September 2018 St. Margaret Mary Religious Education News & Views Hopefully, the start of your new school year has gone smoothly! Now we re gearing up for the start of Religious Education classes. Our year begins with the Monday classes on September 10th. (See the complete September calendar on page 5.) All parents who have registered their children should have already received their schedule letter. Please call the Religious Education Office at 630-369-0833 if you did not receive your letter. And if you have not, as yet, registered your child(ren), there is limited space in classes. Call the RE Office to check for availability. Use Jesus Parables to Teach Biblical Truth POWERSOURCE ASK JESUS: 1. To help you share God s Word with children in age-appropriate ways. 2. To bless your family s worship, study, and devotional times. 3. To help kids see how Jesus teaching and all of Scripture is relevant to their daily lives. As a master storyteller, Jesus used simple everyday objects and stories to convey profound eternal truths. Through these parables, Jesus explained in ways that humans could understand the incomprehensible logic of God s kingdom. Because Jesus knew his audience well, he was able to speak at their level. Jesus could have taught us about the kingdom of heaven with only commands and facts: God values the lost, Forgive because you are forgiven, and Be prepared for my return. But he knew the truths of heaven wouldn t make sense to human minds. Jesus knew we d understand better if we could identify with a woman frantically searching for a lost coin, a servant who d been forgiven much yet refused to forgive a little, and bridesmaids who had (or had not) come prepared for a long wait. While our human nature causes us to identify with the jealous older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus calls us to open our arms as the father did and come home with humility as the lost son did. Jesus began or ended his parables by saying, in effect, This is the point. If you get anything out of the story, get this. Despite any inconsequential details of each story, truth is involved and Jesus clearly points it out. Read on for ideas about reinforcing biblical truth to children through the use of Jesus parables.
Keep Watch for Biblical Truth God s Word isn t stagnant, which means biblical principles show up even in stories that aren t in the Bible. Movies, fairy tales, cartoons, stories, and songs can contain traces of the gospel message that are helpful for introducing Bible themes. Discuss and debrief to help children discover the meat of the message. The Bible s truth supersedes any fiction, and it s vital that kids understand the difference. Emphasize the verse or passage that a story reinforces. Encourage children to identify forgiveness, faith, and kindness in their lives. As a family, stay alert! The Kingdom of God is here, and if we watch for it carefully, we can see God working in our lives and in the lives of others. Jesus had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Mark 6:34 The Kingdom of God; Bringing Parables to a Child s Level of Understanding The New Testament is full of Jesus use of parables to help adults understand a difficult concept. With a little creative thought, parents can bring Jesus parables to light for their kids. Here s an example using the concept of the Kingdom of God : Crowds of people followed Jesus everywhere he went. They wanted to hear him teach. Jesus often spoke about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is not a place you can find on a map. It is the power of God s love active in our lives and world. Jesus taught us about God s Kingdom in special stories called parables. In one parable Jesus said that the Kingdom of God was like a great treasure that people would want above all things. In another parable, Jesus said that the Kingdom of God was like a mustard seed, a tiny seed that grows into very large tree able to shelter many people in its shade. All people are invited to become a part of the Kingdom and to spread God s love in the world. From Our Catholic Faith by Rev. Msgr. John F. Barry, P.A. This giant mustard tree shelters whole buildings! It s Picnic Time at St. Margaret Mary!!!! Come one, come all to our Parish Picnic, Sunday, September 9th, from 11 am to 5 pm on the south parking lot and south lawn. There ll be fun for the whole family!! The picnic, sponsored by the SMMP Men s Club, offers food, fellowship, beverages, bingo, a silent auction, raffle, carnival games, pony rides, inflatable amusements, a chair massage, face painting, nail art, and MORE! New this year is Robin s Dog Show. The Men s Club donates a significant amount of the picnic proceeds to the parish and community. The picnic, raffle and silent auction are the primary sources of fundraising for the year. Donations are being accepted for the silent auction and raffle prizes. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Jeff Krebs at 630-240-4429.
Children s Liturgy of the Word If you are relatively new to St. Margaret Mary, you may not be familiar with Children s Liturgy of the Word. So here s a quick tutorial: During the 8 & 10 am Masses on Sundays (from the weekend following Labor Day thru May), all children in Kindergarten thru 3rd grade are invited by the celebrant or deacon to gather in front of the altar right after the opening rites. There, they are blessed and greeted by an adult leader who shepherds them to the Upper Room. They hear the readings of the day proclaimed from the Children s Lectionary a wonderful resource that brings them the Word of God in language appropriate for their age level. They have a short homily where they learn how the readings relate to their lives today. Following the celebrant s homily, they return to the church to sit with their parents. If you have children in Kindergarten thru 3rd grade, please take advantage of this opportunity to make the Word of the Lord come alive for them. Help Your Kids Understand the September Sunday Gospels September 2, 2018 Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time After many weeks of readings from John s Gospel, today we return to Mark for a discussion on God s commandments vs. made-made laws. Jewish law demanded that the people follow strict regulations about many things such as what they could eat and how they could eat. Often, these man-made laws were followed, but God s commandments ignored. Jesus taught that sin comes from within people, from their hearts, and these sins break God s laws. September 9, 2018 Mark 7:31-37 Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Today's Gospel invites us to consider how we witness the healing presence of Christ in our care for and ministry to those who are sick. We notice that the deaf man is brought to Jesus for healing by his friends. These people beg Jesus to lay his hands on this deaf man so that he might be healed. Jesus' healing power is shown in his opening of the man's ears and the restoring of his speech. When family members care for one another when they are sick, they bring Christ's healing presence. When we pray for those who are ill, we ask God to show his healing power. When health is restored, we share that good news with others. September 23, 2018 Mark 9:30-37 Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Today, Jesus teaches his disciples that the greatest among us are those who serve the rest. Conversations such as the one described in today's Gospel are common in family life today. Perhaps these examples are familiar: I should get the first piece of cake because I am the youngest; I did the dishes yesterday; someone else should do them today. How might we respond if Jesus asked about our family arguments? What would Jesus say to us in reply? All of us need the reminder found in today's Gospel: To be great in God's Kingdom is to be the servant of all. September 30, 2018 Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time In today s Gospel, the apostles wish to limit the ministry of others. But Jesus says, Whoever is not against us is with us. God blesses everyone with special abilities, and Jesus teaches here that all of us must use our talents to work for the good of everyone, everywhere. Faith is a lifelong journey toward God. We don't always get it all or even get it right. But we pray for the grace to build upon even the smallest signs of faith, in ourselves and in others. September 16, 2018 Mark 8:27-35 Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Peter had expectations about what it meant to call Jesus the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus was indeed the Messiah, but his life and death would show a different understanding of what it means to be the Messiah. We, too, have expectations of God and our own ideas about what we think God ought to be doing in our world. We sometimes get discouraged because God doesn't act in our world in the ways that we expect. Like Peter, however, we may risk limiting our image of God by thinking only in human ways. God's plan is always more that we can ever imagine.
MEDIA MADNESS CULTURE & TRENDS MOVIE Title: Smallfoot Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy Rating: not yet rated Cast: Channing Tatum, Zendaya, Gina Rodriguez, Danny DeVito, Common Synopsis: In this 3D computeranimated comedy, a Yeti named Migo is convinced that the elusive creatures called Smallfoots (humans) really do exist. Migo tells a group of young Yeti about a terrifying creature with perfect white teeth and breath that just smells all minty fresh, and the only hair it has on its entire body is on top of its head! Our Take: By turning the legend of Bigfoot upside down, this familyfriendly film explores truth and why we believe or don t believe something. It also addresses what s considered frightening to different people. Games, Sites & Apps Runbow This fast, competitive game is now available for Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. Players race across platforms to touch a trophy. The challenge is that the game s background color keeps changing. When it matches a platform s color, the platform can no longer support a player. Dream Big Hosted by third-grader Eva Karpman and her mom Olga, this familyfriendly podcast features inspiring interviews with trailblazers, experts, and celebrities from a wide variety of fields. Eva s goals are to help kids live their passion, realize their potential, and take massive action. BOOK Title: Notes From Jesus Author: Mikal Keefer Synopsis: This hardcover book, subtitled What Your New Best Friend Wants You to Know, is geared toward children and families who are new to the Christian faith. It has answers to common questions, inspirational Bible verses, and age-appropriate ideas for growing a relationship with Jesus. Playful illustrations fill the pages. Our Take: By reminding children that Jesus enjoys their company and wants to have a lifelong friendship with them, this book makes Jesus personal and relatable. Kids will feel more comfortable sharing their lives with Jesus and will be reminded to keep learning more about him, too. Notes From Jesus makes a meaningful gift. RoosterMoney This free app helps parents track allowance and chores, while teaching children the value of money. Kids can save toward goals and earn rewards, with parents overseeing what money goes in and out of their accounts. The app is designed for use with kids ages 4 and up. Endangered Species? According to demographers, the familyplanning habits of Millennials are making middle children extinct. Fewer couples want more than two children, and only 12% of women in their early 40s have four or more kids. (usatoday.com) Flipped Classrooms If your child s teacher has flipped, don t flip out! More educators now ask students to watch videotaped lectures at home, reserving school time for completing assignments and activities. Teachers say flipped classrooms encourage active, collaborative learning and allow students to get more one-on-one help. (various websites) QUICK STATS Raking in the Dough According to a poll of 10,000 parents, children ages 4 to 14 earn more than $8 per week in allowance. For the top-paying chore of car washing, kids earn about $12 per task. For help with managing allowances, see the app to the left. (cnbc.com) Literacy Boost More than 85% of African-American fourth-grade boys aren t proficient in reading. A new literacy program is stocking more than 100 U.S. barbershops with culturally relevant stories for young readers. (barbershopbooks.org) 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.
September SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 Labor Day 4 5 6 7 8 9 Parish Picnic Children s Liturgy of the Word Begins 10 K-8 Monday Classes Begin! 11 K-8 Tuesday Classes Begin! 12 K-8 Wednesday Classes Begin! 13 14 15 Celebrate Catechetical Weekend! 16 Celebrate Catechetical Weekend! 17 18 Protecting God s Children Wkshp; 6:30pm; Upper Room 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30