Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Gaudete Sunday

Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Gaudete Sunday (Year A)

Theme: Rejoice — The Lord Is Near

Welcome & Gathering

(Gather the children together; light the Advent candle.)

Leader:
“Today is the Third Sunday of Advent.
It has a special name: Gaudete Sunday.
That word means Rejoice.

We are still waiting for Christmas.
But today the Church tells us something important:
Jesus is very close.
That’s why we rejoice.”

Make the Sign of the Cross.

Leader:
“Lord Jesus,
You come close to us even when life is hard.
Help us to rejoice in hope and trust You.
Amen.”

Settling the Group / Opening Question

Ask gently:

“What makes you happy?”

“Can you still be glad when something is difficult?”

Say:
“Gaudete joy is not noisy or silly.
It is a quiet joy.
It is the joy of knowing that God is with us
and that He keeps His promises.”

Introducing the Gospel Context

Say:
“Today’s Gospel is about John the Baptist.
John told everyone that Jesus was coming.
He prepared the way for Him.

But today, John is in a difficult place.
He is in prison.
Things are not going the way he expected.”

Pause.

“Sometimes that happens to us too.
We believe in God,
but life becomes hard,
and we start to wonder what God is doing.”

The Gospel (Child-Friendly – Matthew 11:2–11)

(Read slowly and clearly.)

John the Baptist was in prison.
He sent messengers to Jesus to ask,
“Are You the One who is coming,
or should we wait for someone else?”

Jesus answered,
“Go and tell John what you see and hear:
the blind see,
the lame walk,
the deaf hear,
and the poor hear good news.”

And Jesus said,
“Happy is the one who does not lose trust in Me.”

Leader:
“The Gospel of the Lord.”
Children:
“Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.”

Explaining the Gospel

Say:
“John believed in Jesus.
But now life is hard,
and he asks an honest question.

Jesus does not get cross with him.
He does not say, ‘You should know better.’
Instead, Jesus says:
‘Look at what God is doing.’”

Ask:

“What good things did Jesus say were happening?”

(Help them recall: healing, helping, good news.)

Say:
“Jesus is saying:
‘Even if everything is not finished yet,
God is already working.’”

Deepening the Meaning

Say:
“This is what Gaudete Sunday teaches us.

We rejoice not because everything is easy,
but because God is faithful.

John is still in prison.
But the Kingdom of God is already growing.

Sometimes we are sad, worried, or confused.
But Jesus is still close.
And that is why we rejoice.”

Illustration: Waiting with Hope

Say:
“Imagine waiting for someone you love to arrive.
You know they are coming.
You don’t know the exact time.
But you start smiling when you see them getting closer.”

Pause.

“That is Advent joy.
Christmas is coming.
Jesus is coming.
So we rejoice while we wait.”

The Rose Candle

(Show rose/pink candle or paper flame.)

Say:
“Today we light a rose candle.

The purple candles remind us to wait.
The rose candle reminds us that joy is already here.

It says:
‘Don’t give up.
God is closer than you think.’”

Invite the children to repeat quietly:

“Jesus, You are near.”

Making It Practical – Living Gaudete Joy

Say:
“Gaudete joy grows when we notice God’s goodness.”

Ask:

“Who helps you when you are sad?”

“Who shows you kindness?”

“What good thing happened this week?”

Then say:

“This week, let’s practise Gaudete joy in three simple ways.”

1. Notice

“Each day, notice one good thing and thank God for it.”

2. Encourage

“If someone feels sad or lonely, say something kind.”

3. Trust

“When something is hard, say quietly:
‘Jesus, I trust You.’”

Quiet Moment

Invite the children to close their eyes briefly.

Say:
“Think of one thing that makes you worried or sad.
Now imagine Jesus standing close to you.
Hear Him say:
‘Do not be afraid. I am near.’”

Pause briefly.

Simple Profession of Faith

Leader:
“Do you believe that God keeps His promises?”
Children: “Yes, I believe.”

“Do you believe that Jesus is close to us, even when life is hard?”
“Yes, I believe.”

“Do you believe that the Holy Spirit helps us trust and rejoice?”
“Yes, I believe.”

Children’s Intercessions

Leader:
“Jesus is near. Let us pray with joyful hearts.”

For the Church — that she may always rejoice in God’s promises.
Lord, hear us.

For people who are sad or worried — that they may feel God close to them.
Lord, hear us.

For our families — that our homes may be full of kindness and hope.
Lord, hear us.

For ourselves — that we may trust Jesus and never give up.
Lord, hear us.

(Optional Hail Mary.)

Closing Prayer

Leader:
“Lord Jesus,
You are the One who is coming.
Help us to trust You when life is hard
and to rejoice because You are near.
Fill our hearts with hope as we wait for Christmas.
Amen.”

Sending Back

Leader:
“As we go back to the big church,
remember today’s message:

Rejoice — Jesus is near.

Let’s walk back quietly,
thinking of one good thing God has done for us.”

(Sign of the Cross; return reverently to the assembly.)

Optional Activities – Gaudete Sunday (Year A)

(Use one only if helpful; all are fully optional.)

1. “What Do You See?” Gospel Activity

Purpose:
To help children understand Jesus’ answer to John the Baptist.

How to do it:
Say:
“Jesus didn’t argue.
He said, ‘Look at what you see.’”

Ask the children to name things from the Gospel:

“Who did Jesus help to see?” (the blind)

“Who could walk again?” (the lame)

“Who heard good news?” (the poor)

Then say:
“Jesus is showing us that God is already at work —
even when life is still hard.”

Key line to repeat:
“Jesus is already at work.”

2. Rose Candle Action

Purpose:
To connect the rose candle with real-life joy.

How to do it:
Hold up the rose candle (or paper flame).

Say:
“When we see this candle,
we remember that joy is already growing.”

Invite each child (one at a time or in pairs) to say one word:

“Kindness”

“Helping”

“Praying”

“Sharing”

“Forgiving”

After several answers, say:
“These are signs that Jesus is near.”

3. Quiet Trust Prayer (Very Short)

Purpose:
To give children a moment of silence without pressure.

How to do it:
Ask children to place a hand on their heart.

Say quietly:
“If something is worrying you,
say in your heart:
‘Jesus, I trust You.’”

Pause briefly.

Then say together:
“Jesus, You are near.”

4. Gaudete Promise Cards

Purpose:
To help children live Gaudete joy during the week.

How to do it:
Give each child a small piece of paper or card.

Ask them to draw or write one thing they will do this week:

be kind

encourage someone

say thank you

trust God when something is hard

Say:
“This is your Gaudete promise —
something small that helps joy grow.”

5. Movement Activity: “Near or Far?”

Purpose:
To reinforce the message physically for younger children.

How to do it:
Say:
“When I say something that shows Jesus is near, take one step forward.”

Call out examples:

“Someone is forgiven.”

“Someone is helped.”

“Someone prays.”

Then say:
“These are signs that Jesus is close.”

Finish with:
“Jesus is never far from us.”

6. Memory Line (Repeat Together)

Purpose:
To give children a simple takeaway phrase.

All repeat slowly, three times:
“Rejoice — Jesus is near.”

(First loud, second quiet, third whispered.)