Christ Our Life 2016 Grade 3 Teacher School Edition by Loyola Press

NEW EVANGELIZATION EDITION

Christ Our Life We Believe

SCHOOL EDITION S CTeacher’s H O O L E DGuide ITION

The New Evangelization The Essential Mission of the Church Entrusted by Jesus Jesus’ Commission In the Gospel of Matthew, after his Resurrection, Jesus gives this mandate to the apostles: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20) The Acts of the Apostles tells us that the apostles and disciples were at first afraid. But their fear disappeared with the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church (Acts of the Apostles 2:1–41). Peter went out and boldly proclaimed the Gospel to the gathering crowd. The mission of the Church to know, proclaim, witness, and share the Word did not end with the early Church. Jesus Christ is with us and continues to send the Holy Spirit to inspire us and give us the courage to proclaim the Gospel. Every generation is called to share the Good News of God’s love with the world. Catholic parents are especially called to recognize their vocation as the first catechists for their children to see that they learn the fundamentals of the faith. The children will then be prepared to enter the world with the knowledge they need to become evangelizers for their generation.

The Holy Fathers Speak The popes since the Second Vatican Council have called the Church to realize how central the mission of evangelization is to our identity as Catholics. The call for the Church to be an evangelizing community began in modern times with the Second Vatican Council. This was seen especially in the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (1965) and The Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church (1965). This was followed up in 1975 with Pope Paul VI’s Apostolic Exhortation, On Evangelization in the Modern World. Building on the initiative of Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II stressed the need for a New Evangelization in his Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America. There Pope John Paul II wrote, “The program of a new evangelization . . . cannot be restricted to revitalizing the faith of regular believers, but must strive as well to proclaim Christ where he is not known.” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI made New Evangelization the theme of the 2012 Synod of Bishops. Following up the synod, the bishops of the United States published a new document, Disciples Called to Witness: The New

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49)

Evangelization. Pope Francis has made evangelization a primary focus of his Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel. In that Exhortation, Pope Francis encourages all the Christian faithful “. . . to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” The primary language Pope Francis asks Christians to use is “. . . the language of mercy, which is more about gestures and attitudes than words.”

Catechesis and the New Evangelization The National Directory for Catechesis affirms that catechesis leads believers to a deeper knowledge and love of Christ and his Church. With the New Evangelization, catechesis is given a missionary dynamic to evangelize the culture, affirming what aligns with Jesus’ teaching and challenging what does not. (NDC 17.D) Among its pastoral directives, the NDC encourages dioceses and parishes to adopt and implement the goals of Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States. A summary of some fundamental objectives follows: (NDC 17.E) • for every believer to experience a personal conversion to Jesus Christ that leads to renewal and participation in the life of the Church • to encourage knowledge of Holy Scripture and Tradition of the Church • for believers to work toward renewing every parish, especially through implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults • for believers to rededicate themselves to the Word of God and the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and to commit to celebrating the Eucharist every Sunday • to make evangelical and social justice connections to the Sunday Eucharist • to call believers to daily prayer, in particular, to pray the psalms and the Liturgy of the Hours, to contemplate Christ’s life in the Mysteries of

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THE NEW EVANGELIZATION the Rosary, and to revere the Eucharist through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament • to make all parishes and Catholic institutions welcoming and accessible to all

The New Gather and Go Forth Pages in Christ Our Life The addition of the Gather and Go Forth pages to the Christ Our Life program is a response to the Church’s call for a New Evangelization including that of Pope John Paul II, who asked each Catholic to evangelize in a way that is “new in its ardor, in its methods, in its expressions.” We become members of the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. We celebrate the Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life, every Sunday. There we hear the Word of God that helps to prepare us to evangelize. As Pope Francis tells us, “God’s Word, listened to and celebrated, above all in the Eucharist, nourishes and inwardly strengthens Christians, enabling them to offer an authentic witness to the Gospel in daily life” (The Joy of the Gospel, 2013). The Gather and Go Forth pages in the Student Book show children ways to know, proclaim, witness, and share their faith. In the Catechist’s Edition, the threestep teaching plan (Inspire, Proclaim, Transform) guides catechists to help children become more aware and active in their personal relationship with God, the Church, and their call to invite others to the faith. Beginning on page T232, you can find catechist instruction that accompanies all 25 chapters of the Gather and Go Forth pages in the Student Book. You will also find a full correlation of Grade 5 that shows how these pages align with the goals and objectives expressed by the U. S. bishops in Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States.

If not me, then who will proclaim the Gospel? If not now, then when will the Gospel be proclaimed? If not the truth of the Gospel, then what shall I proclaim? —excerpt from Prayer for the New Evangelization (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)

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In the document Go and Make Disciples, the U. S. bishops’ vision of the New Evangelization is centered around three goals: • Goal 1—to bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others; • Goal 2—to invite all people in the United States, whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith; • Goal 3—to foster gospel values in our society, promoting the dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good of our society, so that our nation may continue to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ Vision Is Our Own Being Jesus’ witness requires energy, renewed conviction, personal conversion, and enthusiasm from every baptized Catholic.

For Whom Is the New Evangelization Intended? Jesus’ commission to the apostles is at the heart of our call to know and share our faith with others. Every member of the Church plays a part in the New Evangelization. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops identifies various relationships that people may have to Jesus and his Church. The bishops tell us that each type of relationship has a role in the New Evangelization: “Evangelization, then, has different implications depending on our relationship to Jesus and his Church. For those of us who practice and live our Catholic faith, it is a call to ongoing growth and renewed conversion. For those who have accepted it only in name, it is a call to re-evangelization. For those who have stopped practicing their faith, it is a call to reconciliation. For children, it is a call to be formed into disciples through the family’s faith life and religious education. For other Christians, it is an invitation to know the fullness of our message. For those who have no faith, it is a call to conversion to know Christ Jesus and thus experience a change to new life with Christ and his Church.” (Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States: #27)

Roles of Life in the Church Catholics share a common vision to express faith according to their chosen role and state of life. To proclaim Christ is not solely for foreign missionaries, parish priests, bishops, or the pope. Young and old, ordained clergy, professed religious, and the laity share in knowing, proclaiming, and sharing God’s Word in ways suitable to their lives.

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“‘[E]veryone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:13–15)

Additional Resources Second Vatican Council Documents on Evangelization www.vatican.va • Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) • On the Mission Activity of the Church (Ad Gentes) Vatican Documents on Evangelization www.vatican.va • Address to the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Family • Lineamenta for the 2012 Synod: New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith • Message for the 2012 World Day of Migrants and Refugees

Gifts of Service Each member of the Church uses the Gifts from the Holy Spirit to evangelize. A young person might witness to Christ among friends, playing sports, volunteering, or at school. A parent may express faith in his or her workplace, demonstrating acts of kindness and charity, or championing Catholic Social Teaching in the neighborhood. A priest might share in the Church’s mission by leading Scripture study groups, celebrating the Mass on Sunday, or providing counseling to parishioners. A religious sister might share faith by teaching, volunteering in the community, or offering prayers and devotions for the living and the dead. In these and similar ways, Catholics reflect and spread Christ’s light and attract others to him. Embracing the Challenge Catholics who are brimming with joy for God’s Word might meet resistance in a culture and society whose values are often on a collision course with Jesus’ teaching. Indeed, Catholics are challenged to be “in the world” but not “of the world.” Saint Paul reminds us: “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) The world is a good place that God created out of his love for us. He sent his Son to live among us and save us from sin. Our Catholic challenge is to live the values of the Kingdom of God as Jesus taught us.

• On Evangelization in the Modern World (Evangelii Nuntiandi) • The Door of Faith United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Documents on Evangelization www.usccb.org • Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States • Sons and Daughters of the Light: A Pastoral Plan for Young Adult Ministry • Teaching the Spirit of Mission Ad Gentes: Continuing Pentecost Today • The Hispanic Presence in the New Evangelization in the United States Diocesan Evangelization Resources www.usccb.org/ about/bishops-and-dioceses/all-dioceses.cfm

As the Church, the People of God, we pray for ourselves and for one another. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us to know, proclaim, witness, and share the Good News courageously, even in difficult situations. We ask for the saints’ intercession, praying that the example of our lives, lived faithfully and authentically, welcomes others to the Church and invites them to know the Father.

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NEW EVANGELIZATION

Inspire

Gather and Go Forth

1. Discuss what it means to

be inspired. ✦✦ When you are inspired, you feel excited. You want to take action. When have you been inspired? [Let children respond.] Who or what inspires you? (Possible answers: parents, teachers, priests, saints, music, nature, athletes, prayer, books, and the Bible.) ✦✦

Know and Proclaim We seek to know the truths of our Catholic faith. Then we proclaim our beliefs in what we say and do.

Point out that the gift of faith is not meant for us alone. It is not meant to be hidden away deep within us. Faith is meant to be shared. Just as we joyfully announce happy news to others, such as a wedding or birth, we are inspired and sent by the Holy Spirit to tell others the Good News of the Gospel.

2. Read aloud the text and

Scripture in the sidebar on page 9. ✦✦ Discuss what it means to be a disciple. ✦✦

We Know Our Faith

We Proclaim Our Faith

God gives us the gift of faith. We know that God made us, loves us, and that we can live with him forever.

As Catholics, we show our faith in God in many ways. One simple show of faith is prayer before meals, an outward sign of gratitude to God for what is provided to us.

At Baptism we become part of another family— the Catholic Church.

Parents commonly dress their babies in white for Baptism to show their belief that the child is “clothed in Christ” and reborn in the Holy Spirit.

God speaks to us in the Bible. The stories of Abraham and Ruth teach us that God calls us to have faith in him.

Many Catholic families pass down family Bibles from generation to generation. They record important dates and events in these Bibles, such as when a child is born, baptized, or when someone gets married.

A PT E R

s Catholics, we gather to hear the Word of the Gospel and celebrate the sacraments. The Holy Spirit sets our hearts on fire and sends us forth as disciples to live our faith. “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

Test Your Catholic Knowledge Fill in the circle that best completes the sentence. When we are baptized and join the Church, we are called to:

As Catholics, we gather at Mass in the presence of God and one another. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we put our faith into action, especially after we are dismissed from Sunday Mass.

choose a religious vocation. attend religious education classes until we are 21 years old. share our faith with others. pray the Rosary daily. God Calls Us CHAPTER 1

Proclaim 1. Read the Know and Proclaim introduction and chart with children. ✦✦ Help children understand the connection between our Catholic beliefs and living out our faith each day. We learn our beliefs so that we can take them to heart. We proclaim our beliefs to others because we love God. We want others to love him too. ✦✦

How do you learn your faith? (Possible answers: from our parents, prayer, religious education teachers, priests, the Bible, godparents, and sponsors)

2. Remind children of the

presence of the Holy Spirit. Emphasize that they don’t need to know everything about their faith in order to share it with others. The Holy Spirit will guide your words and actions.

3. Point out the Test Your

Catholic Knowledge section. God is always inviting us to know him better. Knowing our Catholic faith helps us do just that.

✦✦

Guide children through the directions, statement, and the answer choices. Allow children time to select a response before discussing the correct answer.

Sunday Connection Explore this Sunday’s Scripture readings with children by accessing www.loyolapress.com/sunday. Goal 1: To bring about enthusiasm for faith so it is freely shared with others 93. To foster an appreciation of God’s Word

The Church Evangelizes Praying before meals is a way to express our Catholic faith. Establish a prayer routine in school or religious education groups. Encourage children to pray before meals at home with their family. Send a newsletter home, inviting mealtime conversation with the use of tools such as The Meal Box, www.loyolapress.com/the-meal-box.htm. Goal 1: To bring about enthusiasm for faith so it is freely shared with others 101. To foster a sense of the domestic church

See pages T414–T416 for a full correlation to the USCCB Go and Make Disciples national plan.

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God Calls Us to Faith

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4. Read aloud A Catholic to

Know. Discuss Saint Mark. ✦✦ Tell children that the Church gives us the saints as role models of faith. They show us how to follow Jesus. ✦✦

A Catholic to Know Although Saint Mark, one of the Gospel writers, lived during the time of Jesus, he did not know Jesus personally. Instead, he learned about Jesus from his friend Peter. Peter’s stories made Mark love Jesus so much that he wanted to write them down so others could read them over and over again. What if Peter had never told Mark about Jesus? What if Mark had never written the stories in his Gospel? As Catholics, we are also called to witness and share our faith.

Invite children to find the Gospel of Saint Mark in the Bible. Saint Mark, inspired by the Holy Spirit, used his talents to act as a witness for Christ. We are called to use our gifts to witness for Jesus too.

Witness and Share

5. Explain the concept of witness. ✦✦

✦✦

These sentences describe what Catholics believe. Listen carefully as they are read. Ask yourself, “How strong are my Catholic beliefs?”

What does a witness do? (A witness speaks the truth about what he or she has seen or heard.)

My Way to Faith

How can your life give witness to Jesus? (Possible answer: Your words and actions share Jesus’ teachings with others.)

• I believe that I belong to the Church family because of my Baptism. • I read the Bible because it is God’s Word. • I trust God. • I spread joy because God wants everyone to be happy.

6. Read the Witness and Share

• I turn to God in times of hardship.

introductory text. Explain that people on a journey choose paths. Think about where you are on your way of faith right now. Be honest with yourself. Hold your response deep in your heart.

Share Your Faith

✦✦

Read aloud the faith statements, pausing to allow time for reflection.

✦✦

Remind children that we are always called to conversion and renewal. Encourage them to ask God for the grace to grow as witnesses of their faith. Our witness and journey of faith lasts a lifetime.

✦✦

Ask children to choose one faith statement to discuss with their parents, pastor, or another adult they trust. Encourage children to write this statement in a journal, grow in this area, and then come back to it later in the year to consider how their faith has changed.

7. Discuss ways to share our faith. Why is faith meant to be shared? (to serve God’s kingdom; so that others can learn about God’s love for us)

8. Read aloud the directions for

the Share Your Faith activity. Let children work with a partner and write their ideas.

Saint Mark

Think of one way to show God your faith in him this week. Write your idea on the lines. Tell your family your idea and invite family members to think of ways to show their faith in God this week. Let your actions speak to the world.

UNIT 1 God Calls Us to Faith

Transform

3. Invite children to write a prayer

1. Ask children to think about their home, school, or community. What are some problems in the world? How can you make a difference through your example? [Discuss ideas.]

2. Challenge children to work for peace and social justice. Look again at the Share Your Faith activity. Tell a partner how living faithfully helps change the world into the place Jesus wants it to be.

to the Holy Spirit, asking for guidance and strength to live their Catholic faith.

Español Invite Spanishlanguage speakers to access www.loyolapress.com/espanol. Goal 2: To invite all people to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ 115. To foster cultural diversity within the unity of the Church

The Church Evangelizes Explain to children that many Catholic parishes support families enrolled in school or parish religious education programs by providing parents with information about parish or community programs that provide spiritual, personal, or financial counseling. Goal 3: To foster gospel values, promoting dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good 122. To foster the importance of the family

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NEW EVANGELIZATION

Inspire

Gather and Go Forth

1. Read aloud the page title

Gather and Go Forth. ✦✦ Point out that we gather together, especially at Mass, to grow in faith and love for Christ and for one another. ✦✦

Know and Proclaim

We receive grace as we celebrate the sacraments. Then we “go forth,” or go out into the world, to share God’s love with others.

We look for ways to learn more about our Catholic faith so that we can tell others the Good News.

2. Read aloud the text and

Scripture on page 17. ✦✦ What are some of your special gifts and talents? [Record responses. Share with children some of your special gifts and talents.] ✦✦

✦✦

Emphasize that God wants us to use the gifts and talents he has given us to lead others to know and love him. God created each of us to be unique. We are all an important part of his plan. By making the most of our gifts and talents to live our faith, we answer God’s call to spread his love.

Invite children to share ways they can help others. Remind them that we can show God’s love in big and small ways.

2. Have children open a Bible to

the Book of Psalms. What do you notice about the way the psalms are written? (They look like poems.)

✦✦

We respond to God’s call by using our talents to serve others at home, at work, in the parish, and in the community.

The Book of Psalms in the Old Testament has 150 poems written as songs.

Catholics say and sing psalms to express their faith and to give thanks for all the gifts God has given them.

eading God’s Word helps us know him better. As we grow in friendship with God, we use our gifts and talents to share his love with others. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them. Romans 12:6

What does God want us to do with our special talents and gifts? Use them to praise him and help others. Keep them only for ourselves. Share them only with our closest friends and family. Ignore them.

God Gives Us Gifts CHAPTER 2

1. Read aloud the Know and

✦✦

God gives us talents. These talents make us unique and allow us to help his people.

Fill in the circle that best answers the question.

✦✦

Proclaim introductory text and chart. ✦✦ Remind children that the Bible is filled with stories that show God’s love for us. When we read the Gospels, we see how Jesus taught people about his Father. We learn lessons on how to love and serve others.

We Proclaim Our Faith As Catholics, we read and pray the Bible to learn how to draw others to God.

Test Your Catholic Knowledge

Invite children to quiet themselves for a moment of prayer. God, thank you for the many gifts you have given us. Help us accept them and try our best to share them with others. Amen.

Proclaim

We Know Our Faith God calls us to lead other people to know and to love him.

A PT E R

The psalms praise God, thank him, and ask for his help and forgiveness. We read the psalms at Mass, but we can also recite them in our daily prayers.

3. Point out the Test Your

Catholic Knowledge section. ✦✦ The more we learn about God, the easier it is for us to share our faith with others. ✦✦

Read the directions aloud. Then guide children through the question and answer choices. Allow children

time to fill in the circle of their choice before discussing the correct answer.

Special Needs Explore ways to invite children with special needs to know God better at www.loyolapress.com/special-needs. Goal 3: To foster gospel values, promoting dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good 126. To involve the Catholic Church in the media

The Church Evangelizes Invite the director of the parish RCIA program to speak to children about the purpose of the program and how it works. Explain the role of a sponsor. Then have children make posters encouraging parishioners to consider becoming a sponsor. Display the posters in community spaces prior to the beginning of RCIA classes. Goal 1: To bring about enthusiasm for faith so it is freely shared with others 92. To foster an experience of conversion and renewal in every parish

See pages T414–T416 for a full correlation to the USCCB Go and Make Disciples national plan.

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4. Read aloud A Catholic to

Know. Then discuss Saint Nicholas. ✦✦ Point out that only a few details are known about Saint Nicholas’s life. Tradition holds that he was orphaned at a young age, and because of this, he was especially generous to all children. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children. ✦✦

A Catholic to Know About 300 years after Jesus died, a good and kind bishop named Nicholas lived in Asia Minor. He was very religious from a young age and became known for his extraordinary generosity and charity. Nicholas loved and served the people in his diocese, and his good deeds showed others how much God loved them. Saint Nicholas is a model of love and service. By following his example, we show others the way to Christ.

Witness and Share

Saint Nicholas’s great generosity and love for those in need are a model for how we can love and serve others.

These sentences describe what Catholics believe. Listen carefully as they are read. Ask yourself, “How strong are my Catholic beliefs?”

My Way to Faith

5. Direct children to the Witness

• I follow God’s plan to share the Gospel with others.

and Share title. What are some things you share? [Let children respond.] Why is sharing important? (Possible answers: it is the right thing to do; because we have more than we need; to help others.)

• I work with the talents God gave me for the good of the world. • I pray to recognize my gifts and to understand God’s will for how I should use them.

✦✦

introductory text. ✦✦ Look at the faith statements. Remember that we are always learning and growing on our faith journey. ✦✦

• I proclaim my faith by praying and making good choices. • I praise God when I use my talents for others.

Share Your Faith How can you serve others this week? Write your ideas on the lines. Share your ideas with your classmates. Invite a classmate to join you in putting one of your ideas into action. Work together to make the world a better place.

Remind children that the Holy Spirit fills us with a desire to share our faith with others. As we learn more about God and his love for us, we see the great gift we have been given. We want to share this gift of faith with others.

6. Read the Witness and Share

Read aloud the first faith statement. Take a moment to reflect on this statement. What are your thoughts about it at this moment in your life?

✦✦

Read aloud the other statements, pausing to allow time for reflection.

✦✦

Encourage children to discuss one of these faith statements with a trusted adult. Remind children that as they move through the year, they can come back to these statements and consider how they have grown in their faith.

7. Discuss ways to share our faith. In what ways can you share your faith? (Possible answers: tell others about God’s love; serve those in need; be kind and helpful)

Saint Nicholas

UNIT 1 God Calls Us to Faith

8. Read aloud the directions for

the Share Your Faith activity. Let children work in small groups to write and share their ideas.

✦✦

2. Challenge children to share

their faith through acts of service and kindness. Look again at what you wrote in Share Your Faith. Write particular steps for putting your plan into action.

Transform 1. Share stories from current

events that showcase people living the Gospel message. ✦✦ How are these people following Jesus’ example? How do their actions build God’s kingdom on earth? [Let children respond.]

Remember that we lead others to God by both our words and our actions.

3. Encourage children to ask the

Holy Spirit to guide their work.

The Church Evangelizes If your parish has a Vocation Awareness Day, invite those in religious orders, priests, deacons, and laity to share their stories with children. G oal 2: To invite all people to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ 107. To help every Catholic feel comfortable about sharing faith and inviting people to discover Christ in our Catholic family

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NEW EVANGELIZATION

Inspire

Gather and Go Forth

1. Read aloud the text and

Scripture on page 25. Discuss the meaning of grace. ✦✦ Grace is a gift from God. We cannot earn it. Grace fills us with God’s life and helps us be his friend. It also helps us live as God wants us to live. ✦✦

✦✦

Know and Proclaim We learn about the saints to understand how they lived their faith. Then we work to be like them through our words and actions.

With whom are we supposed to share God’s love and story of salvation? (everyone we meet)

We Know Our Faith God calls us to be holy.

We are called to live our faith and be an example of Christ’s love to all people and in all places.

2. Invite children to sing along

with you the chorus of “This Little Light of Mine.” ✦✦ What does the “light” in this song represent? (Possible answers: our faith; our beliefs; our love of God.) What does it mean to “let it shine”? (share our faith with others) ✦✦

We Proclaim Our Faith As Catholics, we answer God’s call when we are kind and loving and treat people fairly.

Jesus is still with us today through his Church.

Catholics celebrate the sacraments to grow in holiness.

The lives of the saints show us examples of how to be holy.

We keep reminders of saints, such as medals, pins, and holy cards, to inspire us to be holy.

A PT E R

nspired by God’s Word, we are filled with grace. We bring others closer to Christ by living our faith. I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49:6

Test Your Catholic Knowledge Fill in the circle that best answers the question. Which saint gave up his riches to follow Jesus and is known for his love of animals? Saint Matthew

Emphasize that like light, our faith helps us see. The more we learn about our Catholic faith, the more we see God in our lives. Then we can help others see him too.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola Saint Nicholas Saint Francis of Assisi

Proclaim

We Are God’s Holy People CHAPTER 3

1. Read the Know and Proclaim

introduction and chart with children. ✦✦ Read row one. Remind children that we can show God’s love in both big and small ways. ✦✦

✦✦

What are some ways you live your faith? (Possible answers: sharing with brothers and sisters; including someone who feels left out; donating to a food pantry) Read row two. Remind children that we proclaim our faith as Catholics when we celebrate the sacraments. Tell them that making good choices and being helpful are also ways we answer God’s call.

described in row three of the chart. Share examples that have meaning in your life. ✦✦

Reminders of saints are one way we keep God’s message of love close to us in our daily lives.

3. Point out the Test Your

Catholic Knowledge section. ✦✦ Knowing more about our Catholic faith helps us appreciate it. Our faith story is part of who we are.

✦✦

Have children read the question and the answer choices. Allow them time to mark a response before discussing the correct answer.

3-Minute Retreat Invite deeper reflection on God’s Word by accessing www.loyolapress.com/retreat. Goal 1: To bring about enthusiasm for faith so it is freely shared with others 97. To foster an even deeper sense of prayer

2. Point out that saint stories

inspire us and remind us to live holy lives. ✦✦ Ask children if they have any reminders of saints like those

The Church Evangelizes Send home a calendar of parish or diocesan family retreats along with a brief description highlighting the purpose of the retreat, cost, location, and registration details. G oal 1: To bring about enthusiasm for faith so it is freely shared with others 101. To foster a sense of the domestic church

See pages T414–T416 for a full correlation to the USCCB Go and Make Disciples national plan.

T368

UNIT 1

God Calls Us to Faith

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4. Read aloud A Catholic to

Know. Discuss Saint Martin of Tours. ✦✦ Explain that saints inspire us to live our faith, even in times and places where it may not be easy. ✦✦

✦✦

A Catholic to Know As a young man in the 300s, Martin of Tours wanted to become Catholic. His parents would not allow it and insisted he become a soldier. This was difficult for Martin. When he was old enough, he was baptized and lived his life more like a monk than a soldier. Eventually Martin told his army commander, “I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ.” After great difficulties, his commander let him go. Now free, Martin preached Christ’s message and lived it by the example of his own life.

Martin of Tours had a great desire to be baptized. Even though he had to go against what others wanted him to do, he followed his heart. The Holy Spirit strengthened him, and he became a great leader. We are also strengthened by the grace of our Baptism.

Saint Martin of Tours

Witness and Share These sentences describe what Catholics believe. Listen carefully as they are read. Ask yourself, “How strong are my Catholic beliefs?”

Invite children to share times when making the right choice was not an easy thing to do. We can always ask the Holy Spirit to help us make the right choices.

My Way to Faith • I follow the example of the saints to deepen my faith. • I receive the sacraments to nurture my faith. • I have reminders of the saints to inspire me. • I show God I love him by helping other people.

Ask children to discuss modern-day heroes who use their gifts to witness for Jesus

• I serve God when I care for his creation.

Share Your Faith Think of ways you can follow the example of Saint Francis, Saint Clare, and Saint Martin of Tours. Write your ideas on the lines. Tell your ideas to a friend. Invite friends to share what they might do to be like these saints too. Be a model of Christ’s love for others.

5. Read the Witness and Share introductory text. We are each on our own faith journey. We travel at our own pace. Listen to these faith statements and think about where you are today.

✦✦

✦✦ ✦✦

✦✦

Read each statement aloud. Pause after each to allow for reflection. Encourage children to be patient with themselves as they grow in their faith. Suggest that they discuss one or more of these faith statements with an adult they trust. Remind children to come back to the page later and consider how their faith has grown or changed.

6. Read aloud the directions for

the Share Your Faith activity. Review the saint stories that children learned in this chapter. Let children work with a partner and write their ideas.

Transform

✦✦

UNIT 1 God Calls Us to Faith

Point out “Visit the Sick.” The sick are not only those with a physical illness. We can also visit people who are older and alone.

3. As a class, pray the Prayer to

the Holy Spirit, asking for guidance and strength. Direct children to the prayer on the inside back cover of their books.

2. Challenge children to reach out

to those who are sick and elderly in your community. Discuss ways to connect with those who are sick or alone. As a class, select one idea to put into action. For example, have children make prayer cards featuring the saints they are learning about and send those to shut-ins along with words of love and support.

DRE Connect Share ideas with an online community for faith formation leaders by accessing dreconnect.loyolapress.com. Goal 2: To invite all people to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ 111. To cultivate an active core of the baptized to serve as ministers of evangelization

1. Discuss the Corporal Works

of Mercy. Direct children to page 265. Jesus told us to care for one another and to show love and kindness to others. He gave us ways we can do this. They are called the Corporal Works of Mercy.

✦✦

The Church Evangelizes Choose a Gospel story and work with children to write a skit reflecting the Gospel message for today’s world. Perform the skit for other classes, families, and interested members of the parish community. Goal 3: To foster gospel values, promoting dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good 124. To encourage Catholic witness in the arts and in the American intellectual community

We Are God’s Holy People CHAPTER 3 T369

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NEW EVANGELIZATION

Inspire

Gather and Go Forth

1. Read the text and Scripture in

the sidebar on page 33 aloud. ✦✦ What is one way that Mary was a model of faith? (Possible answer: She said yes to God even though she was unsure of the future.) ✦✦

✦✦

We use the beautiful devotions and practices of our Catholic faith and share them with others.

Ask volunteers to share a story about a time they relied on faith to do something difficult.

2. Pray to the Holy Spirit together. ✦✦

✦✦

Know and Proclaim

Share with children a time when you made a difficult choice that required complete faith.

Explain to children that because of her trust and faith, Mary accepted her role as Jesus’ mother. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the same Spirit is with us too. Ask children to quiet their minds and pray silently in their hearts while you pray aloud:

A PT E R

We Know Our Faith

We Proclaim Our Faith

A rosary is a sacramental, a prayer approved by the Church to help people grow closer to God.

Many Catholics give rosaries, statues, or medals as gifts to mark special occasions, such as First Holy Communion.

God sends messengers to us so that we know what he wants from us.

As Catholics, we show respect for our parents. Our parents are called to be God’s messengers for us.

At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that God had chosen her to be the mother of Jesus.

Catholics celebrate the Annunciation with a feast day on March 25. The Annunciation is one of the most frequently portrayed subjects of Christian art.

ary teaches us how to trust God’s will. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we follow her example and accept God’s call to live our Catholic faith as disciples. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:30

Test Your Catholic Knowledge Fill in the circle that best answers the question.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Which of the following is NOT one of the five groups of mysteries Catholics think about when praying the Rosary? the Sorrowful Mysteries the Wonderful Mysteries the Joyful Mysteries the Luminous Mysteries

God Called Mary CHAPTER 4

Proclaim 1. Read the Know and Proclaim section with children. ✦✦ Show children various examples of sacramentals, such as a rosary, a scapular, saint medals, or other objects. We can use sacramentals to guide our prayers and remind us of God’s love. ✦✦

Invite children to share how they use sacramentals. Sometimes we give sacramentals as gifts. This is one way we share the practice of our faith. These gifts encourage others to pray.

2. Remind children of the

presence of God’s messengers in their lives. ✦✦ Emphasize that parents, priests, and deacons are a few of the messengers who bring them news of God’s love. ✦✦

T370

How can you be one of God’s messengers? [Discuss responses.] UNIT 1

3. Direct children’s attention

to the Test Your Catholic Knowledge question. ✦✦ Knowing about the lives of the saints helps us understand how to live our Catholic faith. ✦✦

Guide children through the directions, question, and answer choices. Allow children time to fill in the circle of their choice before discussing the correct answer.

Arts & Faith Celebrate how faith is expressed and deepened through art at www.loyolapress.com/arts-faith. Goal 3: To foster gospel values, promoting dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good 124. To encourage Catholic witness in the arts and in the American intellectual community

The Church Evangelizes Send a newsletter home inviting families to establish a family faith tradition for Advent and Lent. Recommend making a prayer center in their home with items that reflect the season, such as an Advent wreath, seasonal meditations, and personal items significant to the family. Suggest setting a daily or weekly time to meet, pray, and discuss thoughts and feelings about the season. G oal 1: To bring about enthusiasm for faith so it is freely shared with others 101. To foster a sense of the domestic church

See pages T414–T416 for a full correlation to the USCCB Go and Make Disciples national plan.

God Calls Us to Faith

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4. Read aloud A Catholic to

Know. Discuss Saint Philip and Saint James. ✦✦ How did Philip and James share Jesus’ message differently? (Philip went out to meet with people, while James used writing to tell others about God.) ✦✦

✦✦

A Catholic to Know Philip and James were two of Jesus’ apostles. Philip spoke Greek and was able to introduce many Greek Gentiles personally to Jesus. He told those he met that Jesus was the person whom Moses had written about. James is believed to have been the first bishop of Jerusalem and to have written one of the letters in the Bible. His letter tells people that God wants us to follow his laws of love. Parts of his letter are sometimes read at Mass. Both Philip and James lived and died for Christ. Their lives show us how to be a witness to God’s great love.

Show children the Letter of Saint James in the Bible. Have a volunteer read aloud James 2:14–17. As Catholics, we show our faith through our actions in service to others.

Witness and Share

How can you use your gifts to be witnesses to Jesus? [Invite children to share their ideas with a partner.]

My Way to Faith

These sentences describe what Catholics believe. Listen carefully as they are read. Ask yourself, “How strong are my Catholic beliefs?”

• I pray the Rosary because it opens my heart and mind to God.

Ask children to discuss modern-day heroes who use their gifts to witness for Jesus.

• I learn God’s will by listening to my parents, teachers, or others who are God’s messengers for me. • I celebrate the Annunciation by saying yes to God as Mary did. • I love Mary because she is my mother and the mother of all of God’s children.

5. Read aloud the Witness and

Share Your Faith

Share introductory text. ✦✦ Listen carefully as I read each statement. Take each statement into your heart and reflect for a few moments. ✦✦

Read aloud the statements, pausing to allow time for reflection.

✦✦

Suggest children share any thoughts they have about these statements with a trusted adult in their life.

✦✦

Remember, you can come back to these statements later in the year. As you grow and continue on your faith journey, you may find you understand parts of our faith in new and different ways.

6. Read aloud the directions for

the Share Your Faith activity. ✦✦ What are some prayers and devotions you know? [Let children respond.] ✦✦

Allow children time to work with a partner and write their ideas.

Transform 1. Discuss missionaries. ✦✦

✦✦

Tell children that Saint Philip was a missionary. He went out to introduce God to people who did not yet know him. God calls us all to be missionaries. It is part of our Catholic duty to tell others about him and show

Saint Philip and Saint James

What devotions or prayers make you feel closer to God? Choose one and write it on the lines. Tell your family your idea and invite family members to share their favorite prayers. Then choose one to pray together this week.

UNIT 1 God Calls Us to Faith

them his love even if we do not travel to faraway places. ✦✦

3. Invite children to pray a decade

Explain that some people still go to faraway places to tell others about God. Identify missionaries from your local parish or diocese who are currently serving the global Church.

2. Write letters to missionaries. Have children write letters to people working in foreign missions, telling them that they are praying for their needs. Encourage children to ask questions or share their own faith stories. Invite the missionaries to write back.

of the Rosary for the intention of the missions.

Daily Inspiration Find insightful mediations on Scripture at www.loyolapress.com/daily. Goal 1: To bring about enthusiasm for faith so it is freely shared with others 93. To foster an appreciation of God’s Word

The Church Evangelizes Discuss the idea that Catholics of all ages give witness to and share the faith. Ask children how they believe social media can be used to evangelize. Goal 2: To invite all people to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ 109. To equip active Catholic members to exercise their baptismal call to evangelize

God Called Mary CHAPTER 4 T371

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NEW EVANGELIZATION

Inspire

Gather and Go Forth

1. Have children open to Gather

and Go Forth on page 43. Remind children that the Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ life and ministry. When we read these stories, we learn by Jesus’ example how to live the way God wants us to live.

Know and Proclaim We want to learn about Jesus’ call to the apostles so that we are better able to hear and answer God’s call for us.

2. Read aloud the text and

Scripture in the sidebar. A disciple is someone who accepts Jesus’ teachings and spreads the Good News of his love. We become disciples when we are baptized. One of the best ways to teach others about God is to show his love in what we do and say.

3. Explore what it means to be

a disciple. Jesus wants you to find disciples to follow him. If you were to write a help wanted ad to gather disciples, what would it say? (Possible answers: trust God; be baptized; follow Jesus’ example; be willing to share with others)

We Proclaim Our Faith As Catholics, we use words and deeds to encourage others to follow the example of Jesus.

One way Catholics lead other people to Jesus is by the example of their goodness.

We witness to our faith by honoring God and serving the needs of others.

The Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament tells about the early Church and how the apostles spread the Good News.

Catholics strengthen their faith by reading the Bible. The apostles overcame many challenges to teach people about Jesus and God’s glory.

rom the Gospels, we learn how to live our faith. We experience God’s love and are filled with the grace to share his message with others. “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35

Test Your Catholic Knowledge Fill in the circle that best answers the question. Who persecuted Christians before Jesus called him to be his disciple? Simon, also known as Peter Saul, also known as Paul

Proclaim

James

1. Read the Know and Proclaim

introduction and chart with children. ✦✦ Remind children that knowing our faith is important, but we must also let others know about God’s love. God’s love is a great gift. The more we come to know and feel it, the more we want to share it with others so that they can experience this love too. ✦✦

We Know Our Faith Jesus called the apostles to be his special followers. He still calls people to follow him today.

A PT E R

How can you serve others in need? (Possible answers: visiting sick friends; donating food and clothing; giving money to those who are poor; doing chores for elderly neighbors)

John Jesus Calls Us to Follow CHAPTER 5

3. Point out the Test Your

Catholic Knowledge section. ✦✦ Knowing more about your Catholic faith will help you talk about it with others. ✦✦

Read the directions together. Then have children quietly read through the question and the choices. After children have finished, discuss the correct answer.

2. Show children the Acts of the

Apostles in a Bible. Emphasize that this book of the Bible tells the story of how the apostles shared with others what Jesus taught them. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles in building the early Church. The Spirit also guides you.

The Church Evangelizes Catholics recognize Christ’s presence in the workplace. Discuss this idea with children. Invite them to share ideas with their parents, such as the formation of a Bible study group at lunchtime or the recognition of coworkers who demonstrate compassion, charity, justice, social service, and other values to witness to the Kingdom of God. Goal 1: To bring about enthusiasm for faith so it is freely shared with others 102. To promote and develop a spirituality for the workplace

See pages T414–T416 for a full correlation to the USCCB Go and Make Disciples national plan.

T372

UNIT 1

God Calls Us to Faith

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4. Read aloud A Catholic to

Know. Discuss the life of Saint Julie Billiart. ✦✦ Invite children to turn to the title page of their book. Point out the authors. ✦✦

A Catholic to Know Julie Billiart was born on July 12, 1751. She lived in France during the French Revolution, a time in which the Catholic Church was under attack. Despite being paralyzed, Julie showed great courage by standing up for her beliefs. She continued to teach the catechism and help others practice the faith. With a friend, Julie started the religious community called the Sisters of Notre Dame. They dedicated themselves to the care and instruction of girls who were poor. Saint Julie Billiart teaches us that even when it is hard, we must continue to tell others of God’s goodness.

Saint Julie Billiart founded the community of sisters responsible for writing this book. She knew the importance of knowing and sharing one’s faith. The sisters who follow in her footsteps also believe we must learn our faith history.

Witness and Share These sentences describe what Catholics believe. Listen carefully as they are read. Ask yourself, “How strong are my Catholic beliefs?”

5. Read the Witness and Share

introductory text. We are going to read the faith statements together. I will read them aloud as you follow along. For each statement, take a moment to reflect on what feelings you have as you listen to the words.

My Way to Faith

✦✦

Read aloud the first faith statement. What does this statement mean to you today? Pause for a moment and reflect.

✦✦

Read aloud the other statements, pausing to allow for reflection.

✦✦

Tell children that statements of faith affect us differently throughout our lives. Point out that, like you, even adults are always growing and changing. You are still learning new things about God too. Write these statements in a journal and return to them later in the year to consider how your faith has grown.

✦✦

Sometimes it is helpful to talk to an adult you trust about your thoughts on these kinds of statements.

6. Discuss the importance of

prayer. What is prayer? (Possible answer: talking to God)

✦✦ ✦✦

As in any friendship, it is important to talk to the person you love and care about. When we pray, we come to know God better. Our friendship with him grows stronger.

7. Read aloud the directions for

the Share Your Faith activity.

Saint Julie Billiart

• I overcome hardships to teach others about Jesus. • I use my talents to lead others to God. • I ask Jesus to guide me in what I do each day. • I show others God’s love by helping those in need. • I pray with others because we are a family of faith.

Share Your Faith Write a short prayer below asking Jesus to guide what you do this week. Ask Jesus to help you lead others to him. Share the prayer with your family. Invite your family members to write their own prayers and then pray them together.

UNIT 1 God Calls Us to Faith

Allow time for children to write their prayer. Then encourage them to pray it on their own.

2. Have children write letters to

elected officials. Jesus teaches us to care for those who are poor, protect the rights of all people, and treat one another fairly.

✦✦

Transform 1. Discuss the importance of

praying for our community leaders. Invite children to identify any local, state, or national leaders whom they admire. Point out that each of these individuals has the important job of making laws that affect us all.

✦✦

Have children write a letter sharing this message. Suggest that they tell the elected official they will be praying for him or her to make right and just decisions.

3. Pray together to the Holy Spirit for the leaders of our country.

The Church Evangelizes Discuss the idea with children that Catholics use their votes to elect political candidates who support Jesus’ teachings. They should seek to learn the views of their bishop and Church leadership before they vote. Goal 3: To foster gospel values, promoting dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good 125. To involve every Catholic in areas of public policy

Jesus Calls Us to Follow CHAPTER 5 T373

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ADE

Contents

Program Overview

OV-1

Program Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-12 Planning Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-16 Scope and Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-18 Correlations to NCEA IFG: ACRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-24

Unit 1

God Calls Us to Faith

Note to Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T1a Chapter 1 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

God Calls Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T2 God Calls Us by Name T4 God Called Abram to Believe T8 God Called Ruth to Believe T11 God Calls Us T14 Extending the Chapter T17

Chapter 2 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

God Gives Us Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God Gives Us Special Gifts God’s Gifts Are to Be Used Our Gifts Make Us Who We Are We Praise God with Our Gifts Extending the Chapter

T18 T20 T23 T26 T29 T31

Chapter 3 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

We Are God’s Holy People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God Calls Us to Be Holy The Church Helps Us Respond to God Saints Show Us How to Be Holy We Answer God’s Call Extending the Chapter

T32 T34 T37 T40 T43 T45

Chapter 4 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

God Called Mary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Helps Us Answer God’s Call Mary Calls Us to Pray the Rosary We Learn the Joyful Mysteries We Honor Mary, Our Mother Extending the Chapter

T46 T48 T51 T54 T57 T59

Chapter 5 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

Jesus Calls Us to Follow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesus Called Apostles and Disciples Jesus Called Saul to Be His Apostle Unit 1 Review Unit 1 Test and Celebration Extending the Chapter

T60 T62 T65 T67 T70 T72

Unit 2

God Is Great and Good

T73

Chapter 6 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

We Believe in God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . We Profess Our Faith in the Creed We Believe in One God God Kept His Promise God Keeps Promises to Us Extending the Chapter

T74 T76 T80 T82 T86 T90

Chapter 7 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

God Is Powerful and Loving . . . . . . . . . . . . . God Saves Us with His Power God Shows Love for Us God Makes a Covenant of Love We Thank God Extending the Chapter

T92 T94 T96 T99 T102 T103

Chapter 8 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

God Is Holy and Great . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Lord Our God Is Holy The Lord Our God Is Great We Believe in the Living God We Give God First Place in Our Lives Extending the Chapter

Chapter 9 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

God Is Just and Merciful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T120 God Our Father Is Just and Merciful T122 We Imitate God’s Justice and Mercy T126 Unit 2 Review T129 Unit 2 Test and Celebration T133 Extending the Chapter T134

T104 T106 T110 T114 T116 T119

Unit 4

Jesus Brings Us to the Kingdom of God

Unit 3

God’s Plan Is a Plan of Love

T135

Chapter 10 God Created People to Share His Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day One God Shares His Life with Us Day Two Sin Spoiled God’s Plan for Us Day Three Jesus Helps Us Make Good Choices Day Four We Reflect on Creation and the Fall Day Five Extending the Chapter

T136 T138 T141 T144 T147 T149

Chapter 11 God Sent His Son Jesus to Live Among Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day One God Prepared the World for Jesus Day Two Jesus Is Presented in the Temple Day Three Jesus Is Our Light Day Four We Are a Light to the World Day Five Extending the Chapter

T150 T152 T156 T159 T162 T165

Chapter 12 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

Jesus Revealed the Kingdom of God . . . Jesus Brought the Kingdom of God Jesus Showed His Power over Satan Jesus’ Miracles: Signs of the Kingdom Jesus Taught About God’s Kingdom Extending the Chapter

T166 T168 T171 T174 T176 T180

Chapter 13 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

Jesus Came to Give Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesus Cured the Man with Leprosy Jesus Brought Life to the Widow’s Son Jesus Brought Healing to Many We Call People to Life by Our Love Extending the Chapter

T182 T184 T187 T189 T191 T193

Chapter 14 God’s Kingdom Is a Kingdom of Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day One Jesus Taught About the Kingdom Day Two Unit 3 Review Day Three Unit 3 Test Day Four We Pray That God’s Kingdom Come Day Five Extending the Chapter

T194 T196 T199 T202 T203 T206

T207

Chapter 15 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

Jesus Suffered and Died for Us . . . . . . . . . T208 Jesus Was Honored as King T210 Jesus Made a New Covenant T213 Jesus Faced His Agony T215 We Follow Jesus to Calvary T219 Extending the Chapter T221

Chapter 16 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

Jesus Is Risen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T222 The Risen Jesus Brings Peace and Joy T224 Jesus Won Victory over Death T228 We Spread the Peace of Jesus T231 We Make Signs of Jesus’ Victory T233 Extending the Chapter T235

Chapter 17 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

Jesus Christ Is Lord and King . . . . . . . . . . . T236 Jesus Returned in Glory T238 Jesus Will Come Again T242 We Prepare to Meet Jesus T244 Jesus Shares His Glory with Us T246 Extending the Chapter T247

Chapter 18 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

Jesus Gives the Spirit to the Church . . . . Jesus Sent the Spirit to His Church The Holy Spirit Is with Us Mary Was Filled with the Spirit We Are Called to Live in the Spirit Extending the Chapter

T248 T250 T254 T257 T259 T261

Chapter 19 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

We Belong to the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesus Unites Us with All the Saints Mary Is Queen of Heaven and Earth Unit 4 Review Unit 4 Test and Celebration Extending the Chapter

T262 T264 T267 T271 T274 T276

Unit 5

Jesus Is with Us on Our Way

T277

Chapter 20 God Shares the Wondrous Life of Grace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day One Jesus Brings Us a Share in God’s Life Day Two We Receive God’s Life in Baptism Day Three We Live the Life of Grace Day Four We Celebrate the Signs of Baptism Day Five Extending the Chapter

T278 T280 T283 T286 T289 T291

Chapter 21 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

The Holy Spirit Lives Within Us . . . . . . . . Jesus Is the Way to Eternal Life The Holy Spirit Leads Us to Do Good The Holy Spirit Helps Us Avoid Evil We Reflect the Goodness of the Lord Extending the Chapter

T292 T294 T297 T300 T303 T305

Chapter 22 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

God Blesses Contrite Hearts . . . . . . . . . . . . . T306 Jesus Forgave Peter T308 Jesus Forgives Those Who Are Sorry T311 We Are Aware of God’s Presence T314 God’s Word Tells of God’s Forgiving Love T318 Extending the Chapter T319

Chapter 23 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

God Forgives Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Father Forgives His Lost Son We Prepare for Reconciliation We Celebrate Reconciliation Jesus Forgives Us Extending the Chapter

T320 T322 T325 T328 T330 T331

Chapter 24 God’s Family Celebrates the Eucharist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day One Jesus Gave Us the Eucharist Day Two Jesus Speaks to Us at Mass Day Three We Follow the Teachings of Jesus Day Four We Listen to the Story of the Yeast Day Five Extending the Chapter Chapter 25 Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

T332 T334 T337 T341 T343 T345

The Eucharist Is a Gift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T346 Gifts Are Offered at Mass T348 Jesus Makes Us One in Him T351 Unit 5 Review T355 Unit 5 Test and Celebration T358 Extending the Chapter T360

vii

Gather and Go Forth

T361

Student pages follow each chapter.

The New Evangelization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T361 Unit 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T364 Unit 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T374 Unit 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T382 Unit 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T392 Unit 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T402 New Evangelization Correlation Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T414

Special Seasons and Lessons

T417

The Year in Our Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T417 1 All Saints and All Souls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T418 2 Advent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T423 3 Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T432 4 Lent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T436 5 Holy Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T442 6 Easter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T450 7 Pentecost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T455 8 The Archangels September 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T460 9 Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque October 16 . . . . . . . . T464 10 Thanksgiving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T468 11 The Immaculate Conception December 8 . . . . . . . . . . T472 12 Spread the Good News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T476 13 We Prepare a Class Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T482 Map The Lands of the Old Testament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T485 Map Palestine in the Time of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T486

What Catholics Should Know

T487

Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prayer and How We Pray Prayers We Pray as Catholics The Rosary Mysteries of the Rosary Stations of the Cross Celebrating and Living Our Catholic Faith Living Our Faith The Bible and You Showing Our Love for the World

T487 T489 T491 T495 T497 T498 T499 T503 T508 T509

Student Book Cover Prayers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T511

Saints and Feast Days

Calendar of Saints and Feast Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T513 September T514 October T515 November T516 December T516 January T517 February T517 March T518 April T519 May T520

The Catechist’s Handbook

T521

The Catechist’s Handbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T521 Profile of a Third Grader T522 Areas of Growth T523 The Catechist T524 Tips for Good Catechesis T526 What the Catechism Says to Catechists T527 Techniques and Tools of Teaching T528 Creative Activities T534 Inclusion: Meeting Special Needs T536 Multicultural Awareness T539 Assessment T540 Catechist’s Resources T541 Parent-Catechist Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T543 Music List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T545 Directory of Suppliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T551 Online Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T553

Glossary Index

T555

T560

Scripture Index

viii

T513

T567

UNIT

God Calls Us to Faith Goals The children will realize they are called to be one of God’s holy people. They will desire to live like Jesus.

1 God Calls Us

God calls each of us to take part in the plan of salvation. God promises to help and bless us if we trustingly respond. In this chapter the children learn that Abraham and Ruth are models of fidelity to God’s call. They learn that faith means a willingness to do what God asks, knowing that God always brings us to a fuller, richer life.

2 God Gives Us Gifts

Each person fulfills God’s plan in a different way. God gives us the gifts and talents we need to do this. In this chapter the children learn that God expects us to be responsible for our talents. We should develop them to the best of our ability and use them to improve ourselves, to help others, and to praise and glorify God. They meet David, who used his gifts this way.

4 God Called Mary

At the Annunciation Mary was asked to be the mother of Jesus, God’s Son. By saying yes she became the Mother of God, our spiritual mother, and the Mother of the Church. In this chapter the children learn from Mary’s example to answer the call of God willingly and promptly. They also become familiar with the Joyful Mysteries, as they are taught how to pray the rosary.

5 Jesus Calls Us to Follow

True disciples of Jesus listen to his Word and walk in his way. In this chapter the children hear how Jesus called the apostles, the disciples, and Paul. They learn that Jesus calls them, too, to follow his way of love and to share in his mission of leading all people to God.

3 We Are God’s Holy People

God calls us to be a holy people and gives us his Son to be our Way, our Truth, and our Life. In this chapter the children learn that Jesus became man to show us how to live a holy life and to teach us the way to the Father. Through his Church and the saints, God continues to guide us. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened and brought closer to God as God’s holy people.

P HA TER C

God Calls Us Faith Focus We are called to believe in God and to do what God asks.

Reflecting on the Faith Experience Take a few moments to reflect prayerfully before preparing the lesson.

Listening I have called you by name: you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

The Lord said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”

Like our ancestors in faith we too are called to holiness, to sanctity. For I, the Lord, am your God; and you shall make and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy.

Genesis 12:1–2

Reflecting God is always calling each one of us to himself. Every moment of our lives is an opportunity to respond to God’s gift of himself and to answer his call. God calls us in many different ways, even in the most ordinary situations, and each call is both an election and a promise. God’s call is an election to a particular work in his plan of salvation. It is also a promise of help and blessing if we have faith in God and respond trustingly to this call. In whatever manner it is given to us, each call contains a personal challenge directed to the deepest level of our sense of moral responsibility. God awaits our response, for although God is the Lord, the events of history depend upon people’s response to God’s call.

Abraham and Ruth are models of fidelity to the call of God: Abraham responded to the direct call of God with faith; Ruth responded to the indirect call of God, made known to her through the needs of her mother-in-law, Naomi. Both Abraham and Ruth received the gift of faith. Both were blessed in many other ways, especially by progeny who were direct ancestors of Jesus.

UNIT 1

God Calls Us to Faith

Leviticus 11:44

Through grace, we have been made God’s in Baptism and share in God’s divine nature. We have been sanctified. However, we are called to live the new life we have received and to bring it to perfection in all that we do. To encourage us, God says: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; . . . When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned; . . . For I am the Lord, your God, . . . your savior.

adapted from Isaiah 43:1–3

How do my actions testify that I am a Christian living according to the Holy Spirit received at Baptism?

Responding Holy Spirit, strengthen the children’s faith and mine!

Scripture for Further Reflection Genesis 12, 17, 21, 22 Abraham responded to God’s call to leave behind the security of his possessions and homeland to experience the wonder of God’s life-giving love. Leviticus 26:1–13 God promises to bless those who obey his Law.

Preparing for the Faith Experience Day One

Church Documents

God Calls Us by Name

Catechism of the Catholic Church. The themes of this chapter correspond to the following paragraphs: 144–146, 2156–2159, 2653.

Day Two God Called Abram to Believe

Day Three God Called Ruth to Believe

Day Four God Calls Us

Day Five Extending the Chapter

Gather and Go Forth

Scripture in This Chapter Genesis 12—21 God’s Promises to Abraham The Book of Ruth Ruth Responds in Faith Mark 16:15 Jesus Calls the Apostles to Witness for Him

Catholic Social Teaching • Family and Community • Solidarity

General Directory for Catechesis #157. All Christians are called to respond to the gift of God through prayer, participation in the liturgy, and a commitment to justice and peace. National Directory for Catechesis #45. God calls each person by name, and proper address shows reverence for the person. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church #39–#42 (Vatican II). God calls everyone to holiness of life and gives each person all that he or she needs to answer that call with devotion. The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible #28 (Pontifical Biblical Commission). In choosing Abraham, God revealed his plan for blessing all the people on earth.

Gather and Go Forth Find catechist instruction for Gather and Go Forth student pages 9–10 on T364–365.

Enriching the Faith Experience Use the activities at the end of the chapter to enrich a lesson or to replace an activity with one that better meets the needs of your class.

Bulletin Board On this page is a suggestion for a bulletin-board design for this chapter. Post photos of the children’s families in the boxes. You may want to write each child’s name on a card. The name card can serve as a placeholder or a label for the family pictures. Seeing the names on the bulletin board will help children to learn their classmates’ names more quickly. See page T528 for a further explanation of how to use bulletin boards.

WE ARE FAMILY

God Calls Us CHAPTER 1 T3

Day One God Calls Us by Name

Student pages 1–4

LEARNING OUTCOMES The children will be able to • describe the importance of their names and express pride in them. • name ways God calls and speaks to us. • a pply what they learned about God’s calling us by name to using other people’s names respectfully.

1 God Calls Us to Faith UNIT

Key Terms Catholic—a Christian who belongs to the Catholic Church Christian—someone who believes in Jesus and follows his teaching

Materials • Student books, one for each child • Badges from the punchouts in the back of the student books • Masking tape or pins to attach to the badges • Crayons or markers

Before You Begin

I have called you by name: you are mine.

1. Names are a special part of who

we are as human beings. They not only signify who we are, but also whose we are. They often indicate the family or community to which we belong. Many names have special meanings that point to a characteristic or role of a person. Every culture has its own rich tradition of naming, and the Catholic community is no exception. There are many examples within our Catholic tradition when we use names in a special way. For example, when a child is baptized, the first thing the priest asks the parents is “What name do you give your child?” The name symbolizes the child’s initiation into the community of believers.

UNIT 1

God Calls Us to Faith

Isaiah 43:1

2. We all like to be called by our

names. It makes us feel that we are unique and important. When you distribute the student books, call each child by name.

3. You may wish to put together a list of the children’s names and what they mean. You can use a book or the Internet to look up the history and meaning of each name.

4. Have the children tear out

pages v–vi, Note to Families, to take home.

Day One

Centering 1. Welcome the children and

A Letter Home

introduce yourself.

2. Pose this riddle to begin a

discussion about how special our names are: ✦✦ I have a riddle for you. Each one of us has something special. It is our very own; yet other people use it more than we do. What is it? (our name) ✦✦

What would happen if we didn’t have names?

✦✦

How do you feel about your name?

✦✦

How do people feel when someone makes fun of their name?

✦✦

Our names are important to God too. Today you will receive a very special book that will help you understand why.

Dear Parents and Family,

elcome! This year and this program present a wonderful opportunity for you to embark with your child on a discovery of what Catholics believe. Engaging with your child’s studies at home will help make this learning relevant for your child and demonstrate its importance in your own life. The third-grade program of Christ Our Life presents the main truths of Catholicism as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed. The children will study God as he is revealed in creation, in his interaction with his Chosen People, and in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. They will see that they are called to be part of God’s holy people in the community of the Church. The children are first introduced to people who serve as models of fidelity to God’s call. Through these stories, the children are reminded that they, too, are called by God to be his holy people. They play a part in Jesus’ mission of leading all people to God. The children are introduced to Abraham and to Ruth as models of holy people who said yes to God even when it was challenging. Chapter 2 presents King David, and the children learn how he used his talents and gifts from God. The children are encouraged to develop their own gifts to help others and to praise and glorify God The third chapter is about Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The children will learn how Jesus shows us the one true way to a life in friendship with God. In the fourth chapter, the children will learn about Mary, the Mother of God. Mary’s heroic yes encourages the children to respond willingly to God and to trust him, just as she courageously did.

3. Distribute the student books. ✦✦

✦✦

The final chapter features Jesus’ call to the apostles, to the disciples, and to Paul. The stories of these ordinary people and their extraordinary response to God’s call show the children that they can proclaim Jesus’ message even in the small things they do each day.

Call each child by name. The reverence with which you present the books will help the children sense how they should handle them. Tell the children that the books will help them understand God’s call and respond to it. Allow a few minutes for everyone to look through the books.

At the end of each chapter in this unit, the children will bring home a review of the chapter along with the Building Family Faith feature, which will give you a quick review of what your child has learned. At the end of the unit, the children will bring home the Family Feature handout to help nurture the family’s faith at home. Visit www.christourlife.com for more family resources.

UNIT 1 God Calls Us to Faith

4. Explain A Letter Home. ✦✦

Refer the children to page 2. Explain that in every unit of the book, there is a letter for them to take home to their families.

✦✦

Tell the children that the letter explains what they will be learning throughout the unit.

✦✦

Have the children remove the page from the book either now or at the end of the lesson.

5. Introduce the theme for the

year. ✦✦ What is the name of your book? (We Believe) It explains how God calls us by our names to follow the way to happiness. Through this book, God will speak to you and help you know and love him more.

✦✦

Why is your religion book a special book? How should you handle it?

✦✦

Peter means “rock.” Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter when he gave Peter special leadership in the Church. In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus told Peter, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.”

✦✦

David means “beloved.” We know God loved David in a special way and made him king of his people.

✦✦

In the Bible, David was married to Abigail. The name Abigail means “the father is joyful.”

✦✦

Hannah is a Hebrew name that means “favored grace.” The Latin translation of Hannah is Ann, which was the name of Mary’s mother.

Sharing 1. Discuss the importance of

names. ✦✦ A person’s name has always been something very special. It not only stands for the person, but it may also have its own meaning and history. ✦✦

Michael means “who is like God.” Michael is the name of the archangel who protects the Church.

God Calls Us CHAPTER 1 T5

Mary means “beloved” or “dearly beloved.” By whom was Mary dearly loved? (God)

✦✦

Your name has a special meaning too. First of all, it stands for you. Most parents choose their child’s name with great care. Do you know why your parents chose your name? What does your name mean?

2. Explain what it means when

God calls us by name. ✦✦ Calling someone by his or her first name shows that you know the person as a friend. God calls people by name. How do you know? (In the Bible, God called Samuel, Moses, Mary, Joseph, Peter, and others by name.) ✦✦

God first called you when he called you into being. He knew your name before your parents gave it to you. There was a time when you did not exist. But God wanted you to be, so God made you a person.

✦✦

What other time has God called you by name? (in Baptism) The priest or deacon said your name and then baptized you. God called you to be his friends. God called you to follow his Son, Jesus. To each one of us God said, “[Name], I have called you, and you are mine.”

✦✦

Use the names of several children and repeat the words.

UNIT 1

God Calls Us to Faith

God Calls Us God Calls Us by Name “Hi, Marty!” “Tina!” “Mario!” Excited voices rang out as friends greeted each other after vacation. Leah felt strange and alone. No one called her name. No one knew her. Then she heard “Leah!” and looked up. Miss Link called out, “Boys and girls, this is Leah Suh. She’s in our class this year. Leah has come from Miami, Florida.”

Read aloud the passage from Isaiah on page 1. What is God telling us by saying, “I have called you by name”? (God knows us; we are God’s friends.)

✦✦

P HA TE

✦✦

Day One

• When have you felt strange and alone? How do you feel when someone calls you by name? • What makes you feel you “belong”?

“Hi, Leah!” “Welcome, Leah!” children called from all parts of the room. Leah smiled as she looked around. Everyone called her by name. Now she “belonged.”

3. Help the children realize

that God calls them by name whenever God speaks to them. ✦✦ When might God call you by name again? (anytime; when I pray) ✦✦

God loves us, and we belong to God. God calls us by our names whenever God speaks to us. How does God speak to us? (through the Bible; through people, such as our parents, teachers, and priests; through the things that happen to us; in our hearts when we pray)

✦✦

What should we do so that we can hear God speaking to us? (Pray; take time to be silent and listen; listen to the good things our parents and those who care for us tell us to do; listen to the readings at Mass.)

Day One 4. Connect the use of names to

the feeling of welcome and belonging. ✦✦ Help the children realize how important it is for us to use other people’s names with respect. ✦✦

Calling someone by his or her name is a sign of welcome and belonging.

5. Read the story God Calls Us by Name on page 3 and discuss the questions that follow.

Lead the children to discover that they belong to several families. Family and Community Solidarity ✦✦ Families have special names. What is your family name? [Let a few children respond.] You received your family name when you were born. You share in the life of your family. ✦✦

✦✦

You have two special names that show that you belong to the family of Jesus. Now you are called a Christian and a Catholic. You also belong to the great human family of people all over the world. All these families belong to God.

There is another gigantic family to which we all belong: the family of the human race. Everyone in the world is our brother or sister. God loves all families and all people. They belong to God.

Acting Lead the children in prayer. ✦✦ Think how wonderful it is to be known by God so well that God can call us by name. Let’s give God a chance to speak to us now by praying. Think of the names of people you love. [Pause.] Remember that God knows each one of those names too. Thank God for sharing his love with you and your family. [Pause.]

God Speaks to Us in the Bible

A Message from God Write the letter that comes after the given one. Find out what God says to us.

“I will be your will be my

People who belong to the family of Jesus, the Church, have a special name. What are they called? (Catholics; Christians)

Family on page 4.

✦✦

You belong to your family at home. When you were baptized, you joined another family, the Catholic Church. You also belong to the big Christian family of all people who believe in Jesus.

What is the name of our country? People who belong to our country have a special name. What are they called? (Americans)

7. Have the children read We Are

We Are Family

F N C

, and you

O D N O K D

.”

God wants us to get to know him. He speaks to us in our hearts and through the Bible. The Bible is filled with stories of how God speaks to his people and how people respond to God in faith.

Leviticus 26:12

UNIT 1 God Calls Us to Faith

2. Suggest that the children call

people by name to show their love. Let the children dramatize occasions when they can show love for others by using their names. (when they greet, answer, or thank them)

3. Create Made by

God with Love Made by God badges. with Love ✦✦ Have the children remove the badges from the back of the books. Ask them to print their names on the badges and color them.

✦✦

Use masking tape or pins to attach the badges to the children’s clothing or bag. Tell them to wear the badges all day as a reminder that God calls them by name.

CHECKPOINT • Were the learning outcomes achieved? • Were the children impressed with the importance of names?

God Calls Us CHAPTER 1 T7

Day Two God Called Abram to Believe LEARNING OUTCOMES The children will be able to • describe the story of Abraham. • compare our journey of faith with that of Abraham. • describe the importance and power of faith in God.

Key Terms Abram—Abraham’s name before God changed it Abraham—the first believer; father of the Jewish people

Canaan—the Promised Land to which God led Abraham and the Hebrews

• Proper names under Key Terms printed on the board or on flash cards

faith—accepting something as true; trusting someone

• Crayons or markers

Haran—country from which Abram was called Isaac—son of Abraham and Sarah Sarah—Abraham’s wife Sarai—Sarah’s name before God changed it

Materials • Bible

believed—had faith in and trusted

Centering

✦✦

1. Recall the last lesson. ✦✦

Write family on the board. Ask:

✦✦

What families do you belong to?

✦✦

Today you will hear the story of the first family of believers. But first listen to a story about a modern family.

✦✦

2. Tell the following story and

let the children dramatize it as indicated. ✦✦ One evening Mr. Green came home with some big news. He had just gotten an exciting new job, doing work that he had always dreamed of doing. The even bigger news was that his new job meant the whole family would have to move to another country—in three months! ✦✦

Mrs. Green was so happy for her husband and the thought of living in a different country was exciting, but leaving her job and the place that had been home for so long would be hard. What do you think she said? [Ask a child to make up this part.]

UNIT 1

God Calls Us to Faith

Student pages 4–5

Their son Jim had just joined a Little League team and had many friends on the team. He would miss it very much, but he loves his family. What do you think Jim said? [Ask a child to make up this part.] His sister Maureen loves camping and hiking. Her Brownie troop was planning a big trip to the state park later in the year. Because of the move, she would not be able to go on that trip, but she also loves her family. What do you think she said? [Ask a child to make up this part.]

3. Let the children discuss their experiences of moving. ✦✦ Did you ever move? How did you feel? ✦✦

What made it easier?

✦✦

A man named Abram is famous for his response when God called him to move.

Before You Begin Faith is a special gift that God bestows on us in Baptism. Through faith, we are able to transcend our own ideas of what is good for us and trust confidently in God’s promise to bring us ever closer to him and each other. In this lesson the children hear how God called Abram to forsake home and country. Abram responded in faith, and God made him the father of many nations.

Sharing 1. Introduce the Bible to the

children. ✦✦ Reverently show the children a Bible. ✦✦

You all know this book. What is it? Why do we call it the Holy Bible? (It is God’s Word.) What do we find in the Bible? (stories, letters, poems, songs)

✦✦

Through the words of the Bible, God tells us about himself, ourselves, and the world in which we live. So we say that the Bible is God’s Word. When we listen to the words of the Bible, we hear God speaking to us.

2. Have the children read God

Speaks to Us in the Bible and work the puzzle on page 4.

Day Two 3. Tell or read the story of

Abraham. ✦✦ Explain to the children that they will now listen to the story of God’s Word to Abraham. ✦✦

4. Discuss the story of Abraham. ✦✦

Point to the names on the board or on flash cards as they are mentioned.

The Story of Abraham A long time ago God called a man named Abram to do something special. God promised him blessings in return. God said, “Leave your home, your country, and your relatives. Go to the land I will show you. I will make you the father of many nations.” This was hard for Abram because he did not know what land it was or how to get there. But Abram believed that God would show the way. He left the land of Haran with Sarai his wife and with his nephew, servants, and all he owned. During the long journey they had to cross a wide river and a desert. God took care of Abram and his family and brought them to a land called Canaan. In Canaan, God spoke to Abram again. He said, “This will be your land and the land of your people. I will be your God.”

Abram lived many years before Jesus. His story is in the first part of the Bible, written long ago. Abram did not know a great deal about God, but he knew enough to believe. He knew that God would take care of him, and God did.

✦✦

What difficult thing did God want Abram to do? (leave his home and country; go to a strange land)

✦✦

What did God promise Abram? (that he would be the father of many nations)

✦✦

How did Abram know where to go? (God led him.)

✦✦

How do you think Abram felt? (sad, worried, excited)

✦✦

How was Abram’s journey harder than moving today? (He had to take everything with him; he had to travel by animal and on foot.)

✦✦

When Abram arrived in Canaan, what did God promise him? (“This will be your land and the land of your people. I will be your God.”)

✦✦

Abram couldn’t understand how he could be the father of many people. Why not? (He and Sarah were old, and they had no children.)

✦✦

What special promises did God then make to Abram? (He would have a son. The children of his family would be as countless as the stars in the sky.)

✦✦

Often when choosing people to do something special, God gives them special names. What names did God give Abram and his wife? (Abraham and Sarah) [Point to the names.] Abraham means “father of many people” and Sarah means “princess.”

✦✦

God sent Abraham and Sarah a son. What was his name? (Isaac, which means “laughter”) How do you think Abraham and Sarah felt about their son?

✦✦

Because Abraham believed in God, we say he had a strong faith in God. God kept his promises, and Abraham became the father of all those who believe in God.

Abram believed God, even though he did not know how he could become the father of many people. He and his wife were old and had no children. Then one day God called Abram and said, “You and your wife shall have a son. Look at the sky and count the stars. The children of your family who come after you will be as countless as the stars. Now you shall be called Abraham and your wife shall be called Sarah.” God kept this promise and gave Abraham and Sarah a son. They called him Isaac. They were full of joy. adapted from Genesis 12—21

God Calls Us CHAPTER 1 T9

Day Two 5. Have the children read God

Called Abram to Believe on page 5.

God Called Abram to Believe A long time ago God called a man named Abram. God said, “Leave your home and your country. Go to the land I will show you. I will make of you a great nation.”

6. Help the children compare our

journey of faith with that of Abraham by having them read God Gives the Gift of Faith on page 5. ✦✦ God’s message to us is very much like the message to Abraham. God says if we believe in and obey him, we will belong to his people and family. Like Abraham, we are on a journey to a new land. What is it? (heaven) When did God call us to begin our journey to heaven? (at Baptism) ✦✦

✦✦

Abram believed that God would take care of him. He did as God told him. He went to the new land. Then God spoke to Abram again. He gave him the land and said, “Look up at the sky. Count the stars if you can. The children of your family will be as many as the stars in the sky. You shall be called Abraham, and your wife shall be called Sarah. You and Sarah will have a son.” Abraham believed what God said. Although he and Sarah were very old, they had a son. They called him Isaac. He was a great joy to them.

We meet some hardships just as Abraham did. What helped Abraham when he met hardships? (faith) Faith in God helps us too. We also have many people around us who have faith and support us. What do we call this group of faith-filled people? (the Church) At Baptism we received the special gift of faith that enables us to believe.

God Gives the Gift of Faith Abraham always believed in God’s loving care. He did what God asked even when it was hard. Even though we cannot see God, he also calls us to believe him. At Baptism we celebrate the gift of faith. It helps us believe in God. We believe that God made us and that we are his children. We believe that God takes care of us in everything that happens. We believe that we can live with him forever.

God has told us more about himself than God told Abraham. What do you know about God? (God made us; we belong to God; God loves us; God calls us to live with him forever in heaven.)

Just as God spoke to Abraham, he speaks to us in our hearts. He helps us know him better. He helps us do what he tells us even when it is hard. With faith we trust God to do what is good for us. We know God wants us to be happy. God Calls Us CHAPTER 1

7. Discuss our faith in God’s care. ✦✦

✦✦

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God takes care of us just as God watched over Abraham, Sarah, and their family. What good things have happened to you? We thank God for all these things. God takes care of us even through the sad things that happen to us. What sad things have happened to you? We ask God to help us come closer to him during the sad times.

UNIT 1

God Calls Us to Faith

✦✦

God speaks to us as he did to Abraham. In our hearts God tells us what to do to be happy with him forever. Has God told you to do something? What was it? What hard thing has God told you to do? How did you feel when you did what God wanted?

Acting Lead the children to reflect on the picture on the top of page 5. ✦✦ Let’s imagine that we are with Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac. Listen to what Abraham tells Isaac about the stars and God’s promise. The stars stand for all

the people who believe in God. Abraham became the father of all believers. ✦✦

We are also children of Abraham. Let’s tell God, “I believe you love us and take care of us.” [Pause for silent prayer.]

CHECKPOINT • Were the learning outcomes achieved? • Do the children understand what God means when he says that he calls us by name?

Day Three God Called Ruth to Believe LEARNING OUTCOMES The children will be able to • describe the story of Ruth. • name ways that God calls them through the needs of others.

Key Terms Boaz—Naomi’s kinsman who marries Ruth Israel—the land occupied by the descendants of Jacob (to whom God gave the name “Israel,” meaning “he strives with God”) Moab—ancient kingdom that was east of the Dead Sea

Naomi—Ruth’s Israelite mother-in-law

• Names printed on the board or on flash cards: Ruth, Naomi, Boaz • Words to “Ruth’s Song” (see Centering #2) written on the board or on a chart

Sharing

1. Recall the last lesson.

1. Tell the story of Ruth.

Who is the father of all believers? (Abraham)

✦✦

How did he show faith? (He moved to a new land; he believed that God would give him a son.)

✦✦

In the Bible there is a story of a woman who had faith in the God of Abraham. Her name is Ruth.

2. Invite the children to sing

“Ruth’s Song.” ✦✦ Use the melody of “Kumbaya.” Tell them the words were spoken by Ruth.

Ruth’s Song 1. 2. 3.

I will go with you where you go. (three times) Oh, I will go with you. I will live with you where you live. (three times) Oh, I will live with you. I will love the God that you love. (three times) Oh, I will love your God.

✦✦

Ruth spoke these words to her mother-in-law, Naomi. [Point to the word Naomi.] Today you will learn why Ruth said them.

The story of Ruth is a heartening affirmation of family life and loyalty. Ruth left her home and country to go with Naomi and be her support in old age. For her kindness, God blessed Ruth with the gifts of faith, a fine husband, and a child who would be the grandfather of King David—of whose family line the Savior would be born.

• Pictures of people through whom God may speak to us: teacher, priest, elders, people who are poor or suffering, parents, etc.

Centering ✦✦

Before You Begin

Ruth—Moabite woman who learns about the true God of Israel

Materials

Student page 6

God Calls Ruth Ruth lived in Moab, a country where the people believed in false gods. She learned about the true God from her husband and his mother who were Hebrews, successors of Abraham and Sarah. After her husband died, Ruth lived with her motherin-law, Naomi. Ruth loved Naomi and helped her. Naomi was always kind and gentle toward Ruth. One day Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, in her homeland. When Ruth heard this, she wanted to go with her. Naomi said, “Stay here with your own people.” Ruth felt sad about this. She loved Naomi so much that she would not let her go alone. She begged Naomi, “Do not ask me to stay behind. I will go where you go. I will live where you live. I will love the God that you love. I will belong to your people.” So Ruth went with Naomi to Bethlehem. God blessed Ruth for her goodness to Naomi and gave her the wonderful gift of faith. Now Ruth believed in God and joined his people. In the new land Ruth worked hard and helped Naomi. Every day she gathered grain from early morning until night. Everyone could see how much Ruth loved and cared for Naomi. Boaz, the owner of the fields, who was related to Naomi, saw this too. God blessed Ruth’s goodness again. In the fields Ruth met Boaz. Boaz was kind to Ruth, and eventually he married her. God blessed them with a son. In time Ruth became the greatgrandmother of King David. From the family of David, Jesus the Savior was born. based on the Book of Ruth

God Calls Us CHAPTER 1 T11

Day Three 2. Have the children read the first

two paragraphs of God Called Ruth to Believe on page 6. ✦✦ What is the title of this story? (God Called Ruth to Believe) ✦✦

Look at the picture of Ruth and Naomi traveling. Which do you think is Ruth? [Let the children give reasons for their answers.]

✦✦

Where did Ruth and Naomi live? (Moab; a country where people believed in false gods)

✦✦

Why was Ruth living with Naomi? (because Ruth’s husband, who was Naomi’s son, had died)

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How did Ruth and Naomi show their love for each other? (by being kind to each other; by helping each other)

✦✦

How did Ruth feel when Naomi told her that she was returning to her own country? (sad)

✦✦

What did she say to Naomi? Why do you think Naomi was pleased that Ruth wanted to go with her? (She loved Ruth.)

✦✦

How did God show he was pleased with Ruth? (God gave her the gift of faith.)

✦✦

Through whom did God call Ruth to believe in him? (through her husband and Naomi)

God Called Ruth to Believe The Book of Ruth is about a young woman named Ruth. Ruth was from Moab, a country where people believed in false gods. She learned about the one true God from her husband and his mother, Naomi. When her husband died, Ruth stayed with Naomi. Naomi was kind and Ruth loved her. One day Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem, the city in Israel where she had been born. Ruth wanted to go with her. She said to Naomi: “Wherever you go, I will go. Where you live, I will live. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” adapted from Ruth 1:16

Ruth went with Naomi to Israel. In the new country she worked hard every day. She gathered grain in the fields of a man named Boaz. Boaz was good and kind. Before long, he married Ruth. They were very happy together. God blessed them with a son. Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David. Into the family of David, many years later, Jesus the Savior was born. God called Ruth to believe in him. She learned about God from Naomi and the Israelites. God was pleased with Ruth and gave her the gift of faith. Ruth knew God and loved him.

UNIT 1 God Calls Us to Faith

3. Add a fourth verse to “Ruth’s

Song.” You may wish to write the words on the board. Have the children sing it.

Ruth’s Song (continued) 4. God gave Ruth a gift, holy faith.

(three times) God gave her holy faith.

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UNIT 1

God Calls Us to Faith

4. Read and discuss the rest of the story. ✦✦ Have a child read the rest of page 6 aloud. ✦✦

What sacrifices did Ruth make to help Naomi? (She worked in the fields.) Each day Ruth had to get up early to pick grain in the fields. She gathered what the farmers had left behind; then she went home and prepared the meals from what she had gathered.

✦✦

Who was Boaz? (a good and kind man)

✦✦

What good things happened to Ruth because of her goodness to Naomi? (She received the gift of faith. She married Boaz.)

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How did God bless Ruth and Boaz after they were married? (He gave them a son.)

✦✦

Ruth became the greatgrandmother of King David. Why was King David important for God’s people? (The Savior was born from his family.)

Day Three 5. Connect Ruth’s story with how

God calls us through other people. ✦✦ God called Ruth and spoke to her through some special people. Who were they? (her husband and his mother, Naomi) ✦✦

✦✦

Sometimes God tells us through other people what he wants us to do. Who are some people through whom God speaks to us? Who are some people you meet during the day? Who are some people you hear about or see on TV? Which of these help you do what God wants?

6. Display and discuss the

pictures of people through whom God may speak to us. ✦✦ Ask the children what God might be saying to them through these people. Ask questions such as the following: ✦✦

When you meet a person who is poor or unhappy, what might God ask you to do?

✦✦

What might God ask you to do through your teacher?

✦✦

What might God tell you through a priest who is speaking to you in church?

✦✦

When you see an elderly person who is lonely, what do you think God is telling you to do?

✦✦

When your parents show how much they love you, what is God saying to you? What might God tell you to do through your parents?

7. Review the story of Ruth. Ask volunteers to tell one important thing about each person whose name is written on the board or on a flash card.

8. Sing “Ruth’s Song” with the children.

Acting 1.

Help the children prayerfully consider God’s call. ✦✦ God calls us through others to do the things he wants. Let’s tell God that we believe he speaks to us through our parents and others who have charge of us. [Pause.] ✦✦

Ask the children for suggestions about how they, like Ruth, can help others. Solidarity ✦✦ Let them dramatize some suggestions, for example, a visit to an elderly person who cannot leave his or her home. ✦✦

In the dramatization, the child talks to the person and offers to perform some service, such as watering the plants.

CHECKPOINT • Were the learning outcomes achieved? • How did the children show they believe God calls them each by name?

Let’s thank God for our parents and all the people who help us. [Pause.]

God Calls Us CHAPTER 1 T13

Day Four God Calls Us

Student pages 7–8

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Materials

Before You Begin

The children will be able to • describe the meaning of faith. • review the stories of Abraham and Ruth. • identify Scripture as a means to meet God and deepen faith. • demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts in this chapter.

• A paper bag with a small toy inside

1. You may wish to assemble the

• A racetrack with 16 sections leading to the finish line (drawn on the board) • Paper race cars • Magnets • Stapler • Scripture prayer booklet “Gifted with Faith” from the back of the student book • BLM 1 • BLM 2 Quiz

Centering

Sharing

1. Show the paper bag and ask the

1. Have the children read God

children: ✦✦ If I told you there was a toy in this bag, would you believe me, even though you can’t see the toy? ✦✦

Why would you believe me more than you would a stranger? (We know you better; we trust you.)

2. Link this lesson with the last

lessons. ✦✦ What people have you studied so far who have come to believe God? (Abraham, Sarah, Ruth, Naomi) Why did they believe God? (They came to know God better; they saw what God did.) ✦✦

T14

Today you will learn one way that your faith in God can grow.

UNIT 1

God Calls Us to Faith

children’s Scripture prayer booklets before class.

2. For Sharing #3 you may prefer

to have one child stand beside a second child and race to answer the question. The winner moves to the next child for the next question. You might also choose to break the class into two or three teams.

3. When planning today’s lesson, keep in mind that Day Four is when the children take the quiz for this chapter. Reserve time at the end of class for this assessment. The quiz may also be administered on Day Five.

✦✦

It may be helpful to give the children some context in which to begin their prayer. In this case, you may wish to say something like the following:

✦✦

Think of a typical evening for you at home. Perhaps you are doing your homework, watching your favorite television show, or helping wash the dinner dishes. Imagine that the phone rings. One of your family members answers and then turns to you and says: “It is Jesus; he’s calling for you.”

✦✦

Give the children time to pray in silence.

Calls You to Believe and do the activities on page 7.

2. Guide the children through

A Moment with Jesus ✦✦ A Moment with Jesus is an opportunity for the children to turn to God in the quiet of their hearts. This is a time for personal, interior prayer. You may wish to use a soft chime or other musical tone to let them know when prayer time begins and ends. ✦✦

Invite the children to take a few minutes for prayer.

✦✦

We’ve spent some time today talking about God and our faith. God is always with us while we are studying, reading, playing, or sleeping. Wherever we are, God is! Even though God is always with us, it’s always good to take a few minutes to be with God in the quiet of our hearts.

Day Four 3. Review the chapter by playing

the game Car Race. ✦✦ Each child who answers one of the following questions correctly may move a paper race car, held by a magnet on the board, closer to the finish line. ✦✦

✦✦

Both Abraham and Ruth showed faith by traveling. How did Abraham show faith? (He moved to Canaan as God directed.) How did Ruth show faith? (She moved to Bethlehem to help Naomi.) Let’s play the game Car Race to review their faith stories. Questions:

God Calls You to Believe Abraham and Ruth had faith in God. They knew and loved God. You received the gift of faith at Baptism when you became a Christian. What things do you do that please God?

A Moment with Jesus Imagine getting a phone call from Jesus. What do you say when you get on the phone with Jesus? Let him know that you are always ready to answer his call.

Write the names of people who help you learn about God.

Write what you learned about God from one of them.

1. What was Abraham’s name before God called him? (Abram) 2. Who was Abraham’s wife? (Sarah) 3. What did God call Abraham to do? (Move to Canaan.)

A Picture from Your Life Draw a picture of your family.

4. What did God promise to do with Canaan? (Give it to Abraham.) 5. What did God promise that Abraham and Sarah would have? (a son) 6. Why was this hard to believe? (They were old.) 7. To what did God compare the number of Abraham’s family members? (stars) 8. Who was Abraham and Sarah’s son? (Isaac) 9. Who was Naomi to Ruth? (her mother-in-law) 10. What town was Naomi from? (Bethlehem) 11. Why did Ruth go to Bethlehem with Naomi? (She loved her.) 12. What did Ruth do for Naomi there? (picked grain; prepared meals)

God Calls Us CHAPTER 1

13. In whose fields did Ruth gather grain? (Boaz’s fields) 14. Whom did Ruth marry? (Boaz) 15. Who was Ruth’s greatgrandchild? (King David) 16. Who else was born into Ruth’s family? (Jesus; the Savior)

God Calls Us CHAPTER 1 T15

Day Four You belong to a family of faith. You believe in God and try to do what God wants. You believe in Jesus and his teachings.

✦✦

This year you will study what Catholics believe. Like Abraham and Ruth, we want to grow in faith. We want to know and trust God more and more every day.

PTE

✦✦

4. Conclude the game by saying:

Review

When you were baptized, you joined the Church and the family of Jesus. Since then, you have had two special names that mean that you belong to the Church family. What are they?

Your Special Names Print these names in the puzzle.

5. Introduce the Scripture prayer

What is faith? Faith is a gift from God that helps us to believe in him.

I know that God is with me. In God I trust. adapted from Psalm 56:10,12

We Belong to the Kingdom of God

Gifted with Faith

Think and pray about each of these ways that we show we belong to the Kingdom of God. Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.

I have called you by name: You are mine. You are precious in my eyes. I love you.

Galatians 6:2

Colossians 3:20

What does God call us to do? God calls us to believe in him and to do what he asks.

We Respond

booklet.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

We Remember

adapted from Isaiah 43:1,4

. . . humbly regard others as more important than yourselves.

You are in our hearts. adapted from 2 Corinthians 7:3

Philippians 2:3

. . . set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

. . . I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you . . .

1 Timothy 4:12

Romans 1:8

God . . . causes the growth.

Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

1 Corinthians 3:7

This book belongs to

✦✦

Show the children a copy of “Gifted with Faith” and explain what it is.

✦✦

One way God let us know him better and deepen our faith was by giving us his Word. Where is God’s Word? (in the Bible)

✦✦

You will each have a Scripture prayer booklet to help you use God’s Word to grow in faith.

✦✦

Help the children assemble their booklets (if these were not prepared ahead of time).

✦✦

Carefully remove the booklets.

✦✦

Stack the pages with the cover on top and page 5 on the bottom. Fold the booklet and staple it in the middle.

✦✦

Building Family Faith CHAPTER SUMMARY God calls us to take part in his plan of salvation. He promises to help and bless all those who trustingly respond to his call. Abraham and Ruth show us how. They show us that having faith means listening for and obeying what God asks. They exemplify how faithfulness to God is good and proper and leads to a fuller, richer life. REFLECT Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 DISCUSS AS A FAMILY • What does this reading tell us about God’s love? • What good things can you name that God has given your family? • How do you show your faithfulness to God in the way you live as a family?

✦✦

Dear God, I believe that you are good. [The children might add the following prayers of what they believe: that you love me, made me, take care of me, call me to live with you forever.]

6. BLM 1 Have the children

2. Encourage the children to

Acting

3. BLM 2 Distribute and

Let the children compose short prayers telling God what they believe. ✦✦ Begin by saying:

remember what they learned using the review on page 8.

administer BLM 2 Chapter 1 Quiz. ✦✦ Use this opportunity to assess the children’s understanding of the main concepts of the chapter. ✦✦

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UNIT 1

God Calls Us to Faith

DO • Learn the meaning of each family member’s name. • Make a photo collage of your family. Print the words of Isaiah 43:1 around it. • Ask your child to tell you the stories of Abraham and Ruth answering God’s call. • Make a connection between these stories and your family’s experiences. Visit www.christourlife.com for more family resources.

Read and explain page 2 of the booklets. Tell how to use the other pages.

complete copies of BLM 1 Three Families of Faith.

PRAY I have called you by name: you are mine.

If there is not sufficient time for the children to complete the quiz, consider moving it to Day Five.

4. Conclude the lesson with the

words of Scripture found in We Respond.

5. At the end of class, have the children tear out page 8. Encourage them to share Building Family Faith with their families.

CHECKPOINT • Were the learning outcomes achieved?

Day Five Extending the Chapter

Day Four

Gather and Go Forth

1. Remind the children to take

4. Visit www.christourlife.com to

Lead children through pages 9–10 in the student book. Find catechist instruction on T364–T365.

2. Incorporate any unused BLMs

5. Use activities from Enriching

3. Consider the time of the

6. Guide the children in a

Use the following suggestions to develop an additional lesson for Day Five.

home page 8 to share what they are learning with their families. from the week’s chapter.

liturgical year and use the appropriate Special Seasons and Lessons. SSLs begin on page T417.

find additional activities for Extending the Chapter. the Faith Experience.

prayerful discussion of Sunday’s Scripture readings. Visit www.christourlife.com for more information.

Chapter 1 Enriching the Faith Experience Use the following activities to enrich a lesson or to replace an activity with one that better meets the needs of your class.

4. Perform the following rap.

Abraham: A Rap Abram had a pretty good life, living in Haran with Sarah, his wife. Then God called Abram one special day— said, ”Pack up your things. Be on your way to a fine new land that I will show. I will bless you if you do go. People will be glad because of you. You’ll be great before I’m through.” Because Abram followed God’s command, God promised him and his kin the land. But Abram and Sarah were very old and had no kids to inherit, we’re told. Still God told Abram that by and by his descendants would be like the stars in the sky. What’s more God made him leap for joy by promising him a baby boy. After meeting God, Abram was never the same. God even changed his and Sarah’s name. Now Abraham is honored by all as “father in faith,” who answered God’s call.

1. Have the children use a black

crayon to write their names on 9-by-12-inch manila paper. Then they may use crayons around the contours of the letters to make a colorful design.

2. Have the children draw

pictures of themselves, incorporating the meanings of their names. For example, a child named for a parent might draw picture of him or herself with that parent, or a girl named Sarah might draw a picture of herself as a princess.

3. Ask the children some of the

names they have because of the families to which they belong. (first and last name, Catholic, Christian, American, human)

M. Kathleen Glavich, S.N.D.

God Calls Us CHAPTER 1 T17