Level II--Parable Work

Parable work continues on from the Level I into the Level II atrium, but in a deeper way. The child (as you may have noticed!) is building a capacity for synthesis--drawing conclusions from many stories, and by the age of 7 is strongly rooted in a sensitive period for justice (read: they are concerned with what is "fair.")

One parable work the younger ones (and some older) are seeing in Level II is the synthesis of the growth parables. This presentation draws together the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven, two favorites of the children--especially those who have seen them since they were 3 years old! The children wonder together with the catechist at the lesson these parables have for us about the Kingdom of Heaven. A few insights the children come to:

• There is a mysterious power at work in both the seed and the leaven that causes the growth and "leavening" of the tree and bread.
• In both cases, the seed and the leaven seem small and insignificant. The Kingdom must also have this appearance: starting small, not seeming so important, but then it becomes something greater, something beautiful.
• We also start small--in our mother's wombs! We did not cause our own growth, could that same mysterious power be at work in us? What is this power? (The children all know and answer: God!)

It is a privilege to sit with the children as we think about these parables together. Catechists will tell you that no matter how many times they sit and listen with the children, there is always a discovery of something new and beautiful in the parable.

He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32

He spoke to them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.” Matthew 13:33

Catechist Tea

Just a quick post on a little something we started doing 3 (or so) years ago: Catechist Teas. Modeled after what one trainer mentioned in passing--that Sofia and her collaborators would often sit in the atrium after classes and drink tea while discussing the presentations, the children, and/or making materials--up to 10 of us meet once (or more) per month to do just that.

Lately, we have started to choose one presentation to focus on as the springboard for our conversation. Two months ago it was the presentation of The Presentation (in the Temple--a Level I presentation). Last month we looked at the International Eucharistic Presence (Level II), and ended up bringing together many different album pages and tweaking the presentation until it was "just right." Yesterday we looked at the Level III work, The Cardinal Virtues.

This is a good opportunity to revisit the presentations as adults and to be sure that we are on target with our direct and indirect aims and doctrinal content. The presenter usually reads the direct and indirect aims afterward and we all discuss on how (or not) the presentation mirrored those.

It's been a beautiful way to build a community and to get stronger in our own understanding and formation. These concepts are never outgrown... each is like the song we sing with the children in Level I: "It is the smallest seed that there is...[that] becomes a magnificent tree!"

"And the Kingdom is in the highest... and the Kingdom is o'er all the earth... and the Kingdom is o'er all the earth... And the Kingdom is inside of us."

God's Blessings,

Mandie DeVries, CGS Catechist & Director of Religious Education

Level 1 Atrium: Falling in love with God.

Well I can’t believe it has been two weeks since our Christmas celebration and break, the children were so excited to be back in the atrium. We started off by recalling the birth of Jesus in the manger and the people that came to visit him, like the poor shepherds. The children were presented a work about the adoration of the Magi also known as the three Kings or astrologers. It is a beautiful work that reminds us that Jesus came for everyone, the rich and the poor.

We lifted up the word, “homage” which means to show respect and honor by kneeling and bringing gifts. We also discussed the meaning of the three gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) to help us ponder the true identity of this child, Jesus.

It is sometimes easy to forget the meanings of the gifts in which gold was a gift for a King, frankincense was used by a priest and myrrh is holy oil used to anoint a person’s body after they died. After the presentation, some of the children would be called to the work and we would reread the scripture (Mathew 2: 1-12) as the children moved the figures to reenact the event. Some children also enjoyed tracing pictures of the work.

Connected

It is amazing how one work will flow and be connected to another work. Each work builds on each other and helps deepen the children’s love and understanding of God. When talking about the word, homage, we also discussed that we give Jesus homage every time we genuflect at church. We talked about the gifts of bread and wine that we bring to Mass. Children seem to intuitive know that gifts are brought to special people. We presented a work about preparing the cruets. The cruets are the containers that hold the wine and water. At All Saints the cruet of water is on the altar table whereas the cruet of wine is brought with the other gifts. Make sure you point out the gifts that are brought up during Mass and the cruets; it is a wonderful way to help the children be more involved at Mass. This is a favorite work of the 3-6 year olds as it helps them master controlled movement of pouring, learn new words and being more involved at Mass.

I’m sure you have already experience this with 3-6 year olds, but don’t be surprised then your children want to start pour more of their own drinks at home.

This coming week we will be learning the parable of leaven. It is work that helps us contemplate how the Kingdom of Heaven grows. A concept that is honestly still a mystery to me. I encourage you to read the short passage Matthew 13:33 and do your own contemplation. Don’t be surprised if your children come home telling you they made bread as the presentation does involve flour and yeast (leaven).

We don’t let the children bring this work home, but feel free to stop in and look at it and ask questions. I have seen many children find a sense of peace and joy in this work as they slow stir the mixture. It is as if they are talking to God.

God’s Blessing,
Michelle Moore, CGS Catechist

Typologies Continue

You can tell it's been busy when it's been months since my last post! But I will still try to keep it short so that folks still want to come back and read without getting eye strain. ;)

Off to the left I have a picture of a child's work from the Flood typology. This is the first time a child has copied a whole chart!

For some background: this is our 2nd year (in a 3-4 year cycle) in Level 3. While children will end up seeing most of the Level 3 presentations over the course of their 4-7th grade years, our schedule looks a lot like the Liturgical Calendar.

As our Typology work continues, we are diving in to the study of our father in faith: Abraham. Abraham (or Abram, depending on what chapter of Genesis you're in) is important because of two principle reasons:

1. He listens to God's voice


2. He obeys

This is the first time that mono-theism enters into human history in any sustained way. Abraham doesn't just follow A god. He follows THE God.

For the children, we go straight to scripture (and they are getting much better at looking up verses!) and so far we've studied a bit about:

• Abraham's life as a semi-nomad--what life was like for him and what things were important,


• Abraham's character--how he was a clever and peaceful man who always sought peaceful means of looking out for his interests, and


• Abraham's relationship with God--he even walked with Him as a man walks with a man--interceding for the city of Sodom before God.

The children have also been working with card packets that help them to learn more about Abraham. The photo to the left is of the Abraham and Worship card packet. Many children will trace and/or copy this work.

We have a couple of weeks before we get to the pinnacle of our study--the sacrifice of Isaac. But the children will be well-prepared to enter into that story and see how Abraham's life and love for God prefigures (typology!) the Almighty Father who loves us so much that He is even willing to sacrifice His Son.

God Bless,

Mandie DeVries, CGS Catechist and Director of Religious Education

Here is a photo of one child's work copying the Nomadic Life packet...