Walking in Hope with the Risen Jesus Acts 1:8
Transcription
Walking in Hope with the Risen Jesus Acts 1:8
Walking in Hope with the Risen Jesus ‘You will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth.’ Acts 1:8 Junior Infants: Alive-O: ‘Lord Jesus, may the power of your resurrection touch whatever is dead in us and bring it back to life. Let the splendour of your resurrection light up the world, scattering the shadows of death and helping all of God’s children to walk in radiant hope towards the kingdom that is to come.’ Flor McCarthy SDB Context: Easter is the Christian celebration of joy and new life. It is the joy that Jesus is risen from the dead and is still with us. Spring is the season of joy, new life and growth in the world around us. We see in this new life the signs of God’s presence and action. The Church is a special place, a place of prayer, a place where many moments in the life of the Christian family and the broader Christian community are celebrated. In the course of re-visiting or addressing the following lessons from Alive-O, Junior Infants will be helped to appreciate their Church as a special place of celebration. They will celebrate new beginnings linked to Easter, and to Spring. They can be helped to connect this sense of celebration of new beginnings in the company of the risen Jesus with the new beginning for us in the Diocese of Limerick with the ordination of Bishop designate Fr. Brendan Leahy. Alive-O: Term 2: Lesson 7: The Church: A Place to Celebrate- to introduce the children to the local church building so they will be aware of it as a special place, a place of prayer, a place of celebration. Alive-O: Term 2: Lesson 8: My World in Spring-to help the children become more aware of the new life that is present in the world of nature during the season of spring. The children will become aware of God’s presence and action in the world in springtime. Alive-O: Term 2: Lesson 10: Easter- to help the children become aware that Easter is a time to celebrate because Jesus Christ is risen and is with us. Children will experience the joy of Easter and link their experience with our Christian belief in the Resurrection. Lesson Term 2: Lesson 7: The Church:A Place to Celebrate Song Church Read Poem Pray We Have a Church Prayer whilst visiting the Church and for those who help in the parish Rise and Shine The Corner/Patrick the Dreamer Springtime Thanking God for Spring Alleluia An Easter Surprise Easter Day Thanking God for New Life and Jesus Lesson 8:My World in Spring Celebrating In Church Lesson 10: Easter Video Senior Infants: Alive-O 2: ‘He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ Mark 16: 7 Context: The Church is the special place where people come together to worship God and to experience themselves, in a particular way, in God’s presence. The Church is a place of prayer and a place of celebration. Spring is about newness: new life and new beginnings in the natural world. We recognise in the newness of springtime the signs of God’s creative action and presence in the world of nature. Children will eventually appreciate that there are times in our lives when it is also appropriate to begin again. Easter is the Christian celebration of new life. The following lessons, which you might re-visit, from Alive-O 2 will help Senior Infants to be involved in the celebration of new beginnings linked to Easter, to Spring and can be linked to the sense of celebration of new beginnings linked to the ordination of Bishop designate Fr. Brendan Leahy. Alive-O 2: Term 2: Lesson 6: Special Places- to help the children come to a sense of some places as special places and more particularly of the church as a special place. The children will recognise that in human life there are places of significance and that among these places is the place of worship. The children should develop an attitude of reverence for the church building and begin to feel at home in it. Alive-O 2: Term 2: Lesson 8: New Beginnings- to help the children to be aware of the signs of spring in the natural world so they will be able to recognise signs of God’s creative action and presence in the world of nature. Alive-O 2: Term 2: Lesson 9: Spring- to help the children understand the notion of new beginnings. They will be aware that spring is a time for new beginnings and eventually understand that there are times in all our lives when it is appropriate to begin again. Alive-O 2: Term 2: Lesson 10: Easter- to provide an opportunity for the children to take part in simple rituals which celebrate some of the events in the stories of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. This will enable them in years to come to enter more fully into the Church’s liturgical events at Easter and come to a deeper understanding of the story. Lesson Song Read The Church Three Guesses Poem Pray Video Thanking God for our Church/God is Everywhere A Visit to the Church Term 2:Lesson 6: Special Places Special Places/It’s Mine Lesson 8: New Beginnings Spring Spring Showing Mrs Spring/ Thanking God for the gift of Spring and his presence Prayer Service of the Seeds Spring Lesson 9: Spring Spring Sing-Song Spring Life The Busy Ants Thanking God for the Gift of Life Spring-Cleaning/ Songs for Spring Lesson 10: Easter Alleluia Preparation for Simple rituals based around the passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus First Class: Alive-O 3: ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.’ Luke 24:5 Context: Exploring the feeling of belonging to a class leads to an awareness of the human need to belong. This is the backdrop against which we start to help the children to realise what it means to belong to the Church, leading towards an understanding of what it means to take part in Eucharist as one who belongs to the community of the Church, the followers of Christ. Easter is the Christian celebration of light and new life. The following lessons, which you might re-visit, from Alive-O 3 will help 1st Class to connect with the celebration of new beginnings linked to Easter and to begin to appreciate the sense of belonging to the community of the Church. They will begin to connect these concepts of belonging to Christian community and celebration of new beginnings with the ordination of Bishop designate Fr. Brendan Leahy. Alive 3: Term 1: Lesson 1: We Begin Together- to set a context for the children to appreciate and develop among themselves a sense of belonging to a class. This will help in building the concept of belonging to the Christian community called Church. Alive-O 3: Term 2: Lesson 9: Time for Joy- to provide the children with opportunities to take part in simple rituals which celebrate some of the events in the stories of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. They will come to a deeper understanding of these events and begin to enter into the Church’s liturgical events at Easter. Lesson Term 1: Lesson 1: We Begin Together Term 2: Lesson 9: Time For Joy Song Read Poem Pray Video Alive-O/Time and Time Again/Together Again Peas and Beans Belonging Prayertime Belonging Alleluia The Last Supper/ Jesus Stumbles/ An Easter Surprise Jesus Stumbles Rituals: The Last Supper/Stations of the Cross/An Easter Surprise Easter Second Class: Alive-O 4: ‘I have seen the Lord.’ John 20:18 Context: At Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus was raised to a completely new life. Even his closest followers did not immediately recognise the Risen Jesus. Recognition dawned when some action, or sign, recalled past events in Jesus’ life. In this context, the call of Jesus for the disciples to be his followers is reaffirmed. When we come together as a community to celebrate the Eucharist at Mass, we are doing what Jesus asked his disciples to do and we know that the Risen Jesus is present in a special way. The following lessons from Alive-O 4 help to enable the children to recognise the Risen Jesus in their own lives and to become aware of the continuing presence and action of the Risen Jesus in their lives and in the Christian community. Alive-O 4: Term 2: Lesson 10: The Resurrection- to continue to introduce the children to the apostle’s experience of the Risen Jesus as told in the New Testament apparition narratives. The children will be able to recognise the Risen Jesus in their own lives, become aware of the continuing presence and action of the Risen Jesus in their own lives and in the Christian Community. They will be better able to enter into the Easter celebrations of the Church. Alive-O 4: Term 3: Lesson 2: We Gather Together To Celebrate- to help the children explore their own experiences of celebration, to understand that at Mass the Christian community gathers in response to Jesus’ invitation ‘ Do this in memory of me’. The children will become aware that the Risen Jesus is present to us in a special way in the celebration of the Eucharist and be able to participate more fully in this. Lesson Term 2: Lesson 10: The Resurrection Term 3: Lesson 2: We Gather Together to Celebrate Song Peter Remembers/ Alleluia Happy in the Presence/This is the Day Read Follow Me The Passover Poem The Risen Jesus Together to Celebrate Pray Video Prayertime Prayertime The Church & the areas connected to the celebration of Eucharist & Baptism Third Class: Alive-O 5: ‘They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ Luke 24:32 Context: To celebrate ritually, the Easter story of the empty tomb and to help the children reflect on and articulate their faith. They will be able to develop a sense of the Church community’s liturgical season of Easter and have a deeper sense of belonging to the Church. To provide opportunities for the children in the context of liturgical season of Easter to prepare for their class Mass, explore their experience of presence and to learn the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. The children will deepen their appreciation of the presence of the Risen Jesus at Mass especially under the appearances of bread and wine. To offer the children an opportunity to explore the significance of Jesus’ words to Peter‘Follow Me’- which are also addressed to them. This will develop an awareness of their Church membership. To offer the children the opportunity to celebrate liturgically and ritually the life of love and service to which the Risen Jesus calls the Church community and to explore ways in which they and others can use their talents to respond to the call to ‘love and serve the Lord’. This should nourish their own faith in the Risen Jesus, lead them to an awareness of their talents and encourage them to use these in the mission of the Church. To explore the children’s understanding of community within the class and what the scriptures tell of the early Christian community and to understand that experience by comparison to the formation and sustaining of their classroom community. This should increase their awareness of the Christian community into which they have been received and what it means to be a member of it. The following lessons from Alive-O 5 will help 3rd Class to connect with the celebration of new beginnings linked to Easter and to begin to appreciate the sense of belonging to the community of the Church. Some of the lessons focus on the theme of the presence of the Risen Jesus at Mass. At Mass the Risen Jesus is present in the Word, in the celebrant, under the appearances of bread and wine and in the community. Jesus said: ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them’ (Mt 18:20). The post-resurrection experiences of the first followers of Jesus are the foundation stories of the Church. It was in this time that the Risen Jesus began to orient his disciples towards the time of service ahead. Their faith in the Risen Jesus inspired the apostles and their followers to go into the world and spread the Good News. In John 21, the Risen Jesus says to Peter ‘Follow Me’. The children are led to realise that the same words are addressed today to them and helped to deepen their understanding of the implication for them for answering that call in their own lives. They will begin to connect these concepts of Christian community, Christian witness, service, walking in hope with the Risen Jesus and the celebration of new beginnings with the ordination of Bishop designate Fr. Brendan Leahy. Alive-O 5: Term 3: Lesson One: We are an Easter People- to celebrate ritually, the Easter story of the empty tomb and to help the children reflect on and articulate their faith. They will be able to develop a sense of the Church community’s liturgical season of Easter and have a deeper sense of belonging to the Church. Alive-O 5: Term 3: Lesson Two: Celebrating the Risen Jesus at Mass (1) - to revise what the children already know about the Mass so they may come to a deeper understanding of the significance of what they do at Mass and prepare for the celebration of a class Mass. Alive-O 5: Term 3: Lesson Three: Celebrating the Risen Jesus at Mass (2) – To provide opportunities for the children in the context of liturgical season of Easter to prepare for their class Mass, explore their experience of presence and to learn the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. The children will deepen their appreciation of the presence of the Risen Jesus at Mass especially under the appearances of bread and wine. Alive-O 5: Term 3: Lesson Four: Follow Me- to offer the children an opportunity to explore the significance of Jesus’ words to Peter- ‘Follow Me’- which are also addressed to them. This will develop an awareness of their Church membership. Alive-O 5: Term 3: Lesson Five: Love and Serve the Lord- to offer the children the opportunity to celebrate liturgically and ritually the life of love and service to which the Risen Jesus calls the Church community and to explore ways in which they and others can use their talents to respond to the call to ‘love and serve the Lord’. This should nourish their own faith in the Risen Jesus, lead them to an awareness of their talents and encourage them to use these in the mission of the Church. Alive-O 5: Term 3: Lesson Seven: The Early Christian Community- to explore the children’s understanding of community within the class and what the scriptures tell of the early Christian community and to understand that experience by comparison to the formation and sustaining of their classroom community. This should increase their awareness of the Christian community into which they have been received and what it means to be a member of it. Lesson Title Term 3: Lesson 1: We are an Easter People Song/Sound Read Come Christians All Rejoice/The Apostle’s Creed The Empty Tomb Poem Pray Video Prayertime The Creed Easter Ritual Lesson 2: Celebrating the Risen Jesus at Mass (1) Do This in Memory of Jesus/Happy in the Presence Prayertime Parts of the Mass Lesson 3: Celebrating the Risen Jesus at Mass (2) Blessed be God/Go in Peace/The Apostle’s Creed Lesson 4: Peter Remembers Follow Me Excuses, Excuses, Excuses/On the Road to Emmaus Prayertime Class Mass Prayertime Follow Me Called Ritual-Easter Ritual The Eucharist Lesson 5: Love and Serve the Lord Use What You’re Given The Ascension Story/The Mother’s Gift/Parable of the Talents Community Song Paula and Mark/The Early Christian Community The Present Prayertime Lesson 7: The Early Christian Community Prayertime Fourth Class: Alive-O 6: ‘For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.’ 1 Corinthians 12:12 Context: To explore some of the structure of the Church as ‘home parish’. This will develop and deepen the children’s understanding of the Church and its membership Exploring St. Paul’s image of the Church as the Body of Christ so they may develop an understanding of their belonging to the Church and relate membership to their whole lives and to everything they do. To give the children, through the story of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the Risen Jesus and through art, an opportunity to reflect on the Church’s belief in the resurrection of Jesus. They will become more aware that they too are united with the Risen Jesus. The following lessons from Alive-O 6 will help 4th Class to develop an understanding of their belonging to the Church and relate membership to their whole lives and to everything they do. Through the post-resurrection encounters with the Risen Jesus, the children will have an opportunity to reflect on the Church’s belief in the resurrection of Jesus. They will become more aware that they too are united with the Risen Jesus. Easter faith is about our present union with the Risen Jesus, both as individuals and as a people of God; Easter faith is about how Resurrection makes possible the communion of the Risen Jesus with people of every time and place. The children will begin to connect these concepts of the image of the Church as the Body of Christ and walking in hope with the Risen Jesus with the new beginnings in our diocese with the ordination of Bishop designate Fr. Brendan Leahy. Alive-O 6: Term 2: Lesson Two: Our Parish- to explore some of the structure of the Church as ‘home parish’. This will develop and deepen the children’s understanding of the Church and its membership. Alive-O 6: Term 2: Lesson Three: The Body of Christ-The Church- to explore the image of the Church as the Body of Christ so as to develop the children’s understanding of the Church and its membership. Alive-O 6: Term 2: Lesson Four: The Body of Christ-At Play- to explore the children’s experience of play in the context of St Paul’s image of the Body of Christ so they may develop an understanding of their belonging to the Church and relate membership to their whole lives and to everything they do. Alive-O 6: Term 2: Lesson Five: The Body of Christ –At Work- to explore how we can live as members of the Church at work so as to develop the children’s understanding of the Church and its membership. Alive-O 6: Term 3: Lesson One: The Risen Jesus- to give the children, through the story of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the Risen Jesus and through art, an opportunity to reflect on the Church’s belief in the resurrection of Jesus. They will become more aware that they too are united with the Risen Jesus. Lesson Title Song/Sound Read Parish Anthem Rosie Wants to Go Home Prayertime Christ Be Beside The ‘Organising Body’/Saul and the Lord Jesus/The Body of Christ Prayertime Grace Before and After Play Ishvah’s Story Prayertime We are the Body of Christ All in a Day’s Work Prayertime Term 2: Lesson 2: Our Parish Poem Pray Video Lesson 3: The Body of Christ-The Church Me/I Will be the Vine Lesson 4: The Body of Christ-At Play Lesson 5: The Body of Christ-At Work Lent-Pray, fast and Share Lesson Title Song/Sound Read This is the Day Mary Magdalene meets the Risen Jesus/Mary Magdalene Term 3: Lesson 1: The Risen Jesus Poem Pray Prayertime Video Fifth Class: Alive-O 7: ‘You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen.’ Isaiah 43:10 Context: Rooting Christian faith in the practicalities of everyday living, so that the Christian tradition will find its expression in the life well lived. Fostering an understanding of Christianity as a worldwide community fully alive, so that the children may come to see their own role within that ‘global parish’. To nourish the children’s faith in new life by exploring the Resurrection stories so that they may live more fully as ‘Easter’ children. To help the children to come to a deeper understanding of how the Risen Lord Jesus is present at Mass and to prepare them for the celebration of a Class Mass. To offer the children through drama, an opportunity to explore their experience of what it means to be confirmed to be a committed Christian. This is to enrich their living as young Christians, individually and in community. To offer the children through drama, an opportunity to explore their experience of what it means to be confirmed to be a committed Christian. This is to enrich their living as young Christians, individually and in community. The following lessons from Alive-O 7 will help 5th Class to foster an understanding of the Church as a Christian community. It is the people of God, of the New Covenant, gathered together from every race and nation under heaven. The Church is the community of those who are baptised, believe in Jesus Christ, are animated by his spirit, try to follow his teaching and example of love, commemorate the chief events in his life, and celebrate his presence and action among them. They will begin to connect these concepts of Christian community, Christian witness, and walking in hope with the Risen Jesus with the ordination of Bishop designate Fr. Brendan Leahy. Alive-O 7: Term 2: Lesson 2: Christian Faith- to root Christian faith in the practicalities of everyday living, so that the Christian tradition will find its expression in the life well lived. Alive-O 7: Term 2: Lesson 3: Christian Community- to foster an understanding of Christianity as a worldwide community fully alive, so that the children may come to see their own role within that ‘global parish’. Alive-O 7: Term 3: Lesson 1: Easter- to nourish the children’s faith in new life by exploring the Resurrection stories so that they may live more fully as ‘Easter’ children. Alive-O 7: Term 3: Lesson 2: The Risen Jesus is Present at Mass- to help the children to come to a deeper understanding of how the Risen Lord Jesus is present at Mass and to prepare them for the celebration of a Class Mass. Alive-O 7: Term 3: Lesson 3: Where Do We Go From Here (1)? - to offer the children through drama, an opportunity to explore their experience of what it means to be confirmed to be a committed Christian. This is to enrich their living as young Christians, individually and in community. Alive-O 7: Term 3: Lesson 4: Where Do We Go From Here (2)? - to offer the children through drama, an opportunity to explore their experience of what it means to be confirmed to be a committed Christian. This is to enrich their living as young Christians, individually and in community. Lesson Title Song/Sound Read Term 2: Lesson 2: Christian Faith Monday Morning/The Apostle’s Creed The Power of Faith/The Weaver/The Gardener/ The Restorer Lesson 3: Christian Community Faith Song/The Apostle’s Creed The Skipper/Stories from other lands Term 3: Lesson 1: Poem Pray Weaving prayers/The Mustard Seed/Anointing Prayer We Believe/We all Believe/Whose Shoes? Come Christians All Rejoice/This is the Day/Easter Alleluia The date of Easter/The Great Baalschem/Resurrection Stories Resurrection Drama Prayer/Meditation Happy in the Presence/Christ be our Light/Parish Anthem How the Risen Jesus is Present at Mass You are with us/One Loaf, One Body/Class Mass Lesson 3: Where Do We Go From Here? (1) Been There/Done That/Spirit Anthem Acts of the Apostles/Story of Eutychus Drama: Act 1 Reasons to be a Christian/Jesus and the Holy Spirit show us the Way Lesson4:Where Do We Go From Here? (2) What’s the Story? /OurFather(Aramaic) The Beggar’s Song Where Do We Go From Here? Drama: Act 2 The Locked Door/If God is on our Side Easter Lesson 2 The Risen Jesus Present at Mass Video Children from Afar 6th Class: Alive-O 8: ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth.’ Acts1:8 Context: Exploring the children’s experience of Christian witness so as to foster in them a developing of their baptismal and/or Confirmation call. Exploring the Resurrection stories imaginatively to show how the Risen Jesus ‘journeyed with’ his first followers. The children will realise that the Risen Jesus continues to ‘journey with’ his followers. To affirm the affinity between children and the reign of the Kingdom of God and to develop the concept of Kingdom as ‘right relationship’, or relationships at their most creative. The children will celebrate the fact that they are already members of God’s kingdom and assist in the further coming of the kingdom as they grow. The following lessons from Alive-O 8 will help 6th Class to explore how the Risen Jesus journeyed with his first followers. During the post-resurrection appearances Jesus continued bringing his followers on a journey of faith. He opened up the scriptures to them, fed them in word and deed, and promised them the Spirit to be their helper and guide. The Risen Jesus continues to journey with his followers today. Through the gift of his Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation, he continues to guide and sanctify us. Through his word in scripture and through his real presence in the Eucharist, he continues to feed us on our journey. Through the sacraments, he brings his story to life in us and creates a people- the Church- in his own image and likeness. The lessons will help the children to become aware of their baptismal call and continues to develop their sense of belonging to the community of the Church. They will begin to connect these concepts of Christian community, Christian witness, and walking in hope with the Risen Jesus with the ordination of Bishop designate Fr. Brendan Leahy. Alive-O 8: Term 2: Lesson 1: Fan the Flame & Alive-O 8: Term 3: Lesson 2: Spirit-Filled Life - to explore the children’s experience of Christian Witness so as to foster in them a sense of their baptismal wonder and/or Confirmation call. Lesson Title Song/Sound Read Poem Pray Video Fan the Flame/Confirm Us Today Jesus’ Birth and Rebirth/The Holy Spirit Helps Us/Fully Alive/Pentecost Pentecost Called to Witness/’fanning the Flame’ Ritual Children Reading Scripture Passages Term Two Fan the Flame Spirit-Filled Life Spirit Anthem/Come Holy Spirit The Early Church/The Power of the Spirit/Jean Vanier L’Arche/Therese of Lisieux/Children Helping Children Witnesses to the Spirit/Holy Spirit, Move in Us/’Witnesses to the Spirit’ Ritual Alive-O 8: Term 3: Lesson 1: Easter- exploring the Resurrection stories imaginatively to show how the Risen Jesus ‘journeyed with’ his first followers. The children will realise that the Risen Jesus continues to ‘journey with’ his followers. Alive-O 8: Term 3: Lesson 2: Kingdom Children- to affirm the affinity between children and the reign of the Kingdom of God and to develop the concept of Kingdom as ‘right relationship’, or relationships at their most creative. The children will celebrate the fact that they are already members of God’s kingdom and assist in the further coming of the kingdom as they grow. Lesson Title Term 3: Lesson 1: Easter Song/Sound Read Regina Coeli/This is the Day Jesus is Risen/After the Resurrection/Jesus Reappears/Filled with the Spirit Poem Pray Jesus is Risen! Alleluia/Good News Circle/Risen Jesus, Live in Us Video Term 3: Lesson 2: Kingdom Children We are the Greatest/Song of the Sea of Galilee/Kingdom Come Kingdom Children/Ishvah’s Story/Gabrielle’s Story/The Kingdom of God The Centurion’s Servant Kingdom Children/Jesus, Set Things Right/Thy Kingdom Come Children reading scripture passages Though we live in a world that dreams of ending, that seems always about to give in, something that will not acknowledge conclusion, insists that we forever begin. Brendan Kennelly