Children's Liturgy Series: 3rd Sunday in Advent (C)

In today's Gospel, John the Baptist teaches us how to prepare for the coming of the Messiah.

Father in Heaven we praise and glorify you, we thank you for bringing us together for this Children's Liturgy lesson.  Please send us the Holy Spirit and fill us with peace, love and wisdom.  Help us to understand your lesson today.  Help us to prepare our hearts for Christmas by being kind to the people around us. We ask all this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The crowds asked John the Baptist,“What should we do?” He said to them in reply,“Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,“Teacher, what should we do?”He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him,“And what is it that we should do?”He told them,“Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”

Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

1. Who is John the Baptist?
2. What is John the Baptist's role?
3. What does Messiah mean?
4. What does John the Baptist say are ways we can prepare for the Messiah?
5. How can we be kind to others this week?

Father in Heaven, thank you for teaching us how to love others like you do. Help us to share, be kind, and honest this week as we prepare for Christmas with family and friends. Amen.