DISMISSAL: Presider dismisses the children for their own Liturgy of the Word just after the opening prayer. Children follow behind adult carrying a candle or Lectionary for Masses with Children. 

CENTERING: Help the children quiet down before listening to the readings by singing a song or listening to music. Music suggestions: “Children of the Lord” from Hi God 2 or the “Lent” selection from the Centering Music tape.
 

O God, today we celebrate our first parents. They sinned, just like we do. Help us to make good choices in our lives. Amen.

PROCLAMATION: Genesis 2:7–9, 3:1–7. This reading may be done with a narrator, Eve, Adam, and a snake puppet. Parts should be acted out and read dramatically.

RESPONSE: “Be with Me, Lord” from the Psalms and Acclamations tape or Psalm 51 from the Lectionary for Masses with Children.

ACCLAMATION: “Lenten Gospel Acclamation” from the Psalms and Acclamations tape. 

PROCLAMATION: Matthew 4:1–11. Read again in three parts, using the same people. Have the person who was the woman be Jesus in this reading and the person who was the snake be the tempter. The snake puppet may be used again.

HOMILY: Introduce the season of Lent. 

• What color is on the ambo today?
• What season of the liturgical year is it? (Allow for a variety of answers. Suggest Lent if no one answers.) 
• Why do we celebrate the season of Lent? (Allow for a variety of answers. Suggest it is a time to prepare for the feast of Easter, a time to come closer to God, a time to become better people, a time to tell God we are sorry for our sins.) 

“A temptation is an invitation to do something wrong. It is like a tickle on your elbow, urging you to do something that you should not do. It may be like a whisper in your ear that says, “Go ahead, try it!” A temptation is something that looks good on the outside but is wrong on the inside. 

“God forbade Adam and Eve to eat the fruit, but they ate it anyway. They gave in to the temptation. They disobeyed God. Jesus was hungry in the desert, and he was tempted to turn the stones into bread. Did he do it? 

“Jesus always obeyed God, while Adam and Eve did not. They had a free will just like we have. Jesus could have chosen to give in to temptations, like Adam and Eve did, but he never did. God gave all people the ability to choose. Because we are God’s people, we try to choose the right thing to do, but sometimes it is very hard. Jesus is with us to help us with our temptations. 

“There are many forbidden apples in our lives. We know that if we had been in the garden, we would have been curious and easily tempted to eat the fruit, too. Let’s talk about some temptations that all of us have experienced as children.”

Temptations: Ask the children to think of temptations that children might face in the following areas. Point to SCHOOL, FRIENDS, and FAMILY on the newsprint prepared in advance (e.g., cheat on a test at school, hit someone, lie to Mom or Dad). Ask them to choose one temptation from each area and discuss ways that temptation might be avoided.

“We try to think of what God would like us to do when we are tempted because we belong to God. Today we celebrate the story of Adam and Eve. Even though they had spoken directly to God, they still chose to disobey. They listened to an evil voice. Let’s try to remember that each time we are tempted, we should listen to the good voice inside our head. Adam and Eve remind us to think about our choices. Should we make some poor choices in our lives, God is always willing to forgive if we are sorry. Let’s use this time of Lent to look at the choices we make, repenting if some of our choices have not been good ones and learning from ourmistakes.”

PROFESSION OF FAITH: Recite the Apostles Creed. 

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL: Ask the children to think of some sin that they would like to resist committing during this lenten season. Tell the children that their sin will not be spoken aloud.
 

Leader: O God, you give us this season of Lent to look at our lives. Help us to change one of our sinful ways this Lent, especially (pause in silence). We pray to the Lord.

Children: Lord, hear our prayer.

For additional information about Celebrating the Lectionary, contact one of our educational consultants at 1-888-273-7782. 

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