Children’s liturgy – Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year B)

Preparing the worship space
Colour: White
Props: A bunch of grapes.

Song suggestions: I am the vine, you are the branches (273, Celebration Hymnal for Everyone)
You are the vine (824, Celebration Hymnal for Everyone)

Welcome: Today we hear how Jesus is the vine, and how he gives life to us, his branches. Let’s think a bit about what that means today.

Opening prayer: Dear Lord, you are the vine, we are the branches. Help us to bear your fruit and follow your word. Amen.

First reading (optional): Acts 9:26-31

Psalm: Ps 21:26-28, 30-32 r. 26

Gospel acclamation: Everyone stands and sings the acclamation together. Suggestions include: ‘Halle, halle, halle’ (Caribbean) from ‘Sing With the World’, Alison Adam & John Bell; ‘Alleluia’ (Zimbabwe), Abraham Maraire Publications, WCC & GIA; ‘Celtic Alleluia’ (traditional); ‘Alleluia! Raise the Gospel’ from ‘Go Before Us’, Bernadette Farrell, OCP Publications.

Gospel: John 15:1-8

Gospel reflection: What do you remember from the reading you heard today?

Jesus is teaching his disciples. He calls himself the “true vine”. Do you know what a vine is? What grows on a vine?

Grapes grow on vines. (Hold up a bunch of grapes to the children). Do you like grapes? What other fruit do you like?

Jesus called us his branches because he supports us, like a tree supports its branches. He wants us to bear him fruit.

What do you think this means? Do you think he wants us to grow grapes?

What Jesus means is that he wants us to follow his teachings, and love our neighbour. By doing this it will be like bearing fruit for his vine, because we will be sharing his love with others.

Many children around the world have to leave their homes because of fighting. Or because of droughts or floods.

Halima is eight. She and her family had to leave their country, Myanmar, because of fighting. They are now in a refugee camp in Bangladesh. They do not have a good diet. They have been surviving on just rice and potatoes.

How would you feel if you only had rice and potatoes to eat?

Ruth is four. Drought and fighting have forced many people to leave South Sudan. Ruth’s family now live in a refugee camp in Uganda. CAFOD’s friends, Caritas, gave seeds and tools to Ruth’s father. He grew vegetables and sold some to buy new sandals for his children and fish for a healthier diet.

How would you feel if you had to leave your home?

This summer lots of children are walking to show their support for people who have had to leave their country to find food and a home, as part of the Share the Journey campaign. All the miles that they walk will be added together, and the hope is that the final number will be 24,900 miles – which is the distance around the world!

These children are bearing the fruit of Jesus by showing love to their neighbours who need to rebuild and start again.

There are many ways that we can show our love for our neighbour both here and around the world. Can you think of some more?

How will you show your love for your neighbours both here and around the world, so that you will be like the branches on the vine?

Intercessions : You may want to ask the children to offer their own prayers or you can use the suggestions below.

We know that Jesus is the true vine always supporting us, his branches. Let us keep this in mind as we pray together:

We pray for the Church throughout the world: that it may follow Christ’s example and show love and welcome to all people. Lord, in your mercy…

We pray for all those, like Halima and Ruth, who have had to leave their homes: that they may find a new home, where they feel safe and have enough to eat. Lord, in your mercy

We pray for our parish, family and friends: that we may be moved to show love for our neighbours, both here and around the world. Lord, in your mercy…

Closing prayer: Generous God, support us in all we do as a vine supports its branches, and help us to support and share with others around the world, especially those who have had to leave their homes. Amen.

Activity suggestions:

Ask the children to colour in the accompanying illustration. Ask them to draw fruit on the tree. In each fruit ask them to write or draw one way that they will love their neighbour in the coming week.

Find out more about the Share the Journey campaign, and consider organising a walk in your parish, or for your children’s liturgy group, or just with your family. More information about the campaign and resources you can share with the children about refugees are available at cafod.org.uk/sharethejourney

Ask the children to tell their family all they have heard and thought about today. Each time they eat a piece of fruit in the next week, ask them to remember their global neighbours, and how they can show their love for them. Ask them to find out which country the fruit they eat comes from and a bit about that country and the people that live there.