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FROM OUR EDITORS—March 7, 2021 – 3rd Sunday of Lent

FROM OUR EDITORS—March 7, 2021 – 3rd Sunday of Lent

Para la versión en español, haga clic aquí.

How is your Lent going? Many people find Lent to be a good time to start or strengthen good habits. Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are practices that should not be limited to Lent. They are Christian practices to carry into the rest of the Church Year—and into the rest of our lives. We pray that you use this Lent to grow in personal virtue and holiness.

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 wants us to pray.

This lesson, we recommend having at least one aide to help the children with the cutting and pasting activity on pages 3–4. If you cannot find someone to help, or if you wish to save some time, you could cut off the strips on page 3 of the student lessons before class and use a paper clip to keep them together so you can distribute to the students during class. Make sure you finish your prayer booklet beforehand so you can show it to the children.

Find a coloring page to accompany “Mr. Nobody” here.

Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches that prayer is important.

This lesson’s cover activity engages the children in identifying what is out of place in the picture. Some things are silly while others are unloving. This activity connects with the Sunday Gospel in which Jesus reacts in anger to the buying and selling that is happening at the Temple.

The story “Owen Gets Mad” invites the children to identify anger as a feeling that it’s OK to feel but not a reason to hurt others. The story helps the children identify the need to say we’re sorry. It also prepares the children to hear about Jesus’ anger in the Gospel. Find a coloring page to accompany “Owen Gets Mad” here.

Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus calls us to be holy.

The story “We’re the Tigers” will help the children recognize that our actions—not a team jersey or color—will show to whom we belong. This concept comes up later in the lesson as the children are invited to connect a holy place with living a holy life. The Temple is identified as a place of prayer, and a holy life also includes prayer. The children will recognize that we show we’re on Jesus’ team by living holy lives and praying.

Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus is God’s temple.

The commandment covered this week is the Fifth Commandment: “You shall not kill.” Children (and adults) may think they get a pass on this one. We may think, “I’m not killing anyone. That’s easy to keep!” But this commandment challenges us to consider our view of human life and respect for every person. Invite the children to think about whether they’ve “killed someone” with their words, actions, or attitudes. This is a good opener to discuss how we can or should manage our anger and what happens when we allow our anger to manage us.

Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus is the real temple.

During this lesson, we continue the study of the Ten Commandments and the relationships that God had with the Israelites. After reading the Gospel about Jesus clearing the Temple, the young people will do an activity (pages 6–7) that will help them reflect on how they deal with anger. Make sure you give them enough time to create and act out an ending for their stories.

DON’T FORGET to check out our Unit 3 Overview Webinars. You can find them in English and in Spanish here. Unit 4 Overview Webinars will be posted soon.

 
Image credit: M.MIGLIORATO/CPP/CIRIC

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Our Editors


David Dziena
Publisher

David Dziena is the Publisher of Pflaum Publishing Group. He has also served as Executive Editor and […]

Joan McKamey
Project Editor

Joan McKamey, project editor, joined the Gospel Weeklies editorial team in September 2016. […]

Erika De Urquidi
Bilingual Editor

Erika De Urquidi, bilingual editor, joined Bayard, Inc. in July 2018. During her 15 years as a professional translator […]