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Children of the Book

A School Liturgy from Mission Together

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Gathering

THE BOOKS

  Focus:   An exploration of the ways in which sacred texts are used and a
reflection on shared messages about the poor.
 
Display:    3 book stands/lecterns, globe, candles
 
Song:    An alleluia song Here I Am Rejoice 1 no 16
 
   Three children walk in procession carrying the three holy books:

A Christian Bible, a Muslim Qur’an (English version) wrapped in
cloth and a Jewish facsimile Torah or a Siddur (prayer book) covered
in mantle.

These may be provided by some of the children, but some items can
be bought from suppliers like Articles of Faith (Tel 0161 763 6232)
 
 

 

 Leader: Today we meet to listen to the Word of God. We are a Catholic school.
We believe that God speaks to us through the Bible. Children who
belong to other faiths believe that God speaks to them through their Holy Books.

 
Child 1: My name is Ben. I belong to the Jewish religion. We have a holy book
called the Torah. Jewish children, no matter which country in the world we
live in, learn to read the Torah in a language called Hebrew and we can
read it in our own language as well.

Place Torah on stand

 
Child 2: My name is Ishfaq. I am a Muslim. My religion is Islam. We have a holy
book called the Qur’an. Muslim children, no matter which country of the
world we live in, learn parts of the Qur’an by heart in a language called
Arabic and we can read it in our own language.

Place Qur’an on stand.

 
Child 3: My name is Elizabeth. I am a Christian. I follow Jesus. Christian children,
no matter which country in the world we live in, can read our holy book, the
Bible, in our own language.

Place bible on stand.

 
At this point the leader may take time to  talk about the different rites and rituals that
surround the texts.
Draw attention to the mantle which protects the Torah; describe the washing that takes
place before reading the Qur’an which is always placed on the highest shelf in a home;
the way in which the bible is incensed or kissed during Mass.
 

A STORY ABOUT LISTENING TO THE WORD OF GOD

Leader: In the Bible we read about the story of Samuel who listened to the Word of God.
Open the Bible at 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Let’s listen to the story of Samuel who heard God calling him by name.

A simplified version may be read or the following adaptation used.
The story may be mimed.

Narrator:

The story takes place in the Jewish temple where Eli is a priest and
Samuel is a pupil. It’s night time. Eli is asleep in his room. Samuel is
asleep in the sanctuary of the temple.

Voice of God:

Samuel, Samuel!

Narrator:

Samuel thinks the priest, Eli, is calling, so he runs to him.

Samuel:

Here I am, since you called  me.

Eli:

I did not call you. Go back to sleep.

Narrator:

So Samuel goes back to his bed.

Voice of God:

Samuel, Samuel!

Narrator:

For a second time Samuel goes to Eli.

Samuel:

Here I am, since you called me.

Eli:

I did not call you. Go back to sleep.

Narrator:

So Samuel goes back to his bed for a second time.

Voice of God:

Samuel, Samuel!

Narrator:

So for a third time Samuel goes to Eli.

Samuel:

Here I am, since you called me.

Narrator:

Then Eli understands what is happening.

Eli:

Go back to bed and when you hear someone calling you say,
“Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

Narrator:

So Samuel went back to his bed and sure enough, once more
he heard his name being called.

Voice of God:

Samuel, Samuel

Samuel:

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.

Narrator:

Then in the still of the night, Samuel listened to God in the silence of his heart.

Leader:

This is the Word of the Lord.

Everyone:

Thanks be to God.

Leader:

Let us listen to God in the stillness of our hearts.

Let us say together, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

Everyone:

Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.
 
Moment of quiet and stillness.
 

SHARE THE STORIES

Leader: Children everywhere, of every faith listen to the word of God. There are
lots of stories in the Torah, The Qur’an and the Bible about God’s love.
Today we will listen to what the holy books say about children who are poor.

 

Child 1:
(Ben)		 Place a candle beside the Torah, open at the story of Esther.
Jewish children like to celebrate the feast of Purim, when we listen  to the
story of Esther who saved her people. We go to the synagogue and listen
to the story. Then we go home. We share gifts with each other and give
gifts to the poor.
 
Hold up words pray and share

 

Child 2:
(Ishfaq)		 Place a candle beside the Qur’an open at Surah 114
In the Qur’an Muslim children are asked to make God’s light shine by 
walking together in friendship. During the time of Ramadan, which lasts
for forty days, children fast, pray and give money to the poor.
 
Hold up words pray and share

 
Child 3:
(Elizabeth)		 Place a candle beside Bible, open at Matthew 25
Christian children listen to the words of Jesus. He says, “Love one another
as I have loved you. Whatsoever you do to one of these my little ones, you
do to me.” Children in Mission Together pray and share with poor children
everywhere.
 
Light candle and hold up word pray

Hold up box and hold up word share
 

PRAYER

Leader: Lord, you love all children and want us to be happy.
Help us to listen to your Word.

Child 1:

Lord you ask us to be friends. We say

Response:

Here I am.

Child 2:

You ask us to pray together. We say

Response:

Here I am.

Child 3:

You ask us to share with each other. We say

Response:

Here I am.