New Topic

RECONCILIATION – INTER-RELATING

LEARNING INTENTION:   Choices have consequences.

Read this story then consider the questions below.

It was holiday time, and lots of children were playing in the park.  Tom and Andrew had met some of their friends and were looking forward to a good game of football.  Just then, along came Paul. “Just look,” said Tom, “he’s got his sister with him!” And there she was.  Jane was dressed in her shorts and was wearing new trainers.  “What have you brought her for?” asked Andrew.  “I had to choose,” said Paul.  “Mum said I could come if I brought Jane, but if not, I would have to play with her at home.”

 “It’s all right,” said Jane, “I can play football. I’ve been practising at home, and I’ve got my new trainers.”  Tom liked Jane.  He’d seen her kicking a football in the school playground and knew she wouldn’t spoil the game, but he felt a bit afraid of saying so.  He thought Andrew wouldn’t be friends with him if he did.

“Hurry up,” shouted the rest of the gang.  “Aren’t you going to play today?”  It was now or never.  “Come on Jane,” said Tom, “we’d better put our football boots on and show them.” Then he turned to Andrew, “Give her a chance,” he said.  The game started before Andrew had a chance to answer.  And they all enjoyed it.  Tom, Paul and Andrew, and of course, Jane.  None of them regretted that Paul had brought his sister with him.

Questions

• What do the words choice and consequence mean?
• What choices can you find in the story?
• What two choices did Mum give Paul?
• What do you think Paul said to his Mum?
• How do you think Jane felt when she heard what Tom said, and what Andrew said?
• How do you think Paul felt?
• What were the consequences of Paul’s choice?
•  

During the next few days, design a chart to record some of the choices you have made. At end of the week reflect on these choices and consider whether they were good or wrong.  What were the consequences of your choice?

Have a quiet moment to reflect on and appreciate making choices and the consequences of these choices – good or wrong.

What surprised you?                                                                                                                                      

What worried you?  

What puzzled you?   

What brought you joy?

 What made you stop and think?                                 

 What is the most important thing you heard?                                                                                                  Will you do anything differently now?

LEARNING FOCUS 1:  Two sons make choices.

CONTENT

When he was teaching the people, and trying to help them, Jesus told this story about two sons who made choices. Choices always have consequences. Listen to the story:

There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the older one and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.”

 “I don’t want to,” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.  “Yes, sir,” he answered, but he did not go.

Which one of the two did what his father wanted?

Now Jesus was in the Temple teaching when he told this story, so he said to the people who were listening, “What do you think? Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?”  And they all said, “the first.”

Matthew 21: 28-31

SOME KEY QUESTIONS

The first son

1. What was his first choice?
2. Why do you think he chose as he did?
3. How do you think he felt?
4. Can you think of some of the consequences of his choice?
5. Can you think of reasons why he changed his mind?  How did he feel?
6. Do you think that was easy?  Give reasons.
7. Have you ever done something like this?  When?  Why?

The second son

1. What did the second son choose?
2. Why do you think he changed his mind?
3. How do you think he felt?
4. Have you ever done something like this?  When?  Why?

The father

1. How do you think the father felt about his two sons?
2. Why did the father react like this?

Activity-

Make a storyboard of the choices made by each son

LEARNING FOCUS 5: What happens at the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

CONTENT

These are the stages of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

1. The penitent (person confessing his/her sins), takes time to examine their conscience (life).  This means to think about the times they have not followed Jesus’ way of love and kindness.
2. The priest welcomes the penitent, and they both make the Sign of the Cross.
3. The penitent confesses (tells the priest his/her sins).
4. The priest talks kindly to them and encourages them to do or say something to make up for what they have done wrong.  This is called a penance.
5. The person then prays an act of sorrow, which includes the promise to try not to do the same again.
6. The priest says the words of forgiveness and absolution.
7. The person leaves the priest and prays and thanks God for forgiving them and completes the penance the priest has asked them to do.

SOME KEY QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think this Sacrament is called ‘Reconciliation’?
2. Why is Reconciliation important for everyone?
3. What kind of things do you think the priest might say to the penitent?
4. How do you think the person feels when they hear the words of forgiveness and absolution?
5. What kind of things might a person do to make up for their sins?

SOME SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

• Make a ‘Reconciliation’ booklet to help a person understand the different steps, words and actions in celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation and what they mean.  
• Re-enact the stages and actions of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Take photographs and use these to write explanations for each stage.

LEARNING FOCUS 6: Thanksgiving for God’s love.

CONTENT

St. Paul wrote to his friends in Thessalonica to encourage and reassure them. He told them that God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion are all gifts for them.  We thank God for the gifts he gives us just as we thank friends for the gifts they give us.  God gives us all the gifts we need to help us to live good lives.  Read God’s Story 3 page 148 based on 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-18.

SOME KEY QUESTIONS

1. What do you think is the most important thing Paul tells the people to be?
2. What does he tell them to do?
3. What special gifts has God given you out of love to share with your friends?
4. How can we thank God for the gifts he gives us?
5. What gifts would you like to pray for?

SOME SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

• Look at the scripture from God’s Story 3 page 148.   Read the text and talk about it, exploring different aspects of the scripture.  Select all the positive words in the passage e.g. love, respect, encourage etc. and give examples of what people might do to be loving, respectful etc.
• Create a Litany of thanks and sorrow.  You can add your own words.

For choices that made me glad.  Thank you God.

For choices that made others glad.  Thank you God.

For choices that made me sad.  I am sorry God.

For choices that made others sad.  I am sorry God.

As we reflect on the Easter season, we are approaching the time of Pentecost, celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday, which for us this year is 31st May. 

This week, please look at the following activities to continue your learning in Come and See. Our new topic is called Energy. 

LF6 - The gifts of the Holy Spirit

We first find the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament book of Isaiah who was looking forward to the coming of Jesus, the Chosen One.  He recognised that the one who was to come, the Messiah, would have these special gifts given by the Spirit of God.

The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 11:2

The gifts of the Holy Spirit enable people to live as Christians.  There are seven particular gifts, which are linked together and help people to lead good lives and make use of the gifts they have.  These gifts should be used to help others.

Wisdom – that is the gift to be sensible and not to jump to conclusions but be thoughtful.

Understanding – enables people to be compassionate and to take time to find out and be able to appreciate what is happening.

Counsel – means using wisdom and understanding to come to a good decision about something.

Fortitude  – there are times when everyone needs to be brave in standing up for what they believe to be right and holy.

Knowledge – without knowledge you cannot make right judgements or have an understanding. It takes practice to have true knowledge.

Piety  – this is about reverence and respect for God, for one another and for oneself.

Fear of the Lord - this gift enables people to recognise the awe and wonder of God and be amazed by the love and goodness of God.

Key Questions 

1. Which of the gifts of the Holy Spirit do you think is the most important to you? Why?
2. How do the gifts of the Holy Spirit help people to live Christian lives in serving others?
3. Where might you experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit in action - at home, school and in the local community e.g. wisdom helps us to be thoughtful and think of the needs of others first.

Tasks

1. Using the definitions above of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, create a montage to depict each of the gifts of the Spirit, demonstrating how they are used by believers today. 

2. Create a mind-map for one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and explore where these are be lived out by believers at home, in school or parish.  Can you think of other ways these might be lived out? Give reasons why believers act in these ways.

LF5- The Holy Spirit energises us.

On Pentecost day, God’s Holy Spirit showered gifts upon the friends of Jesus, gifts which were different kinds of energy, gifts which transformed them.  To help Christians live as followers of Jesus the Holy Spirit gives them different kinds of gifts so everyone can help one another.  St. Paul explains this in his first letter to the people living in Corinth.  He reminds the people that everyone has different abilities but that the Holy Spirit helps them in different ways.

God has given each of us different gifts.  But he has given us the same Spirit in our hearts.  There are many different ways of caring for ourselves and for one another. But it is the same Spirit who gives us the energy (power) to care for one another in these different ways.

The Holy Spirit gives to some the power to speak wisely; to some the power to work out difficult problems and to explain them; to some the power to believe in and trust God; to some the skill of nursing and healing; to some the power to do wonderful things; to some the power to know God and to help others to know him; to some the power to distinguish clearly between right and wrong.

All different gifts, all different forms of energy, but all given by the same Holy Spirit who is at work in our hearts.

Based on I Corinthians 12: 4-8, 11

• What does Paul tell us God gives to everyone?
• What different gifts/energies does Paul tell us God gives to different people?
• What are these to be used for?
• What gift/energy, do you think God has given to you?
• What gift/energy, would you like to have? Why?
• How can Christians be open to the Spirit and use their gifts for the good of others? Why would they do this?

Tasks

1. Using the example of someone you know about, describe how, in their life, they used the energy that the Holy Spirit brings to fulfil Jesus’ mission to serve others.
2. Look at the school Mission Statement.  How is our school energised by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to serve others?   

LF4- The Church celebrates Pentecost

Read and discuss Church’s Story 3 page 113.  The Church itself is part of the Pentecost story.  Each year, Christians remember and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, the new energy, the new power that he gives to the friends of Jesus.

During this time the priest would normally wear red vestments to symbolise fire and energy.

• In the reading, what were the Jewish people celebrating at Pentecost?
• What was the promise Jesus made?
• Why is Pentecost known as ‘the birthday of the Church’?
• Why does the priest wear red vestments  at Pentecost?
• Why would parishes celebrate richness and diversity during Pentecost?

LF2 and 3- The coming of the Holy Spirit.

Look at the resources in the folder. 

1. Why do you think that the apostles needed the power and energy of the Holy Spirit?
2. Why do you think that the coming of the Holy Spirit was likened to strong wind and tongues of fire?
3. Are there any questions that you could think of, after reading this passage, that might be difficult to answer?

Task

Make a collection of all the words in the passage which describe people who are bursting with energy or have no energy.  Make a pinwheel with energy words on the sails. Use ‘energy’ colours. Take it outside when completed and blow in the wind to see effect. Make links between the energy the wind gives to move the pinwheel and that given by the Spirit to ’move’ the apostles.  

or 

Use the image from God’s Story 3 page 133. Imagine you are the follower of Jesus in blue addressing the crowd. Write your script in a big speech bubble, telling them how the power and energy of the Pentecost experience has changed you and the wonder and awe you experienced.

LF1- The Ascension: Jesus goes back to his Father and promises to send the Holy Spirit.

Some questions to consider: 

• How long after Jesus' Resurrection was the Ascension? 
• How do you think the apostles felt and wondered when Jesus disappeared from sight?
• How do you think the apostles could serve as witnesses all over the world?
• Why do you think that the apostles needed the power and energy of the Holy Spirit?

Task- 

Read the story.  Imagine you are one of the disciples after Jesus had returned to his Father.

Having witnessed how Jesus served others, how will you continue his mission?

Express how you would do this in action, giving reasons for your choices.

Explore

• What has been your experience of the power and energy of fire and wind?
• How can the energy of fire and wind be used for good?
• What do you think would happen if we had no sun?

Activities

What can fire and wind do? Think about:

The sounds you hear

The smells you smell

The sights you see

The feelings you have

The differences they make

The warmth or cool it brings

The power of fire

The power of wind

You could record your ideas on a spiral (see template below). 

Extension- research wind power and how it is an alternative energy supply. 

Come and See

We are currently in the season of preparation, where purple is the colour worn in Church. Lent is a time to remember others and what they have done for us. Some of us choose to give up something we enjoy, some are doing things to help other people.

Week three

• How did Simon of Cyrene give of himself ?
• Why did Jesus give his life for us?
• Why do Christians go to church on Good Friday?

Suggested activities

Think about Jesus’ self-giving and your own greatest self-giving: e.g. giving love when it is hard, like looking after a younger brother or sister, giving time, showing forgiveness, having patience. Write this on a template of a cross or make a cross out of post-it notes.

Week two

A new way of living

This week we are focusing on the Beatitudes. Read the scripture and text below and consider the following questions: 

What do you think a generous heart is?

What does it mean to be gentle?

Why is it important to forgive?

Why are peacemakers important?

What new way of living and giving have you thought of this Lent?

Next, Choose one of the Beatitudes.  Write a short story or draw a picture showing how someone is living and giving of themselves in this way.  Give reasons for their actions.

Week two part two

Sometimes it is hard to be totally giving

The greatest week of the year for Christians is Holy Week, when the Church remembers the suffering, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.  This account is heard during that time.

After Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples he suggested they all went to the nearby olive garden called Gethsemane, to pray.  This is Mark’s account of what happened there.  Read God’s Story 3 page 116 Gethsemane based on Mark 14:26-31, 32-46 (see link below).

Key Questions to consider

1. How did Jesus feel when he got to the garden of Gethsemane?
2. What did he do?
3. What does this story tell you about Jesus’ generosity?
4. Why do you think Jesus took his disciples with him and why did he ask them to stay awake?
5. What do you think about how the disciples behaved and why?
6. How do you think Jesus felt when his betrayer arrived with the soldiers?

Pick one of these activities 

• Imagine you are Jesus in the garden at Gethsemane.   Write a prayer to God, your Father, using ideas from the scripture text to help you.

• Write an account of this event from the point of view of Peter, giving reasons for the ways he found it hard to give of himself.   

Week One

During this time of Lent it would be good if you could find a way to be giving, like the man in the story we read who made himself into a bridge.

Think:

How can you help out at home? 

How can you be ‘giving’ rather than ‘taking’ during this time?

In class this week we would have been reading about Jesus being in the desert for 40 days. I have attached the two readings below.

Tasks

• Consider how Jesus might have felt being alone in the desert for 40 days- at this time some people in society will also be alone. Could you say a prayer for them?

• Create a story board to show what Jesus went through whilst He was in the desert.