Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Christmas pageant a joyful and memorable event! A special thanks to our friends from Tree of Life for participating and hosting another fantastic Hanukkah party. Peace and Love to all this Christmas Season!
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Last Sunday, Miss Elsa's class learned about the Annunciation. The students discussed several key points, noting that nothing is impossible for God and exploring the profound idea that God desired so much to be with us that he became human. The lesson highlighted Mary's response to God's invitation as a model for us in responding to the Holy Spirit in our lives. The direct aim was to lift up Jesus as both human and divine, while indirect aims included preparing for Christmas, continuing the celebration of Advent, nurturing prayer language, and fostering a sense of wonder and awe. The students also enjoyed a craft activity in which they created upcycled Christmas cards for people in the hospital during the holidays, tying the lesson to a practical expression of love and compassion. “Upcycled" is the process of giving new life to old or unused items rather than simply recycling them. Upcycled Christmas cards not only contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing waste but also offer a creative and artistic way to celebrate the holiday season. The cards were delivered earlier this week and were very much appreciated. Bright smiles and big thanks were given along with reciprocal wishes for a blessed holiday season! The older Faith Formation group discussed the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. We marveled at the joy shared between these two mothers then extended the lesson to Mary's powerful Magnificat, extracting meaningful phrases and contemplating the depth of her words. We also discussed how Elizabeth’s baby, John, would grow up to help prepare the way for Jesus, baptizing Him in River Jordan.
This lesson not only enriched our preparation for the Christmas celebration and the upcoming pageant, but also nurtured a deep sense of wonder, awe, and a personal relationship with God. This past Sunday, Miss Elsa's class learned about prophecies. During the lesson, the changing liturgical colors, the significance of the Advent wreath, and the anticipation of Jesus' birth were discussed. The lesson highlighted the lives of prophets who, residing in the Land of Israel before Jesus, foretold the coming of someone special—communicating God's message through deep listening. The reading of scripture, accompanied by the lighting of the first Advent candle, prompted reflective questions about waiting, darkness, and the nature of the light described by Isaiah. The children actively engaged in contemplating these questions, pondering whether Isaiah referred to sunlight or a different kind of light, ultimately identifying Jesus as the awaited Light. Students also crafted tissue paper stained glass "windows," fostering a connection between the architecture of the church, the theme of light, and God's everlasting goodness. The older students also discussed The Promise of a Savior in Isaiah 9:6-7, and Micah 5:2 then lit the first candle of the advent wreath with an accompanying prayer for “Hope”. We spent the remainder of the class discussing the Christmas pageant and the significance of each person’s part in the story of Christ’s birth. God of hope, we light this candle as we prepare for the coming of your Son. Awaken our hearts to you this Advent season, so that when Christ arrives, we are ready to receive him with all our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength. Amen
This week in Faith Formation, the students engaged in a lesson centered around the theme of Gratitude and Thanksgiving, focusing on blessings that are often taken for granted. Inspired by the book "Thankful" by Eileen Spinelli, the students explored the concept of appreciating essential workers and the people in their everyday lives. The class also enjoyed creating Gratitude Jars, and then wrote or drew things they were thankful for on slips of paper. During a circle discussion, they shared one thing they put in their jars and expressed why they were thankful for it. Everyone was encouraged to continue adding to their Gratitude Jars at home, sharing their reflections during Thanksgiving dinner with their families. Thanksgiving
For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything thy goodness sends. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Last week, the students’ focus was on the theme "Spreading God's Love: World Peace through Random Acts of Kindness." The objective was to help children understand the concept of world peace and emphasize how simple acts of kindness can contribute to making the world a better place. Miss Elsa's class discussed simple things, such as sharing toys, helping a friend, or saying kind words, then created a craft to reinforce the lesson. The older group discussed the Starfish story, emphasizing the value of helping, even if on a small scale. The students brainstormed ways that they could each make a small difference through random acts of kindness then made ribbons and buttons expressing sentiments of hope and peace. In addition, they presented white awareness ribbons to the adult formation groups, explaining their significance and distributing them at the conclusion of the class. Last week, Miss Elsa’s class discussed All Saints’ day as a time to commemorate the generations of men and women who have faithfully served God and the Church throughout history, as well as those who continue to be witnesses to Christ in the world today. The concept of saints being found in all walks of life was emphasized. Children were encouraged to think about saints whose stories are found in the Bible and other books, whether they are famous or not. The class also talked about the special vestments worn by the priest on feast days and enjoyed seeing the miniature chasubles, each in a different liturgical color. The lesson concluded with a prayer, thanking God for all the saints and expressing gratitude for His love and care. The older group was led by Deacon Geoffrey who began with a discussion about All Saints’ Day and invited students to share their thoughts on people they admire in their lives and then discussed known saints. Geoffrey explained that the saints serve as examples of living according to these principles, showcasing what it means to have God in our midst and live a life aligned with the Beatitudes. The class also visited the All Saints’ Chapel, where various saints are depicted in stained glass and on embroidered chairs, providing visual representations for discussion. Geoffrey showed us the beautiful candle stand which he made by hand, and discussed the idea that human creativity is a reflection of the divine and a way to participate in God's generative process. The lesson concluded with the lighting of a candle and a moment of reflection and prayer. Thank you, Deacon Geoffrey, for sharing your time and wisdom with us! This past week, Miss Elsa’s class focused on the Land of Israel and learned about the significance of Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem in the life of Jesus, emphasizing that great things come from seemingly small places. The lesson included a globe and a puzzle map to visually represent these locations and engage the students in understanding the physical places associated with Jesus' life events. The key doctrinal point is that Jesus was a real historical figure, born in Bethlehem, conceived by the Holy Spirit in Nazareth, and crucified and resurrected in Jerusalem. Students enjoyed making salt dough in preparation for creating a topographical map of Israel in their next lesson. The older students discussed the concept of stewardship and caring for God's creation. We reflected on how everything in the universe is interconnected, and each of us has a unique and special place within it. Stewardship, defined as the responsibility of supervising or taking care of something, was a central theme. We began with an opening prayer that emphasized recognizing the dignity of all creatures and the importance of caring for the planet. The prayer expressed gratitude for the diversity of God's creation and the need for humility, justice, and love in our approach to caring for the Earth. We also watched videos highlighting examples of creation care, including sustainable agriculture (aquaponics), sustainable forestry, eating local, and upcycling. Additionally, we checked on the progress of our own aquaponics project--the fish are thriving and the seeds have sprouted! Holy God, your mercy is over all your works, and in the web of life each creature has its role and place. We praise you for ocelot and owl, cactus and kelp, lichen and whale; we honor you for whirlwind and lava, tide and topsoil, cliff and marsh. Give us hearts and minds eager to care for your planet, humility to recognize all creatures as your beloved ones, justice to share the resources of the earth with all its inhabitants, and love not limited by our ignorance. This we pray in the name of Jesus, who unifies what is far off and what is near, and in whom, by grace and the working of your Holy Spirit, all things hold together. Amen Last week, the younger group discussed our place in the universe, reflecting on the vastness of God’s creation and our unique and particular role in His plan. It was especially interesting to see an actual photo of the universe as related to where we live right now. Flip through the slides below. Later, we practiced “making a silence”, an exercise that invites children to quiet their minds and foster a sense of inner peace. We live in a noisy world, filled with so many sounds that can drain us emotionally and spiritually. Many of us rarely have the opportunity to experience silence or to savor the quieter sounds of nature around us. During this lesson, children are guided by the teacher to become very still and quiet for a given amount of time. Knowing it’s a challenge (“It takes great strength to make a silence!”), children find this game fun and get a great sense of satisfaction when the entire room is perfectly still. Students also enjoyed some practical life activities, such as silver polishing and grating cinnamon. In the atrium, these activities provide hands-on, concrete experiences that develop practical skills, and nurture concentration and reflection. The older students continued work on the aquaponics project, planting seeds and observing the fish. We also packaged and labeled the dog biscuits which are ready to sell at the Calvary Bazaar!
Last week, Miss Elsa’s class learned about the liturgical calendar and the significance of the colors. Liturgical colors and the liturgical calendar are important in our faith because they help us understand and celebrate the different seasons of the Church year. We use different colors like purple, white, green, red, and more to help us feel and remember the meaning of each time in the Church calendar. For example, we use purple during Advent and Lent to remind us to prepare and reflect. White (or Gold) is for times of celebration, like Christmas and Easter, signifying joy and purity. Green represents ordinary time when we learn more about Jesus' teachings. These colors help us connect with God's story in a colorful way, guiding us through the seasons of our faith, just like how nature changes throughout the year. We spent time working with the liturgical calendar puzzle and then reflected on the colors of the fall season and how the beauty of creation reminds us of God’s infinite love. The older group began with a discussion about God as our maker, the One who has created the whole universe in order to love it all. We then reflected on how each and everyone one of us is unique--there’s never been anyone like you in God’s whole creation! Fingerprinting was a fun and tangible way to emphasize this point. We also began working on our aquaponics project, a fascinating reminder of the splendor and interconnectedness of all life. Almighty God, thank you for making the whole universe and us. May we feel your love in our whole being and know in our minds and hearts that we are created by love and for love. Amen.
Last week, students reflected on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, emphasizing his deep affection for all of God's creations. Even the birds were drawn to him, eager to listen to his messages of love. The younger group created bird treats designed to be hung on tree branches. They also discussed ways to promote mutual care for one another, as well as for animals and the environment. The older students discussed saints as “the lights of the world in every generation,” people whose lives and deeds have shone brightly and helped others more closely follow God. There are saints who lived long ago and there are saints living and working in the world today, saints who are known by the church and saints who are known only to God. We say that the church—we—are part of the Communion of Saints, the company of all faithful people, connected through our baptism to those Christians who have died, those who are alive now, and those who haven’t yet been born. In the Episcopal Church we have a Calendar of Saints, holy men and women we remember in prayer and with readings from the Bible on their feast day. We spent the remainder of the time in the kitchen making dog biscuits to sell at the Calvary Bazaar at the end of the month. Thank you to Miss. Adele for leading this activity! When we are with children between the ages of three and six, we are really with persons in a different world. Children live in a different religious world. The way they live their relationship with God is quite different than ours. All of us know, for instance, that it is not possible to speak with a child of three about God as we would with an adult, and this can make things difficult for us. Let us pause a while and step into their world.
One special feature of the religious life of children is the joy they are capable of when they are helped to draw near to God. They feel a particular kind of joy. Many things make children happy, but there are different qualities of happiness. There is a kind of happiness that is more a state of “emotional excitement” and often leads to nervousness, fatigue, and irritability. The happiness they feel when they come close to God is a quality of joy that makes them peaceful, relaxed, as if something very deep has been struck in their heart and they go on listening to this sound in the depths of their heart. It is like the response of someone who has found a life-giving place and, having found it, does not want to leave. It is the kind of joy that involves children completely. After some children and I had prayed for a rather long time together, a little girl, Stefania, said, “My body is happy.” It was as if she felt a physical joy in being with God. Children are totally involved in what they live. There is nothing left out when they pray or they hear the words of God. There is always a response of this kind of joy when children listen to the Good Shepherd parable. They give the impression of being so comfortable with the Good Shepherd. The ease and spontaneity of young children’s religious expressions and feelings spring from the depth of their hearts, as if it were completely natural to them. These joyful responses are very significant since nothing is more gratifying than the satisfaction of a vital need. They tell us that religious formation is not something we impose. The religious experience is so deep and the serenity it gives is so great that it responds to a vital need in the child. When we help the child to encounter God we are responding to the child’s unspoken request: “Help me to come close to God. Help me to be fully who I am.” Cavalletti, Sofia. The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey, Revised and Updated (pp. 22-23). © The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Inc. 2023 We are delighted to have a newly arranged, dedicated space for our children’s faith formation program this year! This space, called an atrium, is part of our Montessori-based children’s faith formation program called Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS). CGS is centered on the concept that God is present in a child’s deepest being and that God and the child are already in a unique and loving relationship. With hands-on materials, sacred stories, and the guidance of loving catechists, our children have the opportunity to develop a profound relationship with God at their own pace and in a way that speaks directly to their young hearts. The word “atrium” typically refers to a “portico, or porch entrance to a large house.” In the ancient church, the Atrium was a gathering place where those preparing to enter the Church would receive instruction. The Atrium has a similar purpose for our children as it is a place to help them enter into the life of God and the Church. The CGS Atrium contains materials for hands-on learning which are simple and beautiful such as dioramas, small figures of biblical people, and geography materials such as the map of Israel and the City of Jerusalem. It is purposely structured not as a classroom, but a place in which the spiritual life can be lived. How You Can HelpWe are continually adding to and improving our Atrium at Calvary. If you are interested in sourcing and creating materials (e.g. sewing, wood working, painting etc) or helping as a catechist or volunteer, please contact Vicki at vrispoli@calvarypgh.org or (210) 315-2704. To learn more about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) visit http://www.cgsusa.org/
What a gift to begin again! It has been wonderful to see everyone back at Faith Formation. Miss Elsa's class listened to the Parable of the Good Shepherd and discussed key points, such as Jesus' deep love and care for each one of us, His willingness to protect and sacrifice for us, and how we, as His sheep, recognize His voice and follow Him. The lesson also emphasized the unity we will experience in His sheepfold and how the love within the Holy Trinity serves as the foundation for the Good Shepherd's love for us. The older group discussed the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, and reflected on the conventional artistic depictions of angels across different cultures. We also spent some time outside, enjoying the beautiful fall day in the garden. We’re excited for another great year of learning and growing together! It's amazing to see how much our garden has grown--harvest time will be here soon! "The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything. God is the ground, the substance, the teaching, the teacher, the purpose, and the reward for which every soul labors." ~Julian of Norwich We generally think of prayer as something we read, say, or listen to. But prayer can also be a visual experience. Art can provide an alternative and powerful avenue for children to express their emotions, explore their spirituality, and deepen their connection to something greater than themselves. Here are some ideas for helping children experience art as a form of prayer.
The splendor of summer is finally here! What better time to take a step back and ponder the majesty of creation? Wonder opens the door to a deeper connection with the divine and allows children to explore the beauty and mystery of the world around them. Here are some ideas on how to foster a sense of wonder:
“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement… get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.” —Abraham Joshua Heschel Last Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost. We discussed the dramatic events of this day when Jesus fulfilled his promise to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples and all who believe. Key points: – 40 days after the resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven (which we celebrate on Ascension Day) – Before ascending, Jesus promised that he would not leave us “comfortless” but send the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us. – Ten days later, on the Day of Pentecost, Holy Spirit descended on the people gathered. (Pentecost is an ancient Jewish festival of the harvest, the name of which translates from the Hebrew as The Festival of Weeks). -On the Day of Pentecost, the clergy wear red vestments to signify the work of the Spirit. We wear red to remind us of the power and fire of the spirit. After our lesson, we headed to the Swan Garden, where we released 3000 bright red ladybugs, followed by a blessing of our garden. It was a wonderful way to conclude the Easter Season and a fantastic year of Faith Formation! The Holy Spirit in our Lives As we enter the summer months, how will we live well in light of the great gift we have been given through the Holy Spirit? How could we continue transforming ourselves and responding to that gift by assisting the growth of the Kingdom of God around us? Some ideas to consider: • Tune your ear to references to the Holy Spirit in Scripture passages and the prayers of the liturgy. • Do research the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and then choose one gift each week, asking the Holy Spirit to stir up that gift within you, which might help us live as Christ in the world. • Think of one way you and your family could live in service of others each month in the summer and then prepare by taking time together as a family to ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in your work. A Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. The English translation of the Prayer to the Holy Spirit from A Book of Prayers © 1982, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL). Last Sunday, the students in all Faith Formation levels celebrated the Liturgy of the Light. For those of you who have attended an Easter Vigil celebration, you may recall that the Liturgy of the Light is how the Vigil service begins: with the blessing and lighting of the new Paschal Candle, the proclamation of the Exultet, and lighting of individual candles from the Paschal Candle. The Liturgy of the Light with children allows them to fully participate in this beautiful celebration in a way that is meaningful to them. In our classrooms, we have a model Paschal Candle that was prepared by the older students earlier in the season. It shows the Alpha and the Omega, the cross, and the year. After gathering for a brief discussion of the service, Father Neil lit the candle and led a procession from the classrooms into the Refectory. He chanted portions of the Exultet and then read a scripture account of the Resurrection. Each child was then invited to light their individual candles from the Paschal candle. Together, we reflected on the gift of the Light of Christ for each of us. Alleluia! Last week, Miss Elsa's class talked about the goodness of God in creation. After reading the book, Let There Be Light by Desmond Tutu; we continued discussing the life cycle of a butterfly. Is it possible that God made butterflies to teach us lessons about life? We are all a work in progress and we have to go through a caterpillar stage before we can be transformed into a beautiful butterfly. The caterpillar might not look like much now, but when God gets done with it, it will become a creature of awesome beauty. We were delighted to discover that the caterpillars we'd observed in the classroom had become beautiful butterflies! We spent time watching each one before releasing them into the Swan Garden. The class also made special butterfly-themed Mother's Day cards and enjoyed time on the playground in the bright rays of the warm spring sunshine. Great news! Our application to the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh for the maintenance of a vegetable garden has been approved. The Social Justice and Outreach (SJO) Committee has voted to award Calvary Episcopal Church the amount of $500 to be used in the 2023 fiscal year. We are grateful for this gift which will enable us to continue learning and growing together throughout the season. We had a wonderful time working in the raised-bed gardens. We are excited to watch our seedlings grow and produce vegetables to harvest in the fall! “The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all, our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.” Wendell Berry |
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