MISSION TOGETHER

CHOICES

Summer 2001

Liturgies

A School Liturgy from 
'Mission Together' 
linked into 
'Here I Am'

Focal Point: Globe, bible, a large signpost, 
a Mission Together candle

(Fix Mission Together sticker on plain candle)

GATHERING TOGETHER

Leader: In this school we are children in Mission Together. We share friendship with children from all around the world, especially the poor.
Song: Children of God  Calling the children no 2 Christopher Walker
or other appropriate song
Leader: We try to live the motto Children helping Children
Hold up large sign Children helping Children and fix above signpost
Leader: We have a choice. We can say Yes or we can say No
Hold up large signs Yes and  No and fix one to either side of signpost

Children helping Children

The Word of God
Leader: Every day we make choices. Can you think about some of the choices you have made today.
Children give some examples eg what to have for breakfast, to wear...
Leader: We can make good choices and we can make bad choices.

Let’s listen to a story from the gospel of Saint Luke about a tax collector and the choices he made.
Luke 19: 1-10 Place open bible on lectern or stand.

The gospel may be dramatised. 
Leader: Zaccheus was a rich tax collector. Sometimes he cheated people and took too much money. One day he heard that Jesus was coming to the town where he lived. Zaccheus had heard stories about Jesus. He was curious. He wanted to see Jesus. Zaccheus was a short man - not very tall. He climbed up a sycamore tree so that he could see over the heads of the crowd. Jesus passed under the tree and looked up at Zaccheus.
Jesus:  Zaccheus, come down. I am coming to your house today for my dinner.
Zaccheus: Jesus, thank you for coming to my house. Now I choose to change my ways. I will give back money to everybody I have cheated. I will give half my money to the poor.
Jesus:  Zaccheus, you are my special friend.
Leader: This is the gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Response to the Word
Leader: Jesus shared love and friendship with Zaccheus. This made Zaccheus very happy. He changed. He chose to follow Jesus. He made up for his bad choices and made good choices. He shared with the poor.

Today Jesus asks us to follow him and to make good choices. We can say, “Yes” or we can say, “No.”
Child:  I make a good choice when I share with other children.
Hold up sign with word share and fix to Yes side of signpost.
Child: I make a bad choice when I am mean to other children.
Hold up sign with word mean and fix to No side of signpost
Child: We  pray. Lord, help us to make a good choice and say, “Yes.”
All: Sing or say: Lord hear our prayer
Child: Children in Mission Together choose to say, “Yes.”
Hold up Mission Together collecting box. Give a little shake and place on display
Child: I make a good choice when I pray with other children
Hold up sign with word pray and fix to Yes side of signpost
Child: I make a bad choice when I am selfish and forget other children.
Hold up sign with word selfish and fix to No side of signpost.
Child We pray. Lord, help us to make a good choice and say, “Yes."
All: Sing or say: Lord, hear our prayer.
Child: Children in Mission Together choose to say, “Yes.”
Light Mission Together candle and place beside globe.
Leader Let’s pray together and remember all the children in God’s family, especially the poor
All: Mission Together prayer (See side of collecting box) 

       or Our Father/ other appropriate prayer.

Going Forth as Children in Mission Together
Leader I now send you out to live your Mission Together motto Children helping Children by remembering to pray and to share with children everywhere, especially the poor
Two children from each class come forward to receive a Mission Together candle and a collecting box.
Leader Let us go out now to love and serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God
Song: Sent by the Lord am I 

Wild Goose publications

      or other appropriate song.

 
Children may process back to class and  place Mission Together candle and box on the class prayer table

  

For information about an assembly presentation
contact your Mission Together Diocesan Director.