Father day gift basket idea

November 2

All Souls Day

Readings: Dn 12:1-3; Rom 6:3-4, 8-11; Jn 6:37-40

But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead others to justice shall be like the stars forever. (Dn 12:3)

However dark life may seem at times, our commitment to leading others to justice should be a sign of great hope to all.

Primary

1) Find a room in which turning out all of the lights will leave you in total darkness. Seat the children in the room and turn out the lights. Remain silent long enough for the children to begin to wonder where you are or what is going on. When you sense anxiety or restlessness, turn on a flashlight to reveal your whereabouts. Assure the children you will take care of them and lead them out of the dark room to safety.

2) Back in your classroom, explain that the early Christians often felt confused and anxious because Jesus had been crucified and they could no longer follow him directly. They needed their fellow Christians to bring them through the dark and often scary times, just as you did with one small flashlight. Have children illustrate ways they can each provide enough light (hope) to help others through dark days. Display illustrations.

Intermediate

1) The fall months are traditionally the season of death and dying in nature. Have students discuss how, although nature seems to progress toward death, this season also gives us hope. We know the natural world has not really died but is merely dormant and in the process of renewal. Have students research what happens to trees during this cycle or how snow and cold weather make the beauty of spring possible.

2) In groups of three or four, have students go through today's readings to find signs that the people of biblical times experienced both the sense of darkness we see in nature in the fall and the same kind of hope. Have them share their discoveries and reflect on the lessons we can all learn about looking for and being signs of hope for others.

Secondary

1) Daniel says "those who lead others to justice will shine like the stars forever." Have students examine the symbolism in this analogy and discuss the parallels implied.

2) Have students search the Internet for poems and songs that contain the apocalyptic themes found in today's readings. Take time to discuss what they find.

November 9

Dedication of St. John Lateran

Readings: Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Cor 3:9-11, 16-17; Jn 2:13-22

"Take these out of here and stop making my father's house a marketplace." (Jn 2:16)

The only time Jesus showed justifiable anger was when he saw the temple turned into a place of business.

Primary

1) Today the Church celebrates the dedication of the basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Holy Father in Rome. Find pictures of the basilica in magazines or online and show them to students. Help them to find Rome on a map or globe. Next, read the Gospel aloud, and ask them to explain why Jesus felt such anger in the temple.

2) Cover a bulletin board with white paper and draw the outline of the basilica. Have students draw their concept of the scene outside the temple as they perceive it from the reading.

Intermediate

1) Tell students that the celebration of the dedication of the basilica is not a celebration of a building or of architecture but of a symbol of the Church. Have each of them design a cathedral that would best represent the worldwide Church in this modern age. They can either draw or create a 3-D model.

2) Display their artwork, and have students explain their designs to the class.

Secondary

1) Jesus' display of anger allows us to explore the concept of justified anger and contrast it to uncontrolled anger that some people give into and act upon. Ask students to analyze the scene at the temple and to classify the things the people are doing that cause Jesus' reaction. They will find that Jesus considered their actions inappropriate and insulting to God.

2) Now have them identify current situations within the Church, their communities, their country, or the world that offend God and are, therefore, just causes for anger. Discuss how we can use justified anger to help eliminate these situations.

November 16

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: Dn 12:1-3; Heb 10:11-14, 18; Mk 13:24-32

Take a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. (Mk 13:29)

Christians are always looking for and aware of even the smallest signs of hope.

Primary

1) Since the signs of winter are already becoming evident, remind the children about what the first signs of spring look like. Ask them to bring in magazine pictures of things that remind them of spring (tulips, birds, baseball games, etc.) Display their pictures on a bulletin board.

2) Bring in small flowerpots for the students and fill them with potting soil. Provide seeds for the children to plant in their pots and allocate space on a windowsill. Allow time every day for the next few weeks for children to tend to and monitor the progress of the seeds. Explain to them that looking for the first signs of growth of the plants will be like looking for signs of hope and reminders that God is always with us.

Intermediate

1) Two weeks ago, students examined the natural processes that occur during the fall. Today's readings return to these apocalyptic themes by demonstrating that the light comes out of the darkness, but the darkness is very real while we experience it. Put students into small groups and ask them to create a short poem beginning with the line "Where are the leaves when the branches are bare?" Ask them to make their poem reflect what they know is going on in nature when all seems dead.

2) Once they have finished their poems and have shared them, assign another poem, this time beginning with the line "Where is God when wars are happening?" Ask them to make these poems reflect what their faith tells them, and have them share what they have written.

Secondary

1) Jesus says that heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will never pass away. Have students research disastrous events and their aftermaths in the last century, find out what happened, and discover how Jesus' words were still there at the end.

2) Secondary students often feel periods of darkness. Ask your students to reflect on one of these periods and write about the darkness and the signs of hope that helped them. Without revealing anything personal from their reflections, they might explain what kind of thing (e.g., a kind word, a letter from someone, a television program or movie) helped them find their way out of the darkness.

November 23

Solemnity of Christ the King

Readings: Dn 7;13-14; Rv 1:5-8; Jn 18:33-37

My kingdom does not belong to this world. (Jn 18:37)

If we are looking for glitter, gold, and power, we've lost sight of the Kingdom of God.

Primary

1) Help children prepare for the feast of Christ the King by having them make "Feast Day" cards for Jesus to celebrate his kingship. Tell them they can draw anything they want to show Jesus they honor him as king.

2) Display the cards or collect them in a basket which the children might present during the offertory of the Mass.

Intermediate

1) The Gospel story shows that no one accepted Jesus as king. Give students an opportunity to examine the passage carefully, then divide the class into two groups. Have the first group create a "job description" for a king, given what they know from fiction and from history, and have the second group create a "job description" for Jesus, given what they know about his life and work. When they have finished, have them debate whether or not Pilate, knowing what he knew, should have recognized that Jesus was a king.

2) As a follow-up, have students finish the sentence "I would (or would not) have recognized Jesus as a king" and then explain their reasons in a short paragraph. Ask for volunteers to share their paragraphs.

Secondary

1) Jesus tells Pilate that belonging to the truth is a prerequisite for listening to his voice. Have students discuss ways leaders today demonstrate that they belong to the truth and are listening to God's voice.

2) The idea of Jesus standing before Pilate without any of the trappings we associate with royalty must have frightened his followers. Jesus had nothing with which to argue his case or fight for himself other than the truth. Ask students to write about a time in their lives, or in the life of those they know or know about, when truth was their only means of defense.

November 30

1st Sunday of Advent

Readings: Jer 33:14-16; 1 Thes 3:12-4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36