The Sunday Gospel for Primary Schools Holy Week

The Sunday Gospel for Primary Schools Holy Week (Year B) 28 March - 4 April 2021

Welcoming Song: `Christ is our King’ by Andrew Chinn With Christ as our rock, with Christ as our king Together with God we can do great things Building the kingdom, hearing the call In the heart of one, in the hearts. . . of us all Called to belong, many hearts, many faces Gathered to here, many hopes, many places Called to be one, called to belong Called to the kingdom, called to Christ’s song With Christ as our rock, with Christ as our king Together with God we can do great things Building the kingdom, hearing the call In the heart of one, in the hearts. . . of us all (repeat)

Thinking back… In the last Sunday Gospel, we heard Jesus speak about his coming death. He said that his death was required in order to bring glory to God, and to give strength and life to his followers. You were challenged to love God more than anything else, and trust that Jesus’s death brought us new life with God. ● Did your actions show that you serve Jesus and follow him? ● Were you able to love God more than anything else in your life? ● Did you remember to listen for the voice of God in your life?

The first Sunday of this week is called Palm Sunday Jesus was welcomed into the city of Jerusalem as a king. People lined the streets, cheered, and waved palm branches to honour him.

Quote for the day: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” Focusing Questions: ● Imagine you have been waiting for something special for a long time and it is about to arrive. How would you feel? ● When it finally arrives, would you run to the door to get it? Would you reach out for it? Would you be able to wait any longer for it, knowing it was right there? ● What if it was a person you had been waiting for? What would you do? How would you feel?

Scripture Mark 11: 1 -10 As they approached Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead, saying to them, “Go to the next village, and as you enter it, you will find a colt which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this? ’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon. ’” They went and found the donkey colt and everything happened just as Jesus said it would. The disciples brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it. Jesus sat on it and rode into Jerusalem. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. People went ahead of Jesus and others followed shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Reflection on the Reading The reading today tells us that Jesus followed the instructions from the Old Testament perfectly. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey colt. People stopped what they were doing and followed him, shouting praises in his name. think about what the Scripture said and what it might have meant… It means that Jesus knew what God was asking him to do and he did it perfectly. He remained humble by riding on a donkey. The people treated him as a triumphant and victorious king. They shouted and celebrated as he entered their city. Let’s look at a video about today’s Gospel.

The Gospel Challenge The video shows that Jesus entered Jerusalem and was greeted as a king. When the religious leaders asked Jesus to stop the crowd, Jesus refused because he knew it was right for the people to praise him. Jesus followed God’s plan exactly as it had been written. What does this mean for our lives? ● We must remember that Jesus is our king, and rejoice in his name. ● We must follow God’s instructions exactly, just as Jesus showed us. ● We must follow Jesus and remain faithful to him, and not just follow the crowd.

The Gospel Challenge Your challenge is to call out to Jesus and celebrate him as king. Let’s say these words together: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Prayer All: Jesus our king, We feel joy when we see you and when we hear your voice in our hearts. Help us to call out to you with praise. Help us to welcome you with love. Let us never follow the crowd who turn on you so quickly. Make us strong and brave for you, so that we follow you always. Amen.

Commissioning Song: `The King of Glory’ Lyrics by Willard Jabusch, Music: Traditional Israeli folk song The king of glory comes, the nation rejoices Open the gates before him, left up your voices Who is the king of glory, how shall we call him? He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages. In all of Galilee, in city or village, He goes among his people, curing their illness. Sing then of David’s son, our Saviour and brother, In all of Galilee was never another. He gave his life for us, the pledge of salvation He took upon himself the sins of the nation. He conquered sin and death; he truly has risen, And he will share with us his heavenly vision.

Reflection Activity Donkey craft You will need: ● 1 donkey outline and one quote per student. (Hover the donkey image for a live link to the pdf. The pdf has 16 donkey outlines and quotes. ) The quote page may be printed onto coloured paper. ● 4 wooden or light coloured plastic pegs per student ● colouring pencils 1. Colour the donkey and cut it out. 2. Cut out the quote box and fold in half. 3. Clip 2 pegs onto the donkey’s legs so that it is standing up. 4. Place the folded quote over the donkey’s back like a cloak. (A completed example is shown) Completed donkey craft may be displayed in the classroom or taken home.

Holy Thursday Jesus celebrates his Last Supper with his disciples. He teaches them how to serve others. He prays in the garden and is then arrested by soldiers.

Thinking back… Earlier we read about the events of Palm Sunday. The people were excited to welcome their king. They ran to see him, shouted out and waved palm branches. It was a huge celebration. You were challenged to call out to Jesus and celebrate him as king. ● Did you remember that Jesus is our king? ● Were you able to follow God’s instructions perfectly? ● Did you stay faithful to Jesus and not just follow the crowd?

Quote for the day: “Love one another, just as I have loved you. ” Focusing Questions: ● Think of a king, queen or prime minister. When they have special parties or dinners, what do the parties look like? ● Do they have workers and servants to serve their guests? Do they ever do any of the work themselves? ● What would happen if the king, queen or prime minister knelt in front of one of their people and started washing their feet? How would the world react to this?

Scripture John 13: 1 -15 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world. Jesus and the disciples were eating the evening meal together. Judas had already decided to betray Jesus got up from the meal and tied a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began washing his disciples feet and drying them with the towel. Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, you shall never wash my feet. ” Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Unless I wash your feet, you have no part with me. ” “Then, Lord, ” Simon Peter replied, “wash my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who are clean need only to wash their feet. And you are clean, though not all of you are. ” He said this because he knew what was in Judas’s heart. When Jesus had finished washing their feet, he returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you? ” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord, ’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Reflection on the Reading The reading today tells us that Jesus made himself the servant even though he was the most important of all. Simon Peter was not comfortable with what Jesus was doing, but accepted it when Jesus told him that he must. think about what the Scripture said and what it might have meant… It means that Jesus used an example to teach the disciples that they must serve other people, just as he served them. He said “Love one another as I have loved you” so that the disciples would know how to follow his example of service to others. Let’s look at a video about today’s Gospel.

The Gospel Challenge The video shows that Jesus humbled himself to serve others. He did this to show them what they must do when he was gone. He told them that they must never think of themselves as better than anyone else. What does this mean for our lives? ● We must remember to follow the example of Jesus and always be willing to serve others. ● We must remember that we are not better than anyone else. ● We must remember to love one another, just like Jesus loves us.

The Gospel Challenge Your challenge is to love one another and help one another, just as Jesus showed us. Let’s say these words together: “Love one another, just as I have loved you”

Prayer All: Dear Jesus, You are our king, but you knelt at the feet of your friends, and became like a servant. Help us to follow your example. Help us to show love by serving others. Remind us that God loves all people, and no-one is above anyone else. This way, we can be more like you. Amen.

Commissioning Song: `Do this in memory of me’ by John Burland We gather all to hear Your Word, like Jesus showed us We learn to follow in Your way, like Jesus showed us Do this, do this in memory of me We break this bread for all to share, like Jesus showed us The bread of life to nourish us, like Jesus showed us We share this cup of wine for all, like Jesus showed us We celebrate God’s greatest gift, like Jesus showed us We are one body we are one, like Jesus showed us Together as one we celebrate, like Jesus showed us

Reflection Activity `Love One Another’ Class Chain You will need: ● 1 copy of the pdf shown printed onto white and red paper - enough for 6 lines per student (Hover the image for a live link to the pdf) ● stapler and scissors 1. Students should receive 3 white lines and 3 red lines each. 2. Cut out each line neatly and fold in half so that the quote is facing out. 3. Bend the ends of the line together and staple for the first line only. 4. Each subsequent heart should be threaded through a completed heart before being stapled. 5. Connect each student’s line of hearts together to create a class chain. (An example is shown. ) Completed heart chain should be displayed in the classroom.

Good Friday Jesus is arrested, put on trial and sentenced to death. He suffers, is crucified and dies on the Cross.

Thinking back… Earlier we read about the events of Holy Thursday. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples to show them how to serve one another and show love to each other. No-one is more important than anyone else. You were challenged to love one another and to help each other. ● Did you follow the example of Jesus and were you willing to serve others? ● Did you remember that no-one is better than anyone else? ● Did you show love to one another, the way that Jesus loves you?

Quote for the day: “He bore our sins in his body. By his wounds we are healed. ” Focusing Questions: ● Consider a time when you have been punished for something that you did not do. What happened? How bad was your punishment? ● How did you feel about the people who punished you? How did you feel about the people who had done the wrong thing, but let you get punished for it? ● Would you ever allow someone to punish you and hurt you for something they did themselves? What would you do?

Scripture John 18: 1 -19: 42 After having supper with his friends, Jesus went to pray in the garden. While he was praying, the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek so that they knew who Jesus was. He was taken to the high priests for questioning. Simon Peter followed. The high priests questioned Jesus but they could not find a reason to have him killed, so they took him to Pilate questioned Jesus but could not find any charge against him. He asked the crowds, “I can release one prisoner to you at the Passover. Who do you want me to release? ” The crowd yelled, “Barabbas”, even though Barabbas was a violent criminal. Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers put a purple robe on him and a crown of thorns. Then they brought Jesus back to the people. Pilate asked them again if they wanted him to release Jesus. They shouted, “Crucify him. ” Pilate did not want to crucify Jesus, but he was afraid that the crowds would riot, so he handed Jesus over to be crucified. The soldiers took Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means `the skull’. Jesus was forced to carry his own cross. There he was crucified between two criminals. The soldiers put a sign on his cross which read, “Jesus of Nazareth. King of the Jews. ” The soldiers took Jesus’s clothes and divided the garments between them. Then they rolled dice for the final piece. Finally, Jesus said, “I am thirsty. ” The soldiers gave him vinegar to drink. Then he said, “It is done” and died. It was approaching sunset and the soldiers wanted to remove the bodies from the crosses, so they went to break the legs of the men on the crosses. When they saw that Jesus was already dead, they pierced his side with a spear. Blood and water came out, so they knew that he was dead. Joseph of Arimathea, who was a secret disciple, came and asked for Jesus’s body. He placed the body into a new tomb, and then closed and sealed it.

Reflection on the Reading The reading today tells us all about the suffering of Jesus. He was abused and insulted. He was sentenced to death by crucifixion. He was nailed to a cross and died. His side was pierced and then his body was taken away and laid in a tomb. think about what the Scripture said and what it might have meant… It means that Jesus suffered a terrible death, surrounded by hatred and insult. This happened even though he had only ever loved and helped people. He took this terrible death upon himself, so that we could have eternal life in heaven. He showed how much he loves us. Let’s look at a video about today’s Gospel.

The Gospel Challenge The video shows that Jesus accepted his death to save us. It explains that his own friend betrayed him and his own people killed him. He had done nothing to deserve this, but he never hated them for what they did. He only ever wanted to save everyone because he loves us so much. What does this mean for our lives? ● We must make sure that we never betray our friends or listen to lies about them. ● We must remember to be brave enough to stand up against those who hurt others. ● We must remember that Jesus loves us so much that he died for us.

The Gospel Challenge Your challenge is to be truly thankful to Jesus for loving us so much that he gave up everything to save us. Let’s say these words together: “He bore our sins in his body. By his wounds, we are healed. ”

Prayer All: Jesus our Saviour, You are our king, but you took our sins upon yourself, and died so that we could live. You suffered without complaint, and never hated those who hurt you. We are sorry for our sins. Thank you for what you did for us. Thank you for saving us. Amen.

Commissioning Song: `Above All’ by Lenny Le. Blanc and Paul Baloche Above all powers, above all kings. Above all nature and all created things. Above all wisdom and all the ways of man. You were here before the world began. Above all kingdoms, above all thrones. Above all wonders the world has ever known. Above all wealth and treasures of the earth. There’s no way to measure what you’re worth. Crucified, laid behind the stone. You lived to die, rejected and alone. Like a rose, trampled on the ground. You took the fall, and thought of me, Above all.

Reflection Activity The Death of Jesus silhouette You will need: ● a sheet of black A 4 paper student ● a sheet of white A 4 paper student ● paints, oil crayons or coloured paper to tear into strips. ● glue ● scissors 1. Students should draw an outline image onto the black paper - a single cross on a hill or 3 crosses on a hill. Older students may want to add details like arms, head or bent knees. 2. Students should cut around their shape on the black paper to make a silhouette. 3. Colour the white paper using paint, oil crayons or torn coloured strips. 4. Paste the black silhouette onto the coloured background sheet. (Completed examples shown) Display completed artworks in the classroom.

Easter Sunday Some of Jesus’s friends went to his tomb but his body was gone! Jesus had risen from the dead, just as he said he would.

Thinking back… Earlier we heard all of the events that happened on that terrible Friday. Jesus was arrested, trialled unfairly and punished. Then, he was crucified and died on a cross. Finally, his body was laid in a tomb. You were challenged to be thankful to Jesus for loving us so much that he would give up everything to save us. ● Did you make sure that you did not betray your friends or listen to lies about them? ● Were you brave enough to stand up against those who hurt others? ● Were you able to remember that Jesus loves us so much that he died for us?

Quote for the day: The angel said, “He is not here. He is risen from the dead!” Focusing Questions: ● Think of things that are impossible. Can you name some things that are `impossible’? ● Science has made many things possible that used to be impossible, like aeroplanes flying and cures for diseases. Is there anything that is truly impossible? Or is it only impossible because we can’t understand it yet? ● If you heard about something you thought was impossible, would you be able to believe what you heard? What if you saw it yourself - could you believe it then?

Scripture Matthew 28: 1 -10 and John 20: 1 -9 At dawn on the Sunday, the third day of Jesus’s death, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb. There was a great earthquake and an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven, rolled back the stone and sat upon it. He shone like lightning and the soldiers guarding the tomb fell down in fear. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Go and tell his disciples that he has been raised from the dead and they will see him in Galilee. ” The women ran to tell the disciples what they had seen. John and Simon Peter ran to the tomb. Peter went in and saw the burial cloths rolled up. Then John went in and saw it too. They did not yet understand the scripture that had said that Jesus would rise from the dead.

Reflection on the Reading The reading today tells us that Jesus’s friends went to see his body and look after his body. The women saw an angel who told them what had happened. They told the disciples, but Peter and John still went to see for themselves. After seeing, they still did not understand what had happened. think about what the Scripture said and what it might have meant… It means that Jesus’s friends loved him and wanted to look after his body. When they heard that he had come back to life, they still could not understand or really believe. It seemed to be impossible to them but it had happened! Let’s look at a video about today’s Gospel.

The Gospel Challenge The video shows that Jesus really did rise from the dead. Jesus did the impossible. He appeared to the disciples many times after this death. Jesus explained that God loved the world so much that God gave us Jesus, God’s one and only son. What does this mean for our lives? ● We must remember that nothing is impossible with God. Jesus did rise from the dead! ● We must remember that the disciples believed because they saw Jesus, but we do not need to see Jesus to believe. ● We must remember that God loves us so much that God allowed Jesus to die so that we could be saved.

The Gospel Challenge Your challenge is to believe that Jesus truly did rise from the dead, because nothing is impossible with God. Let’s say these words together: The angel said, “He is not here. He is risen from the dead!”

Prayer All: Jesus our Lord, You did everything just as you said. You overcame death and rose again to life. You showed us that nothing is impossible with God. May we always remember what you did, and strive to trust in you completely. We want to be your living body in the world today, by loving one another, as you loved us. Amen.

Commissioning Song: `Rise Up!’ by Andrew Chinn Rise up! Roll the rock away now! Rise up! See the light of day now! Rise up! I will show the way Rise up, Rise up! Jesus had a friend called Lazarus, from the town of Bethany Mary and Martha they sent for him, Jesus, please come and see By the time that he arrived, they said Lazarus has died But Jesus said roll the rock away, your brother he will rise… he said On Good Friday Jesus gave his life, on a cross, crucified They took him down and laid him in a tomb, the disciples they did hide On Sunday morning Mary went to the tomb, she could not find Him there Peter and John ran to the tomb and to all He did appear… he did So this is how Jesus showed us the way, to come and live in the light If we live like him we will rise like him, follow him to new life

Reflection Activity He is risen! puppet craft You will need: ● a copy of the pdf shown for each student (hover the image for a live link to the pdf) ● craft sticks ● split pins - 1 per student ● coloured markers/pencils ● sticky tape ● scissors 1. Students should colour and cut out each of the images on their sheet. 2. Cut out the cave and door. Attach the door to the side of the cave using a split pin. 3. Attach a craft stick to the back of each puppet using sticky tape. Students should use their puppets to act out the story from today’s scripture.

Acknowledgements: Welcoming Song: `Christ is our King’ (by Andrew Chinn) (Let Your Light Shine Collection, Butterfly Music) All rights reserved. Used with permission Commissioning Songs: `The King of Glory’ (by Willard Jabusch) (Never Too Young; Published by OCP) All rights reserved. Used with permission `Do This in Memory of Me’ (by John Burland) (Celebrating the Sacraments Collection, John Burland) All rights reserved. Used with permission `Above All’ (by Lenny Le. Blanc and Paul Baloche) (Integrity’s Hosanna! Music; Published by OCP) All rights reserved. Used with permission © 2021 Liturgy. Ritual. Prayer. com

Commissioning Songs continued: `Rise Up!’ (by Andrew Chinn) (Rise Up! Collection; Butterfly Music) All rights reserved. Used with permission Videos: The Story of Easter (The Triumphal Entry) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=z-39 h 0 x. Yqd. E Saddleback Kids All rights reserved. Used with permission Jesus Washes His Disciples Feet https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=bv 5 aj. WNrnt 4 Saddleback Kids All rights reserved. Used with permission The Story of Easter (Jesus’ Sacrifice) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=HL 8 R 158 Ujp 4 Saddleback Kids All rights reserved. Used with permission © 2021 Liturgy. Ritual. Prayer. com