So.... something things I (Gillian) am learning this fall:
1. I am pretty terrible with keeping up to date with this blog,
2. I need to do better at keeping up with this blog, and
3. Preparing for children's liturgy activities should never be done last minute.
That being said, I am currently enrolled full time in university, which really sucks away spare time like a vacuum. I'll say that's my excuse :)
In terms of the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, I felt the readings (an Gospel) were a little too full of long words and symbolism for the kids to enjoy hearing me read any of them out loud. I had thought about doing an activity based around the theme of light, and how children truly are the light of the world, but Lyse had already done an activity on that a couple of weeks earlier. I had a tray of mason jars lying around, which I had thought about making into lanterns, covered with tissue paper and Mod-Podge, but changed the activity into one that was based loosely on that Sunday's gospel.
I present...
The Piggy Bank Activity!
1. I am pretty terrible with keeping up to date with this blog,
2. I need to do better at keeping up with this blog, and
3. Preparing for children's liturgy activities should never be done last minute.
That being said, I am currently enrolled full time in university, which really sucks away spare time like a vacuum. I'll say that's my excuse :)
In terms of the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, I felt the readings (an Gospel) were a little too full of long words and symbolism for the kids to enjoy hearing me read any of them out loud. I had thought about doing an activity based around the theme of light, and how children truly are the light of the world, but Lyse had already done an activity on that a couple of weeks earlier. I had a tray of mason jars lying around, which I had thought about making into lanterns, covered with tissue paper and Mod-Podge, but changed the activity into one that was based loosely on that Sunday's gospel.
I present...
The Piggy Bank Activity!
My main comment for this activity is that, if you want to do it, do it with a slightly older group of kids - around ages 6-10. I felt a bit nervous letting some of the younger kids leave the children's liturgy with breakable glass jars.
Also, I just measured the height of each jar and cut out strips of construction paper that the kids could colour and add stickers to. I related the gospel to the kids (Mark 12: 41-44):
Also, I just measured the height of each jar and cut out strips of construction paper that the kids could colour and add stickers to. I related the gospel to the kids (Mark 12: 41-44):
"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood."
And then I asked the kids what they can give: money, clothes, love, time, and listening ears (to name a few). I think it was a bit too complex for the younger kids, and the jars just didn't really work. In preparation for next time I would buy some sort of paper piggy bank template that the kids could cut out and fold up. It would occupy the right amount of time, wouldn't be breakable, and would resonate better with the Gospel reading, as the kids didn't quite have the capacity to draw 'generosity'.