Day One Discovering Church Together LEARNING OUTCOMES
Before You Begin
The students will be able to • identify the topic of the lesson (Church) and become familiar with their books. • explain what they hope to learn about the Church. • s how what they already know by taking a pre-test.
1. BLM 1, 2 Consider sending
Materials • BLM 1, BLM 2, BLM 3 • BLM 4A–B Pre-test • 5 or 6 jigsaw puzzles (about 8 pieces each) made from construction paper or greeting cards • 5 or 6 envelopes for the puzzles, with 1 piece missing from each puzzle
Student pages v, vi, and 2
3. Note that telling the students
that their reflection notebooks will not be read will make them feel more free to write honestly. Make them aware that they must respect one another’s privacy in regard to reflection notebooks. Speak from your experience about the value of keeping a reflection notebook.
home BLM 1 Family Letter on The Church Then and Now and BLM 2 Family Letter on Unit 1.
2. The students should be
familiar with keeping a reflection notebook if they used the Christ Our Life program in the past. The school might provide a reflection notebook for each student. You might buy bound books with lined pages. Otherwise, have the students buy a spiral notebook, a three-ring binder, or a book with blank pages. Have the students design a cover for it, using a drawing, a picture of Jesus, symbols of their friendship with Jesus, a favorite quotation, or a title.
4. Collect the pre-tests after
the students complete them. Review the tests to learn the students’ strengths and weaknesses. Use the results to plan your lessons for the year. Save the tests. At the end of the year, give the test again (post-test) and show the students how much they have learned.
• Items for the book presentation ceremony: BLM 3, music, candles (check fire codes), Bible, table for books, reflection notebooks
Note to Students
Note to Students
Dear Students, Every two years the world rivets its attention on the Olympic Games. Weeks before the games begin, an athlete ignites a torch in Olympia, Greece, the original site of the games in the eighth century b.c. He or she runs several miles with the burning torch and then passes it to another athlete, who carries it the next lap. This goes on until the flame arrives at the site of the current Olympic Games. There the last runner lights the Olympic flame in the stadium. It burns brightly throughout the games, as each contestant tries to live the Olympic motto: faster, higher, stronger. How does this relate to you and your faith? The light of faith handed down through the past 2,000 years has been passed to you. Jesus, the light of the world, enkindled the flame of eternal life by his death and Resurrection. He promised his followers that he would be with them until the end of time. At Pentecost, his Spirit came to them in fire and wind, and they set out to inflame the world with faith and love. Countless Christians have been entrusted with this light.
In this book, you will see how the Church shone like a light in the Dark Ages. You will see how the Church has survived social systems, political systems, and persecutions. You will be encouraged to think in newer, more profound ways about Catholic truths. The Holy Spirit, the four gifts that mark the Church, and Mary’s role will become more apparent to you. You will learn how the commandments are a sign of loyalty to Christ, who said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) God’s law will become clearer to you as a guide for doing today what Jesus did 2,000 years ago. You will meet Church members who bring joy and hope to the world.
can make you more aware of who you are and how you are living your life. In a reflection notebook, we take the time to reflect and to pray about our life.
Tips for Writing Reflections 1. Plan to set aside time regularly to write in your reflection notebook.
The flame of Catholic Christianity is being passed to a new generation—yours! Will you accept the challenge of carrying it bravely? You alone can hold the torch of your faith higher and let your love for Christ and his Church grow stronger. Union with Jesus in prayer will help you meet the challenge. Let your motto be “Christ and I, an amazing team!”
The Mystery of the Church
In seventh grade, you saw how keeping a reflection notebook can help deepen your commitment to Jesus and strengthen your relationship with the Church. A reflection notebook is more than a diary. It is not just a collection of events, but what we think and how we feel about those events. Writing about your thoughts and feelings
3. Pray to the Holy Spirit to give you guidance and inspiration. 4. As you write your reflections, listen to how Jesus is speaking to you through the people, events, and thoughts in your entries. 5. Keep your reflection notebook private. Remember, these reflections are for you to question, explore, and discover how God is working in your life.
7. Reread your reflection notebook every now and then. This will help you see how God has spoken to you and how he has been acting in your life.
Louis Comfort Tiffany, stained glass.
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UNIT 1
2. Write what you are honestly thinking and feeling. This notebook is for you and your relationship with Jesus.
6. Make your reflection notebook special and neat, but do not worry too much about spelling and punctuation.
Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. 1 Corinthians 9:24–25
T4
Keeping a Reflection Notebook
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