh was the one and only God (monotheism).
Spring • Year B
©2015 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
More about Today’s Scriptures5th Sunday of Easter
00-SB-EA05-SB-C-More about Today_s Scriptures
Today’s readings reveal what it means to live in and through Jesus. Paul boldly witnesses to his new-found faith in Christ, while the Church experiences peaceful growth. The author of 1 John reveals that true faith becomes visible through the obedience of active love. Jesus explains that, like branches connected to a vine, we abide with him and experience great fruitfulness.
Acts 9:26-31
Luke tells of Saul’s experiences in the months following his conversion. Because of Saul’s
earlier zealous and cruel persecution of the disciples, the believers suspected him of deception and entrapment. Barnabas, a member of the Christian community, trusted Saul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus and
introduced Saul to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem.
Because of a plot on Saul’s life, the disciples sent Saul away where he would remain for several years until Barnabas again drew him into active ministry, this time to the Gentiles.
In verse 31, Luke briefly reports on the steady growth of the Church, which enjoyed a respite from persecution since Saul had become a disciple of Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:18-24
This passage discusses the marks of the life of God’s children, the life of love. This love is the sign that Christians have passed from death to life because they embody what is God’s essential quality.
True love for one another is manifested in action, modeled upon the experience of Jesus’ love for us. It is shown forth as self-sacrifice, both at the heroic level and in the daily exercise of generosity. Deeds, not devout protesta-tions or guilty feelings, reveal our true standing before God, who knows us better than we know ourselves.
Through Jesus we have “boldness before God” (v. 21). When our hearts are aligned with Jesus’ heart and we keep his commandments, God gives us what we need. The word translated boldness (Greek, parrāsia) is related to the right of a Greek citizen to speak freely before the assembly. In God’s presence we can be bold and confident because we are assured of God’s love for us. Thus John joins together both faith and works, belief and obedience, union with God and love of others.
John 15:1-8
Chapter 15, the discourse on the vine and the branches, contains the last of the great “I am” discourses in the Gospel of John. These discourses parallel in function the synoptic gospels’ parables of the kingdom.
Jesus, as Son, the representative of Israel, is “the true vine” (v. 1) who fulfills the calling of Israel. The Father is the vinegrower who “prunes” (v. 2, “trims clean”) the branches. Jesus reassures
“John teaches how we live in Christ and Christ lives in us. Just as the trunk of the vine gives its natural properties to each of the branches, so, by bestowing the Holy Spirit, Christ gives Christians a certain kinship with himself.”
—St. Cyril of Alexandria
Spring • Year B
©2015 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
00-SB-EA05-SB-C-More about Today_s Scriptures
More about Today’s Scriptures5th Sunday of Easter
the disciples that they are already “pruned” (v. 3, translated “cleansed” in the NRSV) by his word.
For John, Christian life is an active and committed life. There cannot be a living, un-productive branch. Those who do not remain, or abide, are taken away. Those who do abide through prayer bear fruit and show themselves as Jesus’ disciples.
ReflectionFew situations are as terrifying as a child lost without a parent or a helpless individual overwhelmed by the complexities of the judicial system. So Jesus chooses his metaphors in today’s gospel wisely: he will never leave us orphaned, nor undefended in court. Even our bumbling prayers will be supplemented by his: “I will ask the Father…” (14:16).
The way that Jesus helped people on earth—the distraught mother, the paralyzed man, the widow of Naim, the comatose daughter of Jairus, the grieving sisters of Lazarus—continues now. All his powers of healing and change become ours when we act in his name.
Whatever situation terrifies us most, whether it’s public speaking, war, surgery, a criminal trial or a social event, loses its raw edge when a friend accompanies us. If that is true on a human level, how much more consoling it is to know that Jesus is with us in these tough situations.
Many people object to this passage, knowing that prayers of petition aren’t always answered the way we’d like. Jesus here makes an even larger promise: no matter how events ensue, he remains with us. In him, we have attentive parent, skilled advocate and articulate friend.
PR-SB-EA05-DL-A-Paper-Doll Pattern
Paper-Doll Pattern
Com
mon
sense an
d the experts agree: faith
form
ation m
ust occu
r in th
e hom
e. Th
e chu
rch’s edu
cational program
s have a m
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better ch
ance of su
ccess if these efforts are expan
ded an
d enrich
ed by the fam
ilies wh
ere children
spen
d a hu
ge proportion of th
eir time.
Th
is resource is design
ed to help fam
ilies an
d chu
rches m
eet that n
eed. Often
parents
wan
t to participate in th
eir children’s religiou
s edu
cations, bu
t aren’t sure h
ow to do it. T
hese
pages give families m
any w
ays to bring th
e Su
nday readin
gs into th
e hom
e. At H
ome w
ith the G
ood New
s is designed for th
e parents of
children
aged preschool th
rough
grade six.
Each
reproducible page con
tains:
•B
ibleBackgroun
d
Th
is section lists th
e readings for each
Su
nday an
d briefly explain
s how
they relate
to each oth
er or to a comm
on th
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•W
hatYourChildD
idThisW
eek
Th
is section su
mm
arizes wh
at Presch
ool/ K
indergarten
, Prim
ary and In
termediate
groups did in
their session
s. It gives parents
a specific startin
g point for a con
versation
about w
hat th
eir children
learned or
accomplish
ed. For parents w
ho are n
ew to
an experien
tial, lectionary-based approach
, it serves as an
introdu
ction th
at will
increase th
eir familiarity.
•P
rayerStarter
Th
ese can be u
sed at hom
e, after a meal,
at bedtime or w
hen
ever a family gath
ers to pray togeth
er. On
e person can
serve as th
e leader, reading alou
d the w
ords of the
prayer or the prom
pt that in
vites others to
participate.
•Parentin
gTip
Health
y parentin
g is a skill learned over
time. T
hese su
ggestions give paren
ts con
crete ideas for cherish
ing th
eir children
an
d makin
g the C
hristian
message th
eir w
ay of life at hom
e.
How
to U
se This R
esource
Brin
gin
g th
e Sunday R
eadin
gs to
Your Fa
mily
•FamilyD
iscussionQ
uestion
In th
is section appears a qu
estion based on
th
e gospel. Since m
ost families don’t h
ave lon
g, un
interru
pted time for discu
ssion,
this qu
estion can
come u
p in th
e car after ch
urch
, durin
g the w
ait at the drive-in
ban
k or fast food restauran
t, or at bedtime.
Paren
ts can adapt it to th
e ages and
interests of th
eir children
.
•GospelR
eflection
T
his m
editation on
the gospel lin
ks Jesus’
story and ou
r daily lives. People w
ho pray
over the gospels regu
larly can begin
to m
ake them
the tem
plate for the w
ay they
live. Th
us, th
ey can tran
sform th
e message
from w
ords proclaimed in
chu
rch to valu
es en
shrin
ed in th
e heart.
Wh
ile some fam
ilies may h
ave time for
extended refl
ection on
the readin
gs and
utilize all th
e sections of th
e page, others m
ay h
ave time for on
ly a quick Fam
ily Discu
ssion
Qu
estion or P
arentin
g Tip. A
ll parents w
ill wan
t to see w
hat th
eir children
did in th
eir session so
they can
discuss it w
ith th
em afterw
ards.
Reprodu
ce the pages an
d arrange a system
of distribu
tion so th
at they can
be sent h
ome w
ith
the oldest or you
ngest ch
ild in a fam
ily, the
chu
rch n
ewsletter or an
y regular bu
lletin.
WheretoU
seThisR
esourceT
his resou
rce may be h
elpful in
a variety of settin
gs, and especially for:
• C
hristian
Edu
cation settin
gs wh
ere parent
involvem
ent is cru
cial•
Intergen
erational edu
cational settin
gs•
Schools w
ith den
omin
ational spon
sorship
wh
o wan
t to involve fam
ilies more
Brin
gin
g th
e Sunday R
eadin
gs to
Your Fa
mily
Today’s readings reveal what it means to live in and through Jesus. In Acts 9:26-31, Paul boldly witnesses to his new-found faith in Christ, while the Church experiences peaceful growth. The 1 John 3:18-24 passage reveals that true faith
becomes visible through the obedience of active love. In John 15:1-8, Jesus explains that, like branches connected to a vine, we abide with him and experience great fruitfulness.
The images of gardener and vine were woven into the
Preschool/Kindergarten session, which emphasized
thankfulness for all the friends the children have
in Jesus. Activities included talking about friends,
hearing today’s story and playing a matching game
based on it. They also made spatter prints and played
with dolls or stuffed animals.
Primary (Grades 1-3) children were invited to stay
close to God, close to Jesus and close to one another.
Activities included sharing a snack of grapes or
raisins, discussing friendship and making and playing
a game with paper people. For the Easter party,
children decorated party goods, played games and
sang songs.
Intermediate (Grades 4-6) participants explored
Jesus’ metaphor of the vine and made collage pictures
of themselves as plants. They discussed Jesus’ use of
the vine metaphor, then made clay pendants that
remind them of Jesus’ admonition to remain united
to Jesus and to one another. Participants continued a
banner-making project that explores the Mass.
Fifth Sunday of Easter • Year B
© 2015 Morehouse Education Resources. All rights reserved. www.livingthegoodnews.com • 1-800-242-1918 • Permission is hereby granted to reproduce these pages for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Take a walk together outdoors, through the neighborhood or a local park. Notice the beauty of spring and if possible, find some vines and branches that show how closely Jesus identified with his followers.
To stroll through a peach orchard in August reveals what Jesus describes in today’s gospel. The fragrance, the colors of sunset on the round globes, the sense of abundance, finally the taste: sweet juices oozing from mouth to elbows. It’s so sensual it’s not seemly in church—let alone the Bible!
Jesus has no delusions about our worth, even our best efforts: “apart from me you can do nothing” (15:5). Deep down, we suspect we need help; Jesus confirms that intuition. But he can make us as fruitful as Anne Porter describes in “Another Sarah”:
A wave of living sweetness A nation of white petals A dynasty of apples.
Or peaches. Hidden in the wonderful, organic vine-and-branches metaphor is a caution: don’t get detached from the vine. We can be so caught up in our charitable works, our marvelous endeavors or our efforts to save the world, we overlook the source of our energy.
Choose a special glass for the family blessing cup. Fill it with juice, pass it around the table before a meal and invite each person to say a spontaneous prayer before taking a sip.
The reading from Acts gives parents hope. Once Christians were terrified of
Paul, but he becomes one of their greatest saints. This can also be true of the child who
seems impossible now: selfish, surly, obstinate. Yet dramatic change is possible with God. Ask Paul
for help with the difficult child.
How close are branches to a vine? When do you feel that close to Jesus? to God?
©2015 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Spring • Year BGospel Story:
Vine and Branches
Story Focus: A real vine would make an ideal visual focus for today’s story.
A vine grows from the ground in spring. The sun shines on the vine. Rain waters the ground around the vine. A gardener takes care of the vine.
The vine grows tall and green. Branches grow from the vine, thick and sturdy. Flowers grow on the branches, and then sweet fruit.
The gardener is glad to see the sweet fruit grow on the branches of the vine.
Jesus says, “I am like the vine. I have many friends who stay as close to me as branches are to a vine.”
Jesus says, “You are like branches, my friends. You need to stay close to one another and to me so you can have good things in your life, like the good fruit that grows on a branch.”
Jesus says, “God is like a gardener. God takes care of me and of all the friends who stay close to me.”
Jesus says, “I love you just as God loves me. Stay close to one another. Stay close to me. Stay close to God.”
PR-SB-EA05-DL-C-Gospel Story_Vine and Branches
Living the Good News: Zeldis’s A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna Pavlova Zeldis, Malcah. A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna Pavlova © 2008 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo Credit: Malcah Zeldis / Art Resource, NY
Living the Good News: Zeldis’s A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna Pavlova Zeldis, Malcah. A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna Pavlova © 2008 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo Credit: Malcah Zeldis / Art Resource, NY
©2015 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Spring • Year B
Eucharist
PR-SB-EA05-DL-C-Eucharist
We share the peace of Jesus.We continue a series of activities designed to encourage primary children to explore the Eucharist. This week’s focus is:
We share the peace of Jesus.
Ask:•What do you think a world at peace
would be like? •How would a world at peace be like our
world? How would it be different?
Invite children to fill the board or newsprint with drawings or words that show a world at peace. Take time to discuss what the children have drawn and written. Then explain:• Jesus wants a world at peace, too. Jesus
wants the Church to help bring peace to the whole world.
•When we come together to share bread and wine, we call this service the Eucharist.
•The Eucharist is a special meal we share to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus.
•During the Eucharist, we share the peace that Jesus gives us with one another.
You can also invite children to exchange the peace as is done in your weekly worship.
(10-20 minutes)
©2015 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Spring • Year B
Eucharist
PR-SB-EA05-DL-C-Eucharist
We share the peace of Jesus.We continue a series of activities designed to encourage primary children to explore the Eucharist. This week’s focus is:
We share the peace of Jesus.
Ask:•What do you think a world at peace
would be like? •How would a world at peace be like our
world? How would it be different?
Invite children to fill the board or newsprint with drawings or words that show a world at peace. Take time to discuss what the children have drawn and written. Then explain:• Jesus wants a world at peace, too. Jesus
wants the Church to help bring peace to the whole world.
•When we come together to share bread and wine, we call this service the Eucharist.
•The Eucharist is a special meal we share to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus.
•During the Eucharist, we share the peace that Jesus gives us with one another.
You can also invite children to exchange the peace as is done in your weekly worship.
(10-20 minutes)