Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Out of All the Sheep in the Sheepfold
Frances planned our first prayer service, focusing on the Annunciation. After the reading, she invited everyone to bring to the prayer table something that spoke to her/him about Mary or angels. (She has been into angels for years.) I had planned to just watch quietly, but felt moved to get a sheep. Bekah chose the Annunciation Scripture booklet, Teresa the "Luke" book from the Bible material, and Danny the world and cross from the Gifts, because, "Christ came for the salvation of the world and forgiveness of sins." (Danny's family is involved in charismatic circles.) Keith chose the empty sheepfold, and explained, "Out of all the people in the world, God could have chosen anyone, but chose Mary as the one choice." And I had the sheep!
Labels:
Angel,
Annunciation,
sheep,
sheepfold
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
In Order of Importance
Rex (age 9) was working with the figures from the Nativity and the Adoration of the Shepherds. He asked me to look at their arrangement: the Child Jesus was towards the front of the table, on the green felt representing the fields where the shepherds lived. The other figures were also on the green felt, in rows behind Jesus: first, Mary and Joseph; then, the angel and two shepherds; in the back row, the sheep and another shepherd. Rex said they were lined up in order of importance.
The catechist remarked, “It looks as though they are following him.” Rex lifted up the Christ Child to indicate that he could not yet move on his own and remarked, “He would be floating.” [The catechist was struck by this image of the nations following a child who was completely unable to move himself.] The catechist recalled, “It reminds me of the sheep following the Good Shepherd. Do you think this Child is the same Good Shepherd?” Rex said, “Yes.”
After a period of silence he said, “I have always wondered if God, who had no hands or arms or legs but who made the whole world, knew what he would look like when he came to earth.”
The catechist remarked, “It looks as though they are following him.” Rex lifted up the Christ Child to indicate that he could not yet move on his own and remarked, “He would be floating.” [The catechist was struck by this image of the nations following a child who was completely unable to move himself.] The catechist recalled, “It reminds me of the sheep following the Good Shepherd. Do you think this Child is the same Good Shepherd?” Rex said, “Yes.”
After a period of silence he said, “I have always wondered if God, who had no hands or arms or legs but who made the whole world, knew what he would look like when he came to earth.”
Labels:
birth,
creation,
good shepherd,
incarnation,
Infancy Narratives
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Look, Look, Look!
Miriam, 3, stood up from working on the Adoration of the Wise Men exclaiming, "Look, look, look!" She held out the gold, frankincense and myrrh and announced, "I brought birthday presents for Jesus!"
Labels:
Adoration of the Magi,
birthday,
Gifts
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Yes to a Birth, Yes to a Cross
Sunday, December 11, 2011
What Made Her So Special?
During a lesson on praying the rosary, Beth, 11 asked, "Why pick Mary of all women? What made her so special? Do you suppose the same thing (the Annunciation) happened in another place where no one knew?"
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Advent - For the Birds?
A six-year old boy remarked, “Advent...it's like we're birds preparing our nests.”
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Her Love is Bigger and Bigger
During the reflection on the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth:
Q: What does Mary mean? (My soul magnifies the Lord...)
Becky, 6: Soul means love. Lord means Jesus. She means her love is bigger and bigger for Jesus.
Q: What does Mary mean? (My soul magnifies the Lord...)
Becky, 6: Soul means love. Lord means Jesus. She means her love is bigger and bigger for Jesus.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Prayers of Thanksgiving
Some prayers of thanksgiving from a Level III atrium:
Thanks for all kinds of life and privileges to you-know-who. (me!)
I would like to thank you for giving me life, family, friends, shelter and food. Without them I would be nothing! I Love U!
Dear God and Jesus, Thank you for all of the love and all the luck that has happened and that we are healthy. (signed, Your Creation)
Thank you for the trees and flowers. Thank you for the beauty of the Earth. Thank you for making me alive.
Thank you for all the talents I have. I also thank you for my parents.
Thanks for all kinds of life and privileges to you-know-who. (me!)
I would like to thank you for giving me life, family, friends, shelter and food. Without them I would be nothing! I Love U!
Dear God and Jesus, Thank you for all of the love and all the luck that has happened and that we are healthy. (signed, Your Creation)
Thank you for the trees and flowers. Thank you for the beauty of the Earth. Thank you for making me alive.
Thank you for all the talents I have. I also thank you for my parents.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thanks be to God!
Maria set the Prayer Table. We then lit the candle and I asked her if there was anything she'd like to thank God for. She responded:
For kitty cats - Thanks be to God! (raising arms in air)
For the whole wide world - Thanks be to God!
For 160 years - Thanks be to God!
For 60 years - Thanks be to God!
For my whole world - Thanks be to God!
For the Holy Spirit in heaven - Thanks be to God!
For kitty cats - Thanks be to God! (raising arms in air)
For the whole wide world - Thanks be to God!
For 160 years - Thanks be to God!
For 60 years - Thanks be to God!
For my whole world - Thanks be to God!
For the Holy Spirit in heaven - Thanks be to God!
Labels:
animals,
Holy Spirit,
prayer table,
thanksgiving
Sunday, November 20, 2011
A New Creation
A lengthy discussion of the Kingdom of God took place mainly between two boys of the second grade. This was the outcome:
Nate, 8: It's like each one of us has a part of God in us - like a piece of puzzle. When we put ourselves together, we see God.
Benjamin, 8: Yeah! It's like Legos; you have all these separate Legos and no directions. But when you start getting them TOGETHER, you get a new creation.
Nate, 8: It's like each one of us has a part of God in us - like a piece of puzzle. When we put ourselves together, we see God.
Benjamin, 8: Yeah! It's like Legos; you have all these separate Legos and no directions. But when you start getting them TOGETHER, you get a new creation.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The third grade class created pictures and wrote scripture verses to make placemats for Kairos, a prison ministry:
With several different musical instruments dotting her page, Kaitlyn wrote, "God makes music with a prayer."
Quinn depicted God as a bearded man on the left side of his paper. On the right side was a man (the prisoner) wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with a peace symbol. Between God and the man was a large heart. Quinn's message read, "You are not alone. God is with you."
With several different musical instruments dotting her page, Kaitlyn wrote, "God makes music with a prayer."
Quinn depicted God as a bearded man on the left side of his paper. On the right side was a man (the prisoner) wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with a peace symbol. Between God and the man was a large heart. Quinn's message read, "You are not alone. God is with you."
Labels:
Music,
Prison,
Service Projects
Thursday, November 10, 2011
We're inside Jesus
During the lesson on preparing the chalice, the catechist said: "The wine represents Jesus. (Pour a full wine cruet into chalice.) The water represents you and me. (Pour one drop of water into the wine.) Now, what could this mean for us?" Silence descended as they stared at what had just happened. Then they burst out: "We're inside Jesus...We disappear; we're gone...Yes...No, we're still us...We become Jesus...No one can take us out of Jesus!"
Labels:
preparation of the chalice
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
I am listening SOOO carefully
Catechist asked: How do we know when the Gospel is read in church?
Kelvin answered: Because I am listening sooo carefully to hear what Jesus wants me to do.
(Catechist later commented, “All I was looking for was, 'because the big gold book gets carried into the aisle’!”)
Kelvin answered: Because I am listening sooo carefully to hear what Jesus wants me to do.
(Catechist later commented, “All I was looking for was, 'because the big gold book gets carried into the aisle’!”)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
So Beautiful...I can hardly stand it.
Kyle, age 4, had never seen the atrium before. On his first visit, he walked to the center of the room, quietly gazing at the liturgy shelf, altar/sacristy, prayer table, baptism, etc., then took a deep sigh and said, "Oh, this is so beautiful - I can hardly stand it."
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Bad Guys
Eric, age six said, "The people are happy to see God's light, even the bad guys." The two on the right without smiles are the bad guys.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
God is a gift to us
Robbie, 6, during a conversation about epiclesis and offering and the meaning of the priest’s hands going up and down: “God is a gift to us; we are a gift to God.”
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The child said of his drawing, "The sheep is full of light--Jesus' light. It sparkles as it walks." He made a sparkle gesture with his hands.
Labels:
Found Sheep,
good shepherd,
light
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
He knew them by Heart
Catechist asked, "How can the Good Shepherd tell all the sheep apart?"
Child answered, "He knew them by heart."
Child answered, "He knew them by heart."
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Wash the Dark Clouds
During the Baptism presentation Nick, age 5, said, "Water helps wash the dark clouds inside of you away."
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
A little more wind to spread the seeds
Kevin, 5, was meditating on the Mystery of Life and Death. He drew the process of seed to fruit, then drew the seed again. He explained, "I made the wheat going through metamorphosis. Then the process starts all over again. It's the same with animals." He added sun, rain and lightning to the drawing and titled it, "A seed is a piece of cake." When I wondered if he had finished, he replied, "I just need [to draw] a little more wind to spread the seeds."
Labels:
mystery of life and death
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Triple Thumbs up!
Caleb, 5, had meditated at the City of Jerusalem. When asked about his meditation he explained, "God traveled up to my brain to give me more suggestions." When I wondered how that felt, Caleb replied, "A triple thumbs up!"
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Good Shepherd is keeping his eye on him
I was presenting the Good Shepherd Parable to Otto, who had missed the presentation with the larger group. Whenever possible I like to work with a child one on one with his material. We reread the Scripture, with Otto moving the figures. At the end, he chose not to move the sheep back to the sheepfold. He kept the group of sheep with the Good Shepherd, off to one side. Then he took one sheep from the group and moved it away from the others, and then into the sheepfold, alone. I asked him, "...this sheep is not with the others?" He said, "The sheep doesn't want to be with the others right now." He thought a moment and added, " But the Good Shepherd is keeping his eye on him anyway."
Sunday, September 4, 2011
I love you
Ursula and I did the Good Shepherd on Friday. After reading the line "the sheep know his voice," I mused, "I wonder what that voice sounded like. I wonder what it was like." Then I heard Ursula whisper, "I love you."
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
These are pictures of God!
A very active 4 year old had walked into the atrium the first day announcing over and over again, "God's not here!" As the year went on he had difficulty focusing on his work but would often give a glimmer of light as to what he was taking in. To help him focus on and choose a work I used a camera and had him take pictures of his favorite works. Once the photos had been developed I brought them in for him to see. His eyes grew wide when he saw them and announced, "These are pictures of God!"
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Itty bitty fishies in Her Hands
Nate, 3, wanted to pray for his sister's fish who died. The catechist said some words at the altar with him. Then Nate wanted to do work at the Prayer Table and pray for the fish. They set the Prayer Table and Nate was invited to pray. He burst out in song, "She's got the itty bitty fishies in Her hand."
Labels:
death,
Feminine image of God,
intercessory prayer
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Seven-year-old skeptic
A catechist had been concerned about her son’s increasing questioning of religious teachings, and shared this: Tonight, just a few minutes ago, he came down worried about a nightmare, and I suggested that he ask his guardian angel to help him be brave. Half asleep, he mumbled "Not real ... you know that, mommy." But then, as he walked back upstairs, he stopped at the TV cabinet. On top of it were a few broken sheep from our atrium that I'd recently brought home to repair. And he picked one up and said, "Well, I guess I could bring this one to bed with me to remind me of the Good Shepherd.” So, there is something for my catechist's heart to ponder: Guardian Angel -- "not real." God -- "How can God exist?" But the Good Shepherd -- well, there's someone even a seven year old skeptic could make his peace with.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
God writes with invisible ink
Kyle, a third-grader, was pondering the Blank Page and said, "God writes on the Blank Page with invisible ink, and we help write the page in real ink, and we have to figure out what he has written."
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Lead all your flocks to peace
Prayer by a group of 10-11-year-olds:
Shine your light on us, oh Lord,
So that we may worship you in happiness.
Oh Lord, our Shepherd, lead all your flocks to peace.
Guide us through our journeys with love and life,
So we may serve you wholeheartedly,
Until one day when there is one flock and one sheepfold. Amen.
Shine your light on us, oh Lord,
So that we may worship you in happiness.
Oh Lord, our Shepherd, lead all your flocks to peace.
Guide us through our journeys with love and life,
So we may serve you wholeheartedly,
Until one day when there is one flock and one sheepfold. Amen.
Labels:
good shepherd,
light,
peace,
sheepfold
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Make me strong...
Natalie, 9, wrote this prayer:
Dear Lord,
Heal those who hurt,
Comfort those who are sad,
And make me strong so I can help.
Dear Lord,
Heal those who hurt,
Comfort those who are sad,
And make me strong so I can help.
Labels:
intercessory prayer,
strength
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
We are all together in the chalice
While reflecting on the parables, an 8-year-old commented. "The mustard seed is like when the priest adds a drop of water to the wine and it all grows, because we are all together in the chalice to celebrate the Last Supper."
Labels:
chalice.,
Eucharist,
Last Supper,
Mustard seed
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Thank you for the treasure
Danielle, 5, and another child were receiving the presentation on the Parable of the Hidden Treasure. Following the reading and meditation questions, I invited the girls to pray. Charlotte's prayer was, " Thank you God for the treasure you buried . . . (pause) . . . when Jesus died."
Labels:
Hidden Treasure,
Kingdom Parables
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
He made a bad symbol into a good symbol!
A group of children preparing for Reconciliation were discussing the Gifts and various crosses collected from around the Atrium.
DH: It looks like he's holding up all the gifts while he's on the cross.
OC: He's holding them up to heaven!
DJ: Why is he wearing a robe on that cross?
Catechist: Because he's risen.
DJ: Why is it a risen Christ on that cross? (Pause.) Oh, I get it! He made a bad symbol into a good symbol!
(An excited silence filled the room.)
DH: It looks like he's holding up all the gifts while he's on the cross.
OC: He's holding them up to heaven!
DJ: Why is he wearing a robe on that cross?
Catechist: Because he's risen.
DJ: Why is it a risen Christ on that cross? (Pause.) Oh, I get it! He made a bad symbol into a good symbol!
(An excited silence filled the room.)
Labels:
cross,
Gifts,
reconciliation
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Kelly, 5, made a booklet during the atrium session based on the Hidden Treasure. Each page was illustrated with a person at the bottom except the page on which he wrote, "He sold all he had and then joy came to him." This page had a happy sheep drawn on the bottom.
Labels:
Hidden Treasure,
Kingdom Parables
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
My treasure is God
After presenting the Hidden Treasure to a small group of children I asked them what would be their treasure? They told me jewels, gold, bracelets, and rings. One child, Javier, rose up and walked a little distance then turned and told me, "Don't you know what my treasure is? It's in the clouds." I asked him what could that be. He answered, "Don't you know that my treasure is God?"
Labels:
Hidden Treasure,
Kingdom Parables
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Every molecule is the Kingdom of God
Kurt, 6, was receiving the presentation of the Pearl of Great Price, after receiving the presentation of the Leaven the week before. When I wondered how the Pearl could be like the Kingdom, he spoke of the Leaven and said, "Its power is rising." Then he spoke of pearls under the sea and concluded, "Every molecule is the Kingdom of God."
Labels:
Kingdom Parables,
Leaven,
Pearl of Great Price
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
So happy he cried
When I wondered with Ben, 4, how the merchant felt when he bought the Pearl of Great price, Ben replied, "Happy, so happy that he cried."
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
...Heaven has Everything...
"He (the Merchant) sold everything, even his table, to buy the pearl, but the pearl is heaven and heaven has everything...."
Sunday, July 10, 2011
He'll get everything he needs from God
While discussing the Pearl of Great Price a child asked: What will the merchant do NOW for food and light? Since he sold EVERYTHING.
Chris: He'll get everything he needs from God.
Chris: He'll get everything he needs from God.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Power for God
During the reflection on the mustard seed, Willow said, "The power of God makes the seed grow."
Labels:
Kingdom Parables,
Mustard seed
Sunday, July 3, 2011
After reading the Mustard Seed scripture booklet together, David, 4, said, "I want to take a seed home and tell my mom we're going to plant it." When I wondered how that seed would grow, he said, "Sun and water." When I wondered, "If we gave a rock sun and water, would it grow?" he said, "No!" Then we wondered more about how seeds grow and what the seed tells us about the Kingdom of God.
Labels:
Kingdom Parables,
Mustard seed
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Mustard Seed
Sam, 5, said, "You know that little mustard seed? Well, I've been in an airplane and EVERYTHING looks little. But it's not as little as it looks. It's REALLY big. I think this is like that."
Labels:
Kingdom Parables,
Mustard seed
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
At the Baptism area, Nigel (age 9) re-told the story of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, and the spreading of His light, while lighting, extinguishing and re-lighting the paschal candle, and then lighting a small individual candle. He then told the catechist: “I came here one day by myself and prayed. I thanked God for creation because that’s the greatest gift of all.” Then, recalling the recent Advent prophecies, he added, “And for the little place too (Bethlehem).”
Sunday, May 1, 2011
It doesn't matter how big the darkness is...
This is a conversation between two young boys, about the power of the Resurrection.
Xavier, 6: See that candle? (the Paschal Candle) It's Jesus and God. There's at least 50,000 darkness out here and only one light. And that light challenged the darkness and won.
Scott, 5: When Jesus was killed on the cross, his light got snuffed. But when he rose, it was like his light lit up a pile of firewood--and the light was MUCH stronger. Everyone was amazed!
Xavier: It doesn't matter how big the darkness is, it can't put out the light. But even one little candle can light up this dark room.
Xavier, 6: See that candle? (the Paschal Candle) It's Jesus and God. There's at least 50,000 darkness out here and only one light. And that light challenged the darkness and won.
Scott, 5: When Jesus was killed on the cross, his light got snuffed. But when he rose, it was like his light lit up a pile of firewood--and the light was MUCH stronger. Everyone was amazed!
Xavier: It doesn't matter how big the darkness is, it can't put out the light. But even one little candle can light up this dark room.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I'd throw a party
At the end of the Cenacle work when I announce that we know that Jesus rose three days after he died, Marina, age 4, said, "If Jesus rose, I'd throw a party."
Labels:
Cenacle,
easter,
resurrection
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Risen!
A ten-year-old who had been in the atrium for years, painted this reflection on Resurrection. He chose to cover the cross in the true vine.
Labels:
light,
resurrection,
True Vine
Risen!
A ten-year-old who had been in the atrium for years, painted this reflection on Resurrection. He chose to cover the cross in the true vine.
Labels:
light,
resurrection,
True Vine
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
At the end of the scripture reading for the Cenacle work, as we talked about how Jesus was arrested that night and died the next day, Tillie, age 3, placed the model of the crucifix on top of the model of the cup (which Jesus said held his blood). After I wondered if Jesus knew he would be arrested, she replied, "yes."
Labels:
Cenacle,
death and resurrection,
jesus died
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Dalia, age 3, has been fascinated with the Last Supper (Cenacle) presentation and asked for it on perhaps six successive weeks. When it was presented to her each time, the figures of Jesus and the twelve were taken one by one from their box as they were brought into the upper room and put around the table. Dalia, however, when working alone with the material always carefully lined the figures up behind Jesus and moved them in and out of the room in this way. I finally realized that she was connecting them with the Good Shepherd story and later noticed her move the figures both in the Good Shepherd parable and Cenacle the same way. She had discovered a great theological truth!
Labels:
Cenacle,
good shepherd,
Last Supper,
movement
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Jayna, age 4, and Talia, age 3, were working with the Women at the Tomb. They were in animated conversation. I overheard Jayna ask, “Where is the king?” while moving a figure to look into the tomb. Talia responded, “I saw baby Jesus in the manager.” While others were singing “Mary had a Baby,” they raised up the figures of the women called Mary. Jayna then asked to sing, “Angel came to Mary” and raised up the figure of the angel.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Natalie, age 3, joined a group of us to sing "Jesus" at the model of the altar. As we sang "He rose," she exclaimed, "He rose means Jesus came back!" Later on she was working with the model of the Cenacle on her own. I noticed that she had placed the velvet lining from the box on top of the lid from the box and one figure on top of the lining. When I asked her why she chose to do so, she said, "He is on a blanket on a bed. He is baby Jesus wrapped in...what do you call it?" I asked her if she meant swaddling and she said yes and rolled the velvet lining around the figure.
Labels:
altar,
birth,
Cenacle,
death and resurrection
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
He never died again
After the presentation of Jerusalem, a group of 5-year-olds were invited to sing. At first the children chose a song, but then they decided to write one. These are their lyrics:
Jesus is great.
Jesus died.
He rose from the dead.
He came back alive.
He's the only one who came back alive.
He never died again.
Jesus is great.
Jesus died.
He rose from the dead.
He came back alive.
He's the only one who came back alive.
He never died again.
Labels:
death,
Jerusalem,
Jesus,
resurrection
Sunday, April 3, 2011
We were just a few....
During the presentation of the Cenacle, wooden figures of the apostles and Jesus are gathered around a table as the catechist reads the story of the Last Supper. As the catechist lit the candle to read the Scripture, Edwin said, looking at the disciples around the table with Jesus, "We were just a few and now we are so many."
Labels:
Cenacle,
Eucharist,
Last Supper
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
During a review of Good Shepherd presentation at the beginning of the new school year:
Q: "What do you already know about the Good Shepherd?"
Krista, age 6: A long time before Jesus was on the earth, the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt. God and Moses did plagues on Pharoah and the Egyptians, and the worst one was the Death Angel. The Death Angel flew over the houses that had the blood of the lamb on the doorpost, but all the first born sons of the Egyptians died. Even Pharoah's own son. But when Jesus came to earth and lived out love, and died on the cross and rose up on Easter, the Death Angel lost his power forever."
Q: "What do you already know about the Good Shepherd?"
Krista, age 6: A long time before Jesus was on the earth, the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt. God and Moses did plagues on Pharoah and the Egyptians, and the worst one was the Death Angel. The Death Angel flew over the houses that had the blood of the lamb on the doorpost, but all the first born sons of the Egyptians died. Even Pharoah's own son. But when Jesus came to earth and lived out love, and died on the cross and rose up on Easter, the Death Angel lost his power forever."
Labels:
death and resurrection,
good shepherd
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Hank, age 4, was having a lesson on the Found Sheep. He explained that he wanted to pray “The sheep had greatness,” and then he began to sing:
“The sheep had greatness. The shepherd found the sheep. The sheep was happy. And the shepherd called all his friends and neighbors. He called out, ‘Sing joy with me. Sing joy!’ And believe in my sheep and all of the sheep is in God’s heart.”
“The sheep had greatness. The shepherd found the sheep. The sheep was happy. And the shepherd called all his friends and neighbors. He called out, ‘Sing joy with me. Sing joy!’ And believe in my sheep and all of the sheep is in God’s heart.”
Labels:
Found Sheep,
god's love,
joy
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Found Sheep
Natalia, age 4, was receiving the presentation on the Found Sheep for the first time. When I wondered what the Good Shepherd would do when he realized that one sheep was missing, Natalia replied, "Run out!" She picked up the figure of the Good Shepherd and took it quickly to the figure of the missing sheep, then explained, "Pick up the sheep and put it back in the sheepfold."
Labels:
Found Sheep,
good shepherd
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Lenora, age 5, had just received the presentation on the Found Sheep. She asked to sing the Good Shepherd song (a song that I've been working on writing and had shared a bit with her). We sang together and then she suggested that the song needed more verses. She suggested, "I love the sheep, and the sheep love me" and we sang this. She then began to meditate on the Good Shepherd. For the next hour she meditated and periodically come to me to offer another "verse" for the song. These were the verses:
* "Everybody's a family.
* Everybody in the green tree is a family.
* All the birds that sing are in the family.
* Everybody that are animals are in the family.
* Everything that sings is part of me.
* All the trees I see is a part of me.
* And I love green beans.
* And I love all the twinkles in the trees.
* And I love green beans.
* And I love all the monkeys in the trees."
Upon finishing her meditation, she gave me her "book" with a freehand drawing of "God" and two tracings each of the Good Shepherd and the sheep.
The next day, Lenora chose to work with the Good Shepherd again. While meditating, she again offered me more verses: "I love smelling flowers. I love taking showers (that rhymes)" and later, "God has lots of power." She gave me her meditation tracing of a sheep with many lines and circles all around it. Lenora explained that it is "The Protected Sheep" with "like a bubble around it."
* "Everybody's a family.
* Everybody in the green tree is a family.
* All the birds that sing are in the family.
* Everybody that are animals are in the family.
* Everything that sings is part of me.
* All the trees I see is a part of me.
* And I love green beans.
* And I love all the twinkles in the trees.
* And I love green beans.
* And I love all the monkeys in the trees."
Upon finishing her meditation, she gave me her "book" with a freehand drawing of "God" and two tracings each of the Good Shepherd and the sheep.
The next day, Lenora chose to work with the Good Shepherd again. While meditating, she again offered me more verses: "I love smelling flowers. I love taking showers (that rhymes)" and later, "God has lots of power." She gave me her meditation tracing of a sheep with many lines and circles all around it. Lenora explained that it is "The Protected Sheep" with "like a bubble around it."
Labels:
Found Sheep,
good shepherd,
unity
Sunday, March 13, 2011
"He calls them happy"
Mariana, age 5, was working with the Good Shepherd. When I wondered how Jesus had responded when asked "Who are you?" Mariana explained that Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd." When I wondered what shepherds do, she explained, "Take care of the sheep. Give them food and give them water." When I wondered how the Good Shepherd calls the sheep, she replied, "he calls them happy" and added while pointing to the sheep, "these are all the family of sheep." When I wondered later what the Good Shepherd's voice sounds like, she replied, "Jesus' voice. Mary and Joseph wanted to have a baby." She then meditated on the Good Shepherd.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Shalom
Nia, age 3, was working with the Good Shepherd. As she moved the figure of the Good Shepherd, she sang "shalom, shalom, shalom..." to herself. She seemed content.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
"We have to get our hearts ready."
When another student was receiving a presentation on The Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-13), Eli, age 7, said about the clothes, "Oh, Jesus was talking about getting ready for God's kingdom and we have to get our hearts ready."
Labels:
parables,
preparation,
Wedding banquet
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Daughter of God
Natalia, age 6, was working with the Maxim, "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit". She explained, "This [maxim] makes me feel like the Daughter of God."
Labels:
maxims,
temple of the holy spirit
Open the door
Reflecting on the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, I wondered what the work is that we're preparing to do. Joseph, age 8, said, "Opening up the door to everyone."
Sunday, February 27, 2011
I was giving the presentation of The Wedding Banquet. I told them to listen carefully so they could tell me what Jesus was trying to tell us about the Kingdom of Heaven. They listened intently. So intently, that one 8-year-old said when I had finished, that he needed to hear it again. He also asked me exactly what "binding hand and foot" really meant. So we went through the whole presentation again. Then we thought about it, and they children were very good at thinking through what Jesus meant. However, the little fellow still looked very concerned. Finally, he asked me if we could add another figure to the story--The figure of a queen. Intrigued by his thought pattern, I asked why. He was very clear. "Well, you see, if there had been a queen, she'd have given the fellow who showed up without a wedding robe a second chance."
Labels:
Feminine image of God,
Wedding banquet
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
During a discussion about the True Vine, suddenly Nathan, age 6, began talking about the sheepfold and he said this:
"The sheepfold, you know, it's just a holding place. We don't belong here. We belong with God and we're going back to God. This is just where God sends us to learn."
"The sheepfold, you know, it's just a holding place. We don't belong here. We belong with God and we're going back to God. This is just where God sends us to learn."
Labels:
god's love,
good shepherd,
True Vine,
unity
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Reflecting on the Hidden Treasure, I asked, "What is treasure?" Children mentioned favorite toys or stuffed animals. Alexa, age 7, responded, "God's love."
Labels:
god's love,
Hidden Treasure,
Kingdom Parables
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Heaven grows inside of us
When doing The Leaven and a clay extension work for meditation Darla, age 6, commented, "When we want to go to Parousia, the leaven will take us." She also connected that heaven grows inside of us like the flour and the yeast. And she said, "And heaven has someone new - my Uncle." She said it with a feeling of relief.
Labels:
death,
kingdom of heaven,
Leaven
Monday, February 14, 2011
While receiving the presentation on the Kingdom of God and the Mustard Seed, Nellie, age 3, exclaimed, "and you water it! And it grows into trees, flowers, carrots and tomatoes!" and then she shot her hands above her head. She carefully held the mustard seed in her hand, and wide-eyed talked of the "big tree" that would grow. We prayed the song "This Tiny Seed" together, and then Nellie gave thanks for "flowers."
Labels:
Kingdom of God,
Mustard seed
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The MOST
On the Pearl of Great Price:
Taylor was reflecting on the parable of The Kingdom of Heaven and the Pearl of Great Price, and how the merchant gave all he had for one precious pearl. Taylor said, "It SEEMS like he went for the least. But he went for the MOST."
Taylor was reflecting on the parable of The Kingdom of Heaven and the Pearl of Great Price, and how the merchant gave all he had for one precious pearl. Taylor said, "It SEEMS like he went for the least. But he went for the MOST."
Labels:
kingdom of heaven,
Pearl of Great Price
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
During the presentation on the Kingdom of God and the Mustard Seed, while looking at the mustard seed, Sam, age 2, spoke of babies and of having been a baby. Later he prayed, “thank you, thank you, thank you God for the mustard seed.” He then chose to take a seed home with him.
Labels:
kingdom of heaven,
Mustard seed
Sunday, January 23, 2011
"Heaven has everything"
Paul, age 4 said, "He (the Merchant) sold everything even his table to buy the pearl, but the pearl is heaven and heaven has everything...."
Labels:
kingdom of heaven,
Pearl of Great Price
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
When doing The Leaven with another child, Jenna, age 7, said, ”The Leaven rose like Jesus going to the Kingdom of Heaven.” After doing The Leaven work again later, she enjoyed a new meditation work using clay and formed a table with the bread on it. She said “The leaven grows and the Kingdom of Heaven grows and my bones grow.” She also wondered about heaven, “If it had towns for all the people and each town had a grain of leaven, it would use the hair and skin of God and everything would grow and be made of God.”
Labels:
Kingdom of God,
kingdom of heaven,
Leaven,
unity
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Reflecting on the Hidden Treasure, I asked, “What is treasure?” Children mentioned favorite toys or stuffed animals. Kyle, age 6, explained that treasure is something to share with everyone else.
Labels:
Hidden Treasure,
kingdom of heaven,
unity
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Pour Goodness into Herod
Flora, age 7, was working with the Leaven. She had prepared two bowls of flour and water--one with yeast and one without--in order to meditate on how the Kingdom of Heaven is like the leaven. Her catechist wondered how the dough with the leaven in it could be like the Kingdom of God. Pointing back and forth between the two bowls, she said:
(bowl with leaven)“Power, (bowl without leaven)No Power;
(bowl with leaven)Love (bowl without leaven)Less love;
(bowl with leaven)A big heart, a big family;
(bowl with leaven)“Bright, like God;(bowl without leaven)Dark, like Herod” (earlier in the day, she had had the presentation on the Flight into Egypt)
(bowl with leaven)Big world;(bowl without leaven)Tiny, tiny world
(bowl with leaven)Bread and wine;(bowl without leaven)Water and candy, cause candy’s not good for you.”
The following week, she asked about Herod, “Why would he kill a baby?” Flora was again working with the Leaven. She said, “I wish I could pour this in [the leavened dough into the unleavened]…pour goodness into Herod.”
(bowl with leaven)“Power, (bowl without leaven)No Power;
(bowl with leaven)Love (bowl without leaven)Less love;
(bowl with leaven)A big heart, a big family;
(bowl with leaven)“Bright, like God;(bowl without leaven)Dark, like Herod” (earlier in the day, she had had the presentation on the Flight into Egypt)
(bowl with leaven)Big world;(bowl without leaven)Tiny, tiny world
(bowl with leaven)Bread and wine;(bowl without leaven)Water and candy, cause candy’s not good for you.”
The following week, she asked about Herod, “Why would he kill a baby?” Flora was again working with the Leaven. She said, “I wish I could pour this in [the leavened dough into the unleavened]…pour goodness into Herod.”
Labels:
darkness,
god's love,
herod,
Kingdom of God,
kingdom of heaven,
Leaven,
light,
power
Sunday, January 9, 2011
He would need his power now...
During a "review" of Good Shepherd presentation at the beginning of the new school year:
Q: What do you already know about the Good Shepherd?"
Barney, age 6: "The Good Shepherd was Jesus. When Jesus decided to leave heaven and come down to earth, the angels held his power for him. And on the day when he went down under the water to get baptized, those angels brought him down his power and sprinkled it all through him like glitter, because they knew he would need his power now."
Q: What do you already know about the Good Shepherd?"
Barney, age 6: "The Good Shepherd was Jesus. When Jesus decided to leave heaven and come down to earth, the angels held his power for him. And on the day when he went down under the water to get baptized, those angels brought him down his power and sprinkled it all through him like glitter, because they knew he would need his power now."
Labels:
good shepherd,
Jesus' baptism,
power
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
"Because He's God"
When I wondered why the Wise Men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, to a baby, Krysta, age 5, answered, “because he’s God.”
Sunday, January 2, 2011
He told them how he loved
To my question of the Simeon and Anna could have known who Jesus was among all the people in the Temple when Jesus was presented there as a child, Nadia, age 4, responded, Maybe when he was in heaven before coming into his mommy’s tummy, he talked to them and told them how he loved.”
Labels:
Anna,
birth,
love,
Presentation in the Temple,
Simeon
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