Children's Liturgy Series: 4th Sunday in Advent (Cycle B)

In today's Gospel we learn about how the angel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary and announced the birth of Jesus.

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.  Help us to understand the message you have for us today. Help us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus, like the Blessed Virgin Mary did, and have the courage to say Yes to God in his big plan for us. We ask all this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Say: Today is the last Sunday in Advent. We’re getting ready to celebrate a special event. 

Ask: What are we going to celebrate soon? (the birth of Jesus) Are you excited to celebrate Christmas? (Yes!) Show children the statue of Mary. 

Say: Together we’ll hear a Gospel story about someone who said yes to God. She is Jesus’ mother and his first and greatest disciple. Do you know her name? (Mary)

Say: The angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. God gave Mary the grace to say yes. When Mary said, “May it be done to me according to your word,” she was saying yes to God. Mary is God’s faithful and obedient servant. We can be faithful and obedient servants of God, just as Mary was.

Discuss with children what God calls us to do as Christians. (Be kind to our family and friends. Be polite. Be fair when we play. Share what we have. Be friendly and have fun. Obey our parents. Pray.) 

Invite volunteers to share one specific way they will say yes to God during the Christmas season. Tell children that Mary loves them and that they can ask Mary to pray for them.
Pray the Act of Consecration to Mary, having children repeat each line after you.

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

0 Virgin Mary, most powerful Mother of Mercy, Queen of Heaven and earth, in accordance with your wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate myself today to your Immaculate Heart. To you I entrust all that I have, all that I am.

Father in Heaven we thank you for the lesson today. Please bless each one of us in this room. Please give us the grace to have the courage to say yes to God's big plan for us. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.