Lessons in English
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Focus:
Jesus grieves with us.
Jesus shows his power over death and that he truly is the Son of God.
For those who have great faith like Martha there is eternal life.
Materials Needed:
- Candle
- Bible
- Family pictures
- Pictures or name cards of those who have died that you want to remember.
- Illumination from the St. John’s Bible, Raising of Lazarus (If you cannot print it, keep it available on a nearby screen.
- Paper
- Art supplies
Create a special table or sacred space in your home you can where you focus during prayer and your in-home Sunday celebration. Include your bible, candle, and pictures or name cards.
Light the candle. Call your family to prayer.
Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
Music:
Choose one of the music suggestions below. Sing together as a family.
Opening Activity:
Begin by naming the people who are present in your sacred space. Say a few things about them and pray for them. Prepare for the reading of today’s Gospel by talking about how we feel when someone we love dies. Talk about how you will hear a story today about a man named Lazarus who died. He was loved very much by his sisters, Mary and Martha. He was also loved very much by Jesus.
Sunday Gospel: John 11:1-45
Together read the Sunday Gospel. There are two resources here for the readings: from the US bishops, the text we hear in church and from The Religion Teacher, an adaptation.
Feel free to use your family bible or children’s bible. Be creative. Read it in parts. Act out the story. Use the illumination from the Saint John’s Bible, Raising of Lazarus, to enhance the story.
USCCB – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032920.cfm
The Religion Teacher – http://jareddees.com/raisingoflazarus-biblestory/
As a family, talk about your thoughts and feelings, about the Gospel story and the illumination. What do you hear and see? Help the children to recognize:
- That Jesus grieves with us when we grieve.
- In the Gospel, Jesus shows us that he is the Son of God through the raising of Lazarus.
- With faith in Jesus and the resurrection (like Martha) we will get to live on in heaven with Jesus after death.
- Connect the Gospel with the Apostles Creed – we believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
Apostles Creed:
Together pray:
I believe in God the Father almighty Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
Music:
Choose another song to sing together.
Universal Prayers:
As a family, offer prayers for our Church, our world, your local communities, and your families.
The Lord’s Prayer
Together pray the words that our Savior gave us:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Conclude with the Sign of the Cross
Music:
Choose another song to sing together.
Family Activity:
Spend some time with the illumination from the Saint John’s Bible, Raising of Lazarus, by creating your own illuminations.
Get creative! Choose the part of the Gospel (or one of the other Sunday readings) that inspires you to illuminate. For some inspiration see: https://www.saintjohnsbible.org/promotions/programming/StJohnsGradeSchool.htm
Place your completed illuminations in your sacred space for the week to be reminded all week of Jesus’s deep love for Lazarus and for all of us.
Music Suggestions:
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (BABILONE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygkkX9FxHg0
We Come to You (Josh Blakesley) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KryPlpZ6ViM
Be Not Afraid (Bob Dufford) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BltudBGj8dg
High Above Our Way (Steve Angrisano) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W8yjdwCE1c
Other Web Resources:
Loyola Press:
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) (official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International):
https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Children-s-liturgy
Catholic Mom:
http://catholicmom.com/kids/catholic-gospel-coloring-worksheets-sunday-mass/
USCCB:
https://catholicdotbible.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/lent-5.pdf
Catechist’s Journey/Loyola Press: How to Lead Spontaneous prayer:
Strong Catholic Faith:
http://www.catholicfamilyfaith.org/lenten-season-resources.html
Saint John’s Bible:
Video resources:
Raising Lazarus from Dead Video -YouTube: Middle School-Adult
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0M7vvX6__M
Children -Middle School:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dca8SSxXCmM
Diocese of Saint Cloud TV Mass
