Lesson

Begin by asking children to write/ draw or talk about the first time they did anything, e.g. their first day at school, their first flight in an airplane, their first night away from home.

How did they feel? How did they cope? How did other people treat them? Was their first time a special time?

In some Churches, the first time a boy or girl takes Communion is a very special time.

Can the children remember what Communion is? If not, tell them it is the special meal of bread and wine which Christians have to remember that Jesus died for them.

Show the children a video or the images of Christian children in the Catholic church making their First Holy Communion. Draw attention to the special clothes which the children are wearing. How must it feel to wear such clothes?

Share Sarah's story with the children. Did their 'first time' make them feel like Sarah at her First Communion? If not, why not?

Tell children that every day is full of 'first times'. They must learn to appreciate them and to make 'first times' special times for other people in their class community.

Notes

Children from Catholic families may have access to artefacts relating to their First Holy Communion or to those of other family members.