INTRODUCTION The Good Shepherd Way Theological Background
COMMUNITY Matthew 18: 20 (NRSVCE) “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
HOW DO WE CONNECT AND ENGAGE AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL? ACTIVITY: Connecting and Engaging Bingo
COMPASSION Luke 10: 30-37 (NRSVCE) Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii] gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
HOW DO WE SHOW CARE AND CONCERN FOR OTHERS AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL? ACTIVITY: Caring Card Instructions available at https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/176414510387682759/
ENDEAVOUR Matthew 19: 26 (NRSVCE) But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
HOW DO WE CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO DO OUR BEST AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL? ACTIVITY: Memory Challenge
HOPE
Luke 24: 13-35 (ERV)
That same day two of Jesus’ followers were going to a town named Emmaus. It is about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking about everything that had happened. While they were talking, discussing these things, Jesus himself came near and walked with them. (But the two men were not allowed to recognize Jesus.) He asked them, “What’s this I hear you discussing with each other as you walk?” The two men stopped, their faces looking very sad. The one named Cleopas said, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who doesn’t know what has just happened there.” Jesus said, “What are you talking about?” They said, “It’s about Jesus, the one from Nazareth. To God and to all the people he was a great prophet. He said and did many powerful things. But our leaders and the leading priests handed him over to be judged and killed. They nailed him to a cross. We were hoping that he would be the one to free Israel. But then all this happened. “And now something else: It has been three days since he was killed, but today some of our women told us an amazing thing. Early this morning they went to the tomb where the body of Jesus was laid. But they did not find his body there. They came and told us they had seen some angels in a vision. The angels told them Jesus was alive! So some of our group went to the tomb too. It was just as the women said. They saw the tomb, but they did not see Jesus.” Then Jesus said to the two men, “You are foolish and slow to realize what is true. You should believe everything the prophets said. The prophets said the Messiah must suffer these things before he begins his time of glory.” Then he began to explain everything that had been written about himself in the Scriptures. He started with the books of Moses and then he talked about what the prophets had said about him. They came near the town of Emmaus, and Jesus acted as if he did not plan to stop there. But they wanted him to stay. They begged him, “Stay with us. It’s almost night. There’s hardly any daylight left.” So he went in to stay with them. Joining them at the supper table, Jesus took some bread and gave thanks. Then he broke some off and gave it to them. Just then the men were allowed to recognize him. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. They said to each other, “When he talked to us on the road, it felt like a fire burning in us. How exciting it was when he explained to us the true meaning of the Scriptures!” So the two men got up then and went back to Jerusalem. There they found the followers of Jesus meeting together. The eleven apostles and the people with them said, “The Lord really has risen from death! He appeared to Simon.” Then the two men told what had happened on the road. They talked about how they recognized Jesus when he shared the bread with them.
HOW DO WE SEE GOOD ALL AROUND US AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL? ACTIVITY: Bucket of Good Shepherd Goodness
The Theory of the Dipper and the Bucket. Each of us has an invisible bucket. It is constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it’s empty, we feel awful. Each of us also has an invisible dipper. When we use that dipper to fill other people’s buckets - by saying or doing things to increase their positive emotions – we also fill our own bucket. But when we use that dipper to dip from other’s buckets – by saying or doing things that decrease their positive emotions – we diminish ourselves as well. Like the cup that runneth over, a full bucket gives us a positive outlook and renewed energy. Every drop in that bucket makes us stronger and more optimistic. But an empty bucket poisons our outlook, saps our energy, and undermines our will. That’s why every time someone dips from our bucket, it hurts us. So we face a choice very moment of every day: We can fill one another’s buckets, or we can dip from them. It’s an important choice – one that profoundly influences our relationships, productivity, health, and happiness. https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/GGSC_Gratitude_Curriculum_TweensTeens_LESSON_3.pdf
INCLUSION John 13:34 (NRSVCE) I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
HOW DO WE INVOLVE AND ACCEPT OTHERS AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL? ACTIVITY: Back to Back activity
JUSTICE Matthew 25: 40-45 (NRSVCE) And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
HOW DO WE MAKE RIGHT CHOICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL? ACTIVITY: Hand It To God
LOVE 1 John 4: 7-9 (NRSVCE) Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
HOW DO WE SHARE OUR GOOD HEART WITH OTHERS AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL? ACTIVITY: Write on hearts how we show love at Good
Shepherd Catholic School.
RECONCILIATION Luke 15: 11-32 (NRSVCE)
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
HOW ARE WE FAIR, FORGIVING AND RESPECTFUL AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL? ACTIVITY: Reconciliation Acrostic Poem
SERVICE Mark 10: 45 (NRSVCE) For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
HOW DO WE HELP AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL? ACTIVITY: Candy Race https://www.youthworker.com/articles/the-more-you-give-the-moreyou-get-candy-race/
STEWARDSHIP Mark 4: 30-32 (NRSVCE) He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
HOW DO WE CARE FOR ALL OF CREATION AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL? ACTIVITY: Worksheet and own personal pledge https://www.championenergyservices.com/customer-service/energyefficiency/CarbonFootprint.pdf