I can Love
Greeting: Welcome each child as they come in the door. Make sure they have name tags, and the parent has signed them in on the sheet.
Opening: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Sing song “I am Special”
Development:
Scripture: God sent Jesus, his only son, into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us and sent Jesus to be the expiation for our sins. (Cf. 1 Jn 4:9-10).
Saint: St. Valentine lived in Rome when he was put into prison it is thought that many people brought him letters and dropped them into his cell. Many people loved him because of his teachings, and it is thought that he secretly married Christian people that wished to be together. The day of love February14th is set aside for St. Valentine because people once thought that it was this time that birds choose their mate that they would spend their lives with. It is therefore fitting to assign this day to people that love and care for one another as so many people loved and cared for St. Valentine. He saw the love between the hearts of so many that he married them.
Story: The Good Shepherd (183)
Activity: Heart wreath cut out heart, either have the children color the hearts red, pink, and fuschia or buy colored construction paper. Cut out the center of a paper plate, and stick the hearts around it to make a wreath.
Song: Whole world in his hands (sign language optional)
Exercise: Happy and you know it (foreign languages optional)
Prayer: Rise and shine, and give God your glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God your glory, glory . Rise and shine and give God your glory glory children of the Lord.
Bible Verse: You are the light of the world (sign language optional)
Blessing: May the Lord bless you and your family each and everyday. May you seek time in your day to pray, and may the love of the Lord be in your thoughts as you play.
A New Life in Spring
Greeting: Welcome each child as they come in the door. Make sure they have name tags, and the parent has signed them in on the sheet.
Opening: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Sing song “I am Special”
Development:
Scripture: The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. He gives me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water. Psalm 23:1-2
Saint: Francis Xavier he was born of wealthy parents in Spain. His parents sent him to the College of St. Barbara in Paris, and soon after he became a teacher. He joined St. Ignatius Loyola and four other men who vowed to work for the conversion of those that were not Christians.
Before his ordination as a priest in Venice, he cared for the sick in the hospital. He was soon asked by the King of Portugal to preach to people of India. While he was in Goa he would comfort those that were sick, and ring a bell through the streets so people would come to Mass at the church.
Often he is pictured with a burning flame, and that flame represents the burning love coming from his heart.
Story: The Good Shepherd
Activity: See booklet
Make flowers out of pipe cleaner, and egg cartons. Have each child bring in their own egg carton, and they can make a dozen tulips. Cut each egg holder away, and cut it in the shape of a tulip. Stick the pipe cleaner through a hole at the bottom of the holder, and you have a tulip.
Make a collage out of seeds, and see what kind of decorations the children can conceive.
Song: This little light of Mine (sign language optional.)
Exercise: Head, shoulders knees, and toes (foreign language optional)
Prayer: Rise and shine and give God your glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God your glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God your glory, glory. Children of the lord.
Bible Verse: You are the light of the world. (sign language optional.)
Blessing: May you be filled with the Joy of Jesus' new life. Amen
A New Life From Seeds
Greeting: Welcome each child as they come in the door. Make sure they have name tags, and the parent has signed them in on the sheet.
Opening: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Sing song “I am Special”
Development:
Scripture: For the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their creator. (Wis 13:5)
Saint: Patrick was born in Scotland in the year 387. At sixteen he was captured by pirates and sold as a slave to a chief in Ireland. While tending sheep in the mountains, he prayed constantly.
After six years, a voice from heaven told him to go back to his own country. First he went to Rome to become a priest. He was then sent to England. Where he labored in the Church for some time. He wanted to go back to Ireland, and begged to Pope to go back. The Pope soon made him a Bishop, and he was allowed to return to Ireland.
He was arrested by one of the Pagan Kings. He saw Patrick perform miracles. The Pagan king wanted to know about the God Patrick worshiped. Patrick simply told him that “There is but one God, and three divine persons: the Father, the Soon and the Holy Spirit.” Patrick picked up a three leaf shamrock, and said “Even as there are three leaves on this one stem, so there are three Persons in one God.” Thereafter, he was allowed to preach everywhere in Ireland.
Story: Sowing seed (308)
Activity: See booklet
Song: He's got the whole world in his hands. (sign language optional.)
Exercise: Happy and you know it.
Prayer: Hurt no living thing; Ladybird, nor butterfly, Nor moth with dusty wing, Nor cricket chirping cheerily, Nor grasshopper so light of leap, Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat, Nor harmless worms that creep. By Christina Rossetti
Bible Verse: Love your neighbors yourself. (Sign language optional)
Blessing: May God be praised and bless you as you care for the seeds you have planted.
You are being God's good helper when you place the seeds in the sunlight and water them a little bit to grow. Amen.
Dismissal:
I Feel Angry/Afraid
Greeting: Welcome each child as they come in the door. Make sure they have name tags, and the parent has signed them in on the sheet.
Opening: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Sing song “I am Special”
Development:
Scripture: When a good man prays, great things happen. Elijah was a man just like us. James 5:16b-17a
Saint: Leo was born in Tuscany, Italy. He was Pope for 21 years. During his reign as Pope he encountered a most frightening man named Attila. Attila and the Huns made their way through Italy. They were mean to everyone in their way. Attila conquered the city of Aquileia after a three year siege, and then Attila marched toward Rome. Leo went out to greet Attila, and to ask him not to destroy Rome. Attila declared that as Leo addressed him, he became frighten seeing a person in priestly robes who stood nearby with bared sword, threatening his life should he disobey Leo's commandments.
Story: David and Goliath
Activity: Using a paper plate draw a frown in the center, and then turn it around. This can be illustrated to show how we all have sad or angery feeling sometimes. Children can add their eyes on both ends of the spectrum.
Song: Away in A Manger (sign language optional)
Exercise: Hookie Pookie, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Prayer: Our hands we fold, Our heads we bow for food and drink we thank the now. Amen
Bible Verse:For a child has been born for us (sign language optional)
Blessing: God made you, God loves you, and God knows each of you by name. May you grow to be the very special person God wants you to be. Amen.
Dismissal: