Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
Mark 6:7-13
Jesus instructs his disciples and sends them to preach repentance.

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

Younger children are learning how to cooperate with others. Teach them that we can accomplish more together than we can alone. Just as Jesus sent his disciples out in pairs to share his message, we are called to work together with our community of faith to witness to Jesus.

Materials Needed

• sheets of paper at least 8” x 8”, a pair of scissors, crayons or markers, rulers, a glue stick. Cut one 8” x 8” square of paper and use a pencil to draw a one-inch frame inside it; make enough copies (6 or 9) so that you can make a paper quilt by folding back the frame and stapling the sheets together. Ask permission to display the quilt in the church hallway or narthex and get tape or adhesive putty to hang it.

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Give each child a square and crayons or markers. Ask: What is something about Jesus that you’d like to tell others? (Accept all reasonable responses.) Hold up a square. Say: Write or draw a picture telling your message about Jesus. Point to the frame. Say: Do not draw outside of this frame. Give children time to draw or write. If needed to complete the quilt, draw or write on your own square.
2. Then say: Today’s Scripture story tells how Jesus sent his disciples out to tell others about his message. Listen to the instructions he gives the disciples.
3. Read aloud today’s Gospel, Mark 6:7–13.
4. Say: Jesus sent the Twelve Apostles out to heal people who were sick, drive out demons, and teach people to turn away from sin and live as God wants us to live. Ask: Did Jesus send the Apostles out alone or in pairs? (in pairs) Say: We can accomplish more together than we can alone.
5. Show the children how to use a ruler to fold back the frame of their square. Then work together to arrange the squares into a quilt and have children hold the squares together as you glue or staple them. Say: It would have taken a long time for one person to make this paper quilt about Jesus. But we worked together! It is wonderful.
6. If you received permission to hang the quilt and it is possible to do so now, have the children join you, walking in pairs, to watch as you tape or stick it to the wall.
7. Close by praying together for Jesus’ help to work together with your community of faith to share Jesus’ message with those who wish to hear it. Then pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Gospel Reading
Mark 6:7-13
Jesus instructs his disciples and sends them to preach repentance.

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

Older children are beginning to realize the importance of teamwork. We can help them understand that Jesus continues to send us to minister in his name, together with the community of the Church.

Materials Needed (Grades 4, 5, and 6)

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings (Grades 4, 5, and 6)

1. Prepare a list of the names of the different sports that the children in your group enjoy and participate in. Invite a volunteer to write the list on the board. Look back over the list and ask the group to identify which of the sports are team sports. Ask a volunteer to circle each team sport as it is named.

2. Ask: What makes playing a team sport fun? Why is teamwork an important aspect of sportsmanship? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

3. Say: In today’s Gospel, we will hear how Jesus sent his disciples to minister in his name. When he did this, he gave them very specific instructions. Let’s listen carefully to this Gospel.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud today’s Gospel, Mark 6:7-13.

5. Ask: What are some of the instructions that Jesus gave to his disciples when he sent them out? (He told them not to bring food or money or a second tunic; he told them to travel in pairs; he told them to stay in one house until they were ready to leave from that place.) Why do you think Jesus sent his disciples in pairs to minister? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

6. Say: Jesus seemed to know the value of teamwork, and he thought it was so important that he made it one of the “rules” of Christian ministry. As Jesus’ disciples today, we too are sent to share Jesus' message with others. But we are not sent alone because we have the community of the Church, which supports us in our life of Christian discipleship.

7. Conclude in prayer together, thanking God for the gift of the community of faith that supports us in our life of discipleship. Pray together the Prayer for Vocations.

Gospel Reading
Mark 6:7-13
Jesus instructs his disciples and sends them to preach repentance.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Jesus sent out the Twelve, giving instructions about how they were to conduct themselves on their mission journey. Like the Twelve, we are sent to serve others and are given everything we need for our journey as disciples.

Materials Needed (Grades 7 and 8)

• Paper and pencils

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings (Grades 7 and 8)

1. Distribute paper and pencils. Tell the young people to imagine that they are preparing for an overnight trip and ask them to write a list of items they will need to pack. When they have finished, observe that their lists are likely to include items that are absolutely necessary as well as items that are good to have, but not essential. Tell the young people to review their list and star items that they consider to be essential.

2. Then ask: If you were to stay at a hotel, what items would you expect to find provided in your room? (for example, soap, shampoo, conditioner) Observe that travelers expect to find these essential items provided as part of the hospitality offered when they stay at a hotel.

3. Say: In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus gives authority to the Twelve and sends them out, giving specific instructions about what they are to bring for their journey. Let’s listen carefully to this Gospel.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud this Sunday’s Gospel, Mark 6:7–13.

5. Ask: What instructions did Jesus give to the Twelve when he sent them out? (He told them to take a walking stick and to wear sandals, but not to bring food or money or a second tunic. He told them to travel in pairs. He told them to stay in one house until they were ready to leave from that place.) Observe that, like travelers today, the Twelve would depend on the hospitality of others to provide for their needs.

6. Ask: What were the Twelve able to do when Jesus sent them out? (They preached repentance, drove out demons, and cured many who were sick.) Observe that the Twelve were also dependent on Jesus, who gave them authority over unclean spirits.

7. Say: Jesus also calls us to share in his mission and sends us out to serve others. We depend on Jesus and the community of the Church that he gives us in our journey as disciples.

8. Conclude in prayer together, thanking God for providing everything we need to serve others in Jesus’ name. Pray together the psalm for this Sunday, Psalm 85.

Gospel Reading
Mark 6:7-13
Jesus instructs his disciples and sends them to preach repentance.

Family Connection

Families who work together to accomplish routine household tasks know that the benefits are more than efficiency. In sharing daily tasks, we accomplish more, but we also build relationships that last—and it’s a lot more fun! Jesus sent his disciples in pairs to minister in his name. Perhaps the job was accomplished more effectively this way, but more importantly, Jesus’ mission was accomplished more authentically. The Christian message can only authentically be proclaimed in and through the community of faith. In our work with others, we build this community of faith and can invite others to share in it.
As you gather as a family, talk about some household tasks that are more easily accomplished when two or more people work together. Talk about how working together not only makes the job easier, but also makes the task more fun because we are able to spend time together. Read together today’s Gospel, Mark 6:7-13. Ask: Why do you think Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs? Observe that Jesus continues to give us a community with which we share our life of discipleship—our family and the community of the Church. Conclude in prayer together that we will continue to rely on the support of the community of the Church in our life of discipleship. Pray together the Prayer to the Holy Spirit.