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February is our shortest month, but some years, it can seem endless. Dreary skies and cold winter temperatures can have a negative effect on our moods and energy. But we are people of hope even in dark days and difficult times! Our daylight hours are slowly increasing each day. Winter will give way to spring. It always has, just as every night gives way to day. As people of faith, we take our cue from the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s suffering and Death being followed by his Resurrection. So chin up and persevere!
In his morning meditation on March 17, 2016, Pope Francis called on Christians to preserve our hope. In other words, we need to hold on to hope, which is a source of joy and peace. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
How will you be a person of hope today? How can the brightness of your smile and spirit help to turn another’s frown upside down or lift a gloomy spirit?
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to many online resources.
Videos of the Sunday Gospel (Luke 6:27–38)
Use these videos as you discuss the Sunday Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
Gospel Readings for Kids
Holy Heroes
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to love and forgive.
For this lesson, you will need a Church Year calendar, crayons (red, yellow and purple), story coloring page (one per child), and scissors. We recommend that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 in advance.
The children will create a booklet about friendship. We recommend that you prepare yours in advance and read it to the children before they make their own. Invite them to share about their friends in class and remind them to show the booklet to their families at home.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Weekly Gospel Video and Saint of the Week
Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to be kind.
Plan for this lesson by collecting this supplies: ruler, measuring cup, drawing paper, crayons, scissors, glue, envelopes, story coloring page (one per child), and a Church Year calendar.
One of the activities in this lesson involves the children printing the words of a Short Prayer of Love on drawing paper and decorating it. If your class time is limited, you might want to prepare papers with the words of the prayer in advance. The words of the prayer are: Jesus, I love you with my whole heart. Help me to . . .”
Start planning ahead! Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 2. Give some thought now to how you might involve your class in a Lenten project.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Weekly Gospel Video and Saint of the Week
Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus’ law is love and forgiveness.
You will want to prepare “Jesus Says” game statements in advance of this lesson. This game is based on Simon Says. Preparing the statements ahead of time will help you keep up a quick pace as you lead the game. Everything that Jesus says should be a good choice or action, such as Jesus says, “Say your prayers.” The others are bad choices, such as “Tell a lie.” The children can respond to the statements with a thumbs-up or thumbs-down gesture. Other options are to have the children stand up or step forward if they hear something Jesus says.
Start planning ahead! Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 2. Give some thought now to how you might involve your class in a Lenten project.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: Love your enemies.
This Sunday, we continue reading from Luke’s Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20–49). This Gospel message is a challenging one: Jesus calls us to love our enemies. Take time to discuss the injustices in our world and those that the children may be facing. How do we respond as Jesus asks?
Note that February is Black History Month in the United States, so the children likely will be reading about civil rights leaders. The story of Fannie Lou Hamer provides a good foundation for a discussion of this Sunday’s Gospel message of mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation in the face of injustice and hatred. Have Bibles available for the Our Catholic Faith activity on page 5. Read the GodTalk questions on page 8 and encourage the children to send any questions they may have to editor@pflaum.com.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
Fannie Lou Hamer
Visions
Lesson Theme: Love your enemies.
This Sunday, we continue reading from Luke’s Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20–49). This Gospel message is a challenging one: Jesus calls us to love our enemies. Take time to discuss the injustices in our world and those that the young people may face. How do we respond as Jesus asks?
Note that February is Black History Month in the United States, so the students likely will be reading about civil rights leaders. The story of Medgar Evers provides a good foundation for a discussion of this Sunday’s Gospel message of mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation in the face of injustice and hatred. Students will need scissors for the Gospel activity (pages 7–8).
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Medgar Evers – Civil Rights Activist
Prayer of Saint Francis
Image credit: Anastasiia Malinich/Shutterstock.com
