St. Mark's Westford: Fr. Loring Sermon March 7, 2010

Ex. 3:1-15
Ps.63:1-8
I Cor.10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9

HE 2B/Ser. 10:00
Lent 3C

HOLY COMMUNION INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN - I

(Children come in during Gospel hymn and gather around the altar)

I. Show alter setup - as for dinner for a special guest as at Christmas or Thanksgiving.

THE BEST - no paper plates or plastic forks!

CHURCH NAMES:

Linen table cloth, candles (Fair linen)

Place mat - linen (Corporal)

Napkin - linen (Purificator)

Cup (Chalice)

Plate (Paten)

FOOD is- what? BREAD: you made some last week in the kitchen.

Much like the tread in Jesus' day.
Can use a bulkie roll or Syrian flatbread
Sometimes we use wafers
and if people can't eat wheat,
we use rice wafers

DRINK is- what? WINE mixed with water as in Jesus' day.

WE USE BREAD AND WINE BECAUSE JESUS TOLD
US TO DO SO, in order to remember Him.

HAVE YOU EVER PLANTED A SEED (like a bean?) in a flower pot or garden? You have to water it or it won't grow.

So this little bit or bread and wine is to water the seed of God's love planted in you and me - WHEN?
at BAPTISM. DO YOU KNOW YOUR BAPTISM DAY AS WELL AS
YOUR BIRTHDAY? (Ask your parents)

II. How do you receive the bread (children demonstrate)
Hands out flat.

If RIGHT on top, that is the hand you greet
a friend with - Jesus our Friend
If LEFT on top, that is the hand closest to your
heart, and we're giving our heart to Jesus.
Either way is O.K.

III. How do you receive the wine?

KEEP THE BREAD ON YOUR HAND till the cup comes,
THEN: dip the bread in the cup and eat the bread
OR: let the person with the cup dip the
bread and put it on your tongue (so you'll have to open your mouth!)
OR: Eat the bread right away and stand up to
take a sip from the cup - just enough to
moisten your lips.

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, as they do at any dinner table.

SUPPOSE you dip the bread and it breaks off
and you lose it in the cup. I have told
the cup-bearers to get another piece of
bread from me, and dip it, and put it on
your tongue (so open your mouth!)

SUPPOSE you drop the bread on the floor. Pick it
up if you can reach it, tell the cup-bearer
who will get another from me and
dip it and put it on your tongue (so open
your mouth!)

That should be enough for today. Proceed to Creed. There will be 2 baptisms next week, one baby and one grownup.

		CHURCH NAMES:
	Linen table cloth, candles	(Fair linen)
	Place mat - linen	(Corporal)
	Napkin - linen	(Purificator)
	Cup	(Chalice)
	Plate	(Paten)