The last class before Holy Thursday, we always have a special presentation for the children in both Level I and Level II. This presentation is called the Cenacle and is named for the upper room where the apostles and Jesus celebrated the Passover meal that was the setting for the institution of the Holy Eucharist!
The material is nearly the same for both atria, and we use 12 little 3D apostles and 1 3D Jesus to represent the real apostles and Jesus on that night. There are also little candlesticks and candles, and a plate with bread (paten) and a cup with wine (chalice).
We prepare the children by saying that during this meal, Jesus spoke words that had never been spoken before: "This is my body," and "This is my blood." As we read the red "Last Supper" booklet containing the pertinent scriptures, the catechist moves the figures to retell the story. We finish the Level I presentation by recalling what happened in the Garden of Gethsemene after this meal.
"We know that something very sad happened. The soldiers came and arrested Jesus, and the next day... he died." (At this, the catechist extinguishes the candles). Many of the smallest children and some older ones audibly gasp upon hearing this... not because they may not have known it already, but because it really is an amazing thing that Jesus truly died for us! The catechist continues, "But we know that Jesus did not remain in the darkness of death! (relights candles) On Easter morning, he rose again!"
The Level II presentation continues after this point into a presentation called "The Origin of the Eucharist." The catechists remembers with the children how Jesus rose and appeared to the apostles over the course of the next 40 days until his Ascension into heaven. Then the apostles return (and the catechists replaces the apostles around the table in the upper room), and celebrate the Eucharist (probably Peter said the words of Jesus: "This is my body" and "This is my blood"), and Jesus became present to them in the bread and wine. But the apostles grew old, and other faithful men were appointed bishops to succeed them. (At this point we bring in a 2D bishop to represent many bishops that were appointed), and as the Church grew, these bishops appointed other men, called priests, to assist them (now we replace the bishop with a 2d priest).
Now this is the best part: "Over the centuries, bishops and priests have continued to repeat the words of Jesus--bringing the gift Jesus wished to give to all people of all times, his presence in the bread and wine. Even to this present day, priests and bishops continue this apostolic ministry. (Now the backdrop is turned around to reveal the picture of our own parish church!) So that we all can receive the gift of Jesus, even here at All Saints!"
The children's "oohs" and "aahs" were very sweet, especially the children who have seen this presentation for the past 3 or 4 years and never knew what was on the other side of the backdrop! This is a concrete presentation to help us all understand how we are a part of what happened in that room 2000 years ago on Holy Thursday, and it helps us to have a great respect for our priests and bishops who bring us this gift that Jesus wished to share with all people of all times: His very Self!!!
God be with you all this Holy Week!
Mandie DeVries,
Catechist and Director of Faith Formation
Children
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Mystery of Life and Death
The catechists are very happy this week that we have finally found someone to help us prepare the work called "The Mystery of Life and Death." It requires planting wheat seeds at 1 week intervals and showing the progression of the life/death of a seed and the new life that comes from it. Unfortunately, many of your CGS catechists are not blessed with green thumbs, but Ms. Lynn happened to major in horticulture and apparently that is what we needed!
The meditation began with this reading from the Gospel of John:
"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." John 12:24
We then explored with the children what happened to the grain of wheat when it fell to the ground: it changed! Life came out of it! It was fun digging up a plant to see what has happened to the seed. Looking at the sheath of wheat, we see what has become of this grain falling to the ground--although some of them thought it was a bit of a stretch to call the full sheath of grain "fruit"!
We did this work in both levels this week (since it's the first time any of the children ever saw it!) and some children were absolutely rapt with attention. One child wrote a prayer, "O dear Jesus, help me not to stay small like the grain, but to grow and grow and grow!" Another child synthesized our "Blue Strip" work that details the History of the Kingdom of God and drew a picture with concentric circles, starting very small and growing larger and larger. He said that the center circle was the Resurrection of Christ, and that it keeps radiating out--growing and growing throughout history. When he showed this to his classmates at prayer that evening, one child raised her hand and said, "That is the most amazing thing I've ever seen."
Speaking of amazing, there was one other Level II work that two children did that I want to share with you this week. Two boys, a 3rd grader and a 1st grader, who do not usually work together, took on the HUGE project of copying the entire Blue Strip. This is a meditation on the creation of the world, with scientific explanations paired with scriptural verses. One child took it upon himself to start drawing the strip on a 10-15 foot strip of adding paper, supplementing it with verses, and the other began to write the bottom explanations on white paper, stapling them in their appropriate place on the adding paper. It is by far the BIGGEST work any children have done so far, and it was entirely on their own initiative.
As one of our catechists said, the prepared environment of the atrium is a place where work is prepared and the child may use it to the glory of God. This catechist said that CGS has helped her to appreciate how God made a prepared environment for us: the world! There is work for us to do, and it will (hopefully!) lead us to Him.
May God bless you and your families! Have a happy Spring Break!!!
Mandie DeVries
CGS Catechist & Director of Faith Formation
The meditation began with this reading from the Gospel of John:
"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." John 12:24
We then explored with the children what happened to the grain of wheat when it fell to the ground: it changed! Life came out of it! It was fun digging up a plant to see what has happened to the seed. Looking at the sheath of wheat, we see what has become of this grain falling to the ground--although some of them thought it was a bit of a stretch to call the full sheath of grain "fruit"!
We did this work in both levels this week (since it's the first time any of the children ever saw it!) and some children were absolutely rapt with attention. One child wrote a prayer, "O dear Jesus, help me not to stay small like the grain, but to grow and grow and grow!" Another child synthesized our "Blue Strip" work that details the History of the Kingdom of God and drew a picture with concentric circles, starting very small and growing larger and larger. He said that the center circle was the Resurrection of Christ, and that it keeps radiating out--growing and growing throughout history. When he showed this to his classmates at prayer that evening, one child raised her hand and said, "That is the most amazing thing I've ever seen."
Speaking of amazing, there was one other Level II work that two children did that I want to share with you this week. Two boys, a 3rd grader and a 1st grader, who do not usually work together, took on the HUGE project of copying the entire Blue Strip. This is a meditation on the creation of the world, with scientific explanations paired with scriptural verses. One child took it upon himself to start drawing the strip on a 10-15 foot strip of adding paper, supplementing it with verses, and the other began to write the bottom explanations on white paper, stapling them in their appropriate place on the adding paper. It is by far the BIGGEST work any children have done so far, and it was entirely on their own initiative.
As one of our catechists said, the prepared environment of the atrium is a place where work is prepared and the child may use it to the glory of God. This catechist said that CGS has helped her to appreciate how God made a prepared environment for us: the world! There is work for us to do, and it will (hopefully!) lead us to Him.
May God bless you and your families! Have a happy Spring Break!!!
Mandie DeVries
CGS Catechist & Director of Faith Formation
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Level I Feb. 24th and Mar. 3rd
The City of Jerusalem
We had a great atrium session this week! The children love their work time and keep busy working with many different materials. The altar, the Good Shepherd, the Gestures of the Mass, and the leaven work are always favorites.
This week, the second year children were introduced (or reintroduced) the City of Jerusalem work. If you have not seen this material before, I invite you to come take a look, it is really cool. It’s actually a 3D map that shows the various places of significance within the city. All the pieces are movable so we can assemble the map as we discuss each location. We begin the presentation by recalling with the children that we are in the season of Lent and that we remember Christ's death and resurrection in a special way. Then, using the map we talk about the events and locations staring with the Last Supper and ending with His Resurrection.
They all knew that Christ died on the cross to save us from our sins and that on the third day he rose from the dead. However, this presentation gives more information about the events leading up to Christ's death and it helps them to more fully understand the life of Christ in time and space.
The children loved this presentation, it really draws them in. The younger ones can't wait until it is their turn to see it as well!
I hope you are having a blessed Lent!
In Christ,
Liz Stone, Catechist & Assistant Director of Faith Formation
Monday, March 8, 2010
Level II--Bible History, Prayers, and Weddings
This week in Level II, first year children were presented a "Archival" type book that was handcopied and adorned with special pictures to help them think about Where the Bible Came From. It was awesome to see the children so engaged with the story of this ancient book that really is the history of the Kingdom of God. In the Sunday class, we sat near the Blue Strip which also titled "The History of the Kingdom of God" and the children were drawn even deeper into this amazing plan that God had from the beginning of time.
Two boys from our 5:15 class (one 3rd grader and one 1st grader) have been working especially hard at recreating the Blue Unity Strip together. One child has busied himself at redrawing all of the pictures on a long piece of adding paper, "This is the best horse I ever made!" and the other has gotten a good deal of tape and copied down the many, many words that accompany the work to attach it to his friends' work. They hope to finish it this week.
The Wedding Feast material was presented to many 3rd graders this week, and can be a very intense work, since it involves the murder of the King's servants, the anger of the King, and the opening of the Feast to all people, good and bad. The children were asked to think about the man who came without a wedding garment. In those days, guests to weddings were actually given a wedding garment to wear. Why would this man refuse to wear the garment? Many of the children simply pondered this question, and will undoubtedly go deeper with this work over the next few years. For us, though, we know that this garment reminds us of the garment that we were given at Baptism, the garment of worship. We are all offered this gift, and it is important that we bring it unstained into the eternal banquet.
Two boys from our 5:15 class (one 3rd grader and one 1st grader) have been working especially hard at recreating the Blue Unity Strip together. One child has busied himself at redrawing all of the pictures on a long piece of adding paper, "This is the best horse I ever made!" and the other has gotten a good deal of tape and copied down the many, many words that accompany the work to attach it to his friends' work. They hope to finish it this week.
The Wedding Feast material was presented to many 3rd graders this week, and can be a very intense work, since it involves the murder of the King's servants, the anger of the King, and the opening of the Feast to all people, good and bad. The children were asked to think about the man who came without a wedding garment. In those days, guests to weddings were actually given a wedding garment to wear. Why would this man refuse to wear the garment? Many of the children simply pondered this question, and will undoubtedly go deeper with this work over the next few years. For us, though, we know that this garment reminds us of the garment that we were given at Baptism, the garment of worship. We are all offered this gift, and it is important that we bring it unstained into the eternal banquet.
The final story I have to share is from the 7pm atrium. All of our children who are planning to enroll in First Communion preparation have now signed their names in gold and placed their name cards on our special board. One 3rd grade girl chose to make a replica of this board, name for name, even to the point of outlining each card twice. She wanted to take her replica home and place it by her bed so that she could remember to pray for her classmates each night. The children were very taken with this, and all of the 2nd graders wanted to make sure that their names were on her paper. It is very sweet to see love for each other growing in their little hearts.
The atrium really is a different approach to faith formation. Nearly every week the children are presented with some new work (we usually call it a Presentation) which can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes, and either before or after this they are given an opportunity to do their "free work." This work will vary from child to child, but the environment is prepared for them so that they can work. Contemplation and understanding stem from 3 things: material-something to think about, silence-a chance to work without distraction, and time-that mysterious agent that causes growth, though we do not know how or why. It is when we offer these 3 things that we truly begin to see the depth of the Religious Potential of the Child.
God Bless,
Mandie DeVries,
Catechist & Director of Faith Formation
The atrium really is a different approach to faith formation. Nearly every week the children are presented with some new work (we usually call it a Presentation) which can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes, and either before or after this they are given an opportunity to do their "free work." This work will vary from child to child, but the environment is prepared for them so that they can work. Contemplation and understanding stem from 3 things: material-something to think about, silence-a chance to work without distraction, and time-that mysterious agent that causes growth, though we do not know how or why. It is when we offer these 3 things that we truly begin to see the depth of the Religious Potential of the Child.
God Bless,
Mandie DeVries,
Catechist & Director of Faith Formation
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Level I February 21st and 24th
'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'
This week in the atrium we celebrated the beginning of Lent with the children. We had a procession into the atrium singing “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”, and changed the prayer cloth to purple for this time of preparation.
We presented the Sign of the Cross to the children and talked about how making the Sign of the Cross is a symbol of protection (like a shield), and reminder that God is close to us.
Finally, the second year children received the Lost Sheep presentation. As I was thinking about the questions we ask the children in order to lift up certain ideas from this scripture passage, I realized how prevalent this passage is to my life, and what a beautiful parable this is to contemplate during the Lenten season.
“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy.
And, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'” Lk. 15:4-6
How does it feel to be lost? The children immediately respond “scary”, they have either been lost or can imagine what that would feel like. But as an adult, what does it feel like to be lost? We have all experienced confusion, loneliness, being unsure of God’s will or feeling as though we are far from God.
Yet…
What does the Good Shepherd do?
He looks for that lost sheep, and he does not stop looking until he finds it, he never gives up! The lost sheep must have been so happy to be found be the Good Shepherd! And we know the Good Shepherd was happy, too! He carried the sheep home on his shoulders, and when he got there called everyone together to celebrate!
The Good Shepherd does the same for us, even now! Praise God for the sacrament of Reconciliation and for this wonderful season of turning our hearts and minds back to God. I believe all of Heaven is rejoicing!
May God bless you all!
-Liz Stone
This week in the atrium we celebrated the beginning of Lent with the children. We had a procession into the atrium singing “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”, and changed the prayer cloth to purple for this time of preparation.
We presented the Sign of the Cross to the children and talked about how making the Sign of the Cross is a symbol of protection (like a shield), and reminder that God is close to us.
Finally, the second year children received the Lost Sheep presentation. As I was thinking about the questions we ask the children in order to lift up certain ideas from this scripture passage, I realized how prevalent this passage is to my life, and what a beautiful parable this is to contemplate during the Lenten season.
“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy.
And, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'” Lk. 15:4-6
How does it feel to be lost? The children immediately respond “scary”, they have either been lost or can imagine what that would feel like. But as an adult, what does it feel like to be lost? We have all experienced confusion, loneliness, being unsure of God’s will or feeling as though we are far from God.
Yet…
What does the Good Shepherd do?
He looks for that lost sheep, and he does not stop looking until he finds it, he never gives up! The lost sheep must have been so happy to be found be the Good Shepherd! And we know the Good Shepherd was happy, too! He carried the sheep home on his shoulders, and when he got there called everyone together to celebrate!
The Good Shepherd does the same for us, even now! Praise God for the sacrament of Reconciliation and for this wonderful season of turning our hearts and minds back to God. I believe all of Heaven is rejoicing!
May God bless you all!
-Liz Stone
Monday, March 1, 2010
Level II Atrium Feb 21st, 24th, & 28th
This was our week of First Communion enrollment. The 2nd graders were invited to write their names in gold pen and present themselves for enrollment in First Communion preparation. Each child's name was posted on a beautiful board that is placed near the prayer table. The children's names will be read each week as part of class prayer.
It was very sweet to see the how excited the 3rd graders were to see the board: "Hey, look it's our names... No, they're not!" We did show the children the special box where all of the enrollment cards from past First Communicants are kept, and this was of special interest.
The First Communion children had a few presentations (based on the child) this week. The Synthesis of the Mass work was expanded to include prayer cards. This work goes deeper into the Mass with prayer cards (which they have to place in order) along with the Missal work (where they make their own Missal). This work continues the color-coded organization of the mass parts that was begun in Level I--Liturgy of the Word, Preparation, Liturgy of the Eucharist, etc.--and which will come into play even more in the Level III atrium.
Another material we presented this week was the "Found Coin" work. I love this work, as the woman, her 10 coins, and the broom that she uses to "sweep out" her room really help us to think together with the children about how hard that woman must have looked for her coin. The neighbors are my favorite, though, because they have their arms raised to heaven, sharing her joy. We ask the children, "who do you think this coin represents?" They will have time to meditate on this presentation again during their special First Communion Bible studies.
So much is going on in the atrium, that with our 40 children, we really do have 40 stories a week to share (or more!) Besides receiving new presentations, some children have busied themselves working on their Missals (a small white binder into which they copy our "control missal"), some have been studiously copying Scripture booklets, some have been working on the altar work, and many have been working with the Books of the Bible (more on that next week). The favorite is still the leaven work: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed with 3 measures of flour, until it was leavened through."
The last story I will leave you with is about the simple prayer we prayed at the beginning of class on Sunday. We (the Sunday class) have begun by singing the "Hail Mary" each week, but this week we added a "Glory Be." I realized that this prayer has a lot to do with that big blue strip that is hanging on the wall in the atrium. It is titled: "The History of the Kingdom of God." It really is a timeline that begins with Creation, continues through the Redemption, and through to the Parousia, the time when "God will be all in all."
As we prayed the "Glory Be" we walked over to the Blue Strip and prayed the beginning part: "Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit" and then continued while walking along the strip with a hand outstretched: "...as it was in the beginning, is NOW, and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN!" When we got to the part about "world without end" we made our fingers wiggle like a fringe on a piece of ribbon that represents eternity. It was very cool, and the kids remembered the prayer at the end of class! It was a great chance to review the Parousia and the Plan of God and to offer GLORY to God for all of his great work!
God Bless!
Mandie DeVries,
CGS Catechists
Director of Religious Education
It was very sweet to see the how excited the 3rd graders were to see the board: "Hey, look it's our names... No, they're not!" We did show the children the special box where all of the enrollment cards from past First Communicants are kept, and this was of special interest.
The First Communion children had a few presentations (based on the child) this week. The Synthesis of the Mass work was expanded to include prayer cards. This work goes deeper into the Mass with prayer cards (which they have to place in order) along with the Missal work (where they make their own Missal). This work continues the color-coded organization of the mass parts that was begun in Level I--Liturgy of the Word, Preparation, Liturgy of the Eucharist, etc.--and which will come into play even more in the Level III atrium.
Another material we presented this week was the "Found Coin" work. I love this work, as the woman, her 10 coins, and the broom that she uses to "sweep out" her room really help us to think together with the children about how hard that woman must have looked for her coin. The neighbors are my favorite, though, because they have their arms raised to heaven, sharing her joy. We ask the children, "who do you think this coin represents?" They will have time to meditate on this presentation again during their special First Communion Bible studies.
So much is going on in the atrium, that with our 40 children, we really do have 40 stories a week to share (or more!) Besides receiving new presentations, some children have busied themselves working on their Missals (a small white binder into which they copy our "control missal"), some have been studiously copying Scripture booklets, some have been working on the altar work, and many have been working with the Books of the Bible (more on that next week). The favorite is still the leaven work: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed with 3 measures of flour, until it was leavened through."
The last story I will leave you with is about the simple prayer we prayed at the beginning of class on Sunday. We (the Sunday class) have begun by singing the "Hail Mary" each week, but this week we added a "Glory Be." I realized that this prayer has a lot to do with that big blue strip that is hanging on the wall in the atrium. It is titled: "The History of the Kingdom of God." It really is a timeline that begins with Creation, continues through the Redemption, and through to the Parousia, the time when "God will be all in all."
As we prayed the "Glory Be" we walked over to the Blue Strip and prayed the beginning part: "Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit" and then continued while walking along the strip with a hand outstretched: "...as it was in the beginning, is NOW, and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN!" When we got to the part about "world without end" we made our fingers wiggle like a fringe on a piece of ribbon that represents eternity. It was very cool, and the kids remembered the prayer at the end of class! It was a great chance to review the Parousia and the Plan of God and to offer GLORY to God for all of his great work!
God Bless!
Mandie DeVries,
CGS Catechists
Director of Religious Education
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