Page 6 - Children Celebrate - Summer 2003

Using Children
Celebrate!
Focus Statements for each of the readings help you give the children a key idea to listen for and help them better understand the theme of the readings. Responsorial Psalm and Gospel Acclamation provide liturgically appropriate responses for the children to use.
Homily gives you starter ideas for interesting, creative, and relevant reflections on the Gospel. Profession of Faith is a simple and interactive declaration of what we believe as Catholics. Prayer of the Faithful are the prayers for
the needs of the world, the Church, and
the community. These are often a common introduction for children into spontaneous prayer, and can be powerful for children.
Return to Assembly provides the leader with cues to prepare the children to rejoin the main assembly and to remind them to take home a Children’s Leaflet.
Children Celebrate! is a complete step-by-step resource for celebrating the Liturgy of the Word with Children. The two components of Children Celebrate! are this Leader’s Guide and the Children’s Leaflets, a book of tear-out, take-home sheets.
Leader’s Guide (each week has two parts)
I. Preparation provides the leader with information about the week’s Scripture readings and how they relate to children today. Its elements are the following:
• Today’s Readings cites the exact Scripture readings you will be using that day. (Remember, these readings do not always match the readings chosen for the adults. See more about the readings on page 6.) A theme sets the tone of that day’s liturgy.
• Prepare with Prayer helps center you on the task at hand. This not only helps children hear and understand God’s Word, but also helps you hear and understand God’s Word through the children.
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• Scripture Background helps you understand the readings and prepare to break open the Word.
Children’s Leaflets (each leaflet is two-sided)
Front Side
• Today’s Readings gives the Scripture citations for that Sunday’s liturgy.
• We Pray is a short prayer for children based on the week’s theme.
• The Word of God This Week is a summary of the day’s Gospel story.
Back Side
• Activity provides an entertaining way to reinforce the Gospel message.
• Faith Focus highlights how the Gospel message can pertain to the family.
• Family Activity provides practical suggestions to families on how to put the Gospel into action at home.
Weekly Gospel Reflection Videos
• How to access the videos: Visit https://bit.ly/ 3Gea28P to view the videos for this quarter (loaded monthly).
• What’s included? Each weekly video includes a Gospel Reflection, Saint Spotlight, Closing Prayer, and Reflection Question.
• Promote: Share these videos with those assisting with Children’s Liturgy of the Word for use during your program, as well as with parents and families.
• Prepare the Meeting Space gives you suggestions for enhancing the environment for that day’s celebration. Review this section a few days before the liturgy.
• Suggested Music provides suggestions for appropriate songs during the liturgy. Information on where to find each piece of suggested music is on page 62.
• Children’s Connections explains each week’s theme and Scripture message as it applies to children today.
• More About... provides Church teaching about a topic that is related to this week’s liturgy.
• Using the Children’s Leaflet provides brief back- ground information about the take-home sheet.
• Activity provides a reproduction of the take-home sheet. Solutions to puzzles are shown as needed.
II. The Liturgy of the Word is a ready-made liturgy specifically written for that week’s readings and theme. Its elements are the following:
• Gathering helps the children settle into their places. Playing appropriate background music, or singing a song provides a transition into an attitude of prayer.
• Collect sets the tone for the worship experience.
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Pflaum Publishing Group