New Testament

Having a new baby has certainly put me behind!

Never-the-less, I wanted to update the blog with my plan for this year! This year's lesson plans will be focusing on stories from the New Testament. Due to an increase in volunteers, I have also slightly changed my classroom style.

Each week, we will have three stations set up for the children. Station One will be the lesson station where we will break down the topic of the day and make it applicable to the children. Station two will be hearing the text that we are studying from the Bible, followed by an activity. The third station will be a craft or something for the children to take home to remember the lesson by.

Our group of children have been divided into three groups as well, based on age. The children rotate through each station in their age group, so the teachers can adjust the content as needed. We are three weeks in to a new year at this point and it is going very well! The major advantage of this style is that I only have to create one lesson plan to use for all three classes. Since we are so small, this is key!

I will attempt to post each lesson plan on here for your reference. I pray that it is a resource to all of those in the East- Catholic and Orthodox alike!

Confession....make it a family affair!

My girls were baptised Roman Catholic, so when we became Melkite, we wanted them to received the rest of their sacraments of initiation...Confirmation and Communion. This photo was taken that day...surrounded by family, we ushered the girls into the Church through the Sacraments. I have often wondered why we don't do the same with Confession. It seems that we feel this Sacrament is "too personal" to have any group expectations, but I disagree! We all sin, this is a fact. The content of that sin is personal, but the fact that Confession is a beautiful gift, source of grace, and an opportunity to reunite ourselves to the Body of Christ makes it far from only a personal, private experience! We have decided as a family to go to Confession together. My youngest does not yet go, but she comes along as well. It was beautiful! I spent time with my 8 year old helping her to do an examination of conscience, then she spent time alone preparing her Confession. I discussed what sin is with her and printed an examination of conscience for children for her to read through on her own. I was truly impressed with her thoughtfulness! (and no, I didn' "check" her sins after...those were left private) Since this was just her second time going, I printed out my guide to Confession, which helps her know what to say so she doesn't get nervous. Then, we made arrangements wih our priest to come to church early. One at a time, we each made our Confession. It was a positive experience for our daughter and is always for us. I would encourage you to consider doing the same. Don't let your children miss out on this beautiful Sacrament and source of Grace! Make the time...on a regular basis...it is well worth it!

New Life

As the Church is again filled with new life this Pentecost, I am hoping that this blog will be too! We are taking our little basil plant to church today to be blessed, as the traditional color for Pentecost in the East is green-for new life.

(I found the printed image HERE and taped it on toothpicks to stand.)