Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
Matthew 6:24–34
Enough, then, of worrying about tomorrow. Let tomorrow take care of itself.

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

Younger children who are still learning to manage difficult emotions may have a hard time turning their attention from worries and fears. Jesus teaches us that when we are worried, we can remember that God guides and cares for us.

Materials Needed

• optional: Printed lyrics in step 5 below to give children to take home

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Say: We all have things we worry about sometimes. We might worry about getting to school on time or doing well on a test. Do you think worrying helps us? Why or why not? (Guide children to see that worrying doesn’t help us. When we are distracted by worrying, we are often too fearful to do what we need to do. We might also worry about things that will not even happen. We can do well on a test by studying and doing our best.) Say: In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us that we do not have to worry. Listen carefully to hear why.

2. Read aloud today’s Gospel, Matthew 6:24–34.

3. Say: Jesus tells us that God the Father knows what we need. He tells us that God cares for the birds in the sky and the flowers in the fields. He says that God loves us so much and knows what we need! When we trust God, we can let go of our worries.

4. Invite children to share times God has cared for them. (Accept all reasonable answers.)

5. Teach children these lyrics, and invite them to sing the song with you to the melody of your choice. If you choose, you might add gestures. If you choose, give children a copy of the lyrics to take home. Invite children to sing the song if they feel worried to remind them that God loves and cares for them.

1. Close by offering one another a sign of peace.

Gospel Reading
Matthew 6:24–34
Enough, then, of worrying about tomorrow. Let tomorrow take care of itself.

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

Children at this age understand what it means to be trustworthy. They have experienced both putting trust in another and being worthy of another’s trust. Use these experiences to highlight how we are called to trust in God.

Materials Needed

• Two blindfolds

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Explain to the children what a trust walk is based on the activity below.

2. Ask for four volunteers and divide them into two pairs. Allow each pair to decide who will be blindfolded and who will be the guide.

3. One at a time, instruct the guides to lead their partners silently around the classroom, stopping on three different occasions to encourage their partners to experience things such as sitting carefully in a chair, opening or closing a door, or touching the textured surface of a pillow or toy.

4. Remind the class to be silent as each pair takes their trust walk. Invite them to observe how the guides show their trustworthiness and how the blindfolded children grow more comfortable with their guides.

5. When the trust walk is finished, ask the blindfolded children: Why was it important to trust your guide? (So they wouldn’t get hurt.) Ask the guides: What was it like to be responsible for your partner? (Answers will vary.)

6. Invite volunteers to read aloud this Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew 6:24–34.

7. Explain that Jesus wants his disciples both then and now to know that we can trust God to provide for our needs. Say: In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples to look at the birds in the sky and the flowers in the fields. God takes care of them and will care for us even more. We can always trust God to care for us. Even when we can’t see the way ahead, God is there to guide us.

8. Lead the children in quiet prayer, inviting them to use their own words to thank God for caring for them. Close by singing "Alleluia."

Gospel Reading
Matthew 6:24–34
Enough, then, of worrying about tomorrow. Let tomorrow take care of itself.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Young people at this age can relate to worrying. They worry about things such as grades, their appearance, and being popular. Use their experience of worrying to highlight the ways that God provides for us.

Materials Needed

• Writing paper and pencils

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Arrange young people into groups of four or five. Instruct each small group to make a list of five things that people their age worry about.

2. Invite one person from each group to read aloud their group’s list. Write the results on the board, marking the frequency with which any worries are repeated.

3. Ask the young people to identify those worries that they can do something about (their grades), and those they can do nothing about (their height or bone structure).

4. Invite volunteers to read aloud this Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew 6:24–34.

5. Explain how Jesus wanted his disciples both then and now to understand how much God loves them and cares for them. Share a personal story about a time when you experienced God’s care for you.

6. Invite the young people to reflect on those worries they can do nothing about. Say: In this Sunday’s Gospel, what did Jesus want his disciples to do instead of spending time worrying? (“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.”)

7. Engage the young people in a discussion about how people their age can turn worry into trust in God’s care for them.

8. Lead the young people in quiet prayer, inviting them to share their worries with Jesus. Encourage them to ask the Holy Spirit for help to trust in God’s care for them.

Gospel Reading
Matthew 6:24–34
Enough, then, of worrying about tomorrow. Let tomorrow take care of itself.

Family Connection

In our families we learn about caring. We learn to care for our own needs and the needs of others, and we learn to take responsibility for the needs of our household. Sometimes caring for these needs means that we are unable to do other things that we would enjoy more. At times, we can be tempted not to take responsibility for what we are given to care for.

Talk about the different ways your family cares for one another and the needs of your household. Remember times when you’ve been tempted to put your own needs ahead of others. Talk about the personal and familial consequences of making that choice.

Point out how God cares for us every day and will never forget us. Read aloud this Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew 6:24–34. Talk about how God looks after the birds in the sky and the flowers in the field. Point out how Jesus reminds his disciples that they are worth much more than these things. Take turns sharing times in which you have experienced God’s care for yourself and your family. Conclude this time together by offering one another a sign of peace.