So beautiful I can hardly stand it

After the introduction to the atrium which began outside we called each child in and had a short introduction to the prayer table - then we broke up to decorate folders & name tags. Tyler, age 4, who had never seen the atrium, could not concentrate on the folder - he walked to the center of the room - quietly gazing at the liturgy shelf , altar/sacristy, prayer table, baptism, etc. Then he took a deep sigh and said " oh this is so beautiful I can hardly stand it."

We're IN the Kingdom

I had gathered a group of children to give the presentation of the Hidden Treasure. I had been giving "Kingdom" presentations over the past few weeks. I had noticed Caleb watching as I gave each presentation to other groups: Mustard Seed, Pearl, Seed. (Caleb and this group had already had all these presentations in previous years.) He was also looking intently each week at the mustard seed and wheat seed.
As I gathered the group and told them that we were going to read another Parable about the kingdom, Caleb said, "I've been thinking--Is the Kingdom like---the world?" I responded, "Let's read the new parable and see what Jesus says."
I proceeded to read the Scripture. When I brought out the material, a picture of a field and a small treasure box, Ben stood up, looked at his friends in the group, and said in a very confident and excited voice, "I knew it! Guys we're IN the Kingdom."

Catechist Impressions:
As I look back on this incident, I am so glad that I did not respond initially to Caleb's question, because affirming his initial question would have robbed him of the joy of his own discovery and response.

Trying to get his attention

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to present the Kingdom Parable of the Hidden treasure to a group of five 5-year-olds.

During the meditation on the parable, and the discussion following the solemn reading, Lydia raised her hand to be called on. Then, slowly and thoughtfully, with her eyes looking upward, she said, "I was thinking about that treasure. Maybe God sent angels to bury that treasure in the field. But the treasure's not the thing--the field is the thing. And when the man saw the treasure, he knew how valuable the whole kingdom would be. God was just trying to get his attention with the treasure."

Heaven has everything....

Peter, age 4 1/2 reflected on the parable of the Pearl of Great Price, "He (the Merchant) sold everything even his table to buy the pearl, but the pearl is heaven and heaven has everything...."

The kingdom of God is all around

A personal prayer from Julie's (8) missal:

He is our place of rest.
His power is in us.
He is our shield.
He helps us in making peace.
The kingdom of God is all around.

Do not be afraid for he is near. (surrounded by crosses and lit candles)

The Leaven

Julia, age 5, drew this illustration after she worked with the leaven, mixing yeast into flour and water to see how the yeast changes the mixture. The drawing shows a child removing a cloth cover from the yeast/flour mix to see how big it's gotten. It was part of a series drawings illustrating each step of the measuring/mixing process.

"Do you think the kingdom changes anything in the world?"

During a presentation of the leaven with a 6-9 group I asked, "Do you think the kingdom changes anything in the world?"
Felicity, 6, answered, "It changes us."
"How?"
"It makes us grow - like the seed."