Children's Liturgy Guide

1st Sunday of Advent

Year C · Advent

Growing in Love

Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

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

In this letter, Saint Paul tells his friends that he wants their love to grow bigger and bigger. He asks God to help them love each other and everyone more and more, so they can be ready when Jesus comes.

Key Points

  • Paul prays for the people to grow in love for one another
  • Love can grow bigger, like a plant growing taller
  • Advent is a time to get our hearts ready for Jesus
  • We please God when we try to love others more each day

Background

This passage is Paul's prayer and exhortation to the Thessalonians, asking that the Lord make their love increase and abound for one another and for all. He then urges them to live in a way that pleases God, progressing in holiness as they await Christ's return. The theological heart is sanctification through love, a gradual growth in charity that prepares believers for the Parousia. For children, emphasize the concrete image of love growing bigger, like a plant or a heart expanding, and the idea that Advent is a time to help our love grow. Set aside the eschatological dimensions and the moral exhortations about conduct, which are too abstract for this age.

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 God, thank You for loving us so much. Please help our love to grow bigger and bigger this Advent, so we can share Your love with everyone we meet. 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 watched something grow, like a plant or a pet? What happened as it got bigger?

Example: I planted a bean in a cup at school and it got taller every day. First it was tiny and then it grew leaves and I had to give it water.

Bridge to the reading: You watched something small grow bigger and bigger over time. In today's reading, Saint Paul talks about something else that can grow, something very special: our love. Let's listen to hear how Paul wants our love to grow.

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. Who wrote this letter to his friends?

    Example: Saint Paul wrote the letter. He was writing to his friends who lived far away to tell them important things about God.

  2. What did Paul want to grow bigger and bigger in the people?

    Example: Paul wanted their love to grow bigger and bigger. He wanted them to love each other more and to love everyone around them too.

  3. How did Paul ask God to help the people?

    Example: Paul prayed to God and asked God to make the people's love grow more and more so their hearts would be full of love.

  4. Why do you think Paul wanted the people to be ready for when Jesus comes?

    Example: I think Paul wanted them to have big loving hearts so Jesus would see how much they loved each other and be happy with them.

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 inside when someone shows you lots of love?

    Example: It feels warm and happy inside, like when my grandma hugs me tight and I feel safe and special and really good.

  2. What is one way you could help your love grow bigger for someone in your family?

    Example: I could give my little brother a hug when he is sad instead of ignoring him, and that would make my love bigger.

  3. This Advent, who is one person you could show extra love to, maybe someone you do not usually think about?

    Example: Maybe I could be nicer to the kid in my class who sits alone at lunch and ask them to play with me.

Recap

Today we heard Saint Paul tell his friends that he wants their love to grow bigger and bigger. Just like a tiny seed can grow into a tall plant, our love can grow too. This Advent, we are getting our hearts ready for Jesus by letting our love grow more and more each day.

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 children everywhere who need to feel loved, that they may know God's care through the kindness of others, we pray to the Lord.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Loving God, thank You for teaching us that love can grow. Help us this week to grow our love bigger and bigger, just like Saint Paul asked. 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

Growing in Love

1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

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.

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

Words to find

  • love
  • grow
  • Paul
  • Advent
  • heart
  • ready
  • Jesus
  • friends
  • prayer
  • bigger
  • kindness

ChildrensLiturgy.org