God’s Love Letter to Humanity
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
This week we are discussing the Bible. The Bible is the written word of God meant to help us know God and His plan for our lives. There are two main parts of the Bible: The Old Testament tells about the people who were waiting for the Savior. It begins with creation and goes up to close to the birth of Jesus Christ. The New Testament tells about the life of Jesus and the beginning of the Catholic Church. It opens with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the Word made flesh who came to help us know God more fully, to be a role model for moral living, and to bring salvation to mankind. How has the word of God been a light to your life?
To discuss further with the older children explain that the the Bible has 2 authors: Divine and Human. It is inspired by God and written by human authors. Inspired by God literally means God breathes His Word to man. God actively communicates with man through His Word. He reaches out to man to reveal Himself to us. The books in the Old Testament were written by people waiting for the Savior. The books of the New Testament were written by people who knew Jesus personally or knew one of the apostles personally. The Bible is His Story and God wants to tell His Story to us.
Tell your child the Parable of the Good Samaritan. For older children read from the Bible for younger children you can read from a Children’s Bible. Formed.org has a few videos on the Parables of Jesus. The 6 episodes of The Jesus Stories are about 10 minutes long and retells each story. https://watch.formed.org/the-jesus-stories
Vocabulary words to discuss with your child: Angels, Saints, Parable, Samaritan.
Prayer of the Week: Angel of God. There is a worksheet that was included in the craft package for the First graders. We have added it here for all the students to use as a homework assignment.
Angel of God my guardian dear, to who God’s love commits me here, ever the day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen
With the Feast days for the Arch Angels St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael on September 29 and October 2 is the feast of Guardian Angels this week these should be the saints to focus on with your children. Angels— created spirits without bodies who are servants and messengers for God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named in the Bible. Angels choose to love and obey God and serve Him in Heaven. Check out Catholic Icing website for some ways to celebrate the Arch Angels.
Monthly Assessments should be completed this week. Please take the link to the assessment for your child’s grade section to complete online. K-2 September Assessment, 3-5 September Assessment, 6-8 September Assessment.
Homework First Year Sacramental Prep: Complete the Bible craft provided for week 3 in the craft package. Work on the Angel of God prayer fill in the blank worksheet. Read and explain the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Watch the videos for the week listed below.
Homework Second Year Sacramental Prep: Complete Spirit of Truth pages 11-18 you will need to submit these pages to the Religious Education office at the end of the month. Work on the Angel of God prayer fill in the blank worksheet. Read and explain the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Watch the videos for the week listed below.
Homework Years 3-6th Grades: If not completed from last week, read from The New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism (book #2) pages 16-17, C, #22-23A and 23B. For practice using the Bible ask your student to find the Archangels in the Bible. Read and explain the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Ask your student to retell the story in their own words. If desired have your student complete the Angel of God Prayer fill in the blank worksheet.
Watch: A Letter From God and Our Lady of the Rosary
Activity Ideas: October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary and there will be a decade a day challenge for the CCD students. Look for the challenge sheet below. For some ideas for teaching children the Rosary this website: Sara J Creations has some fun ideas. The edible rosary looks like a fun one to do with the younger kids. When CCD classes met in person each class would take time to pray 1 decade a week in October. The children were encouraged to bring a rosary from home to use. As a class we would focus on the mysteries for the day we met. For example our parent sessions meet Tuesdays, Tuesdays are the Sorrowful Mysteries we would go on a rotation through them. October 6 meditate the first mystery: The Agony in the Garden. October 13 meditate on mystery 2 the Scourging at the Pillar, October 20 meditate on mystery 3 Crowning with Thorns, October 27 meditate on mystery 4 Carrying of the Cross, and finally (we would carry over to November to make sure we complete the rosary) on November 1 meditate on mystery 5 The Crucifixion. One way to do this at home is to pick a day and pray a decade together. We like to use this App called Family Rosary’s Moblie Rosary. It is a free App and can also be found in Google Play here. The App is a great way to engage children. It has an option where you can use the audio feature to keep on pace and allows you to follow along. With little kids this is a great feature to help reduce the distractions for the parent leader.
The Small Pencil Catechist 