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Jesus is risen! Alleluia! Today, Christians around the world celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who defeated death to give us eternal life with him. Let’s join the angels and saints in Heaven to give glory to the Risen Lord, who is bigger and stronger than death and who is with us now and until the end of time.
At the beginning of April 2020 near the beginning of the pandemic, nearly 250 children from the French Federation of Pueri Cantores (Children Singers) came together virtually for a recorded performance the Alleluia Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.” Find it here.
May we all pray (sing) along with these words from the chorus:
“For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to online resources.
Videos of Sunday’s Gospel
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
Easter Sunday
Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
Sunday Gospel Cartoon Reading and Lesson
Holy Heroes
God’s Story: Easter
2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy
Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
Sunday Gospel Cartoon Reading and Lesson
John 20:19–31
Thomas Believes
Holy Heroes
Divine Mercy Sunday Explained
What Is Divine Mercy Sunday?
Divine Mercy Sunday (Second Sunday of Easter)
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is risen!
This Seeds lesson builds on children’s appreciation of the beauty around them in nature and leads them to praise God for setting them in such a world of new spring life. You will need crayons and a Church Year calendar.
This lesson includes the Gospels for Easter Sunday and the Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy). We have also added the Gospel about Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene (John 20:10–18) to serve as a bridge between the two Gospels.
If your group meets on two occasions during this time period, do the part of the lesson that has the Easter Gospel and the Easter Egg Hunt activity on page 4 on Easter Sunday. On the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy), review the Gospel with Creative Drama and concentrate on the Signs of New Life activity on pages 2–3.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Easter Sunday
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi: Easter Sunday
Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole: Easter Sunday
2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi: 2nd Sunday of Easter
Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole: 2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Promise
Lesson Theme: God raised Jesus to new life.
For this lesson, you will need scissors, crayons, a Bible, copies of the story coloring page (one per child), and Church Year calendar. Prepare in advance for the Our Easter Story Picture Show (pages 1–4) by cutting the vertical lines in the children’s picture screens. You can do this with scissors by folding the screen in half and then cutting. Another method is to use a utility knife. If you use a utility knife, be sure that the surface you’re cutting on is protected. Note that for this activity in the bilingual version of the student lesson, the children will need to join pages 4 and 1 using tape, so that page 4 is to the left and page 1 is to the right.
This lesson includes the Gospels for Easter Sunday and the Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy). We have also added the Gospel about Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene (John 20:10–18) to serve as a bridge between the two Gospels.
If you meet twice during this time period, follow the lesson plan through Creative Drama in the first session. Begin the second session with Gospel Ritual and Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter, then finish the activities. Use the Extending Activity “Church Visit” and the story coloring page for “The Easter Egg Hunt” as needed.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Easter Sunday
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi: Easter Sunday
Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole: Easter Sunday
2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi: 2nd Sunday of Easter
Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole: 2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Good News
Lesson Theme: We celebrate the joy of Jesus’ Resurrection.
For this lesson, you will need scissors, tape or glue sticks, craft sticks (four per child), drawing paper, crayons, a Church Year calendar, and materials for creating a class Easter candle. If time is limited, you may wish to prepare the Easter candle in advance. It can be simple or elaborate. Since many parishes and schools do not allow open flames in their classrooms, your candle does not need to be made of wax. A cardboard tube from a roll of gift wrap may serve the purpose well. The cross and other symbols can be added with tape or tacks. Be sure to find a way to “light” your candle. You might make a flame from cardboard, felt, paper, or pipe cleaner. Figure out in advance how you will attach it to the candle. Plan to display and “light” the Easter candle every time your class meets during the Easter season.
This lesson includes the Gospels for Easter and the Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy). We have also added the Gospel about Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene (John 20:10–18) to serve as a bridge between the two Gospels.
If you meet twice during this time period, follow the lesson plan through the Know questions following the Easter Gospel in the first session. Begin the second session with the Gospel Ritual and Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter and complete the activities that follow.
Do your best to work in the Works of Mercy section of the What the Church Believes and Teaches section of the lesson plan. It’s important to impress upon the children the significance of putting our belief in Jesus and his Resurrection into practical expressions of love for others.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus rises from the dead.
This is a double lesson for the celebration of Easter and the Second Sunday of Easter. Note that the lesson also includes the “bridge” Gospel between the readings for these two Sundays, in which Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. This is a long Gospel Reading; make sure to give time for breaks and movement. You may even wish to have the children act out the Gospel story.
Make sure to have an abundance of markers, crayons, and colored pencils for the coloring activity; this is a good pacing activity that the children can return to throughout the lesson if they finish tasks before the rest of the class. If you don’t have a stapler in your supply bin, make sure to bring one to class to bind the booklet pages together.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus rises from the dead.
This is a double lesson for the celebration of Easter and the Second Sunday of Easter. Note that the lesson also includes the “bridge” Gospel between the readings for these two Sundays, in which Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. This is a long Gospel Reading; make sure to give time for breaks and movement. You may even wish to have the young people act out the Gospel story.
You will need several additional items for this lesson, including Index cards, hangers, and card stock; a Bible for each student; rosary for each student (for praying the Divine Mercy chaplet), a large bowl of water, and flowers.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
“Easter Alleluia”
Image credit: Paul/stock.adobe.com
