Opening song and prayer
2 minSing When Faith Endures (Children's Songbook 120), then invite a child to offer the opening prayer.
New Every Morning
4 minAsk the class to name something that runs out. Batteries, snacks, and patience all get used up.
Hand out sticky notes. Tell them that after Jerusalem was destroyed, a prophet named Jeremiah wrote a book called Lamentations. It is full of sadness. But in the middle of that sadness he wrote that God's compassions 'are new every morning.'
Have each child write one kind thing God did for them recently on a sticky note and place it on the board. Add a fresh blank note for 'tomorrow' that you leave empty on purpose.
- Does God's love run out like a battery?No. Jeremiah said His compassions fail not and are new every morning.
- Why did the people of Jerusalem feel so sad?Their city and temple were destroyed. Many had lost homes and hope.
- Why leave one sticky note blank for tomorrow?To show we trust God will give us new mercy and help we have not seen yet.
God writes His law on our hearts
6 minJeremiah promised a day when people would not just have commandments on stone tablets outside them. God would put His law inside them, written on their hearts.
That means choosing the right becomes something we want, not just something we memorize. The Holy Ghost helps soft hearts learn to love what God loves.
- Where did Jeremiah say God's law would be written?In their inward parts, on their hearts.
- What is the difference between rules on a wall and rules in your heart?On a wall they are outside you. In your heart they change who you are and what you want to do.
- What makes a heart soft instead of hard?Humility, prayer, repentance, and listening to the Holy Ghost.
- When have you felt the Holy Ghost nudge you to do something kind?Let children answer. Apologizing, including someone, telling the truth, helping at home.
God turns mourning into joy
6 minLamentations is a sad book, but right in the middle Jeremiah stops to praise God. He says God's mercies never fail. They are new every morning.
Jeremiah also promised that God would gather His people home again. Sad endings are not the end when the Lord is involved. He can bring back joy after grief.
- What does 'his compassions fail not' mean in kid words?God's kindness and mercy do not run out or give up.
- Why is it brave to praise God in the middle of a sad chapter?It shows faith that God is still good even when life hurts.
- Jeremiah said God would turn mourning into joy. What is mourning?Deep sadness and grief, like crying over something lost.
- When have you felt sad but later felt hope again?Let children answer. After a move, a pet dying, a fight with a friend, or a hard school year.
Joy in every season (optional)
optionalSome seasons of life feel like winter: cold, quiet, and hard. Jeremiah's words remind us that spring always comes with the Lord.
Look at the sticky notes on the board. Each one is proof that God already helped you once. He can do it again.
- Can we feel joy and sadness in the same week?Yes. Faith does not mean pretending nothing is wrong. It means trusting God while we wait for joy to return.
- Who can you comfort this week when they are mourning?Let children name a real person. A sibling, classmate, or neighbor who seems lonely or sad.
- What is one way to show God's new mercy to someone else?Let children answer. A note, a shared treat, an invitation to play, or praying with them.
In the scriptures
5 minRead these together and talk about them.
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
- What will God write on hearts?His law, meaning His commandments and His way of living.
- What does 'they shall be my people' promise?God stays close to us and claims us as His own when we choose Him.
- How do we invite God to write on our hearts each day?Pray, study scriptures, take the sacrament, and obey even when it is hard.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
- What is new every morning?The Lord's compassions, meaning His mercy and kindness.
- What does 'great is thy faithfulness' tell us about God?He keeps His promises. We can count on Him.
- When you wake up tomorrow, what mercy will you ask God for?Let children answer. Patience, courage, forgiveness, help with a test, peace at home.
Morning mercy notes
optionalGive each child three sticky notes. On the first, write 'Mercy I saw today.' On the second, 'Mercy I need tomorrow.' On the third, 'Mercy I can share.'
Let volunteers read one note aloud. Post them near the classroom door so children see them on the way out.
Remind them that Jeremiah wrote hope in the middle of grief. Their notes can be hope for someone else too.