5th Week of Easter, Thursday

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

"As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you."

(From the Gospel)

(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)

Jesus told us, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you."

I wonder how the Father loves Jesus. What do you think?

The Father loves Jesus so perfectly that it's hard to imagine. No matter how much we love, we could never love as much or as well as the Father.

Jesus says He loves us in the same way. With the same perfect love with which God the Father loves God the Son, God loves us.

This is amazing! God loves us as He loves Himself!

Let's think quietly for a moment about this great love that God has for us. What would you like to say to Him about this?

Thank you, Jesus, for loving us so perfectly and so well. It makes me so happy to know I am loved in this way.

(Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)

(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."