| Year Levels Focus: | The Church is a celebrating community that shares God’s love. (TCREK003) |
| Aims: |
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| Content Statement: |
Students will be introduced to the Church as a celebrating community of people who are made one with Jesus and are welcomed through the Sacrament of Baptism. They will identify and explore how this community lives as friends/brothers and sisters of Jesus, sharing God’s love. |
The Church is the “Body of Christ”, the “Temple of the Holy Spirit”, the “Bride of Christ”, the “People of God”, the “Sacrament of Christ”, the “Community of Faith”, the “Communion of Saints”, a “Priestly People”, etc. These are not sociological, political, psychological, philosophical, historical or “scientific” descriptors. They are theological images and metaphors whose meaning is discovered in love—not in our love, but in God’s love, which is revealed in Jesus.
The Church does not exist for itself. It is, by definition, called and sent—down into the depths of the Mystery that loves us, and out on mission to the margins of our world. Mission is not just something the Church does, then. Mission is what she is sent to be and do, because that is what Christ does and is: “good news to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, a time of the Lord’s favour”.
The Church’s identity is God’s gift to us in Christ because we are first and foremost God’s gift to Christ: “They were yours; you gave them to me” (John 17:6). And through us, as Christ’s Body, unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity continue to be God’s gift to the world: “so that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23). Our unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity is, then, the heart of our mission and thus of our identity: at once a call to be (one with God in Christ) and a sending out of ourselves into the whole world to live (in faith, with hope, and, above all, as love).
This call and this sending are the same act in Christ: we are called and sent through him, with him, and in him, united by his Spirit. Apart from a constant focus on Christ, being one, holy, catholic and apostolic would lose its vital meaning. Therefore, in Christ, as his Body, we profess that the Church is “one, holy, catholic and apostolic”.
In GNFL this understanding of the Church as one, holy, catholic and apostolic is developed with these theological emphases:
- It is Christ who is one: completely and authentically himself, “fully integrated”, single-minded, wholehearted, and utterly alive. And as such, he is the unifying power of God at work in us through our sharing in his Spirit as his Body.
- It is Christ who is holy: divine, other, transcendent, marginal, and liminal (these are all part of the meaning of the word “holy” in Scripture). And as such, he is the sanctifying power who gives us his Holy Spirit, the only real source and meaning of the Church’s holiness.
- It is Christ who is catholic: one-with-God and one-with-us, whole-and-inclusive, open to all, and made up of all-into-one. And as such, he is the all-embracing opening up of the Triune God drawing us into the divine communion of love.
- It is Christ who is apostolic: coming from God, sent by God, and forever moving ahead of us leading us into God; and as such, the simultaneous act of grounding us in a living tradition and sending us out into the whole world to live and proclaim the Gospel.
- Being one, holy, catholic and apostolic is the Church’s “radical tradition”.
- As we are called to integrity (“one”), wholeness (“holy”), and communion (“catholic”), so have we been sent in living continuity (“apostolic”) with all those who have gone before us (“tradition”), beginning with Christ himself (which is why this tradition is “radical”, from the Latin radix meaning “root”).
URL link to Theological Conversation chapter (PDF).
- The Church is a celebrating community of people who share God’s love.
- Through Baptism, we are welcomed into the Church.
- As the church community, we live as friends of Jesus.
The Church is a celebrating community that shares God’s love. (TCREK003)
Students will be introduced to the Church as a celebrating community of people who are made one with Jesus and are welcomed through the Sacrament of Baptism. They will identify and explore how this community lives as friends/brothers and sisters of Jesus, sharing God’s love.
TCREI001
Responding to questions with thoughts, and naming feelings, ideas and decisions (TCREI001)
- responding to open questions about where God is present in the world
- expressing feelings and thoughts about God
- making choices about how to act towards others and ourselves
- cultivating self-respect by showing mutual respect
TCREI002
Listening to stories to learn about characters, words, concepts and values relating to love (TCREI002)
- listening to biblical stories and wondering about their deeper meanings
- role-playing biblical and other stories (e.g., stories from the lives of the saints)
- using Godly play dolls to play creatively with biblical stories
- learning about things that were different about the world Jesus lived in as a child from the way things are now
TCREI003
Sharing observations, thoughts, feelings and ideas (TCREI003)
- taking turns to let others speak in prayer time
- taking turns and listening to others’ thoughts and ideas about how God is love in us, our families and the world
- visualising and imagining stories about Jesus that show us God’s love for us and acting them out
- naming the ways that Jesus shows us how to love one another because God loves us first, and making models, drawings or installations to express this to others
- taking turns to share thoughts and reflections about how God loves us
- taking turns to share thoughts and feelings about how we experience God’s love in others and in the world
TCRED001
Using senses to name important words and feelings (TCRED001)
- using senses to name feelings
- using sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch to provoke responses that identify and reflect on big ideas and significant feelings
TCRED002
Listening and responding to others’ ideas and thoughts. Pondering, and wondering and asking questions about our world (TCRED002)
- listening and responding to others’ ideas and thoughts about God’s love
- pondering, wondering and asking questions about how we experience God’s love in our lives
- drawing some conclusions about how Jesus teaches us to be open to God’s love
TCRED003
Applying ideas about what could be done to model for others some loving choices (TCRED003)
- naming behaviours that reflect being loved by God
- implementing plans and processes that promote self-respect and mutual respect
- sharing with others what being loved by God feels like and how it changes us
By the end of Foundation Year, students bring their sense of wonder to God as Mystery, as giver of all life and as love, revealed in Jesus, friend and brother. Celebrating God’s love and mystery in the church community, they describe the sacraments as celebrations of God’s presence. Students value both the uniqueness of the human person and the oneness of the human family. They engage with the Word of God through Scripture stories that tell of his love; they identify ways of both experiencing that love in people and in their world and, in turn, sharing it through their own loving actions. They experience prayer as talking to, listening to, and growing in loving relationship with God.
Students will be encouraged to use their imaginations when engaging with Sacramental signs and the Parables of Jesus.
Students listen, engage with and respond to sacred texts and stories, reflect on characters and concepts and share observations, thoughts, feelings and ideas. In diverse ways they express their emerging understanding of and engagement with the teachings of the Catholic Church, with Sacramental signs and with religious events and rituals. Through reflective practices, they develop ways of making loving choices that express care for self, for others and for their world.
Pre-unit assessment
Students draw answers to the questions: What is the Church? Who are some Church people that you know? What do they do?
Learning Hook
Build a class visual (in concentric circles) of groups to which we belong…..me, my family, my class, my school, my team, my street, my local area.... and another of what happens in those groups.
Learn the nursery rhyme/finger play 'Here is the Church'. The YouTube videos: Here is the Church (by Appuseries or MsRhymetime) may be useful.
Surface
(Giving language, facts, and basic concepts structure to lead into deeper learning)
Key Vocabulary: Church, church, community, altar, ambo, crucifix, Body of Christ, Baptism, baptismal font, disciple, believe, faith, initiate, initiation
What does a community look like?
Identify some characteristics of a loving community; recognise families as loving communities
- Use the learning hook visual to develop a third sample that captures the feelings and characteristics of specific groups.
- Share a resource, such as the book Extraordinary by Penny Harrison, to prompt stories of the ordinary things that happen in families and with friends.
- Build awareness of the quality of relationships and identify some descriptors of loving families/communities. Invite students to illustrate and label.
- Explore the Holy Family through Godly Play (below).
Identify people who believe in them; people in whom they believe
- View on YouTube: Snap along with the Addams Family (Go Noodle).
- Discuss family members and share stories of the way they love and support each other.
- Encourage students to recall examples of when different people believe in them and encourage them.
- Share songs of encouragement on YouTube: You Can Do It (Dolly Parton) or Keep on trying (Jack Hartmann).
- Develop lists of people who believe in them and whom they trust. Consider and pray about thanking those people.
What kind of community is the Church?
Retell the story of the first disciples who lived with and believed in Jesus
- Through Godly Play (or similar) present the story of Jesus calling his disciples. See Godly Play Script: Calling the First Disciples in resource section.
- Provide opportunity for students to wonder and participate in an activity through which they can sequence or recount the story.
Identify the church building (with some of its distinguishing features) as a place of gathering in faith
- Explore To Know Worship and Love Title 10: We visit the church.
- Match up pictures of group activities and the places in which they occur. Recognise the importance of the gathered people.
- View images of different church buildings. Visit and identify different aspects of the local church building.
- Invite your school parish Priest to talk about the different parts of the church building and some of the items used in celebrations.
Define Church as the community of God’s people, Jesus living still in and through us
- Explore Understanding Faith Unit 12 Part 1, Pg 10; People are the Church and interactive Part 3, Pg 4; Part 4, Pg 3.
How do we become part of the Church community?
Describe Baptism as entry (initiation) to the community of God’s people
- Discuss entry into group. Through Godly Play (or similar) introduce the celebration of Baptism. See Godly Play: Holy Baptism in resource section.
Name the things done together in the community of those who believe in Jesus, the Church
- Support students to collaborate on a chart that shows the variety of people embraced by the Church and some things they do.
- Listen to the song: The Church, by John Burland.
Deep
(Learning experiences that lead on from beginning experiences to questioning more deeply and exploring ideas in different ways to lead to making connections between faith and life)
What did Jesus, his family and friends do together? How did his friends act?
Investigate how Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived as a loving family
- Through Godly Play (or similar) present the story of The Holy Family. See Godly Play: The Holy Family in resource section.
- Explore To Know Worship and Love, Prep - Title 16: Jesus' Family. Encourage wonderings about the characteristics of a loving family.
Explore the Gospel story of Jesus calling or being with his first disciples, consider/enter into the feelings of the characters and wonder about their experiences
- Present a simple timeline to show Jesus infant, childhood and boyhood years and, now, his ministry.
- Present the Gospel story of Lk 5:1-11: Jesus calls his first disciples. Encourage wondering about the experience.
Enter into Scripture-based guided meditation about Jesus and his friends
- Facilitate a guided meditation about being called by name by Jesus to be his friend, live with him, share his love. See resource section for Christian Meditation suggestions.
Develop a visual or other creative response about the group of Jesus’ friends and how they lived in his way
- Develop a summary of the way Jesus and his friends lived and acted, discussing how they shared his love with others.
What do we do together as a Church community? How do we live?
Compare and contrast loving and unloving actions in various communities/groups
- Present simple scenarios and invite students to explore and sort. Encourage them to explain decisions and to talk about times they have witnessed or experienced situations similar to the ones considered.
Engage with the Godly Play presentation about Baptism and role play the ritual, using words and gesture
- Through Godly Play (or similar) revisit the process of Baptism. See Godly Play: Holy Baptism in resource section.
- Invite a family to visit and tell about the celebration of a Baptism.
- Role play, noting the action of pouring the water and the words: "I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
- Link with our praying with the Sign of the Cross and with the use of holy water.
Transfer
(Learning experiences that help students engage with deeper understandings that can be applied in their own lives)
How do friends of Jesus act and live to share God's love?
Make connections between Jesus and his first disciples’ relationship and our relationship as his friends
- Develop a four square chart that shows family and friends sharing love; Jesus and his friends;
the Church community praying and sharing God’s love; each student praying and sharing God’s love.
Develop a personal plan for being with Jesus in prayer and for sharing God’s love as living Church people
- Encourage each student to develop their own version of how they will pray and share God’s love.
- View on YouTube: I Can Care for My Family (Appuseries).
Resources
Appuseries. Here is the Church. YouTube.
Appuseries. I can care for my family. YouTube.
Burland, John. The Church. YouTube.
Godly Play. Holy Baptism. YouTube.
Godly Play. Holy Family. YouTube.
Godly Play. Jesus calls the First Disciples. Website.
GoNoodle. Snap along with the Addams Family. YouTube.
Harrison, Penny. Extraordinary.
Harrison, Penny. Extraordinary. YouTube.
Hartman, Jack. Keep on trying. YouTube.
MsRhymetime. Here is the Church. YouTube.
Parton, Dolly. You can do it. YouTube.
To Know Worship and Love. Prep - Title 10: We visit the church. Online Subscription.
To Know Worship and Love. Prep - Title 16: Jesus' Family. Online Subscription.
Understanding Faith, Unit 12 Part 1, Pg 10; People are the Church and interactive Part 3, Pg 4; Part 4, Pg 3. Online Subscription.
Other Supporting Resources:
Catholic Diocese of Ballarat. Godly Play Resources & Scripts.
Hope, Glynnis & Dawson, B. Guided meditations for young catholics.
Macdonald, Anthony (Sr). To God on a Magic Carpet.
Mangan, Michael. Open Our Hearts: 5 minute meditations. Audio CD.
Mangan, Michael. Open Our Hearts: 7 minute meditations. Audio CD.
Saddleback Kids. Jesus Calls Peter. YouTube.
St Columban's Mission Society. Making the Sign of the Cross.
* Unless otherwise noted, items listed under “Resources” are books.