Submitted by
D. Thomas

Age Group
7-11

Aim
To link a beginning of term Mass with the "Special People" topic (Here I Am Route B Spring Term) and the "Feast of the Baptism of the Lord"

Faith Group
Roman Catholic, Christian

Resources
As for a school Mass

Time of Year
Start of the spring term/Baptism of the Lord

Other Details
The theme of this Mass is 'Special People'

Script

1) Introduction – Hymn “Bind Us Together, Lord” (HOAN 62)

- Greeting (see below)

2) Penitential Rite: Celebrant

3) First Reading Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7

4) Psalm (& Response) Ps 28: 1-4, 9-10 resp v. 11

5) Gospel – Mt 3:13-17 “The Baptism of Jesus”: Celebrant

6) Bidding Prayers (see below)

7) Offertory – Hymn “Gifts of Bread and Wine” (HOAN 158) -

Procession - Work from each class on “Special People” from “Here I Am”)

8) Liturgy of the Eucharist: Celebrant

9) Communion Hymn “Be Still and Know That I Am God” (HOAN 58)

10) Blessing and Dismissal: Celebrant

11) Final Hymn “I, The Lord of Sea and Sky” (HOAN 712)

(HOAN = Hymns Old and New, Readings from Baptism of the Lord Year A)

Introduction

1) Hello and welcome to our beginning of term celebration. The theme of this Mass is Special People.

2) There are many people who are special to us: our parents, our relatives, our friends and our teachers. In today's Mass we are going to give thanks for them and for other people who have been influential in our lives and in the lives of others.

3) We think especially of those people who have helped to spread the Christian faith by the things that they have said and done.

4) For Christians, Jesus is a very special person. He was sent to show us how to live as God the Father wants. Sometimes we fail to live the sort of lives that we should: we forget God and we hurt others by the things that we do and say. Jesus taught us that God is a loving Father who forgives us when we are truly sorry. We turn to Him now and ask for His forgiveness.

Bidding Prayers

5) Let us turn now to God the Father and bring before Him our needs and the needs of the world.

Lord Hear Us

(response) Lord Graciously Hear Us.

6) We pray for Pope John Paul and all Christian leaders – May they work for peace in our world and help the church to grow.

Lord Hear Us

7) We pray for all who have positions of responsibility in our society – We pray that they may always care for the people they serve and especially the weakest members of our community.

Lord Hear Us.

8) We pray for our school at the start of a new term – May it be both a place of learning and a place of friendship.

Lord Hear Us

9) We pray for our families – May they be places of love, understanding and forgiveness.

Lord Hear Us

10) We pray for our friends – We give thanks for their love and support and pray that we may be good friends to them and to all who need our care.

Lord Hear Us

11) We ask Mary, the mother of Jesus and the mother of all Christians to pray with us and for us as we say

“Hail Mary full of grace …”

Let us spend a few moments in silent prayer as we give thanks for those people who are very special to us.

Lord Hear us