ackground
In Sunday’s gospel it is still Easter evening. Two of Jesus’ followers have left Jerusalem and are walking toward the town of Emmaus. They meet a stranger who walks along with them. When the conversation turns to the events in Jerusalem, the stranger explains how the Scriptures show that anyone coming in God’s name would have to suffer at the hands of humanity. The stranger’s words rekindle the hope of the disciples that Jesus might be the Messiah God had promised. But it is not until the stranger eats with them and blesses the bread they share that the disciples realize it is Jesus they have been with all along.
Connecting to Scripture
This lesson builds helps children to recognize that they also know Jesus. They know his stories, they are in his presence at mass, and they make him present to their friends and families through loving actions. The children will recognize that we share when we meet with our friends.
Parents: remember, your child loves to pray within the experience of family. We encourage you to pray every day as a family. Have your child lead a prayer before a meal today or with you before bed.
Gathering Prayer
Jesus, you liked to eat meals with your friends and talk with them. Thank you for giving us friends and for being our friend. AMEN.
Kids Gospel and Doctrine
Sunday Gospel – Jesus’ friends know him
Tow of Jesus’ followers were walking from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus (a little village outside Jerusalem). It was the Sunday after Jesus’ death. The one named Cleopas asked “Why did Jesus have to die?”
The other follower said “He could have made our nation great again.”
Jesus joined them but they didn’t recognize him. He asked them, “What is wrong?”
Cleopas said “Don’t you now what happened in Jerusalem?”
The other follower explained: “They crucified Jesus. We had hoped he would save Israel.”
Cleopas said, “We have learned that his body has been taken from the tomb.”
The stranger asked them, ‘Don’t you know that these things had to happen?”
Then the stranger explained the Scriptures that said the Messiah would suffer before receiving glory.
They listened to the stranger until they came to Emmaus. They invited him to stay with them. At the meal, Jesus took break, blessed it, and gave it to them. When Jesus did this, they recognized him. But Jesus vanished!
Cleopas said, “That was Jesus!”
The other follower said: “My heart felt on fire when he explained the holy writings.”
They headed right back to Jerusalem with their news. Some of Jesus’ other followers told them:
“Jesus has been raised up! He appeared to Simon Peter.”
Activity – Pretend Play
Jesus had a meal with friends! We all like to share a meal with our family and friends!
Have your child plan a special (pretend) meal – or plan a real meal for your family!
Reinforce: we share Jesus when we meet with friends!!!
Background
On Easter Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. This is the core of the Christian faith. Jesus is raised to a new life by his loving Father!
Connecting to Scripture
This lesson builds on children’s appreciation of the beauty around them in nature and leads them to praise God for new life in a world of new spring life.
Parents: talk with your child about the meaning of an egg as an Easter symbol. Just as new life is hidden inside the egg, so Jesus was hidden inside the tomb after he died. Jesus broke out of the tomb when he rose from the dead on Easter.
Gathering Prayer
Dear God, help me to listen today. I want to know you. Fill us with new life just as you raised Jesus to new life. AMEN
Kids Gospel and Doctrine
Sunday Gospel – Jesus is Risen! (Repeat from Easter Sunday to reinforce the message)
Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb. It was still dark. She said “Someone has rolled the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. Jesus’ body is gone!”
Mary ran back to Jerusalem. She said “Peter! John! Someone has taken Jesus from the tomb. We don’t know where they put him.”
Peter and John ran back to the tomb with Mary. John was faster than Peter and got there first. He looked in the tomb but didn’t go inside. He said, “I see the cloths that were wrapped around Jesus’ body.”
When Peter got there, he went into the tomb. He said “I see the cloth that covered Jesus’ head. It is rolled up and in a different place than the other cloths. But Jesus is not here.”
Then John went into the tomb with Peter. John said, “I believe that Jesus is risen!”
Peter and John went back to Jerusalem, but Mary Magdalene stayed in the garden. She was crying. She looked into the tomb again. This time, she saw two angels sitting where Jesus’ body had been. The angels asked her, “Why are you crying?”
Mary told them “They have taken Jesus away. I don’t know where they put him”
Then Mary turned and saw Jesus, but she thought he was the gardener.
Jesus asked her: “Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Then Jesus said “Mary!”
When Jesus called Mary by name, she knew that he was Jesus. She said “Jesus, teacher!”
Jesus told her, “Go and tell my followers that I am returning to my Father.”
Mary ran to Jerusalem and told the disciples:
I have seen Jesus! He wants you to know that he is returning to the Father.”
Activity – Pretend Play
Ask your child to show with their faces and bodies:
Catholic Kids “Homily” for the 2nd Sunday of Easter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqxfRBYQUPA
Live the Gospel
Have your child look outside for all of the signs of the new life of spring around them. Make a list or have them draw pictures of what they see! Suggestions: baby birds, blossoms on the tree, lady bugs, caterpillars, green grass, warm sun, bunnies, flowers, etc.
Easter Song: Jesus is Alive! Have them get up and dance just like we do in class!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzxN0D3voo0&list=PLh_ZCcaNyX7f4BwV4-n7pWv-5r73jOM5M
Closing Prayer:
God, we thank you for the new life you gave Jesus and for the new life in us. Thank you for all the signs of new life we can see. Help us to grow into your good friends. AMEN
Hello! We sure do miss seeing your faces! Here is an Easter lesson for you to enjoy with your family.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ! EASTER!! There is no greater story of God’s power and love, than the story of Easter: The day that the Lord, Jesus Christ, was raised from the dead! It is an unparalleled event in human history and is central to the core beliefs of Christianity. Be sure to pray and prepare your heart to tell the story of the first Easter. The children will need to know this story forever
To read over John 20:1-18. (You may also want to review the passages in the other gospels regarding the events at the Empty Tomb, for example Luke 24:1-12.)
You will Need: Paper plates (2 for each child), paper cups, scissors, and markers
Major point of the lesson:
Jesus had died on the cross and had been buried in a tomb That Sunday some women came to visit His tomb The tomb was empty! An angel said that Jesus was alive! Mary Magdalene saw Jesus alive! Jesus is alive! Reference Verses: John 20:1-18
Lesson: The Empty Tomb
One day Jesus died on the cross and was buried in a tomb.
• What’s a tomb? (Wait for answers. Listen carefully. Then give this answer if it hasn’t been described already. A tomb is like what we usually call a grave. It is where they bury a person’s body after he/she dies. A tomb is usually a carved out place in the side of a hill and they often roll a stone in front of to close it.)
• Tombs can be opened and closed by rolling the stone away and by putting it back.
• The stones in front of tombs are very heavy and they are hard to roll away!
That Sunday some women came to visit His tomb
• Often, when people die, their friends and family go to visit the grave. (Sometimes they pray, or weep, or bring flowers)
• Jesus had friends and family who missed Him • On the Sunday after He died some women, who were friends and family members, came to visit Jesus’ tomb.
• They came early in the morning, just after the sun was up
The tomb was empty!
• When they arrived, they found that the tomb was empty!
• The stone had been rolled away!
• They were so surprised!
• They expected to find Jesus’ body there
• But it wasn’t there!! Where was it??? They didn’t know!
An angel said that Jesus was alive!
• A woman named Mary Magdalene stood in front of the tomb
• She was crying! Why do you think she was crying? (She was upset. First Jesus had died and now His body was missing!)
• She looked again in the tomb. This time she saw two angels sitting there where Jesus had been.
• The angels asked her “Woman, why are you crying?”
• “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him.” Mary
Magdalene saw Jesus alive!
• Then Mary Magdalene turned around and saw Jesus standing there (but she didn’t recognize Him at first)
• “Woman, why are you crying?” He asked her.
• Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
• Then Jesus said to her “Mary.” • And then she recognized Him. She knew it was Jesus!!
Jesus is alive!
• Jesus was alive
! • Mary Magdalene ran and told the disciples: “I have seen the Lord!”
• Later that day the disciples saw Jesus too! • Forty days later, Jesus went up to heaven to be with His Father • Jesus is alive today and forever!
Let’s pray and thank God that Jesus is alive forever!
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you that Jesus came and died on the cross for us! Thank you that he was buried in the tomb. Thank you that He was raised from the dead! Thank you that Jesus is alive forever! Amen
The Empty Tomb Craft
This is a fun craft for children who are good with sharp scissors. If your students are younger, you will need to cut the paper plates for them. (It will still be fun for them! ☺)
• Cut the bottom third off of a paper plate, so that it has a long flat edge.
• OPTIONAL: On the top of the curved part of the plate write “The Tomb is Empty!” Or “Jesus is Alive!” Or “Happy Easter!”
• With a hole punch, punch a hole about 1/2 inch from the long edge in the center.
• Start at the punched hole and cut a larger hole 2-3” in diameter § (Don’t get too close to the edge!)
• Place a paper cup (or Styrofoam cup) through the hole, so that just the top of the cup sticks out from the front of the paper plate. (If the hole is not big enough to let most of the cup through, cut some tabs around it to help enlarge it a bit.)
• Stand the paper plate up on its long edge.
• From another paper plate, cut a circle about 3 inches in diameter.
• Have the children draw on the 3” circle so that it looks like a big stone.
• Roll the “stone” in front of the cup opening.
• Roll the “stone” away from the opening to see the Empty Tomb!
The Story of the Empty Tomb - Easter Skit
This is a short Easter Skit for children 4-7 year olds. It relates the events recorded in John 20:1-18 (NIV). A Narrator reads the script and the children may (or may not) repeat the dialogue
The older kids (5 year old group with Mrs. Skeldon) are very used to doing skits to act out the lesson in order to remember it better. They LOVE this part of class. Sometimes we act out the same skit multiple times with different kids playing different roles to really drive it home. Here is a simple skit for your family – enjoy!
EASTER SKIT – The Story of the Empty Tomb
NARRATOR: Jesus had died on the cross just a few days earlier. All of His family and friends were sad. After He died, He had been buried in a tomb. His family and friends missed Him very much! Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene and some other women went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away! Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she cried, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
ANGELS: Woman, why are you crying?
NARRATOR: “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
MARY: They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him.
NARRATOR: At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
JESUS: Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?
NARRATOR: Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
MARY: Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.
NARRATOR: Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
JESUS: Mary.
NARRATOR: Now Mary recognized Him. It was Jesus! He was alive! Mary Magdalene ran to tell the disciples the news: “I have seen the Lord!”
MARY: I have seen the Lord!
NARRATOR: Now all of Jesus’ friends and family were happy! EVERYONE: Jesus is Alive! Happy Easter!
THE END
Happy Easter to all of our preschool friends! We miss you very much and can’t wait to see you again! Have a wonderful Easter with your family. God bless you all.
Love,
Mrs. Skeldon, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Fahrendorf
Dear All Saints Preschool Class & Families,
We miss seeing your joyful faces!
This is one of our favorite lessons of the year: Palm Sunday.
In past years, for Palm Sunday, we have gathered with palms and processed into the church, welcoming the priests. This is how we remember how Jesus was welcomed by the crowds as he entered Jerusalem.
For our craft, you can use green paper (or use white paper and color it green). Trace your hands and cut out the outline of your hands on the paper. Tape the green hands onto a twig or popsicle stick so that the fingers extend from the top and can wave in the wind. Welcome Jesus into Jerusalem with your waving palm!
https://www.catholicicing.com/palm-sunday-crafts-and-ideas-for-kids/
There are so many rich traditions this week that help us draw closer to Jesus. Talk to your families about their favorite Holy week tradition.
May God protect each and every one of you and your families with His Light and Grace. May you have a blessed Holy week with your families!
Happy early Easter!
Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Skeldon & Mrs. Fahrendorf