Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
Mark 6:30-34
Jesus invites his disciples to rest after their ministry, and Jesus is moved with pity for the crowds who pursue them.

Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, and 3)

Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for the crowds of people who followed him, and he responded by teaching them. When we call out to Jesus in prayer, he responds to us, too. Encourage younger children to set aside quiet time each day for rest and prayer.

Materials Needed

• large sheet of butcher paper or poster board; tape; small pictures showing things that children do on an average summer day, including sleeping, eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, swimming, reading, helping with chores, playing with friends, etc. Have two additional pictures for rest and prayer.

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Tape the butcher paper or poster board to the wall at a height that all children can reach. Have the pictures and a roll of tape on your lap or on a chair next to you. Say: It is summer, and we have so many things going on each day! Let’s make a poster showing the things we do in a day. Ask: What are some of the things you do in the summer? Give each child who responds a piece of tape and an appropriate picture to tape to the poster. If children mention an activity for which you don’t have a picture, you might have them write the activity or give them a picture that shows a similar activity. When children are finished naming activities, admire the poster and invite children to share their favorite activities.
2. Say: In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about an activity that is important to do. Listen carefully to what he tells the disciples.
3. Read aloud today’s Gospel, Mark 6:30–34.
4. Say: Jesus’ disciples had just returned from preaching and healing the sick. Jesus told them to come with him to do something. Ask: What did he want them to do? (rest) Say: Jesus and the disciples went off in a boat together, but the crowds followed them! Everyone wanted to see Jesus. When Jesus saw the crowd, his heart is moved with pity. Ask: What did Jesus do? (He taught the crowd many things.)
5. Say: Just like Jesus’ disciples, we need rest and quiet time too. Rest is important. It helps us get energy to do the other things we want to do. It is more difficult for us to be Jesus’ loving disciples if we are tired and cranky! We can also set aside quiet time for prayer. Jesus loves us and always hears our prayer. If children have not already mentioned rest and prayer, invite volunteers to tape the appropriate pictures to the poster.
6. Close by praying for Jesus’ help in taking time for rest and prayer so that we can be his disciples. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer.

Gospel Reading
Mark 6:30-34
Jesus invites his disciples to rest after their ministry, and Jesus is moved with pity for the crowds who pursue them.

Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, and 6)

Older children are learning to manage their own activities and commitments. We can help them appreciate the importance of including time for rest, relaxation, and prayer as they learn how to be disciples of Christ.

Materials Needed

• A one-week calendar page for each child, pencils

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Say: I know that many of you are involved in some wonderful activities. I wonder what your week looks like. Let’s take some time to write these activities on a daily calendar. Distribute the calendar pages and assist the children as they write in their activities and commitments. Suggest that they also write an approximate schedule for each day.

2. Invite the children to look over their schedules for the week. Ask them to circle the activities that are most important to them and to underline activities that they consider to be relaxing.

3. Say: We do many important things during the week. To make these important things happen, we have to do some planning. For example, we might have to arrange for rides to practices and sporting events. Perhaps we have to set aside time for homework. We also know that we need to find time for rest and relaxation.

4. Say: In last week’s Gospel, we heard Jesus send his disciples to preach and to heal in his name. In today’s Gospel, we hear what happens when they return from this important work. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud today’s Gospel, Mark 6:30-34.

5. Ask: What does Jesus want his disciples to do now that they have returned from their work? (He wants them to rest.) Do they succeed in finding time to rest? (No, the crowd continues to seek them out; Jesus is moved with pity and begins to teach the crowd.)

6. Say: In today’s Gospel, we learn that Jesus wanted his disciples to rest and relax after their work. Jesus also wants us to make time in our lives for rest and relaxation. Part of this time might be spent in prayer. Just as we need to set aside time for homework and to plan for other important activities in our week, we also need to plan for prayer.

7. Conclude by asking the children to look over their weekly schedules and to identify a time this week when they will pray. Ask Jesus to help them make prayer a priority in their lives. Pray together the Lord's Prayer.

Gospel Reading
Mark 6:30-34
Jesus invites his disciples to rest after their ministry, and Jesus is moved with pity for the crowds who pursue them.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Summer months provide a greater freedom to enjoy time for recreation. As young people plan their days, we can encourage them to set apart time for prayer as well.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Invite the young people to consider what activities they would choose if given the opportunity to plan one day of summer. Then ask volunteers to describe their ideal summer day.

2. Point out that we benefit from participating in recreational activities throughout the year, but often find more opportunities to do so during the summer months.

3. Say: In last week’s Gospel reading, we heard how Jesus sent out the Twelve, giving them authority over unclean spirits. This Sunday’s Gospel describes what happened when the Twelve returned. Let’s listen carefully to this Gospel reading.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud this Sunday’s Gospel, Mark 6:30–34.

5. Ask: What does Jesus want his disciples to do now that they have returned? (He wants them to rest.) What happens when Jesus and the disciples try to find a quiet place? (The crowd continues to seek them out. Jesus is moved with pity and begins to teach the crowds.)

6. Say: We are blessed to have opportunities to choose how to spend our time. Jesus wants us to take time for rest and to spend time with him in prayer. As we plan for recreational activities this summer, we can set apart time for prayer too. Encourage the young people to make good choices about their activities this summer, including setting apart time for prayer each day.

7. Say: In prayer, Jesus renews and strengthens us to live as his disciples. When we pray, we can talk with Jesus about our own needs and the concerns we have for others. Just as Jesus was moved with pity when he saw the crowds, Jesus will hear us and respond with love when we bring these concerns to him in prayer.

8. Conclude in prayer, praising God for the gifts of summer and asking for help to strengthen our resolve to grow closer to God through prayer. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer or the psalm for this Sunday, Psalm 23.

Gospel Reading
Mark 6:30-34
Jesus invites his disciples to rest after their ministry, and Jesus is moved with pity for the crowds who pursue them.

Family Connection

Family demands can make us feel like Jesus and the twelve apostles. We wish for times of relaxation and renewal, but there are errands to do, household chores to keep up with, volunteer commitments to keep. These are all good things, but we can be left feeling drained and tired as we try to keep up. Perhaps we might take the opportunity this week to give ourselves permission to find the rest and relaxation that Jesus seeks for his disciples in today’s Gospel. One of the gifts we can give to one another in our family life is assistance in finding the time and space to renew ourselves through prayer.

When you gather together as a family this week, bring your family calendar. Together review your family calendar and spend some time reflecting on your family activities. In particular, ask if your family has an appropriate amount of time for rest and relaxation. If not, discuss ways in which this time for renewal might be included in the week ahead. Read together today’s Gospel, Mark 6:30-34. Notice how Jesus tried to find time and space for his disciples to rest and relax after they returned from their mission. Conclude in prayer together, asking God to help us find time to renew ourselves so that we might be better disciples of Jesus. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer.