Para la versión en español, haga clic aquí.
What would you have said? How would you answer an angel who appeared with a message from God that you were chosen to be the mother of God’s Son?
While we are not likely to receive this specific invitation, we are all charged with the awesome responsibility of bringing Christ to others. May we all say yes to God’s call with the trust and humility of Mary.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find a helpful tip for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and information about our online resources and seasonal activities. Here are tips for teaching the Gospel Weeklies lessons this week:
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is God’s Son and Mary’s son.
Don’t forget to use the paper candle from the 1st week of Advent during your Opening Prayer. This whole lesson will be used as a booklet. We suggest you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 so the children don’t have to do any cutting during class.
NOTE: If you will not meet for Sundays 12/27 or 1/3, send home next week’s lesson and the Parent Teaching Page for the children to complete with their families.
Find a coloring page to accompany “Allison and Kevin Listen” here.
Promise
Lesson Theme: Mary says yes to God.
This lesson includes cutting out Magi figures for the Nativity scene in next week’s lesson. You may simply wrap and tape them, or you may wish to wrap the figures around small paper or plastic cups. NOTE: Keep these Magi figures to bring out next week. You may want to have the children print their names on the back of their figures. If storage is a concern, you might wait until next week to tape them into standing figures.
If your class takes a two-week Christmas break, send next week’s lesson and the Magi figures home with the children. If you are back in session for the January 3 lesson (Epiphany), keep the Magi figures to use with that lesson.
Find a coloring page to accompany “What Will I Say?” here.
Good News
Lesson Theme: Mary says yes to God.
Bring a picture or statue of Mary to add to your prayer table for this lesson.
The story should be done in parts, using props and costumes if desired. Your class might plan to present it to another group of children or record it to share with families.
Venture
Lesson Theme: Mary says yes to God.
Send home lessons ahead of time or be in communication with your children and families about the upcoming class schedule, especially when you will resume in 2021.
Note that you will continue the discussion of vocation into the new year. Select one of the QR codes on the Catholic Leaders page and view the accompanying video together. You might also assign watching one or more of the videos as homework.
Visions
Lesson Theme: Mary says yes to God.
For this lesson, we suggest that you bring copies of the song “Mary, a Woman of Faith” for the Opening Prayer. At the end of the “I’ll Push You” article, the URL address is incorrect. Please visit illpushyou.com to view the video and find out more about the accessible pilgrimages.
NOTE: If you will not meet for Sundays 12/27 or 1/3, send home next week’s lesson and the Parent Teaching Page for the children to complete with their families.
DON’T FORGET to check out our Unit 2 Overview Webinars. You can find them in English and in Spanish here.
Image credit: Patrice THEBAULT/CIRIC
