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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, hp://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only. session essentials Preschool/Kindergarten 1 5th Sunday of Easter – B Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 5th Sunday of Easter – B Helps for Catechists More about Today’s Scriptures Reflection e Scriptures and the Catechism Praying with Music e World of the Bible: Hellenists Enrichment Discover the Good News Singing Together Free Play: Relationships (dolls or stuffed animals) Book Corner: Friendship Info: Leader Expectations Info: Young Children and the Gospel Info: Where You’ll Find Everything Else Core Session Getting Started Gospel Story: e Gardener and the Vine (plant or gardening tools) Story-Review Game (paper dolls, bag, blanket) Praying Together (white or colored cloths, Bible, candles) In and through Jesus we have life. Jesus calls himself the true vine and the bread of life. e emphasis of both of today’s gospels is on the presence of Jesus with his friends. In today’s session, children explore this central gospel image and continue their celebration of Easter. Abide and Obey Scripture John 15:1-8 Question of the Week When do you feel close to Jesus? to God?

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Page 1: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

session essentialsP r eschoo l /K i nde r ga r t en

1

5 th Sunday o f Eas t e r – B

Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 5th Sunday of Easter – B

Helps for Catechists ◆ More about Today’s Scriptures◆ Reflection◆ The Scriptures and the Catechism◆ Praying with Music◆ The World of the Bible: Hellenists

Enrichment ◆ Discover the Good News◆ Singing Together◆ Free Play: Relationships (dolls or

stuffed animals)◆ Book Corner: Friendship◆ Info: Leader Expectations◆ Info: Young Children and the

Gospel◆ Info: Where You’ll Find Everything

Else

Core Session ◆ Getting Started◆ Gospel Story: The Gardener

and the Vine (plant or gardening tools)

◆ Story-Review Game (paper dolls, bag, blanket)

◆ Praying Together (white or colored cloths, Bible, candles)

In and through Jesus we have life.◆ Jesus calls himself the true vine and the bread of life.◆ The emphasis of both of today’s gospels is on the presence of Jesus with his friends.◆ In today’s session, children explore this central gospel image and continue their

celebration of Easter.

Abideand Obey

ScriptureJohn 15:1-8

Question of the WeekWhen do you feel close to Jesus? to God?

Page 2: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

core sessionyour b

asic and co

mple

te session

2

© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 5th Sunday of Easter – B

Getting Started (10-15 minutes)Gather the children around you. Explain:◆ We still celebrate Easter today.◆ We celebrate because Jesus is alive. Jesus is risen.

Remind children of this simplified version of the traditional Easter Greeting:

Greeter: Alleluia! Jesus is risen.Children: Jesus is risen. Alleluia!

Help children exchange the greeting with one another.

Then show children Malcah Zeldis’s painting A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna Pavlova attached to this document. This vibrant poster shows diverse figures gathered in a parklike setting.

Discuss:◆ What are these friends doing?◆ How do you think these friends feel today? Why?◆ Who are our friends?◆ What can we do with our friends?◆ How do we feel when we are with our friends?

Gospel Story (5-10 minutes)The Gardener and the VineStory Focus: A real vine would make an ideal visual focus for today’s story. As an alternative you could show gardening tools to the children. Let children handle the tools and talk about how they are used before telling today’s story.

A gardener takes care of his vine. He gives the vine water and food. He helps the vine see the sun. He makes sure the vine has plenty of space to grow.

The vine grows strong. The vine has many branches with fresh green leaves. The vine can have bright flowers now and good fruit.

As the gardener takes care of the vine, so God takes care of us.

God helps us grow big and strong. God brings us together with many friends. God brings us very close to each other and to Jesus.

We can do so much with the help of our friends! We can do so much more with the help of Jesus!

God takes good care of us.

After the storyYou can invite children to water the plant or you can make the gardening tools available for free play.

Story-Review Game (5-15 minutes)Friendship MatchBefore the session cut out two paper dolls from each color, allowing one doll for each child. You will find a simple Doll Pattern attached to this document.

In the session put the paper dolls into a bag. Spread the blanket in the middle of the room.

Directions to the children:◆ Draw a paper doll from the bag.◆ Find a friend who has the same color doll that you do.◆ With your friend, sit on the blanket.◆ When all the children are sitting, help them gather

into a group hug. Say:◆ Thank you, God, for friends!

Praying Together (5 minutes)Gather children in the area used as a prayer corner throughout Lent. Invite the children to decorate the prayer corner for Easter. (Although the liturgical color for Easter is white, children are more likely to perceive an assortment of brightly colored cloths as festive.)

Help the children include an open Bible and candles in the prayer corner. Explain that during this time of the year—Easter time—we use in our prayer the word, alleluia, which means “Praise God!”

Encourage children to join you in calling out alleluia several times. Pray:◆ Thank you, God, for giving Jesus new life. Alleluia!◆ Thank you, Jesus, for being our friend and for being

with us today. Alleluia!◆ Thank you, God, for each friend here. (Name each

child. All respond with “alleluia” after each name.)◆ Thank you, God, for so many things... (Encourage

children to offer their own thanksgivings. Help children respond to each prayer by calling out alleluia!)

Note: Distribute this week’s Discover the Good News to children before they leave, or e-mail it to their parents after the session.

Page 3: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

enhance your core

sessio

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ith enrich

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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 5th Sunday of Easter – B

Discover the Good News (5-10 minutes)In today’s Discover the Good News you’ll find a discussion starter about friends. Ask children:◆ What do friends like to do together?

Children are also invited to imagine what they would like to do with their friend Jesus. Children can act out their answers or you can invite them to draw pictures of themselves with Jesus.

If you choose the drawing activity, set out paper and crayons. Explain:◆ Jesus says he is always with us.◆ Can you draw a picture of yourself with Jesus?

Invite volunteers to share their finished pictures.

Singing Together (5-10 minutes)From Singing the Good News you and the children can sing together:◆ “Just Imagine” (p. 38 in the songbook)◆ “God’s Alive” (p. 40 in the songbook; also available

as an MP3)◆ “Jesus Says to Us” (p. 46 of the songbook; also

available as an MP3)

Note: To access both the songbook and its attached MP3 files, open your Spring-B Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Singing the Good News.

Free Play (10-20 minutes)RelationshipsChildren explore relationships during imaginative play.

Since today’s session focuses on relationships, make a center where children can experiment with imaginary relationships. Allow two or three children at a time to use the center.

Do not reinforce racist attitudes by providing only blond baby dolls for the children. Some churches provide a collection of dolls that model different ages, sexes, races and social roles, but this can be a costly option.

Another option is to provide a collection of stuffed toy animals instead of dolls. Many children’s book writers use animal protagonists for precisely this reason: animals are free of limiting racial and social characteristics.

A third option is to use simple handmade dolls, such as handkerchief dolls. You can find directions for making these dolls in the session for the 5th Sunday of Lent.

Book Corner (10-15 minutes)FriendshipWe recommend one or more of the following children’s books on friendship to support today’s session:◆ Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel. (New

York: Harper and Row, 1970). Frog and Toad are two of the most endearing friends to grace children’s literature. These are short, simple stories.

◆ Stevie by John Steptoe. (New York: Harper and Row, 1969). An African-American boy resents the intrusion of a young visitor, but misses him when he leaves.

◆ Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. (New York: Harper and Row, 1942). This beloved children’s book even draws on Jesus’ imagery from today’s gospel: the loving mother who will not lose her runaway son is compared to a gardener.

◆ A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives Sophie and her parents up the wall until Sophie finds a way to turn the tables on Wendell—and become his friend, too.

You might use floor cushions or carpet squares to set up a comfortable book corner. Read one or more books aloud to the children, taking time to show the pictures and to listen to comments and stories that the books inspire in the children.

Page 4: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

enhance your core

sessio

n w

ith enrich

me

nt a

ctivities

enrichment

4

© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 5th Sunday of Easter – B

Leader ExpectationsIn the Discover activities above, we suggest

inviting children to draw pictures of themselves with Jesus. Some of the children will enjoy working with this concrete suggestion. Other children will want to work on their favorite drawing of the moment. Leaders can feel disappointment when planned activities produce disparate results. We need to realize that children are often much less concerned with our “themes” and more with their own needs and interests.

“But what are they learning?” asks one parent. When we give children permission to act on their own ideas, they are learning that religious education is an environment that welcomes them, just as they are today. There is no more important way to model to young children the most important lesson they need to learn about God: that God loves and welcomes them just as they are, now and always.

Young Children and the Gospel

In today’s gospel, Jesus uses the metaphor of a gardener and vine to assert the unity of God, Jesus and the Church.

We include Jesus’ images in our story, but the focus of our session for preschoolers and kindergartners is thankfulness for all the friends we have in Jesus.

Where You’ll Find Everything Else

◆ Attached to this Session Plan you will find:— Backgrounds and reflections for today’s

readings, titled More about Today’s Scriptures.— A shareable story script of today’s Gospel Story:

The Gardener and the Vine.— An optional Mass Play activity.— A Doll Pattern for use in today’s Friendship

Match activity.— Zeldis’s A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna

Pavlova, to be used in today’s Getting Started.— This week’s At Home with the Good News, to

distribute or email to group members after the session.

◆ Open your Spring-B Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Seasonal Articles to find:— Information on Spring-B’s Models of the Faith.— For catechists and/or families, an article titled

The Gospel According to John.— For catechists and/or families, an article titled

The Passover: Old and New.

Page 5: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

5

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form

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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 5th Sunday of Easter – B

More about Today ScripturesToday’s readings reveal what it means to live in and through Jesus. Paul boldly witnesses to his new-found faith in Christ, while the Church experiences peaceful growth. The author of 1 John reveals that true faith becomes visible through the obedience of active love. Jesus explains that, like branches connected to a vine, we abide with him and experience great fruitfulness.

Acts 9:26-31Luke tells of Saul’s experiences in the months following his conversion. Because of Saul’s earlier zealous and cruel persecution of the disciples, the believers suspected him of deception and entrapment. Barnabas, a member of the Christian community, trusted Saul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus and introduced

Saul to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem.

Because of a plot on Saul’s life, the disciples sent Saul away where he would remain for several years until Barnabas again drew him into active ministry, this time to the Gentiles.

In verse 31, Luke briefly reports on the steady growth of the Church, which enjoyed a respite from persecution since Saul had become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:18-24This passage discusses the marks of the life of God’s children, the life of love. This love is the sign that Christians have passed from death to life because they embody what is God’s essential quality.

True love for one another is manifested in action, modeled upon the experience of Jesus’ love for us. It is shown forth as self-sacrifice, both at the heroic level and in the daily exercise of generosity. Deeds, not devout protestations or guilty feelings, reveal our true standing before God, who knows us better than we know ourselves.

Through Jesus we have “boldness before God” (v. 21). When our hearts are aligned with Jesus’ heart and we keep his commandments, God gives us what we need. The word translated boldness (Greek, parrāsia) is related

to the right of a Greek citizen to speak freely before the assembly. In God’s presence we can be bold and confident because we are assured of God’s love for us. Thus John joins together both faith and works, belief and obedience, union with God and love of others.

John 15:1-8Chapter 15, the discourse on the vine and the branches, contains the last of the great “I am” discourses in the Gospel of John. These discourses parallel in function the synoptic gospels’ parables of the kingdom.

Jesus, as Son, the representative of Israel, is “the true vine” (v. 1) who fulfills the calling of Israel. The Father is the vinegrower who “prunes” (v. 2, “trims clean”) the branches. Jesus reassures the disciples that they are already “pruned” (v. 3, translated “cleansed” in the NRSV) by his word.

For John, Christian life is an active and committed life. There cannot be a living, unproductive branch. Those who do not remain, or abide, are taken away. Those who do abide through prayer bear fruit and show themselves as Jesus’ disciples.

ReflectionTo stroll through a peach orchard in August reveals what Jesus describes in today’s gospel. The fragrance, the colors of sunset on the round globes, the sense of abundance, finally the taste: sweet juices oozing from mouth to elbows. It’s so sensual it’s not seemly in church—let alone the Bible!

Jesus has no delusions about our worth, even our best efforts: “apart from me you can do nothing” (15:5). Deep down, we suspect we need help; Jesus confirms that intuition. But he can make us as fruitful as Anne Porter describes in “Another Sarah”:

A wave of living sweetnessA nation of white petalsA dynasty of apples.

Or peaches. Hidden in the wonderful, organic vine-and-branches metaphor is a caution: don’t get detached from the vine. We can be so caught up in our charitable works, our marvelous endeavors or our efforts to save the world, we overlook the source of our energy. Since we are speaking metaphorically anyway, another poet (Denise Levertov) reminds us—the branches—how to stay connected with the vine:

“John teaches how we live in Christ and Christ lives in us. Just as the trunk of the vine gives its natural properties to each of the branches, so, by bestowing the Holy Spirit, Christ gives Christians a certain kinship with himself.”

—St. Cyril of Alexandria

Page 6: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

helps for catechistsbackground in

form

atio

n and bonus m

ate

rials

6

© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 5th Sunday of Easter – B

so would I learn to attainfreefall, and floatinto Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,knowing no effort earnsthat all-surrounding grace.

The Scriptures and the CatechismToday we recall that our discipleship is characterized by love. Love describes our attempt to respond fully to God with our life (CCC, #1812–13, 1822–29, 2093–94). Through being joined by baptism into the Christian community, we are bonded in love with Jesus and his life courses through us. Jesus is the vine; we are the branches that share his life. To share this life is what holiness is all about. As Christians we are called to holiness, which means living out our loving rela-tionship with God (CCC, #825, 2012–16, 2028–29).

Praying with MusicMusic is the connecting point to a thousand memories and emotions. We associate music with the places we have been, the times we have experienced and the people in our lives.

Music is all around us. There is no denying the ef-fectiveness of music, so why not use it to affect our emotions and enhance our personal environment when we pray? Do we ever think about how music can help us to grow closer to God, or even if music can be a form of prayer?

Resonances in Our SoulMusic affects our whole person—mind and body, spirit and emotion. It moves us by going straight to our heart. When music and song come though our ears into our hearts, they set up a kind of vibration or resonance that can give us pleasure, set us on edge, calm our aching and anxious hearts, or set our toes to tapping. Music can touch people profoundly on levels that words alone cannot. So why not use music to shape our spirituality?

Let us make music the basis of our prayer by listening to it, singing along with it, using it as starting point for praise, thanks, lament, etc. as the ancient biblical authors did in the psalms. There is no question that it can help us to shape our environment effectively and can be changed to suit or influence the moods of our lives—sadness, joy, consolation, gratitude, celebration,

etc.—through its beauty, harmony, shared community with others when we join our voices to theirs in song.

Instrumental MusicWe need different types of music for various times and styles of prayer. Sometimes we need peaceful music just to sit and relax in the stillness of God’s presence and to help focus on Jesus and wait on him without getting distracted by all the things of this world. Worship music can help, but often there are so many words or catchy melodies that distract us when we are trying to be in God’s presence.

Hymns or SongsMost sacred songs and hymns were not written to be background music but to be sung aloud with others. Sacred music is not just an addition that frames the liturgy and makes it more pleasing, but an important means of active participation in worship whether at home or at church.

The community dimension of singing is important because it connects the group into a into a unified, worshiping assembly—one voice lifted in song to the Lord. As you use music for your personal, household or small group prayer, let the music take you to the One to whom you are singing. Remember the words of St. Augustine, “One who sings, prays twice.”

The World of the BibleHellenistsHellenists (derived from the Greek word for Greece, Hellas) were those persons from other nations who spoke Greek and were more receptive to the influence of Greek customs and culture.

Though the Romans ruled the Mediterranean nations, Greek literature and ideas formed the basis for education, and the Greek language was used for international communication and business. Thus to be educated often meant to be able to speak and read Greek (like St. Paul and the other New Testament authors who all wrote in Greek).

For Jews, Hellenism posed a threat because its education was rooted in religious beliefs and social values that were not compatible with the Jewish belief that Yahweh was the one and only God (monotheism).

Page 7: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

Doll Pattern

PK-SB-EA05-DL-A-Doll Pattern

©2011 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918

Page 8: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

Spring • Year B

©2015 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

More about Today’s Scriptures5th Sunday of Easter

00-SB-EA05-SB-C-More about Today_s Scriptures

Today’s readings reveal what it means to live in and through Jesus. Paul boldly witnesses to his new-found faith in Christ, while the Church experiences peaceful growth. The author of 1 John reveals that true faith becomes visible through the obedience of active love. Jesus explains that, like branches connected to a vine, we abide with him and experience great fruitfulness.

Acts 9:26-31

Luke tells of Saul’s experiences in the months following his conversion. Because of Saul’s

earlier zealous and cruel persecution of the disciples, the believers suspected him of deception and entrapment. Barnabas, a member of the Christian community, trusted Saul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus and

introduced Saul to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem.

Because of a plot on Saul’s life, the disciples sent Saul away where he would remain for several years until Barnabas again drew him into active ministry, this time to the Gentiles.

In verse 31, Luke briefly reports on the steady growth of the Church, which enjoyed a respite from persecution since Saul had become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:18-24

This passage discusses the marks of the life of God’s children, the life of love. This love is the sign that Christians have passed from death to life because they embody what is God’s essential quality.

True love for one another is manifested in action, modeled upon the experience of Jesus’ love for us. It is shown forth as self-sacrifice, both at the heroic level and in the daily exercise of generosity. Deeds, not devout protesta-tions or guilty feelings, reveal our true standing before God, who knows us better than we know ourselves.

Through Jesus we have “boldness before God” (v. 21). When our hearts are aligned with Jesus’ heart and we keep his commandments, God gives us what we need. The word translated boldness (Greek, parrāsia) is related to the right of a Greek citizen to speak freely before the assembly. In God’s presence we can be bold and confident because we are assured of God’s love for us. Thus John joins together both faith and works, belief and obedience, union with God and love of others.

John 15:1-8

Chapter 15, the discourse on the vine and the branches, contains the last of the great “I am” discourses in the Gospel of John. These discourses parallel in function the synoptic gospels’ parables of the kingdom.

Jesus, as Son, the representative of Israel, is “the true vine” (v. 1) who fulfills the calling of Israel. The Father is the vinegrower who “prunes” (v. 2, “trims clean”) the branches. Jesus reassures

“John teaches how we live in Christ and Christ lives in us. Just as the trunk of the vine gives its natural properties to each of the branches, so, by bestowing the Holy Spirit, Christ gives Christians a certain kinship with himself.”

—St. Cyril of Alexandria

Page 9: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

Spring • Year B

©2015 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

00-SB-EA05-SB-C-More about Today_s Scriptures

More about Today’s Scriptures5th Sunday of Easter

the disciples that they are already “pruned” (v. 3, translated “cleansed” in the NRSV) by his word.

For John, Christian life is an active and committed life. There cannot be a living, un-productive branch. Those who do not remain, or abide, are taken away. Those who do abide through prayer bear fruit and show themselves as Jesus’ disciples.

ReflectionFew situations are as terrifying as a child lost without a parent or a helpless individual overwhelmed by the complexities of the judicial system. So Jesus chooses his metaphors in today’s gospel wisely: he will never leave us orphaned, nor undefended in court. Even our bumbling prayers will be supplemented by his: “I will ask the Father…” (14:16).

The way that Jesus helped people on earth—the distraught mother, the paralyzed man, the widow of Naim, the comatose daughter of Jairus, the grieving sisters of Lazarus—continues now. All his powers of healing and change become ours when we act in his name.

Whatever situation terrifies us most, whether it’s public speaking, war, surgery, a criminal trial or a social event, loses its raw edge when a friend accompanies us. If that is true on a human level, how much more consoling it is to know that Jesus is with us in these tough situations.

Many people object to this passage, knowing that prayers of petition aren’t always answered the way we’d like. Jesus here makes an even larger promise: no matter how events ensue, he remains with us. In him, we have attentive parent, skilled advocate and articulate friend.

Page 10: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

©2015 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Spring • Year BGospel Story:

The Gardener and the Vine

Story Focus: A real vine would make an ideal visual focus for today’s story. As an alternative you could show gardening tools to the children. Let children handle the tools and talk about how they are used before telling today’s story.

A gardener takes care of his vine.

He gives the vine water and food. He helps the vine see the sun. He makes sure the vine has plenty of space to grow.

The vine grows strong. The vine has many branches with fresh green leaves. The vine can have bright flowers now and good fruit.

As the gardener takes care of the vine, so God takes care of us.

God helps us grow big and strong. God brings us together with many friends. God brings us very close to each other and to Jesus.

We can do so much with the help of our friends! We can do so much more with the help of Jesus!

God takes good care of us.

After the story you can invite children to water the plant or you can make the gardening tools available for free play.

PK-SB-EA05-DL-C-Gospel Story_The Gardener and the Vine

Page 11: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

Living the Good News: Zeldis’s A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna Pavlova Zeldis, Malcah. A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna Pavlova © 2008 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo Credit: Malcah Zeldis / Art Resource, NY

Page 12: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives
Page 13: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives
Page 14: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

Living the Good News: Zeldis’s A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna Pavlova Zeldis, Malcah. A Peaceable Kingdom with Anna Pavlova © 2008 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo Credit: Malcah Zeldis / Art Resource, NY

Page 15: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives
Page 16: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

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groups did in

their session

s. It gives parents

a specific startin

g point for a con

versation

about w

hat th

eir children

learned or

accomplish

ed. For parents w

ho are n

ew to

an experien

tial, lectionary-based approach

, it serves as an

introdu

ction th

at will

increase th

eir familiarity.

•P

rayerStarter

Th

ese can be u

sed at hom

e, after a meal,

at bedtime or w

hen

ever a family gath

ers to pray togeth

er. On

e person can

serve as th

e leader, reading alou

d the w

ords of the

prayer or the prom

pt that in

vites others to

participate.

•Parentin

gTip

Health

y parentin

g is a skill learned over

time. T

hese su

ggestions give paren

ts con

crete ideas for cherish

ing th

eir children

an

d makin

g the C

hristian

message th

eir w

ay of life at hom

e.

How

to U

se This R

esource

Brin

gin

g th

e Sunday R

eadin

gs to

Your Fa

mily

Page 17: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

•FamilyD

iscussionQ

uestion

In th

is section appears a qu

estion based on

th

e gospel. Since m

ost families don’t h

ave lon

g, un

interru

pted time for discu

ssion,

this qu

estion can

come u

p in th

e car after ch

urch

, durin

g the w

ait at the drive-in

ban

k or fast food restauran

t, or at bedtime.

Paren

ts can adapt it to th

e ages and

interests of th

eir children

.

•GospelR

eflection

T

his m

editation on

the gospel lin

ks Jesus’

story and ou

r daily lives. People w

ho pray

over the gospels regu

larly can begin

to m

ake them

the tem

plate for the w

ay they

live. Th

us, th

ey can tran

sform th

e message

from w

ords proclaimed in

chu

rch to valu

es en

shrin

ed in th

e heart.

Wh

ile some fam

ilies may h

ave time for

extended refl

ection on

the readin

gs and

utilize all th

e sections of th

e page, others m

ay h

ave time for on

ly a quick Fam

ily Discu

ssion

Qu

estion or P

arentin

g Tip. A

ll parents w

ill wan

t to see w

hat th

eir children

did in th

eir session so

they can

discuss it w

ith th

em afterw

ards.

Reprodu

ce the pages an

d arrange a system

of distribu

tion so th

at they can

be sent h

ome w

ith

the oldest or you

ngest ch

ild in a fam

ily, the

chu

rch n

ewsletter or an

y regular bu

lletin.

WheretoU

seThisR

esourceT

his resou

rce may be h

elpful in

a variety of settin

gs, and especially for:

• C

hristian

Edu

cation settin

gs wh

ere parent

involvem

ent is cru

cial•

Intergen

erational edu

cational settin

gs•

Schools w

ith den

omin

ational spon

sorship

wh

o wan

t to involve fam

ilies more

Brin

gin

g th

e Sunday R

eadin

gs to

Your Fa

mily

Page 18: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

Today’s readings reveal what it means to live in and through Jesus. In Acts 9:26-31, Paul boldly witnesses to his new-found faith in Christ, while the Church experiences peaceful growth. The 1 John 3:18-24 passage reveals that true faith

becomes visible through the obedience of active love. In John 15:1-8, Jesus explains that, like branches connected to a vine, we abide with him and experience great fruitfulness.

The images of gardener and vine were woven into the

Preschool/Kindergarten session, which emphasized

thankfulness for all the friends the children have

in Jesus. Activities included talking about friends,

hearing today’s story and playing a matching game

based on it. They also made spatter prints and played

with dolls or stuffed animals.

Primary (Grades 1-3) children were invited to stay

close to God, close to Jesus and close to one another.

Activities included sharing a snack of grapes or

raisins, discussing friendship and making and playing

a game with paper people. For the Easter party,

children decorated party goods, played games and

sang songs.

Intermediate (Grades 4-6) participants explored

Jesus’ metaphor of the vine and made collage pictures

of themselves as plants. They discussed Jesus’ use of

the vine metaphor, then made clay pendants that

remind them of Jesus’ admonition to remain united

to Jesus and to one another. Participants continued a

banner-making project that explores the Mass.

Fifth Sunday of Easter • Year B

Page 19: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

© 2015 Morehouse Education Resources. All rights reserved. www.livingthegoodnews.com • 1-800-242-1918 • Permission is hereby granted to reproduce these pages for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Take a walk together outdoors, through the neighborhood or a local park. Notice the beauty of spring and if possible, find some vines and branches that show how closely Jesus identified with his followers.

To stroll through a peach orchard in August reveals what Jesus describes in today’s gospel. The fragrance, the colors of sunset on the round globes, the sense of abundance, finally the taste: sweet juices oozing from mouth to elbows. It’s so sensual it’s not seemly in church—let alone the Bible!

Jesus has no delusions about our worth, even our best efforts: “apart from me you can do nothing” (15:5). Deep down, we suspect we need help; Jesus confirms that intuition. But he can make us as fruitful as Anne Porter describes in “Another Sarah”:

A wave of living sweetness A nation of white petals A dynasty of apples.

Or peaches. Hidden in the wonderful, organic vine-and-branches metaphor is a caution: don’t get detached from the vine. We can be so caught up in our charitable works, our marvelous endeavors or our efforts to save the world, we overlook the source of our energy.

Choose a special glass for the family blessing cup. Fill it with juice, pass it around the table before a meal and invite each person to say a spontaneous prayer before taking a sip.

The reading from Acts gives parents hope. Once Christians were terrified of

Paul, but he becomes one of their greatest saints. This can also be true of the child who

seems impossible now: selfish, surly, obstinate. Yet dramatic change is possible with God. Ask Paul

for help with the difficult child.

How close are branches to a vine? When do you feel that close to Jesus? to God?

Page 20: Scripture Abide and Obey - St. John the Evangelist ... · A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. (New York: Mulberry Books, 1995). In this hilarious story, energetic Wendell drives

©2015 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Spring • Year B

We share the peace of Jesus.Activity Soundtrack: Play “I Am the True Vine.” Arvo Pärt developed his modern sacred music after long study of medieval chant styles. The result is a purity of tone and rhythm that has been likened to the ringing of bells. Here the music embodies the gospel text from John in which Jesus calls himself the true vine.

Note: Attached to your session plan you’ll find a poster you can use as a focal point for the Mass Play activities of Spring B. You can also use the song “Jesus Says to Us” from Singing the Good News with this activity.

We continue a series of activities designed to encourage preschoolers and kindergartners to explore the Mass. This week’s focus is:

We share the peace of Jesus.

Ask:•What do you think peace looks like? feels like? sounds like?

You may invite the children to finger paint while you play the music suggested above. If so, give each child a sheet of finger paint paper. Help the children use sponges to saturate the paper with water.

Ask each child to choose one color of finger paint. Put a dollop of the chosen color on the child’s paper. Encourage children to experiment with sweeps and swirls of color as the music plays.

After cleanup, explain:• Jesus wants us to know God’s peace.• Jesus also wants us to help bring peace to the whole world.•When we come together to share bread and wine, we call this time together the Mass.•The Mass is a special meal we share to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. •During the Mass, we share the peace that Jesus gives us with one another.

Invite children to use words and gestures from the eucharistic liturgy to exchange the Peace with one another.

PK-SB-EA05-DL-C-Mass Play

Mass Play