Children's Liturgy Guide

1st Sunday of Advent

Year B · Advent

Stay Awake and Watch

Reading: Mark 13:33-37

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

Jesus tells a story about a man who goes on a trip and leaves his servants in charge of his house. He tells them to stay awake and watch for when he comes back, because they do not know what time he will return. Jesus wants us to stay awake and be ready for him too.

Key Points

  • Jesus uses a story about servants watching a house to teach us about being ready for him
  • We do not know when Jesus will come, so we must always be ready
  • Advent is a special time of waiting and preparing for Jesus
  • Being watchful means paying attention to Jesus every day

Background

This Gospel comes at the beginning of Advent as an eschatological call to vigilance. Jesus uses the parable of a householder departing on a journey, leaving servants with responsibilities and commanding the doorkeeper to stay alert. The master could return at any of the four Roman night watches: evening, midnight, cockcrow, or dawn. The repeated command to watch (gregoreo) emphasizes constant spiritual alertness rather than anxious fear. For children, emphasize the positive excitement of waiting for someone we love to arrive, like waiting for a grandparent to visit. Set aside the more complex apocalyptic context and focus on the simple message that Jesus wants us to be ready and paying attention because he loves us and is coming.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear Jesus, thank you for the special season of Advent when we get ready for you. Help us to stay awake in our hearts and watch for you every day. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever had to wait for someone special to come to your house, like a grandma or grandpa or a friend? What was it like to wait for them?

Example: Yes, I waited for my grandma to come visit and I kept looking out the window to see if her car was coming yet because I was so excited.

Bridge to the reading: That excited feeling of watching and waiting for someone you love is just what Jesus talks about in today's reading. He tells us a story about servants who have to watch and wait for their master to come home.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. In Jesus's story, what does the man do before he goes on his trip?

    Example: The man puts his servants in charge of his house and gives them each a job to do while he is away.

  2. What special job does the man give to the doorkeeper?

    Example: The man tells the doorkeeper to stay awake and watch the door so he will know when the master comes back home.

  3. Why do the servants need to stay awake and watch carefully?

    Example: They need to stay awake because they do not know what time the master will come back, so it could be any time.

  4. What do you think Jesus wants us to learn from this story about the servants?

    Example: I think Jesus wants us to be ready for him and pay attention because we do not know when he will come to us.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How does it feel when you are waiting for something really wonderful to happen?

    Example: It feels exciting and happy inside, and I want to get everything ready and I keep thinking about it all the time.

  2. What are some ways you can get your heart ready for Jesus during Advent?

    Example: I can pray every day and be kind to my family and think about Jesus being born at Christmas time.

  3. This week, what is one way you can stay awake and watch for Jesus at home or at school?

    Example: I can look for ways to help my mom or be nice to someone at school because that is being ready for Jesus.

Recap

Today we heard Jesus tell a story about servants who had to stay awake and watch for their master to come home. They did not know what time he would arrive, so they had to be ready all the time. Jesus wants us to be like those servants during Advent, staying awake in our hearts and getting ready for him with love and excitement.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For all children who are waiting for something special this Advent, that they may find joy in preparing their hearts for Jesus, we pray to the Lord.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you, Jesus, for teaching us to watch and wait for you. Help us this Advent to keep our hearts awake and ready. May we always look for you with excitement and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

Stay Awake and Watch

Mark 13:33-37

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

Z B J D L R T L I L P P B Z D
D S R Q Z V W O P I I U K O O
T O G Z F V W A I T I N G Q O
Z C G F P M S J T B J E C R R
V A V T L X K T U C L O R K P
E K H Q C E S U O H H G P S U
H L H A Y I W Y R N B P X R M
S C Q A L A Z E E Y M N P Q R
X X E V T E D I G N D H H G S
G M R Z N R R V T B P A L I U
A A A N A V T T E V K C E S S
Z S P V V Z I K M N T D X R E
W T E Q R L E M N J T H G V J
O E R Q E X A T A G E B R P C
F R P S S D A A W A K E B Z R

Words to find

  • watch
  • awake
  • ready
  • servant
  • master
  • door
  • Advent
  • waiting
  • Jesus
  • prepare
  • alert
  • house

ChildrensLiturgy.org