Show Love With Your Words

Transcription

1 February 2016 St. Margaret Mary Religious Education News & Views February is chock full of holidays and Holy Days which offer parents some pretty terrific teachable moments. From Valentine s Day, a day that honors the love of friends and family; to Presidents Day and the wealth of evidence of the strong faith of many of our presidents; to Ash Wednesday (February 10th) when the cross of ashes placed on our foreheads is the visible sign of our belief in the power of Jesus Christ even through death to the Resurrection; and continuing through the remainder of February with our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, abstinence and alms -giving. Use these days to help your family grow closer to one another and to Christ. Show Love With Your Words POWERSOURCE ASK GOD: 1. To help you and your children use positive, joyful, Godhonoring words. 2. To remind your family members to use their words to praise God and lift up other people. 3. To help you resist the temptation to use your tongue unwisely. James 3 tells us that our tongues can do quite a bit of damage. Name-calling, bickering, whining, and put-downs tear people apart. But, our tongues can also be used for good. They have the power to heal, encourage, and restore relationships. Our tongues can speak words of praise to God, too. Here are some helpful reminders for using words in a positive way: Set an example by using appropriate, uplifting words and by apologizing when you mess up. Little ears are always listening even before children can talk so choose your words wisely. Know when to stop talking. Proverbs 10:19 says, Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. Help children understand the importance of stopping to think before speaking. When in doubt, it s always better to seal your lips than to say something you might regret. It s confusing and irritating to kids when their parents set rules against swearing but don t follow them. Avoid that double standard by modeling how to censor your words especially when you re upset. Talk frequently about Jesus and his love. When you and your family stay focused on Jesus the Word then your mouths and lives will bear good fruit for him. Don t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29

2 Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is February 10th. Please note that there are no regular Grades K-8 on Ash Wednesday. Instead, parents and children (of all ages) are invited to a Prayer Service with distribution of ashes at 4 pm. (If you can t make the 4 pm Prayer Service, there are Masses at 8:15 am & 7:30 pm; and a Prayer Service at 12:10 pm.) Ash Wednesday and all of Lent are about repentance turning away from sin and asking for and offering forgiveness. Lent calls us into the desert of our lives to face the parts of us that keep us from fully embracing and responding to God s love. Before you come to a Mass or a Prayer Service on Ash Wednesday, talk with your kids about these Lenten themes and how each of us can grow in our faith by observing Lenten practices. LENTEN ALMS-GIVING Kid Style Every year at the beginning of Lent, each child enrolled in Religious Ed. at St. Margaret Mary receives a Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl - a small cardboard box in which your child can place his or her change. A coin or two placed in the box each day during Lent yields big rewards. Please encourage your kids to do extra chores for those coins or take a little from their regular allowance, or put off till later buying something that they ve been saving for. This way, their Rice Bowl donations become true Lenten alms-giving. At the end of Lent, when all the kids in RE bring back all the Rice Bowls that they ve been feeding for 40 days, it amounts to a lot of money! Last year, we collected $1,002!! 75% of CRS Rice Bowl donations support programs around the world ($40 buys 1 month of food for a family in a 3rd world country, or 2 years of seed for a farmer, or 3 months of clean water for 4 families); 25% of donations support local hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in our Diocese. A Season for Reconciliation The Church requires Catholics to attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once per year, or when grave (or mortal) sins have been committed. We are urged to confess our sins more often during Lent as a way of removing barriers to our relationship with God. Catholics are often asked why we confess our sins to a priest. It is important to remember that while the priest takes the visible place of Christ, Jesus is present in this holy sacrament. Through naming our sins out loud, we speak of our own sinfulness, and it becomes a reality. Just as love unspoken can never be returned, sins unspoken can never be fully forgiven. The Sacrament of Reconciliation offers us the chance to name the ways we have failed God, one another and ourselves. The priest s absolution grants the grace we need to reconcile and repair our sinful behavior. Speak No Evil All parents face the challenge of how to respond when kids say bad words. Resist the urge to display shock or anger. Calmly explain in ageappropriate language why certain words aren t acceptable. Preschoolers often just repeat what they hear. When they do use a bad word, share that certain words can hurt people s feelings. For children ages 6 to 9, explain that words are bad when they re intentionally used to hurt others. Preteens often use profanity to get a reaction from adults and impress friends. Tell them that you won t allow obscene words and gestures, and help them develop the discernment to censor their own language. The Legend of Valentine s Day In 1969, Valentine was officially dropped as a Saint of the Catholic Church, mainly because all we know of him is legend, not substantiated fact. Whether fact or fiction, the legends of St. Valentine make good stories. Here s one of them: Valentine was an early Christian in Rome who was very popular amongst children. But during the time when Valentine lived, the Roman regime was not in favor of Christianity and it even persecuted Christians to make Rome free of the followers of Christianity. In spite of this strict law, Valentine continued to practice his faith and refused to worship Roman Gods. This enraged Emperor Claudius II and he put Valentine into prison. Valentine is said to have spent a year in rigorous imprisonment during which he was missed a lot by the children. They began to toss loving notes and flowers between the bars of his cell window. To an extent, this legend may explain the tradition of exchanging notes and flowers on Valentine's Day. Some scholars believe that during his stay in prison Valentine made friends with a jailer's blind daughter who at times brought to him notes and flowers from children. Whenever, possible Valentine also replied to the notes. Days before his execution, Valentine prayed for the jailer's daughter and she regained her sight. Before his death, Valentine is also said to have written a farewell note to the jailer's daughter and signed it "From Your Valentine. This expression is popular still today.

3 Help Your Kids Understand the February Sunday Gospels February 7, 2016 Luke 5:1-11 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Today, Jesus is preaching by a lake near Capernaum, Simon Peter s home town. Because the crowds are so large, Jesus gets into Simon s boat and preaches from just off the shore. Simon informs Jesus that he and his friends have been unable to catch any fish, so Jesus tells Simon where to drop his nets an effort that Simon believes is futile. But Simon does as he is told and is able to catch so many fish that his nets begin to tear. Simon recognizes Jesus supreme authority, and calls him Lord, and, at Jesus invitation, Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men, Simon and his friends, James and John, become Jesus disciples. February 14, 2016 Luke 4:1-13 First Sunday of Lent The Gospel reading today is the story of the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert following his Baptism but before his public ministry. During this time in the desert, he has nothing to eat or drink. At the end, Jesus is tempted by the Devil once with an offer of food, a second time with an offer of power and glory, and a third time with an offer to prove his power and glory. Jesus rebukes the devil by quoting Scripture. Each citation is an affirmation of Christ s total trust in God. We also learn to trust in big things by practicing trust in little things. Our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving invite us to trust God in these small ways. They remind us that God will suffice for us. They prepare us to trust in God in all things, especially in moments of doubt and uncertainty. February 21, 2016 Luke 9:28b-36 Second Sunday of Lent On the second Sunday of Lent, we move from Jesus' retreat into the desert and temptation by the devil, to the glory shown in Jesus' Transfiguration. The Transfiguration occurs on a mountain in the presence of just three of Jesus' disciples Peter, James and John. Jesus is praying as his appearance changes to bright white. Luke indicates that the three disciples were sleeping while Jesus prayed. (They will be sleeping again as Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane before his Passion and death.) As they awake, Peter, James and John see Jesus Transfigured and Elijah and Moses present with Jesus. Elijah and Moses, both significant figures in the history of Israel, represent Jesus' continuity with the Law and the Prophets. A voice from heaven speaks, affirming Jesus as God's Son and commanding that the disciples listen to him. The Transfiguration was a focused moment for the disciples when they heard God speaking to them and experienced Jesus in glory. During Lent, we are invited to consider our attentiveness to Jesus and to one another. In the pace and noise that often characterize family life, how well do we listen to one another? What opportunities do we have for quiet prayer? February 28, 2016 Luke 13:1-9 Third Sunday of Lent Today s Gospel prepares us to hear Lent's call to conversion and repentance. Some among the crowds following Jesus reported a massacre of Galileans by Pilate. The intention of the crowd is to ask Jesus to explain why these people suffered. It was commonplace to think of people's suffering as evidence of their sinfulness. Jesus challenges this interpretation. Those who were massacred were no more or less sinful than the ones who report the situation to Jesus. Jesus further explains in the Parable of the Fig Tree. Like the wise gardener who tends the barren fig tree, not only does God refuse to abandon us, he chooses to attend to us even when we show no evidence of his efforts. Children s Mass It has been a long-standing tradition at St. Margaret Mary to set aside a couple of Saturday, 5 pm Masses, to allow our children in Religious Ed. Classes (Grades 1-5) the opportunity to minister as lectors, ushers, greeters and gift bearers. At these masses, the homily is also geared to the children s level of understanding. Our next Children s Mass is February 27th. Parents of Religious Ed. Students in Grades 1-5 will soon receive an containing a form to register your child(ren) for a role in this Mass, or you can complete the form when you bring your child to class. Whether you choose a ministry role for your child or not, please consider attending. It means a great deal to the children who do have roles when someone thanks them for their participation and effort! In Honor of Day Some Fun Facts about George & Abe *George Washington started school when he was 6 years old. He left school at 15 to become a surveyor as his mother couldn't afford to send him to college. *At 26, he married Martha Dandridge Custis, a widow who already had two children, Jackie and Patsy. Washington never had any children of his own. *Toothaches bothered him for years. When he was 57, he had all his teeth pulled. From then on, he wore ivory false teeth set in a silver plate. *He bred hound dogs that he treated like members of the family. He gave some of them unusual names: Tarter, True Love, and Sweet Lips. *Abraham Lincoln was the only president to have a patent: he invented a device to free steamboats that ran aground. *He practiced law without a degree. Lincoln had about 18 months of formal schooling. *He wanted women to have the vote in The future president was a suffragette before it became fashionable. *He was a big animal lover, and he wouldn t hunt or fish. If he were alive today, Lincoln would be running an animal shelter.

4 MEDIA MADNESS CULTURE & TRENDS MOVIE Title: The Great Gilly Hopkins Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family Rating: Not yet rated Cast: Julia Stiles, Kathy Bates, Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer Synopsis: This is an adaptation of Katherine Paterson s Newbery Awardwinning novel from Gilly, a tough 12-year-old girl, moves from one foster home to another stirring up trouble at each one. When she lands with the strange Maime Trotter, Gilly schemes to get away but eventually realizes she s landed in a place she loves. Our Take: With the mischief involved, this movie will be better for older kids and preteens. By all appearances, it could lead to some good discussions about family roles and responsibilities and why God puts us in the families he does. Games, Sites & Apps Adventure Time: Finn and Jake Investigations This point-and-click game, available on numerous platforms, is based on the Cartoon Network s popular Adventure Time TV show. Players live in five episodes, solving fun logic puzzles. Children s Book Site This site from the British newspaper is geared toward kids and their families. Children age 7 and younger can review books with their families. Kids older than 7 can join the site with parental permission. There s also an option for joining the site as a group. Go to childrens-books-site. BOOK Title: Magnus Chase Author: Rick Riordan Synopsis: With this book, popular author Rick Riordan launches a new series about humans and gods this time using the gods of Norse mythology. As is often the case in Riordan s books, the young main character, Magnus, discovers he s the son of a god. Now Magnus must prevent Ragnarok: the apocalyptic battle signifying the end of the world. Our Take: Riordan s books introduce kids to the gods of various civilizations. There s nothing wrong with learning mythology, but the author s plots tend to blur the lines of reality, leaving the risk kids will think our God is just another myth, too. So we advise caution with Riordan s series. Zap Zap Math This is a free math app for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. It s graphically appealing and features lots of higher-order thinking games so children can practice a wide range of math skills including addition, multiplication, geometry, and fractions. It s from the makers of Zap Zap Fractions. This page is designed to help educate parents and isn t meant to endorse any movie, music, or product. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about what your children watch, read, listen to, and play. Valentine s Shift February 14 is no longer just for couples, according to a survey of more than 600 women. People are planning more family- and friend-focused celebrations rather than an evening of romance. 79 percent of respondents plan to bond with their kids on Valentine s Day, and 62 percent will have their celebration dinners at home. (marketingprofs.com) Safe or Sorry? Vault apps store questionable texts, photos, and social media behind passwords that kids can set. The apps themselves are often hidden or disguised as other kinds of apps. Parents can guard against this trend by utilizing app store settings to screen and approve the apps their kids download. (nytimes.com) QUICK STATS Born to Learn? A study involving more than 13,000 twins found that when it comes to kids motivation at school, genetics plays a larger role than shared environments such as parents and teachers. (news.osu.edu) Saving Sight Forty percent of people in Britain are diagnosed with near-sightedness. Experts say that number is rising due to screen use and indoor activities. At the same time, some schools in China now teach children in large glass boxes and outdoors and they ve noted a reduction in myopia. (metro.co.uk)

5 February SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Ash Wednesday; NO Classes! 4pm Prayer Service/Ashes Gr Valentine s Day PreK & K Blessing Rite #3 at 5pm Mass 21 Blessing Rite #3 at 9 & 10:45 am Masses Retreat Volunteer Planning Mtg Children s Mass at 5pm Leap Day