Last week, the students in Miss Elsa’s class celebrated the Presentation in the Temple, when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to be consecrated to God as was the Jewish custom at the time. Simeon and Anna had waited a very long time and recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophesies through the power of the Holy Spirit. Their openness to God’s plan offers a model for all who desire the fullness of God’s life. The students had fun making turtle doves from clay to take home as a reminder of this special event in the life of Christ. The older students explored the Parable of the True Vine and reflected on the relationship we have with Jesus and, through Jesus, with the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. The parable calls us to “remain” and “bear fruit” for the glory of God. We considered our closeness to all the branches of the True Vine and the remarkable connectedness we all share. Students examined actual grape vines of various varieties and then planted them in containers which were placed in the sunlit area on the top floor. We are excited to see how they grow!
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Last week, students discussed how the prophet Isaiah was called to bring the message of Christ’s arrival and promise of a new light. God invites us to share that light through acts of mercy, justice, and love. We reflected on the life of Desmond Tutu as an example of how each one of us can do our part to bring positive changes in the world. We then made prayer blankets that will be donated to a local shelter. "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." -Desmond Tutu “Because in the mystery of the Word made flesh, you have caused a new light to shine in our hearts, to give the knowledge of your glory in the face of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Book of Common Prayer, page 378) Last week, students reflected on the Baptism of Jesus and discussed the role of John the Baptist in announcing that the person he baptized in the River Jordan (his cousin) is the long-expected Messiah, a light to the nations. We took a close look at Calvary’s beautiful baptismal font and briefly introduced the sacramental rite of Baptism, which will be explored more in-depth in the coming spring. Students also discussed the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his vision for peace and light in the world. Making candles from sheets of beeswax was a fun and meaningful way to conclude the lesson. Last week, students learned about the meaning of Epiphany and reflected on some key points of this special event:
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