Jesus is our friend

Jesus tried to make friends with everyone he met.

Lepers were very sick people, their illness made them look bad. They had to live away from people. Many people called them  'unimportant' people. Nobody wanted to be near them or to touch them.

But Jesus loved everyone lepers included. He never minded how people looked or how sick they were.One day he met a leper, wanted to be his friend, reached out, touched and cured him.  People were shocked. Jesus didn't care.

He was friendly with some rich people too.  Many people thought of them as 'important' peo­ple. Jesus was friendly with these people too, not because of  their power and wealth, but because of the love he could detect in their hearts.

A friend is someone who is interested in you for yourself.
A friend is someone with whom you enjoy playing, talking or working.
Jesus is our friend, because even when we forget him, or are annoyed with him, he is still our friend.
He never falls out with us. He just waits for us to be friendly with him again. Jesus is a very faithful friend.

The waves were mountainous

We lived on the island. In the summer we played in the sea and tumbled in the waves. We splashed each other in the shallow water and then it was helter skelter into the sand dunes for more fun. The shouts of children racing and playing was a kind of music that filled the air.

And in the summer it was easy to travel over to the mainland. We'd pile into a boat and we'd row over, do our shopping, have a day out and in the evening row back home again to the island. In the winter it was often cold and windy. On some winter nights a storm blew. You could hear the howl of it. The sea, too, seemed to get into a rage and hurl itself, over and over again, at the rocks that stood out on the shore. Each time the sea rushed in, there was a a sound like an explosion. The sea tried to drown the rocks in foaming water and cover them over. But each time the water had to roll back and let the rocks come to the surface again. It was a fight to the death between angry giants but neither side ever seemed to win. It was quiet for a minute until the sea gathered up its strength for the next rush against the rocks. And the rocks waited to smash the sea into a million sprays of water. I was glad to be in the house near the warm fire.

It was a wild night like that when word came to our house that Widow Mc Bride's child was very sick. Even her cats looked stressed out. My mother put on a heavy coat and a shawl and went up the road to be with her neighbour, and offer what help she could. The news wasn't good. It sounded like appendicitis. And it was said that appendicitis, without a hospital operation, could kill. My dad said it was too stormy to bring out a boat. There was nothing for it but to call out the lifeboat and get the child into hospital. The lifeboat was called out from the mainland and we all waited. The child was got ready and dressed.

We walked close together down to the pier, heads and shoulders bent into the wind and rain. Dawn was breaking when the lifeboat was spotted, bobbing up and down on the rough seas heading towards the island. The storm had, if anything, got worse. To get into our pier you had come from the open sea through a narrow straight that was bounded on both sides by rocks. In a storm you had to keep the line of your boat very true or risk being pulled against the rocks on one side or the other. A single rock would gash your boat and sink you in a second. The lifeboat slowed down outside the straight. The waves were mountainous. The lifeboat came forward very slowly into the straight but almost immediately reversed back out into the open sea. The straight was too dangerous. The lifeboat wasn't able to land. The lifeboatmen tried to manoeuvre into the straight four or five times and each time they had to back off. Finally they pulled out in the open sea, anchored and waited for the sea to get calmer.

But Widow Mc Bride's child couldn't wait. She was very ill and needed to be in hospital. She could be dead within a few hours. My mother looked at my father. We were the best boat men on the island. We won first prize at regattas in Galway and Donegal. There was nothing about boats we didn't know. ‘I'll take out the small boat,' my father said, ‘and bring the sick child out to the lifeboat.' ‘It could be the saving of the child.' ‘John will row in front,' he said. John was my brother and he was nineteen. ‘And Katie will hold the child in the middle of the boat' - that was me and I was just turned sixteen - ‘and I'll row from the back,' said my father, ‘and guide the boat through the waves.'


The boat was brought down from where it was stored and put into the water in a shallow sheltered spot. Many willing hands held the boat steady. My brother John got in first and settled himself into his place at the front. I sat in the middle and Widow Mc Bride gave me her child into my lap. The woman's eyes were fearful with worry. I cradled the child against the storm and the water and settled into my place. My mother was crying. Then my father sat in. John and himself began to row into the waves as if they were one person. They were completely in tune. Every stroke of the oars backwards and forwards was in perfect rhythm. We climbed each huge wave. When we sat at the top of the waves I could see the rocks on either side being lashed by the sea. I felt they were waiting to destroy us. Then down we went into the trough just like a cork and up again. The wind was howling. There was noise everywhere. And rain. It was horrible. I thought one really mountainous wave was going to topple us. We hung in the air for what seemed like forever and then we were gliding free into the next wave. It was only a hundred yards down the straight into the open sea but it was the longest hundred yards of my life.

We got to the mouth of the straight where the lifeboat was waiting. A lifeboatman was hanging out over the side wearing tackle. His plan was to lift the child to safety when we came alongside the lifeboat. My father got our boat into position and we made our run. Up we went on a wave alongside the lifeboat. The lifeboatman grabbed the child and swung her to safety. I let the child go. I didn't move a muscle because in a small boat you don't move even an inch because you could throw the boat out of balance and cause disaster. We turned round in a wide, safe circle and headed back into the straight. What we had done going out, we did coming back. Rhythm, care, and perfect seamanship.

When we got into the shallow safe water and the end of the pier there was a crowd cheering us. Even the wind didn't drown those cheers. Widow Mc Bride hugged me and wouldn't let me go. My mother was smiling. My father was saying, ‘I want Katie at the next Regatta in Galway. She has the beating of any man!"

We all went back to our house for bread and tea and talk. No one went home till it was morning that night.

And needless to say, the news from the hospital was good. The child was over the operation and out of danger. 
Widow Mc Bride's cats were happy again.

Prayers

Today we offer two sets of prayers:        
I. Penance service        
2.Prayers written by children

I. Penance Service

(This prayer service can be done either in part in the classroom by the teacher (before the class goes to the church) as a short preparation before the celebration of the Sacrament or in its entirety by the school chaplain in the church. It can be used any time during the Lenten Season. The Gospel reading is the Gospel reading for the 1st Sunday of Lent and some of the children may have heard it already. Begin by lighting a candle in the Sacred Space in the classroom.)

LEADER: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

CLASS: Amen

LEADER: In this season of Lent, we are called to ‘turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.’ As we come to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation today, we have an opportunity to do that. Our reading comes from the Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent – and tells the story of Jesus being tempted in the desert by the devil. We are all tempted from time to time, but we know that God understands that we are and forgives us for those times. Let us turn to God our Father as we pray….

ALL: I confess to almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters….

LEADER: Lord, hear the prayers of those who call to you, and forgive the sins of those who are here to confess their sins. In your mercy and love give us pardon and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

ALL: Amen

We listen to a reading from St Luke                                Luke 4:1-13

When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, the power of the Holy Spirit was with him, and the Spirit led him into the desert. For forty days Jesus was tested by the devil, and during that time he went without eating. When it was all over, he was hungry. The devil said to Jesus, "If you are God's Son, tell this stone to turn into bread." Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say, `No one can live only on food.' "

Then the devil led Jesus up to a high place and quickly showed him all the nations on earth. The devil said, "I will give all this power and glory to you. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Just worship me, and you can have it all." Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say `Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' "

Finally, the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on top of the temple. The devil said, "If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say: `God will tell his angels to take care of you. They will catch you in their arms, and you will not hurt
your feet on the stones.' "Jesus answered, "The Scriptures also say, `Don't try to test the Lord your God!' "After
the devil had finished testing Jesus in every way possible, he left him for a while.

THE THREE TEMPTATIONS

In the Gospel story Jesus was tempted and each time he was able to say no. The word ‘devil’ can mean the one who is our enemy or the one who tempts us. The devil was clever and even knew readings from the bible, but Jesus knew better. The devil tempted Jesus in three ways – with food, with power and with trust in God. Sometimes we are tempted to do things that we shouldn’t. For a few moments we will bow our heads and think of times that we have been tempted like Jesus, and have not been able to say no.
• Sometimes we take things that don’t belong to us. Sometimes we take
more than our fair share. Sometimes we don’t share our toys or our
sweets.

• Sometimes we are a bully. Sometimes we start fights. Sometimes we say hurtful things to our friends, our parents, our teachers, or our families.
Sometimes we aren’t always willing to make peace after a quarrel. Sometimes we hold grudges against other people. Are we willing to ask forgiveness when we have hurt our parents, or a brother or sister, a friend, by our selfish words or actions?

• Sometimes we don’t pray. Sometimes we don’t thank God for all that God has given us. Sometimes we don’t use the gifts that God has given us and we can be lazy and unhelpful. Sometimes we don’t pray for our parents, our brothers and sisters, and all the people who love us and take care of me. Sometimes we don’t really pray with other people when we worship together in church. Sometimes we disturb others.

LEADER: We ask God to help us when we are tempted as Jesus was:

                  READER: For our forgetfulness                       
                  ALL:          We are sorry

                  READER: For our unkindness to one another  
                  ALL:          We are sorry

                  READER: For our selfishness or refusal to help
                  ALL:          We are sorry

                  READER: For our broken promises                
                  ALL:           We are sorry

                  READER: For our failure to do good                
                  ALL:          We are sorry

LEADER: Let us pray together our Act of Sorrow…

ALL:          Oh my God I thank you for loving me………….

LEADER: Now let us pray in the words that Jesus gave us

ALL:          Our Father………….
(Opportunity for Individual Confession, Penance and Absolution)

CLOSING PRAYER

LEADER: Father, you love and care for each one here today.
                  Help us when we are tempted,
                  guide us when we are lost,
                  protect us when we are afraid,
                  and through your love, may we grow as your followers.
                  Through your blessings give us the courage
                  to continue on our journey of faith.
                  Grant this through Christ, our Lord.

ALL:          Amen

FINAL BLESSING (if a priest is presiding)

PRIEST:    May the Father bless us, for we are his children, born to eternal life.
ALL:          Amen

PRIEST:    May the Son show us his saving power, for he died and rose for us.
ALL:         Amen

PRIEST:    May the Spirit give us his gift of holiness and lead us by the right path, for
he dwells in our hearts.
ALL:         Amen

PRIEST:   May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.
ALL:         Amen

PRIEST:   The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.
ALL:         Thanks be to God

2. Prayers written by children

1.
Dear God,

Thank you for my friends,

especially for my best friend.

Help me to be friends

with the children in my class who get left out. Amen


2.
Mums and Dads are special friends,

brothers and sisters too.

Help us to be friends to them

In everything we do.

Amen.
(Amy R. 3 yrs.)


3.
I like to think of Jesus as a happy friend,

I like to think of Jesus every now and then.

I like to show him lots of love

by being a good friend too. Amen.
(Kiara 9 yrs.)

Game 1.

The Building Trust game

- The backwards obstacle race -

The children divide up into pairs for this game. If there are a lot of children, the pairs can be divided up into six or eight teams. There must be a volunteer to layout the obstacles for each team.

In each pair, one child acts as guide while the other child walks backwards avoiding a series of obstacles.

The walking child stands facing the guide at one end of the room while a third child lays out the obstacles behind him or her, e.g. a cushion, a magazine, a chair, some skittles, bean bags, hoops etc.

The guide then talks the walking child through the obstacle path to the other end of the room. The walking child runs back up the room, swops places with the guide, and the obstacles are changed again.

If the walking child looks back while on the obstacle path, s/he is out and must start again. If s/he bumps into an item s/he loses a point.

The game can be played in a non-competitive fashion, simply as an exercise in trusting.

Whichever way it is played, the children will enjoy it and there is a lesson to be learned.

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Game 2.

-Find the focus-

Can you work out what are the four things we are asked to focus on during Lent?

                                               1...............................  

                                               2. ...........................  

                                               3 .............................  

                                               4. ........................ 

What does Lent prepare us for?

(Tick the right answer)

Spring

Christmas

Easter

Chocolate eggs

Bunny rabbits

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Game 3

Download and colour the picture of Jesus our friend in the desert where he was tempted.