Page 6 - TIJ ~ Confirmation - First Eucharist

LESSON Jesus Gathers People Together 5Pray TogetherOpening Prayer (10 minutes) Gather the children in a circlearound the displayed Bible. Sing “Zacchaeus.”CHORUSJesus loves us whether we’re short or tall. He sees the good, the good inside us all. His love for us helps me to seeThat I’m precious ’cause God made me Even if I choose to sin or stray.For I’m God’s child.He helps me nd my way. For I’m God’s child.He helps me nd my way. © 2013 John BurlandOptional: If the children brought the ingredients for making bread for the next session, collect them now. Use the following simple ritual as the ingredients are gathered.Leader: God has given us many gifts. We have been given wheat that will be changed into our so we can make bread. We have been given grapes that will be changed into juice and wine. We share some of God’s gifts today.Child: I brought some ___________ for our bread. (Each child in turn will use this statement as the ingredients are collected.)All: We are grateful for this gift.Pray:We are gathered here today to listento stories about Jesus. These storiestell about Jesus sharing food with his followers. We are preparing to share Jesus’ special meal at Mass. Open our ears, Jesus. Help us to understand how your followers were changed when they shared food with you. We know that we, too, will be changed when weshare the Eucharist. Amen.Lesson ObjectivesIn this lesson the children will:• listen to, explore, tell, and dramatize how eating with Jesus changed Zacchaeus.• dramatize the story of Jesus multiplying ve loaves and two sh to feed more than 5,000 people.• appreciate eating together as a time of remembering and sharing.• participate in a prayer service.Lesson OverviewJesus eats with many people in the Gospels. This lesson explores two of these meals. Both change the people who eat with Jesus.Before Jesus eats with Zacchaeus, the tax collector overcharges people and makes himself rich. But talk about Jesus so fascinates this short man that he climbs a tree to see Jesus going by. His action leads Jesus to invite himself to dinner at Zacchaeus’ house. Eating with Jesus makes Zacchaeus want to be like him. Zacchaeus restores half of his wealth to the poor.Together in Jesus presents the story of the multiplication of the loaves and shes as a story in which Jesus gives his disciples an example. He wants them to nourish all who come to them, even crowds. He promises abundant nourishment.In the miracle story Jesus takes the loaves, thanks God for them, and gives them to the gathered people. These are like the actions the priest does at every Eucharist, the celebration in which we gather today to eat with Jesus.Lesson Preparation and Materials• You will need a Bible; locate the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10), and have the Bible open to that page.• Have available a loaf of bread that can be broken into pieces. You will also need to have grape juice and enough cups for each child to have one.• Write on newsprint or chalkboard the children’s response to be used in the prayer ritual: Blessed are you, God. You give us bread to eat (on one sheet of newsprint or one section of the chalkboard). Blessed are you, God. You give us juice to drink (on another sheet of newsprint or another section of the chalkboard).• Make copies of Prayer Ritual 5, “Thanking God for Bread and Wine” (page 43), one for each child.• Print the words of the gathering song on newsprint.• Have some wheat stalks and grapes available to be used during the prayer ritual.• Have a large bowl to collect the ingredients for making bread.38 l Together in Jesus: Confirmation/First Eucharist