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!

The Cross in the Manger

The cross is rising out of the manger. The love from the cross chases away the darkness.

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.”

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!"

Yes to a Birth, Yes to a Cross

This is the front and back of the same page. The words are on the front, images on the back. The image at the lower right is Mary holding Jesus.

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?"

Advent - For the Birds?

A six-year old boy remarked, “Advent...it's like we're birds preparing our nests.”

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.