Sunday Resources for Children
Children’s Liturgy of the Word Videos
RECOMMENDED
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
“Tools” for the Classroom or at Home: activities, crafts, games, puzzles, worksheets, lesson plans, classroom tips, etc. for all ages.
FEATURED VIDEO – A weekly series featuring Kim Scott at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach, California. Archives of the previous reflections
Intro to the Readings
2B Ordinary Time
Key Images
- “Here I am”
- “I will listen”
- Lamb of God
- “Come and see”
SOURCES: Catholic Diocese of Auckland
Memory Verse
This man is the Son of God.
Today’s gospel story takes place very early in Jesus’ ministry. Remember when we talked about John. He lived in the desert and ate bugs and wore animal skins. He had many people coming to him to be baptized so that they would be ready for Jesus. Some people stayed with him all the time. This sentence is said by John today’s Gospel story. He baptized Jesus. He was there when God said that Jesus was the son of God. John was a faithful follower of God and he believed what God had said.He is tellinghis followers that he has prepared them to follow Jesus and that is the time that they should start being followers of Jesus. John has taught them a lot, but Jesus has much more to teach them. Do you think it was hard for the men to leave John and follow Jesus? How do you feel when you get a new teacher? That is probably how the men felt too.
DOWNLOAD LESSON (PDF)
SOURCE: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Southbury, CT
Getting Started
Come and see
In today’s First Reading and Gospel we have a parallel between the calling of the two disciples and the hearing of Samuel.
In the Gospel the invitation “come and see” is made to us too —we follow, listen and remain with Jesus because we believe he is what we need. The call to be a follower of Jesus is just the beginning though. Growing within the body of Christ, the community,is a lifelong process. Year by year our understanding of what and who we are is fed by listening to the scriptures, participating in the liturgy and prayer to our creator as a true Christian, with and through Christ. In the First Testament it was God who called people to share life, in the New Testament it is Jesus who calls to new life.
Leaders might like to retell for the children the story of Hannah, Eli and Samuel.
SOURCE: Catholic Diocese of Auckland; Accompanying cartoon from The Cartoon Gospel, Used with permission.
Children’s Videos
2B Ordinary Time
DISCLAIMER: Some videos are from non-Catholic sources. Therefore, be sure to preview before showing to your children.
DISCLAIMER: Some videos are from non-Catholic sources. Therefore, be sure to preview before showing to your children.
DISCLAIMER: Some videos are from non-Catholic sources. Therefore, be sure to preview before showing to your children.
Cropped image from this week’s THE KID’S BULLETIN front page activity.
Children’s Handouts PDF’s
Baptism of the Lord (B)
Teacher and mom, THERESA, creates Kids’ Bulletins, a resource for Catholic kids about the readings for Sunday’s Mass every week. More resources from Theresa can be found at Teachers Pay Teachers website. Click on image/text to download entire bulletin for your children.
Image shows only a small portion of activity
CATHOLIC MOM is a ministry of Holy Cross Family Ministries offering children’s handouts of Gospel Reading, a coloring page, lesson plans, Mass Worksheets for ages 7-10 and 11-14, Word Search, and Crossword puzzle.
Words in this week’s word search
The S.D.C., a Catholic Society in the UK, provides worksheets for use in Sunday Liturgy groups for children.
Download Worksheet (PDF)
| Archive | Home Page
Click clues to download Crossword Puzzle and other handouts from Sermons4Kids
HOLY HEROES (2:55): GO TO LESSON
Children’s Skits
2B Ordinary Time
Children’s Readings
God’s Call
Catechists may adapt these stories to use as skits for their students (i.e. class reads story out loud, and then have a group of students act the story out afterwards using their own words based on what they can remember).
In the story for the first reading, Danny feared the dark. One night, he woke more than once from a voice calling him. The nightmare wouldn’t go away, until he found the real source of the call. Samuel also heard a voice in the night and would not find rest until he knew the source of the voice, God. —READ STORY—->
In the story for the gospel, Sally received an invitation to a mystery party. “Come and see what will happen next!” the invitation read. Like Sally, two men heard the call of Jesus to “Come and see” what he was really all about. —READ STORY—->
SOURCE: Larry Broding at Word-Sunday.com (Copyright 1999-2017). Viewers may copy any material found in these pages for their personal use or for use in any non-profit ministry. Materials may not be sold or used for personal financial gain.
Church Skits
Samuel’s calling
Catechists may adapt these skits to match the needs and age level of students (i.e. use only a small portion of the skit).
TOPIC: putting God first
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 1:1-8:22
Style: satire/conversation: a reporter interviews
. Samuel about his calling in life
Cast: REPORTER, SAMUEL (old)
Set & Props: tablet with “pick” to “write”,
. bench or chairs
EXCERPT FROM SCRIPT:
SAM When I was a child, there was one particular day,
. while Eli was resting, and I was just lying down
. in the temple of the LORD – I heard my name
. being called. I answered, saying, “Here I am.”
. I ran to find Eli, thinking he was the one
. who called me.
REP And was it Eli?
SAM Eli told me that he had not called,
. so I went back to lie down.
. And I heard it again, “Samuel.”
. I ran back to Eli, who insisted that he had
. not called me. Again, I lay down,
. and I heard it a third time, “Samuel!”
. Well, by this time, Eli realized
. that it was the Lord calling me.
. Eli told me to lie down again,
. and if God called, I was to say,
. “Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.”
. And that is what I did.
REP Well, then what happened?
SAM God gave me a test – I was to deliver
. a message to Eli.
REP How hard could that be?
SAM It wasn’t a favorable message,
. and I was afraid to tell him about it.
. But when Eli saw me the next morning,
. Eli wanted to know everything that God told me –
. no matter how bad it was. So I did,
. and Eli accepted it as from the Lord.
REP But – you could have made it all up.
SAM Eli knew, because it was the same message that
. he had received from another prophet of God –
. which, I had not known about yet.
SOURCE: Church Skits by Tanis Harms; used with permission.
MINISTRY TO CHILDREN (12:40): Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” -1 Samuel 3:4 . Prepared by Kristin Schmidt, who serves at the Epiphany Lutheran Church in Castle Rock, CO.
Activities
2B Ordinary Time
Crafts
Called by God
God has given each of us a special and unique purpose, and calls us by name to love and serve Him. These crafts celebrate that amazing blessing. A prayer “Call Box” reminds us to stay connected to the Lord and call on Him with our requests. A special “name plate” allows creative design to honor the unique nature of our names.
It is never too early to share with children that they have purpose and value in God’s eyes. Each and every individual is known by Him and chosen for special and specific purpose. These crafts celebrate that fact, reminding kids that God knows them by name and has called them. With reflections on discipleship calling and the Old Testament calling of Samuel, these crafts remind students that God loves them and has a plan for them. A nametag decoration is a recollection to God’s specific calling by name, and a prayer request box considers our requests to the Lord.
SOURCE: Ministry to Children
Our Sunday Visitor Family Activities
God’s call and our response
- Today’s readings can lead to a family discussion about vocation – God’s call and our response. Talk about listing to God’s call and taking action. Share stories of people you know of who are living their vocations well.
- Choose one of the following persons to interview: your mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, pastor, or some other person you admire. Ask the person to tell you how he or she knew what special task God had in mind for them. Who helped them? With whom did they discuss it? What were the signs of God’s special call to them? Share your findings with your family.
- Make “I am a Follower of Jesus” badges with each family member’s name. Form a circle with your family. Take turns sharing what you can do this week to show that you are a follower of Jesus.
- God speaks to us in many ways – through nature, people, music, events, silence, literature, the Bible, and so on. Discuss the following question with your family: How do you experience being called by God?
Discussion Questions
2B Ordinary Time
Doctrine of the Week
2B Ordinary Time
Vocation
SOURCE: RCL Benziger
The Latin vocatus means “a calling” or “a summoning” and is the root word for our English “vocation.” All human beings are created by God for the purpose of knowing and loving the Creator. We believe that we are called by God ultimately to share in the divine life (CCC 356).
In Jesus, the fullness of this revelation is made manifest. The vocation to be his disciple is the basis for the believer’s joy in life and is the foundation of our salvation. Baptism is the sacrament that celebrates this calling in Christ and incorporates one into the life of the Risen Lord (CCC 1694). The invitation to become a disciple of Jesus and a member of the kingdom is extended to every individual on the face of the earth (CCC 543). How is this invitation extended? Through the grace of God, disciples make more disciples. Thus, one aspect of following Christ and living out our vocation is the imperative to share the Good News, to evangelize.
Related Activities
Brainstorming
Who do I listen to?
PRIMARY SESSION: Brainstorm with the children who the people are in their lives that they listen to for guidance. Write down their responses. Provide the children with paper and crayons and invite them to draw a picture of one person in their lives that they listen to. Discuss…
SOURCE: RCL Benziger
Listening Game
Important things
INTERMEDIATE SESSION: Divide the group into pairs and explain that they are going to play a listening game. Invite the children to take turns asking their partner to tell three things that are important to them. Each partner will listen while the other is talking. When all the pairs finish sharing, invite each child to introduce his or her partner by telling the large group what three things are important to them. Discuss…
SOURCE: RCL Benziger
Scavenger Hunt
What are you looking for?
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL: Begin today’s session with a scavenger hunt. Around the room hide a Bible, a heart shape cut out of paper, a map, and a candy bar. Invite the young people to silently reflect on the following question: “What are you looking for?” After a moment of quiet, divide the large group into small groups and begin the scavenger hunt. Have each group look for the hidden items. When the items are found invite the young people to discuss in their groups what each item represents and how it may or may not relate to what they are looking for. Discuss…
SOURCE: RCL Benziger
Hannah Hardin (5:24): This week’s VIRTUE “Book of the Week”
Virtue of the Week
2B Ordinary Time
Listening
Listening is the act of making a conscious effort to hear, to take notice, and to act or respond to what has been said .
First Reading
Just as Samuel the prophet was called by the Lord and committed himself to listening, so too are we called to listen… To effectively carry out our role of prophet we must learn and refine how we listen to God in our lives
Second Reading
There are a great many messages that come our way each day and we are called to listen to those messages that remind us to recognize our dignity as Temples of the Holy Spirit. We are called to listen and to hear this fact and to live and act accordingly.
Gospel
A disciple is someone who listens in order to learn so that they may pass that knowledge on to others. This listening created a stream of vocations that would grow and spread throughout the world and the ages. The call of God is for all, and each person must be attentive in order to listen to hear the call.
Book of the Week
Listen and Learn
In Cheri Meiner’s Listen and Learn, the reader and the listener encounter the absolute fact that knowing and learning how to listen are essential the process of growing, learning and getting along with others. The book reveals all of this in very simple words and inviting illustrations in order to help children develop the skills for listening, understanding why it is important to listen and recognizing the positive results of listening. This book is a great resource for teachers and parents as it includes activities for listening practice.
SOURCE: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University; “Build. Plant. Grow.” = a free faith formation resource which aligns with the Liturgical Year of the Roman Catholic Church. The accompanying video is NOT associated with Markkula Center.
MINISTRY TO CHILDREN (7:33): Prepared by Kristin Schmidt, who serves at the Epiphany Lutheran Church in Castle Rock, CO.
Children’s Sermons
2B Ordinary Time
Called by God
What does it mean to have a God who knows us, loves us, and calls us by name into His family? Grab a favorite toy and communicate to kids this powerful message. God has a plan and purpose for each and every one of us. This message looks at special Biblical callings and reminds kids that they are called by the Lord, too!
Law/Gospel Theme: Sometimes we develop the impression that we must “do enough” or work hard to truly be loved and used by God. We over-emphasize our role in our lives, when God is truly the author of all activity. This message reminds kids (and maybe adults, too!) that God has a specific plan and purpose for their lives. He knows and loves us and will always stay with us, using even tough circumstances for overall good.
SOURCE: Copyright © 2007-2020 Ministry-to-Children. Please use our children’s ministry curriculum and Sunday School material for any purpose that brings honor to Jesus.
Teacher and mom, THERESA, creates Kids’ Bulletins, a resource for Catholic kids about the readings for Sunday’s Mass every week. More resources from Theresa can be found at Teachers Pay Teachers website. Click on image/text to download entire bulletin for your children.
Sermon Writer
The children’s sermon excerpts below are linked to Sermon Writer, which was operated by Niell Donavan, a United Christ clergyman from 1997 until his death in 2020. His wife Dale is graciously keeping his website online FREE, subscription no longer required. As Catholic Catechists, be sure to adapt if necessary before presenting to children.
Listen and Reply
FOCUS: First Reading
Today’s Old Testament story is about a young boy named Samuel. God called to Samuel while Samuel was resting, but Samuel did not recognize that it was God. He thought it was an older man, Eli who called to him.
Eli told Samuel he believed it was God who had called him, so the next time Samuel heard his name being called he said, “I’m listening God.” Indeed it was God. God spoke about his plans for Samuel’s life.
The story tells us that “Samuel grew, and (God) was with him…”(3:19). Samuel became famous as a prophet, a person who could speak about the ways of God.
Do you recognize me?
FOCUS: Gospel
We recognize people in many ways. Our family members are easy to recognize. We are familiar with their faces and certain items of clothes that they wear. We recognize the way they comb their hair, the way they walk and motion with their hands, the way their voice sounds. People we feel close to may even have a distinctive fragrance, like special cologne, or the smells that come from cooking or working in the garden.
Sometimes we are given clues that help us recognize people who are not familiar to us. These clues may tell us something about who a particular person is or what he or she does.
If you see a young person carrying a backpack near a school there is a pretty good chance that person is a student.
You can recognize a fireman or a policeman by the uniform he or she wears.
Bringing people to Jesus
FOCUS: Gospel
The story from the Bible today tells about the time when Jesus was just starting to teach the people that God loves them and wants to be their friend. Not many people knew who Jesus was. Some people found out about Jesus because they happened to hear him give a speech. Or Jesus would sometimes walk around with a group of people who wanted to hear what he had to say and they would start walking around with him too. Sometimes Jesus would walk around teaching his followers––the disciples––and other people would hear and listen in. Many of the people who heard Jesus, decided to become his disciples.
That’s the way many teachers taught grown-ups in ancient times: the teacher would go to the center of town and start teaching. His disciples would be with him and other people would become interested and join in, or the disciples would invite others to come and listen. I wonder what that must have looked like.
Let’s try it. I’ll be the teacher and I’ll start walking around up here in the front. Two of you can be my disciples and walk with me
