WORSHIP@HOME
Preparation
- We recommend glancing through the whole service before you start. Adapt the service for your family, especially so it will be age-appropriate.
- You could make the setting special by using a green table cloth and setting some candles out. Get the whole family involved in the preparations.
- Place your family Bible on the table, if you have one, opened up to the Gospel of the day.
- The script has leader and various reader parts. Anyone old enough to read well can perform these roles.
- An iPad/tablet computer or large phone could work well for reading the script. It would would be helpful to have two devices for multiple people to read.
- Don't worry, you don't have to do this perfectly. Have some fun with it. Let's pray!
Just Before You Begin
- Silence and set aside all phones or other devices that may interrupt you.
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Opening Song
Greeting
Leader:
┼ In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Leader:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be God forever.
(The response is: Blessed be God forever.)
All: Blessed be God forever.
Leader:
We gather together as a family
to listen to God's Word so it can lead us this week.
One with all of our sisters and brothers throughout the world,
let us now listen to God's Word and join in prayer.
All: Amen.
Litany in Praise of God's Mercy
Leader:
As we prepare to hear a story from our faith,
let us remember that God is merciful and wants us to be merciful too.
Lord Jesus, you know that we are not perfect like you and don't always act out of love:
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Leader:
Lord Jesus, you showed us that the last shall be first and the first shall be last:
Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Leader:
Lord Jesus, you give us the strength we need to make good choices:
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Opening Prayer
Leader: Let us pray
Leader:
God of Love,
you stand for justice
and are always on the side of the weak.
May we work toward a better world,
seeking what is best for all,
not just our friends or people who look like us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Alleluia
Gospel
Reader 1:
In today’s reading, Jesus tells a story about some very mean servants.
We now do this action prayer together:
May the Lord be on my mind, ┼
on my lips, ┼
and in my heart ┼
as we hear the Gospel today.
A reading from the holy Gospel of Matthew.
Reader 1:
Jesus told the chief priests and leaders to listen to this story:
A land owner once planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it and dug a pit to crush the grapes in.
He also built a lookout tower. Then he rented out his vineyard and left the country.
When it was harvest time, the owner sent some servants to get his share of the grapes.
But the renters grabbed those servants. They beat up one, killed one, and stoned one of them to death.
He then sent more servants than he did the first time. But the renters treated them in the same way.
Finally, the owner sent his own son to the renters, because he thought they would respect him.
But when they saw the man’s son, they said,
“Someday he will own the vineyard. Let’s kill him! Then we can have it all for ourselves.”
So they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
Jesus asked,
“When the owner of that vineyard comes, what do you suppose he will do to those renters?”
The chief priests and leaders answered,
“He will kill them in some horrible way.
Then he will rent out his vineyard to people who will give him his share of grapes at harvest time.”
Jesus replied, “You surely know that the Scriptures say,
‘The stone that the builders tossed aside
is now the most important stone of all.
This is something the Lord has done,
and it is amazing to us.’
I tell you that God’s kingdom will be taken from you
and given to people who will do what he demands.
Reader 1:
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
"Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
'They will respect my son.'
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"
They answered him,
"He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times."
Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit."
Reader 1: The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Video Reflection
Here's a nine minute video for kids that reflects on this Gospel reading and how God gives second chances.
Reflections on the Readings
- In the Bible, the writers sometimes use a grape vineyard as a symbol for God’s people. Both the Old Testament reading and this Gospel reading for today make that comparison. They tell how God cares for us like a skilled, loving farmer who does everything possible to help us grow and produce good fruit. Who are the people in your life who help you and care for you so that you can grow to be the best "you"?
- Why do you think the tenants acted so horribly to the servants that the landlord sent? Why would they beat them up and kill them? Sadly, that’s what the people did to Jesus when he came as God’s servant. Do you know of other children or other people who have been mistreated and hurt? What could you do to help them?
- Jesus explains that some people (like the leaders of his own people, the Jews) rejected him just like the tenants rejected the landowner’s servants but that won’t stop him. He can work through ANYONE. The Kingdom of God is open to anyone who wants to produce good grapes through being caring and generous and being their best selves. Who do you know who is a good and loving person, even if they don’t go to your church, or share the same faith as you? Jesus is working through them too!
General Intercessions
Leader: Now let’s pray together to God for what we need.
Reader 2:
We pray for all the leaders in our nation, states, and local communities,
that they may lead with wisdom, justice, and love for all,
let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader 2:
We pray for all of those affected by natural disasters,
let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader 2:
We pray for all those who suffer in our country because of injustice and judgment
because of their skin color, their religion, or any other form of discrimination.
May we all work for justice because every single person is a child of God.
let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader 2: For what else and for who else shall we pray?
Lord's Prayer
Leader: Jesus taught us to call God our Father, and so we have the courage to say:
All:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Sign of Peace
Leader: Let us now offer each other a sign of peace.
A Litany for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The response is: Lord, bring us closer to you!
All: Lord, bring us closer to you!
Leader:
Lord our God,
we wish we could gather today with our parish community,
but we gather here out of love and concern for others.
You teach us that when two or three are gathered in your name,
you are there.
Together, we pray:
All: Lord, bring us closer to you!
Leader:
Christ Jesus, you are present in a special way
when bread and wine are turned into your Body and Blood.
Since we cannot receive you in this way today,
We ask that you enter our hearts
so that we may receive you spiritually.
Together, we pray:
All: Lord, bring us closer to you!
Leader:
Lord our God,
watch over your family
and keep us safe in your care,
for all our hope is in you.
All: Lord, bring us closer to you!
Concluding Rite
Blessing & Dismissal
Leader: Go in the peace of Christ.
All: Thanks be to God.
Closing Song
After the Service
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Portions excerpted from or adapted from Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest: Leader's Guide © 1993 United States Catholic Conference (USCC), 3211 Fourth Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017-1194 USA. All rights reserved.
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