Lessons in English
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Focus:
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, we know his voice.
Jesus has come that we may have life and have it abundantly.
Materials Needed:
- Candle
- Bible
Create a special table or sacred space in your home you can where you focus during prayer and your in-home Sunday celebration. Here is a video on how to do so: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2020/04/pop-up-catechesis-creating-a-prayer-space-in-your-home/
Light the candle. Call your family to prayer.
Music:
Choose one of the music suggestions below. Sing together as a family.
Opening Activity:
Play “Guess the Disney Voice” on You Tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB0HYM9rPvQ
You do not need to play the entire game at this time, but may choose to finish after prayer.
After you play, talk about how we can recognize the voices we know.
Are there other voices you would recognize? (Friends, family members, etc.)
How did you know who the voices belonged to?
What about our pets? Do they recognize our voices?
When we hear voices we know, we respond to them. What happens when we do not recognize a voice? Do we respond in the same way?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus will be telling us how his sheep will recognize his voice.
Let us read it together.
Make the Sign of the Cross.
Sunday Gospel: John 10:1-10
Together read the Sunday Gospel. Feel free to use your family bible or children’s bible. Be creative. Read it in parts. Act out the story. http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050320.cfm
Discussion questions:
What was the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep?
How did the sheep know the shepherd?
Who is Jesus in this story? Who are we?
How do we recognize Jesus? Where do we hear his voice?
If we follow him, what does that mean for us?
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 Suggestions:
- Go outside and play a game of sheep tag. https://elementarypegames.weebly.com/sheep-tag.html
- Using quotations of Jesus from scripture, find a creative way to share them with others. Create a poster. Make a slide show or video. Write a song. Make a card as a surprise to someone.
- Send a note of thanks or encouragement to your priests or bishops as they are our shepherds here on earth.
Music Suggestions:
Like a Shepherd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPBxYJ7iQ7M
Lift Up Your Hearts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ijYehz2Y9o
The King of Love My Shepherd Is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgTB9U1Y2Ls
Beloved, Arise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQk10Ob6CNE
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/2020/03/easter-4.pdf
Strong Catholic Faith:
http://www.catholicfamilyfaith.org/easter-season-resources.html
Pop-Up Catechesis:
https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/tag/pop-up-catechesis/
A Reflection from Teri Krowka Ansberry, DRE, Ss. Peter and Paul, Richmond/St. Boniface, Cold Spring:
