December 13, 2020 • 3rd Sunday of Advent/Gaudete Sunday Sunday Readings: Isaiah 61:1–2a, 10–11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24; John 1:6–8, 19–28

Sunday Gospel Background This Sunday’s Gospel again features John the Baptist, who explains that he is not the Messiah people are waiting for. This Seeds lesson can help your child relate the long wait for Christmas to the waiting that people experienced as they looked for the Messiah.

Share Experiences Check off the boxes as you complete each part of the lesson. Pray together (If you have not already done so, fold the Seeds Advent candle from the November 29 issue so the panel with the gift is right beneath the flame.) “Dear Jesus, come into our hearts. Help us know your love and share it with others. Help us be kind and respectful as we make ourselves ready for your Christmas birthday. Amen.”

Story l The Christmas Countdown Chain. Read the story to your child. “Good morning,” Tommy’s parents said as he came hopping message, Tommy,” his mom said. “Are you ready?” “I’m ready,” into the kitchen for breakfast. “Good morning,” Tommy said. Tommy said. “I bet I will have to do long jumps.” His mom “May I take another link off my Christmas chain?” Tommy had smiled and read, “Christmas is ten days away. Get your heart been taking one link a day off of his Christmas countdown ready for the big day. Make ten people happy. Give a hug or a chain. Every day, a special instruction was printed on the link. smile. Tell ten people you like them and talk with them awhile.” So far they had been: “I don’t get it,” Tommy said. “I’ve been doing exercises for a l Fourteen days left. Make fourteen giant steps. healthy heart. I ran, hopped, and jumped. My heart is ready!” l Thirteen days left. Hop thirteen times on one foot. Tommy’s dad picked him up and sat Tommy on his lap. He said, l Twelve days left. Run in place while Dad counts to twelve. “You know all the exercises to keep your heart healthy. What l Eleven days left. Do eleven somersaults. Mom read are exercises to keep your heart loving. When we What would the instruction be now that there were only give a hug or smile or talk with someone to show our love, we ten days left until Christmas? Tommy pulled a link from his are getting a loving heart ready for Jesus’ birthday.” Tommy chain. He handed the paper to his mom to read. “This is a long said, “Please help me plan how I can make ten people happy.”

Ask: What are some loving words and actions Tommy can say or do to get his heart ready for Jesus’ birthday? If you have time, you might do Tommy’s exercises with your child, or make a similar Christmas countdown chain by stapling links of colored paper together.

Discover Gospel and Doctrine

Sunday Gospel l The whole world welcomes Jesus. Ask: Can you say the word Messiah? It means “the chosen one.” This week, John the Baptist keeps preparing people for the Messiah’s coming. God sent a man named John to tell people about Jesus, the John answered, “No, I’m not.” Messiah, so they would be ready. The people asked him, “Who The people still wanted to know who John was. He told them: are you? Are you the great leader God promised to send us?” “I am telling everyone to make the path straight for the one God John said, “No, I am not the Messiah.” Another man asked, is sending. I am not good enough to undo his sandal strap.” “Well then, are you the great teacher God promised?” Again,

Unit 2: We Prepare for Jesus’ Coming l TG2-9 December 13, 2020 • 3rd Sunday of Advent/Gaudete Sunday Lesson Theme: Jesus is born to us.

Gospel Weeklies The NEW Open the What the Church Believes and Teaches handbook to page 14. Read the title and the words at the PFLAUM GOSPEL WEEKLIES Faith Formation Program WHAT THE CHURCH BELIEVES AND TEACHES HANDBOOK top of the page. Invite your child to look at the illustrations and discuss each one. For each situation, Ask: Who is being loving? Who is being unloving? How can you tell? Explain that Jesus wants us to always do loving actions. Read the directions and have your child complete the exercise. Once you have completed this section of the lesson, close the handbook and return to Seeds, page 4.

Word of the Week l Reconciliation (page 4) Help your child find the Word of the Week on page 4. Share this definition: Reconciliation celebrates God’s forgiveness of our unloving choices. Explain that we can ask God for forgiveness if we ever choose to do an unloving action.

Live the Gospel

Activity l Welcome, Jesus!—A Christmas Card (pages 1–2) Look at the cover of Seeds together. Ask: Who is in the picture? Show your child the wreath and ornaments on page 2 and explain that you will be making a Christmas card together. Say: Giving a card is a loving action. Demonstrate how to cut the wreath square on the heavy black line. Make sure your child cuts only on the solid lines. Show how to fold on the corners over the illustration of the Holy Family, and have your child sign the card. Let your child decide who to give it to.

Song l “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” (page 3) Review the six illustrations on page 3. If you know the folk carol “Children, Go Where I Send Thee,” sing a little of it, or find it online to learn the tune. Use the lyrics below, which are not the same as the ones you may find elsewhere. This is a cumulative song. The first two verses are below. Continue in this way with the other four illustrations found on page 3. As you sing, have your child point to the correct illustration. Children, go where I send thee. How shall I send thee? I will send thee one by one. One for the itty bitty baby. Born, born, born in Bethlehem. Children, go where I send thee. How shall I send thee? I will send thee two by two. Two for Mary and Joseph. One for the itty bitty baby. Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Activity l A Matching Game (page 4) Have your child cut on the heavy lines to produce six ornament groupings. Show how to match two groups that are alike and then let your child finish the activity independently. Closing Prayer “Dear Jesus, we are glad you came to be with us. We will share your love with other people. Amen.”

Parent Resources For weekly videos, assessments, and more, scan this code or go to p aumweeklies.com/family Visit www.usccb.org/bible/readings to read this Sunday’s Scripture