Christ Our Life We Believe PARISH EDITION Catechist’s Guide ® GRADE 3 SAMPLE
www.christourlife.com 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 VTL 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Imprimatur In accordance with c. 827, permission to publish is granted on October 17, 2022, by Most Reverend Robert G. Casey, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Permission to publish is an official declaration of ecclesiastical authority that the material is free from doctrinal and moral error. No legal responsibility is assumed by the grant of this permission. In Conformity The Subcommittee on the Catechism, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has found the doctrinal content of this manual, copyright 2024, to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Acknowledgments Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, Revised Edition, copyright © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Order of Penance Copyright © 2023 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America copyright © 1994 United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the Directory for Catechesis. Copyright ©2020 Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. All rights reserved. The Act of Faith, Hope, and Love is from A Book of Prayers. Copyright © 1982 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL). All rights reserved. The prayers Sign of the Cross/Signum Crucis, Glory Be to the Father/ Gloria Patri, Lord’s Prayer/Pater Noster, Hail Mary/Ave Maria, Act of Contrition, Angelus, and Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina) come from the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. English translation copyright © 2006, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. Exclusive licensee in the United States is the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The prayers Grace Before Meals, Grace After Meals, and Prayer to One’s Guardian Angel come from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Copyright © 2006, U.S. Conference Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved. Loyola Press has made every effort to locate the copyright holders for the cited works used in this publication and to make full acknowledgment for their use. In the case of any omissions, the publisher will be pleased to make suitable acknowledgments in future editions. 978-0-8294-5296-9 Copyright © 2024 Loyola Press All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. Manufactured in China Art Credits Cover art: Chiara Fedele i Chiara Fedele. iv(t) Vivian Imbruglia/Iconographer; (b) kookookoo/ iStock/Getty Images. vi ajt/iStock/Getty Images. OV-3(t) Davyd Volkov/iStock/Getty Images; (b) FatCamera/iStock/Getty Images; SDI Productions/E+/Getty Images. OV-8 monkeybusinessimages/iStock/ Getty Images. OV-10(t) AzLa/Shutterstock.com; (b) jhuting/iStock/ Getty Images. OV-12 JGI/Jamie Grill/Tetra images/Getty Images. OV-14 Capelle.r/Moment/Getty Images. OV-15(t)) Johner Images/ Johner RF/Getty Images; (b) Warling Studios. OV-16 Nongkran_ ch/iStock/Getty Images. OV-18 mxtama/iStock/Getty Images. OV-21 colematt/iStock/Getty Images. OV-23 Cultura Creative RF/Alamy Stock Photo. OV-30 Anna Khomenko/iStock/Getty Images. OV-33 and2DesignInc/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images. OV-36 (left to right, top to bottom) Loyola Press; bubaone/ DigitalVision/Getty Images; Loyola Press; Shams Suleymanova/ iStock/Getty Images; bortonia/DigitalVision/Getty Images; appleuzr/DigitalVision/Getty Images; bortonia/DigitalVision/ Getty Images; TotemArt/Shutterstock.com; Nadiinko/iStock/Getty Images. OV-37 elenabsl/Shutterstock.com. OV-39 Warling Studios. OV-40 adriaticfoto/Shutterstock.com. OV-41 FatCamera/E+/Getty Images. OV-42 Warling Studios. OV-43(t) Phil Martin Photography; (b) Loyola Press. OV-44 Ariel Skelley/DigitalVision/Getty Images. OV-45 amtitus/DigitalVision/Getty Images. Continued on page T389. SAMPLE
v Contents Digital Resources Easily access the robust digital resources included with Christ Our Life by visiting digitallibrary.loyolapress.com. Contact your administrator for your login credentials. God Calls Us to Faith T1 Chapter 1 God Calls Us. . . . . . . . . .T2 Chapter 2 God Gives Us Gifts . . . . . . .T12 Chapter 3 We Are God’s Holy People. . . . T22 Chapter 4 God Called Mary. . . . . . . .T32 Chapter 5 Jesus Calls Us to Follow. . . . .T42 UNIT 1 God Is Great and Good T53 Chapter 6 We Believe in God . . . . . . T54 Chapter 7 God Is Powerful and Loving. . . .T68 Chapter 8 God Is Holy and Great. . . . . .T78 Chapter 9 God Is Just and Merciful. . . . .T90 God’s Plan Is a Plan of Love T101 Chapter 10 God Created People to Share HisLife.. . . . . . . . . T102 Chapter 11 God Sent His Son, Jesus, to Live Among Us. . . . . . . T112 Chapter 12 Jesus Revealed the Kingdom ofGod.. . . . . . . . . .T122 Chapter 13 Jesus Came to Give Life. . . . T132 Chapter 14 God’s Kingdom Is a Kingdom ofLove.. . . . . . . . . .T142 Jesus Brings Us to the Kingdom of God T153 Chapter 15 Jesus Suffered and Died for Us. .T154 Chapter 16 Jesus Is Risen . . . . . . . .T164 Chapter 17 Jesus Christ Is Lord and King. . .T176 Chapter 18 Jesus Gives the Spirit to the Church. . . . . . . . . T186 Chapter 19 We Belong to the Kingdom. . . T196 UNIT 2 UNIT 3 UNIT 4 Program Overview . . . . . . . OV-1 Welcome OV-1 Program Overview OV-2 Spiral Curriculum OV-23 Scope and Sequence OV-24 Media at a Glance OV-30 The Catechist’s Handbook . . . OV-31 The Vocation of a Catechist OV-31 The Role of the Catechist OV-32 Knowledge and Skills of a Catechist OV-34 Inclusion: Diverse Learners OV-39 Multicultural Awareness OV-44 Profile of a Third Grader OV-45 SAMPLE
vi What Catholics Should Know T339 Prayer and How We Pray T341 Prayers We Pray as Catholics T343 The Rosary T347 Mysteries of the Rosary T349 Stations of the Cross T350 Celebrating Our Faith T351 Living Our Faith T355 Showing Our Love for the World T360 The Bible and You T362 Student Book Cover Prayers T363 Saints and Feast Days T365 Calendar of Saints and Feast Days T365 September T366 October T367 November and December T368 January and February T369 March and April T370 May and June T371 July and August T372 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . T373 Index..............T381 Scripture Index . . . . . . . . . . T387 Jesus Is with Us on Our Way T209 Chapter 20 God Shares the Wondrous LifeofGrace. . . . . . . . T210 Chapter 21 The Holy Spirit Lives Within Us. .T220 Chapter 22 God Blesses Contrite Hearts. . .T230 Chapter 23 God Forgives Us. . . . . . . T240 Chapter 24 God’s Family Celebrates the Eucharist. . . . . . . . T250 Chapter 25 The Eucharist Is a Gift. . . . . . . . .T260 Special Seasons and Lessons T273 The Year in Our Church T275 1 All Saints and All Souls T276 2 Advent T281 3 Christmas T287 4 Lent T291 5 Holy Week T297 6 Easter T302 7 Pentecost T307 8 The Archangels T312 9 Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque T316 10 Thanksgiving T320 11 The Immaculate Conception T324 12 Spread the Good News T328 13 We Prepare a Class Mass T334 UNIT 5 SAMPLE
UNIT 1 God Calls Us to Faith Goals • Children will describe how they are called to be God’s holy people. • They will express ways that they desire to live like Jesus. 1 God Calls Us God calls each of us to take part in the plan of salvation. He promises to help and bless us if we respond with trust in him. In this chapter, children learn that Abraham and Ruth are models of fidelity to God’s call. They learn that faith means a willingness to do what God asks, knowing that God always brings us to a fuller, richer life. 2 God Gives Us Gifts Each person fulfills God’s plan in a different way. God gives us the gifts and talents we need to do this. In this chapter, children learn that God expects us to be responsible for our gifts. We should develop them to the best of our ability and use them to improve ourselves, help others, and praise and glorify God. Children meet David, who used his gifts this way. 3 We Are God’s Holy People God calls us to be a holy people and gives us his Son to be our way, our truth, and our life. In this chapter, children learn that Jesus shows us how to live a holy life and teaches us the way to the Father. Through his Church and the saints, God continues to guide us. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened and brought closer to God as God’s holy people. 4 God Called Mary At the Annunciation, God asked Mary to be the mother of his Son, Jesus. By saying yes, she became the Mother of God, our spiritual Mother, and the Mother of the Church. In this chapter, children learn from Mary’s example to answer God’s call willingly and promptly. They receive an introduction to praying the Rosary and to the Joyful Mysteries. 5 Jesus Calls Us to Follow True disciples of Jesus listen to his Word and walk in his way. In this chapter, children hear how Jesus called the Apostles, the disciples, and Saul, who became the apostle Paul. Children learn that Jesus calls them too—to follow his way of love and share in his mission of leading all people to God. Media in This Unit When preparing to teach the unit, determine how you will use the media. Media that enhances each chapter can be accessed by scanning the QR codes found on the student pages. All media resources are available to you through the LP Digital Library (digitallibrary.loyolapress.com). Contact your administrator for your login credentials. T1 SAMPLE
CHAPTER 1 God Calls Us Listening I have called you by name: you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 The Lord said to Abram: Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:1–2 Reflecting God is always calling each of us to himself. Every moment of our lives is an opportunity to respond to God’s gift of himself and to answer his call. God calls us in many different ways, even in the most ordinary situations. Each call is both an election and a promise. It is an election to specific work in his plan of salvation and a promise of his help and blessing if we have faith in him. However we receive it, each call contains a personal challenge directed to the deepest level of our sense of moral responsibility. God awaits our response, for although God is the Lord, the events of history depend upon people’s response to his call. Abraham and Ruth are models of fidelity to God’s call. Abraham responded with faith to God’s direct call; Ruth responded to his indirect call through the needs of her mother-inlaw, Naomi. Both Abraham and Ruth received the gift of faith. Both were blessed in many other ways—especially by progeny who were direct ancestors of Jesus. Faith Focus We are called to believe in God and do what God asks. Reflecting on the Faith Experience Take a few moments to reflect prayerfully before preparing the lesson. Responding Holy Spirit, strengthen the children’s faith and mine! Scripture for Further Reflection Genesis 12, 17, 21, 22 Abraham responded to God’s call to leave behind the security of his possessions and homeland to experience the wonder of God’s life-giving love. Leviticus 26:1–13 God promises to bless those who obey his Law. Like our ancestors in faith, we too are called to holiness, to sanctity. For I, the Lord, am your God. You shall make and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy. Leviticus 11:44 Through grace, we have been made God’s in Baptism and so share in God’s divine nature. We have been sanctified. However, we are called to live the new life we have received and to bring it to perfection in all that we do. To encourage us, God says: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through waters, I will be with you; through rivers, you shall not be swept away. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, nor will flames consume you. For I, the Lord, am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior. Isaiah 43:1–3 How do my actions testify that I am a Christian living according to the Holy Spirit I received at Baptism? T2 Unit 1 God Calls Us to Faith SAMPLE
Preparing for the Faith Experience Directory for Catechesis #81, 86, 173. All Christians are called to respond to the gift of God through prayer, participation in the liturgy, and a commitment to justice and peace. Directory for Catechesis #224. The Gospel is intended to speak to each of us as a unique, individual being. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church #39–#42. (Second Vatican Council) God calls everyone to holiness of life and gives each person all that he or she needs to answer that call with devotion. The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible #28. (Pontifical Biblical Commission) In choosing Abraham, God revealed his plan for blessing all the people on earth. 5. A bulletin board or mobile displaying the names of the children makes a good introductory device. 6. Faith is a special gift that God bestows on us in Baptism. Through faith, we are able to transcend our own ideas of what is good for us and trust confidently in God’s promise to bring us ever closer to him and to one another. In this chapter, children learn how God called Abram to forsake home and country. When Abram responded in faith, God gave him the new name Abraham and made him the father of many nations. Media in This Chapter Determine in advance if you will have children experience the media during class or at home. This media can be accessed by scanning the QR code with a web-enabled smartphone or tablet. Families in Mission Send home the Families in Mission pages after teaching the chapter so that families can further explore the teaching, grow in faith, and be inspired to go forth as missionary disciples. Enriching the Faith Experience Use the activities at the end of the chapter to enrich a lesson or to replace an activity with one that better meets the needs of your class. 7. The story of Ruth is a heartening affirmation of family life and loyalty. Ruth left her home and country to go with Naomi and be her support in old age. For her kindness, God blessed Ruth with the gifts of faith, a fine husband, and a child who would be the grandfather of King David—of whose family line the Savior would be born. 8. This chapter offers the opportunity to assemble and use the Gifted with Faith Scripture prayer booklets found in the Lesson Pullouts that begin on page 285 of the Student Book. You may either prepare them before class or have children assemble them during class. Scripture in This Chapter Isaiah 43:1 God Calls Us by Name Psalm 100:3 We Belong to God Leviticus 26:12 Knowing God Genesis 15:5; 17:5,15–16 God’s Promises to Abraham Ruth 1:16 Ruth’s Response from Faith Psalm 56:10,12 A Song Expressing Faith Mark 16:15 Jesus’ Call to the Apostles Catholic Social Teaching Family and Community Solidarity Church Documents Catechism of the Catholic Church. The themes in this chapter correspond to the following paragraphs: 144–146, 2156–2159, 2653. Before You Begin 1. Determine whether the media will be experienced in class or at home. 2. Download from the LP Digital Library Reproducible 1a, Three Families of Faith and Reproducible 1b, Chapter 1 Quiz. 3. We all like to be called by our names. It makes us feel that we are unique and important. When you distribute the children’s books, say each child’s name as you give that child his or her book. 4. You may wish to put together a list of the children’s names and what they mean. You can use a book or the internet to look up the history and meaning of each name. God Calls Us Chapter 1 T3 Inclusion Scan the QR code for Inclusion articles or access them from the LP Digital Library. SAMPLE
Get-Ready Guide Steps Learning Outcomes Children will be able to Action Plan Materials Centering 5–10 minutes Pages 1–2 • describe how God calls and speaks to us. Welcome the children, engaging in an activity about being called by name. Distribute the books. We Believe books, one for each child Large stars cut out from white cardstock, one for each child Crayons or markers Sharing 30–45 minutes Pages 1–7 • state that God calls us by name. • identify the families of faith to which we belong. • explain how God called Abraham and Ruth by name and how God calls us. • describe how we can respond to God’s call to faith. • define the Word to Know. Bible See the Glossary for definition. PAGE 1 • Read the Scripture on the unit opener page and discuss the pictures. Then read Isaiah 43:1 from the Bible. Explain that the Bible is made up of books and tell who Isaiah was. • OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. (T5) PAGE 2 • Explain to children that for each unit, they will bring home a letter to their families that shares what they will be learning. PAGE 3 • Read God Calls Us by Name and discuss how we feel when people know our names. • OPTION Have children dramatize how calling others by their names shows love. (T6) PAGE 4 • Read We Are Family and discuss the different families to which we belong. • Read and discuss God Speaks to Us in the Bible. • Complete the activity A Message from God. PAGE 5 • Read and discuss God Called Abram to Believe and God Gives the Gift of Faith. • OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. (T8) PAGE 6 • Read and discuss God Called Ruth to Believe. PAGE 7 • Read and discuss God Calls You to Believe. • Pray A Moment with Jesus. • Complete the activities Teachers and A Picture from Your Life. • OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. (T10) OPTION Device with internet access Bible bookmarked to Isaiah 43:1 Acting 5–10 minutes Page 8 • demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts in this chapter. PAGE 8 • Have children complete the Chapter Review and take the page home to share with their families. • Administer the Chapter 1 Quiz on Reproducible 1b. Reproducible 1b Families IN MISSION Remind children to take home pages 9–10 to share what they are learning with their families. T4 Unit 1 God Calls Us to Faith SAMPLE
UNIT 1 I have called you by name: you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 God Calls Us to Faith 1 Centering 1. Do a welcoming activity with children. • As children enter, welcome them. Give each child a star and have the child write his or her name on it. • Have them bring their stars with their names to you. • Mix up the stars and have children pick a star. Tell them to find the person whose name is on the star, greet him or her, give that person the star with his or her own name, and introduce themselves. • After children have returned to their seats, they should have their own star at their desk. Ask them to place it so you can see it. Call each child’s name in an inviting, welcoming manner. 2. Distribute the books. • Our names are important to God too. Today you will receive a book that will help you understand why. • Call each child by name as you hand him or her a book. Tell children that their books will help them understand God’s call and respond to it. Allow a few minutes for everyone to look through the books. • Encourage children to write their names on the inside front covers of their books. • What is the title of your book? (Christ Our Life: We Believe) This book explains how God calls us by our names to follow him on the way to true happiness. Sharing 1. Introduce names, faith, and belonging. • Have children turn to page 1. • Invite a child to read aloud the unit title, God Calls Us to Faith. • Invite volunteers to identify what is shown in the three pictures. (The pictures show Christ on the cross, a stained-glass window in a church, and a baby being baptized.) • Call on a volunteer to read aloud the Scripture from Isaiah. • Look at the line below the Scripture. Does anyone know what that means? (It is the citation. The Scripture verse is from the Book of Isaiah, chapter 43, verse 1.) • This is a passage from the Bible—from Scripture. The Bible is made up of parts, or books. This is from the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet—one who passed along messages from God to his people. 2. Direct children to the QR code at the bottom of page 1. Explain that you will be inviting them to access media behind the code, whether it be in class via computer or tablet or at home via smartphone, computer, or tablet. A Letter Home At the beginning of the unit, have children tear out page 2 and bring it home or send the entire Student Book home. Ask children to read this letter with their parents and use the QR code found on the page to experience and discuss the media before your next class meeting. A Letter Home Dear Parents and Family, Welcome! This year and this program present a wonderful opportunity for you to embark with your child on a discovery of what Catholics believe. When you engage with your child’s studies at home, you make this learning relevant for your child and show how it is important in your own life. The third-grade book in the Christ Our Life series presents the main truths of Catholicism as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed. Children study God as he is revealed through Scripture in creation, in his interaction with his Chosen People, and in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. They see that they are called to be part of God’s holy people in the community of the Church. Children meet Abraham, Ruth, and King David—all models of faithfulness to God’s call. Their stories remind children that they, too, are called by God to be his holy people, having a part in Jesus’ mission of leading all people to God the Father. Children learn that Abraham and Ruth were holy people who said yes to God even when what he asked of them was challenging. As children learn how David used his talents and gifts from God, they are encouraged to develop their own gifts to help others as they praise and glorify God. Children meet more holy people in the form of Saint Francis and Saint Clare and come to understand what it means to be holy. Then children learn about Mary, the Mother of God. Mary’s heroic yes encourages them to respond willingly to God and to trust him, just as she courageously did. Finally, children experience Jesus’ call to the Twelve Apostles, to other disciples, and to Saul, who then became the apostle Paul. The stories of these ordinary people and their extraordinary responses to God’s call show children that they can proclaim Jesus’ message even in the small things they do each day. In this unit, then, children learn about God’s call to people throughout the ages. Each chapter ends with a Chapter Review that includes essential chapter content, a Your Turn activity, and an interactive quiz. At each chapter’s conclusion, children bring home Families in Mission pages. Using these, you can further explore the teaching, grow in your faith, and be inspired to go forth as a family of missionary disciples. Chapter 5 includes a Unit Review. with a QR code to scan to play the Stump the Shepherd unitreview game. LOOKING AHEAD Scan the QR code with a web-enabled device to view a video on the life and charism of Saint Julie Billiart together as a family. You will learn more about this eighteenth-century saint in the Families in Mission pages for Chapter 5. 2 Unit 1 Christ Our Life® God Calls Us Chapter 1 T5 SAMPLE
CHAPTER 1 God Calls Us by Name “Hi, Marty!” “Tina!” “Mario!” Excited voices rang out as friends greeted one another after vacation. Leah felt strange and alone. No one called her name. No one knew her. Then she heard “Leah!” and looked up. Miss Link called out, “Boys and girls, this is Leah Su. She’s in our class this year. Leah has come from Miami, Florida.” “Hi, Leah!” “Welcome, Leah!” children called from all parts of the room. Leah smiled as she looked around. Everyone called her by name. Now she belonged. God Calls Us Belonging Check each experience you have had. ❍ I have felt strange and alone. ❍ A classmate I hadn’t met before called me by my name. ❍ I felt that I belonged. Think about how you felt during these experiences. Write your feelings here. I have felt 3 God Calls Us Chapter 1 3. Discuss what it means when God calls us by name. • Have children turn to page 3. • Invite a volunteer to read aloud the chapter title, God Calls Us, and the heading God Calls Us by Name. • Remember the words from the Scripture we just read. God tells Isaiah that he has called him by name. • Invite a volunteer to read aloud the three paragraphs. • Invite volunteers to say what this story is about. (A new girl is introduced to the class, and all the class members welcome her warmly using her name.) • When we meet someone new, we learn that person’s name. But God first called you when he called you into being. He knew your name before your parents gave it to you. God made you a person with your name. • What other time has God called you by name? (in Baptism) The priest or deacon said your name and then baptized you. As we were baptized, God said, “[Name], I have called you, and you are mine.” [Use the names of different children in your class in the sentence.] 4. Discuss what it means to belong. • Have children work in pairs to complete the activity Belonging. • Invite children to share their responses to the activity. • Read to children from Psalm 100:3: Know that the Lord is God, he made us, we belong to him, we are his people. • What are some moments in your daily life when you know you belong to a family? To a community? To God? [Listen to children’s responses.] 5. OPTION Suggest that children call people by name to show their love. • Let children dramatize occasions when they can show love for others by using their names. • Examples might include when they greet, answer, or thank someone. T6 Unit 1 God Calls Us to Faith SAMPLE
We Are Family You belong to your family at home. When you were baptized, you were also welcomed into another family: the Catholic Church. You belong to the big Christian family of all people who believe in Jesus. At your Baptism, someone who is a confirmed Catholic agreed to guide you throughout your life in following Jesus as a Catholic. A person called to do this for a child being baptized is a godparent. Your godmother and/or godfather are likely relatives or close family friends and have a special place in your family. You have two special names that show that you belong to the family of Jesus. Now you are called a Christian and a Catholic. You also belong to the great human family of people all over the world. All these families belong to God. A Message from God Write the letter that comes after the one given to find out what God says to us. “I will be your G o d , and you F n c will be my p e o p l e .” o d n o k d Leviticus 26:12 God Speaks to Us in the Bible God wants us to get to know him. He speaks to us in many ways. God speaks to us in our hearts and, in a special way, through the Bible. The Bible is filled with stories about how God calls his people and how they respond to God in faith. Word to Know Bible The collection of books containing the truths of God’s Revelation to us 4 Unit 1 God Calls Us to Faith 7. Explore reading and listening to Scripture as one of our Catholic practices. • Invite a volunteer to read aloud God Speaks to Us in the Bible on page 4. • Reverently show children your Bible. • Why do we call this the Holy Bible? (It is God’s Word.) What do we find in the Bible? (stories, letters, poems, songs) • Through the words of the Bible, God tells us about himself, ourselves, and the world in which we live. So we say that the Bible is God’s Word. When we listen to the words of the Bible, we hear God speaking to us. 6. Guide children to understand that one family to which they belong is God’s family, the Church. • Call on volunteers to take turns reading the paragraphs of We Are Family on page 4. • When we belong, we share experiences with others who accept and understand us. • As we belong to God, we also come together with his family on earth—the People of God. What are some things that take place at Mass that let us know we belong? (being welcomed as we arrive, joining voices in songs and prayers, praying the Sign of the Cross, receiving the Body of Christ together) • People who belong to the family of Jesus—the Church—have a special name. What are we called? (Catholics; Christians) • As Catholics, we share beliefs, stories, a language, and practices. Do you know some things our Catholic beliefs and language include? [Listen to what children share. Then point out that Scripture, prayers, signs, the liturgy, and sacraments are all part of our beliefs as Catholics.] • You might want to clarify that in talking about “Catholic beliefs and language,” we are not talking about the languages people speak in daily life, such as English and Spanish, but rather about words and phrases that convey the deep meaning of our faith. Point out that children will be learning that language, or vocabulary, throughout the year. Family and Community Solidarity Word to Know Invite a volunteer to read aloud the definition of Bible from the Word to Know feature. Children can further explore the meaning of the word in the Glossary. • Have children complete the activity A Message from God on page 4. • Call on volunteers to say aloud the correct answers. • What do you see below the message? (Leviticus 26:12) What does this mean? (It means that the message is a passage from Leviticus, one of the books of the Bible.) • The numbers mean that it comes from chapter 26, verse 12 in Leviticus. We will learn more about this later. God Calls Us Chapter 1 T7 SAMPLE
God Called Abram to Believe In the Bible, we learn that long ago, God called a man named Abram. God told Abram to leave his home and his country for the land God would show him. Abram believed that God would take care of him. He did as God told him and went to the new land. There God gave Abram and his wife new names and promised them a son, saying: Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so . . . will your descendants be. . . . No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a multitude of nations. . . . As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. . . . She will give rise to nations. Genesis 15:5, 17:5,15–16 Abraham believed what God said. Although he and Sarah were very old, they had a son. They called him Isaac. He was a great joy to them. God Gives the Gift of Faith Abraham always believed in God’s loving care. He did what God asked even when it was hard. Even though we cannot see God, he always calls us to believe him. At Baptism, we receive the gift of faith. This gift makes it possible for us to believe in God and all he has made known in his Word and his deeds. We need the Holy Spirit to help us believe. But believing is also a free choice we make every day. We believe that God made us and that we are his children. We believe that God takes care of us in everything that happens. Just as God spoke to Abraham, he speaks to us in our hearts. He helps us know him better. His grace helps us do what he tells us even when it is hard. The Church supports and strengthens our faith. The Church helps us see that God wants us to be truly happy. 5 God Calls Us Chapter 1 8. Guide children to learn about God’s call to Abram. • Call on four volunteers to read aloud in turn the paragraphs and Scripture in God Called Abram to Believe on page 5. • Look again at the Scripture passage from Genesis. What is God telling Abram? (that he will have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky; that his new name will be Abraham; that he will be the father of nations; that his wife will have a new name, Sarah, and that she will have a son) 9. Help children compare our journey of faith with that of Abraham. • Call on volunteers to read aloud God Gives the Gift of Faith on page 5. • From the reading, what are some things that help us in our faith? (Baptism, the Holy Spirit, God’s grace, God’s Word, the Church) • How are we like Abraham? (God speaks to us as he did to Abraham. By having faith, we will be part of fulfilling God’s plan.) 10. Discuss our faith in God’s care. • Invite children to turn to the person next to them and discuss in pairs the following questions. • Has God told you to do something? • What was it? • What hard thing has God told you to do? • How did you feel when you did what God wanted? 11. If feasible, have children scan the QR code on page 5 using a handheld, web-enabled device to experience the media. T8 Unit 1 God Calls Us to Faith SAMPLE
God Calls You to Believe God calls to us in many ways. You may hear or sense God speaking to you directly when you pray. God may also call you to help others, as he did with Ruth. He gave Ruth a sense that she should be with and care for Naomi. This led Ruth to marry Boaz. She had a son, which was part of fulfilling God’s plan. When you feel called to help someone, to keep someone company, or to give support to someone, you are responding to God’s call to show his love in the world. Abraham and Ruth had faith in God. They knew and loved God. You received the gift of faith at Baptism when you became a Christian. What things do you do that please God? Teachers Write the names of people who help you learn about God. Write what you learned about God from one of the people you named. A Moment with Jesus Imagine getting a phone call from Jesus. What do you say when you get on the phone? Let Jesus know that you are always ready to answer his call. A Picture from Your Life Draw a picture of your family in the frame below. 7 God Calls Us Chapter 1 God Called Ruth to Believe The Book of Ruth in the Bible tells about a young woman named Ruth. She was from Moab, a country where people believed in false gods. Ruth learned about the one true God from her husband and his mother, Naomi. Naomi was kind, and Ruth loved her. When Ruth’s husband died, she stayed with Naomi. One day, Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem, the city in Israel where she had been born. Ruth wanted to go with her. She said to Naomi: Wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God. Ruth 1:16 Ruth went with Naomi to Israel. In her new country, Ruth worked hard every day. She gathered grain in the fields of a man named Boaz. Boaz was a good man. Before long, he married Ruth. They were very happy together. God blessed them with a son, Obed, who would become the grandfather of King David. Into the family of David, many years later, Jesus, our Savior, was born. God called Ruth to believe in him. She learned about God from Naomi and the Israelites. God was pleased with Ruth and gave her the gift of faith. Ruth knew God and loved him. 6 Unit 1 God Calls Us to Faith • Invite children to take a few minutes for prayer. • It may be helpful to give children some context in which to begin their prayer. In this case, you may wish to say something like the following: • Think of a typical evening for you at home. Perhaps you are doing your homework, watching a favorite series, or helping with the dishes. Imagine that the phone rings. A family member answers and says, “It’s Jesus calling for you.” • Give children time to pray in silence, reflecting on what Jesus might say to them. Give children time to pray in silence, reflecting on what Jesus might say to them. 13. Guide children to think about how God calls them. • Ask children to read quietly to themselves God Calls You to Believe on page 7. • Ruth received her call to faith in the way she cared for Naomi. Think about who has led you to God. • Have children complete the activity Teachers. • One way we learn faith is through the love of our family. In the frame under A Picture from Your Life, draw a picture of your family. A Moment with Jesus 14. Guide children through A Moment with Jesus. • A Moment with Jesus is an opportunity for children to turn to God in the quiet of their hearts. This is a time for personal, interior prayer. You may wish to use a soft chime or other musical tone to let children know when prayer time begins and ends. 12. Introduce Ruth and Naomi. • Invite a volunteer to read aloud the first paragraph of God Called Ruth to Believe on page 6. • Invite two volunteers to read aloud the next paragraph and the Scripture passage, in turn. • Who is speaking in the passage? (Ruth) To whom is she speaking? (Naomi) Why does Ruth say these words? (Feeling that Ruth has no need of her now, Naomi is going to leave for Bethlehem. But Ruth loves Naomi and is telling her that she intends to stay with her no matter what.) • Call on children to take turns reading aloud the remaining three paragraphs. • Ask what children know about Bethlehem. They may have heard its name as the city where Jesus was born. It was also the city where David, about whom they will learn later, was anointed. God Calls Us Chapter 1 T9 SAMPLE
REVIEW God Calls Us Your Turn CHAPTER 1 Word to Know Bible pp. 4, 271 We Remember What does God call us to do? God calls us to believe in him and do what he asks. What is faith? Faith is a gift from God that makes it possible for us to believe in him. We Respond God is on my side. . . . In God I trust, I do not fear. Psalm 56:10,12 C A T H O L I C C R I S T I A N When you were baptized, you became a member of the Church and the family of Jesus. Since then, you have had two special names that mean that you belong to the Church family. Write these names in the puzzle. 8 Chapter 1 Chapter Review CHECKPOINT Were the learning outcomes achieved? Families IN MISSION Remind children to take home pages 9–10 to share what they are learning with their families. Families IN MISSION A Catholic to Know Invite one family member to read aloud about Saint Mark. Then discuss how his example can guide our lives. Although Saint Mark, one of the Gospel writers, lived during the time of Jesus, he did not know Jesus personally. Instead, he learned about Jesus from his friend Peter. Peter’s stories made Mark love Jesus so much that he wanted to write them down so others could read them over and over again. What if Peter had never told Mark about Jesus? What if Mark had never written the stories in his Gospel? As Catholics, we are also called to witness and share our faith. Witness and Share These sentences describe what Catholics believe. Invite one family member to read aloud the My Way to Faith statements. Ask yourself, “How do I live my Catholic beliefs?” My Way to Faith • I understand that I belong to the church family because of my Baptism. • I read the Bible because it is God’s Word. • I trust God. • I spread joy because God wants everyone to be happy. • I turn to God when times are hard. Share Your Faith Think of one way to show God your faith in him this week. Write your idea on the lines. Tell your family your idea and invite family members to think of ways to show their faith in God this week. Let your actions speak to the world. Saint Mark 10 Grade 3 Christ Our Life® CHAPTER IN MISSION Do these pages at home as a family. Families Continued on next page. 1 As Catholics, we gather to hear the Word of God and celebrate the sacraments. The Holy Spirit sets our hearts on fire and sends us forth as disciples to live our faith. “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 Know and Proclaim Read and discuss the introduction and the chart below. We seek to know the truths of our Catholic faith. Then we proclaim our beliefs by what we say and do. We Know Our Faith We Proclaim Our Faith God gives us the gift of faith. We know that God made us and loves us. We can live with him forever because of his Son, Jesus. As Catholics, we show our faith in God in many ways. One simple way to show faith is to pray before meals. Doing so is an outward sign of gratitude to God for what he has provided for us. At Baptism, we become part of another family— the Catholic Church. Parents dress their babies in white for Baptism to show their belief that the child is “clothed in Christ” and reborn in the Holy Spirit. God speaks to us in the Bible. The stories of Abraham and Ruth teach us that God calls us to have faith in him. Many Catholic families pass down family Bibles from generation to generation. There they record important dates and events, such as when a child is born and baptized or when someone gets married. Test Your Catholic Knowledge Fill in the circle that best completes the sentence. Then discuss the correct answer. When we are baptized and join the Church, we are called to ❍ choose a religious vocation. ❍ attend religious education classes until we are 21 years old. ❍ share our faith with others. ❍ pray the Rosary daily. Scan the QR code for the answer to the question and to access other Christ Our Life resources for families. 9 Christ Our Life® Grade 3 Acting 1. Encourage children to remember what they learned using the Chapter Review on page 8. • Read the questions under We Remember. For each question, call on volunteers to give their own answers before reading together the answers on the page. • Read the Word to Know and ask children for the definition. • Pray together We Respond. • Guide children in completing the Your Turn activity. • At the end of class, have children tear out their completed page 8 to take home. Encourage them to share their Chapter Review with their families. 2. Distribute and administer Reproducible 1b, Chapter 1 Quiz. Use this opportunity to assess children’s understanding of the main concepts of the chapter. 3. As an option, have children undertake the interactive chapter review by scanning the QR code on page 8. Have children send their results to you. 4. Lead children in prayer. • Lord, we pray to know the ways in which we belong to you. Bless our growing sense of belonging with one another and with you, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. • Invite children to pray throughout the week to hear God calling them by name and know that they belong to him. Name Score REPRODUCIBLE Christ Our Life® All Rights Reserved Christ Our Life® Reproducibles w3156 www.christourlife.com GRADE 3 Chapter 1 Write the word from the word bank that answers each question below WORD BANK Abram Christian faith Naomi Sarah Catholic David God Ruth Savior 1. Who said, “I have called you by name”? p. 1 God 2. Whom did God promise to make the father of many people? p. 5 Abram 3. What was the name of Abraham’s wife? p. 5 Sarah 4. Who brought Ruth to Israel? p. 6 Naomi 5. Who said, “Wherever you go, I will go”? p. 6 Ruth 6. Who was Ruth’s great-grandson? p. 6 David 7. Who was born into David’s family much later? p. 6 Savior 8. What word shows that we believe and trust in God? p. 5 faith 9. What two special names show that you belong to the Church? p. 4 Catholic Christian Chapter 1 Quiz 1b T10 Unit 1 God Calls Us to Faith SAMPLE
Chapter 1 Enriching the Faith Experience Use the following activities to enrich a lesson or to replace an activity with one that better meets the needs of your class. For activities related to the liturgical season, see the Special Seasons and Lessons content, which begins on page T273. 1. Explore or revisit the multimedia for this chapter in more depth. 2. Pose this riddle: Each of us has something special. It is our very own; yet other people use it more than we do. What is it? (our name) 3. Have children use a black crayon to write their names on a sheet of 9-by-12-inch white paper. Then they may use other crayons to make a colorful design around the contours of the letters. 4. Ask children some of the names they have because of the families to which they belong. (Children can consider names related to their families, the Church, and their culture.) 5. Introduce the Scripture prayer booklet, Gifted with Faith. • Find Gifted with Faith at the end of the Lesson Pullouts that begin on page 285 of the Student Book. • Show children a booklet that you have assembled and explain what it is. • Each of you will have a Scripture prayer booklet to help you use God’s Word to grow in faith. • If you did not prepare the booklets ahead of time, have children carefully remove the pages. Guide them in assembling their booklets. 6. Suggest that children call people by name to show their love. Let them dramatize occasions when they can show love for others by using their names, such as when they greet, answer, or thank someone. 7. Create “Made by God with Love” badges. Give each child a plain note card and colored markers. In the top half of the card, have them write their names. On the bottom half, have them write “Made by God with Love.” Use masking tape to attach the badges to children’s clothing or backpacks. Tell them to wear the badges all day as a reminder that God calls them by name. 8. Have children complete Reproducible 1a, Three Families of Faith. 9. Let children compose short prayers telling God what they believe. • Begin by saying these words: • Dear God, I believe that you are good. [Children might add the following prayers of what they believe: “that you love me, made me, take care of me, call me to live with you forever.”] 10. Perform for children, or invite children to perform, the following poem in the style of spoken word. Abraham Abram had a pretty good life, living in Haran with Sarai, his wife. Then God called Abram one special day— said, ”Pack up your things. Be on your way to a fine new land that I will show. I will bless you if you do go. People will be glad because of you. You’ll be great before I’m through.” Because Abram followed God’s command, God promised him and his kin the land. But Abram and Sarai were very old and had no kids to inherit, we’re told. Still God told Abram that by and by his descendants would be like the stars in the sky. What’s more God made him leap for joy by promising him a baby boy. After meeting God, Abram was never the same. God even changed his and Sarai’s names. Now Abraham is honored by all as father in faith, who answered God’s call. M. Kathleen Glavich, SND Name REPRODUCIBLE Christ Our Life® All Rights Reserved Christ Our Life® Reproducibles w3156 www.christourlife.com GRADE 3 Chapter 1 Write the missing names in the blanks for the first family of faith. For the second and third families, write the names of people you know. First Family Abraham, his wife, Sarah and their son, Isaac Ruth David Joseph , his wife, Mary and the Son of God, Jesus Three Families of Faith Second Family On the lines below, write the names of the pope, bishops, priests, Christians all over the world, and members of your parish. Answers will vary. Third Family On the lines below, write the names of parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and other family members who love you and care for you. And don’t forget to include yourself! Answers will vary. 1a God Calls Us Chapter 1 T11 SAMPLE
CHAPTER 2 God Gives Us Gifts Listening To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Matthew 25:15 Reflecting We may not always be conscious of the extent to which we participate in divine life, but we do know that we are all gifted and that God is the source of our gifts. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 Faith Focus Each of us has unique gifts with which to praise God and serve others. Reflecting on the Faith Experience Take a few moments to reflect prayerfully before preparing the lesson. Responding Holy Spirit, enlighten us to see how we can use our gifts to help others. Scripture For Further Reflection Psalm 150 All people are invited to join their praise to that of the musical instruments used in sacred worship. 1 Corinthians 12:27–33 We are all one in Christ, but each of us has different gifts through which we help others. Each person fulfills God’s plan in a different way. God gives us the gifts and talents we need to do his will. God expects us to: be responsible for our gifts; develop them to the best of our ability; and use them to improve ourselves, help others, and praise and glorify him. By accepting our abilities as well as our limitations, we develop a healthy self-concept. This helps us respect others. We are able to appreciate successes and failures. With David, we can say: I call to God Most High, to God who provides for me. My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and chant praise. I will praise you among the peoples, Lord; I will chant your praise among the nations. Psalm 57:3,8,10 How do I develop and use the special gifts and abilities God has given me? T12 Unit 1 God Calls Us to Faith SAMPLE
us to be and become someone else. We should help children early in life to regard themselves—their personalities and physical characteristics—as precious gifts given by God to treasure and develop. Therefore, it is crucial that children feel accepted as they are, especially by those who are important in their lives. In our effort to become whole, we can be encouraged by remembering that when we surrender to God, we are transformed into Christ’s divine likeness. 7. The celebration in this chapter enables children to express gratitude for all God’s gifts. You may wish to supplement the celebration with a talent show. See Enriching the Faith Experience on page T21. together for the glory of God and for the expansion of God’s kingdom of love, justice, and peace. 5. The Catholic Social Teaching theme The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers runs throughout this chapter. Recognizing and using our Godgiven gifts are ways to show that we value work. Our gifts also enable us to participate as coworkers with God in making a more just and peaceful world. Work and Workers 6. God has created us as unique individuals and called us to glorify him by becoming integrated people activated by the Holy Spirit. Selfacceptance is the starting point for personal development. We cannot change our basic personalities, nor can we reject the person God made Before You Begin 1. Determine whether the media will be experienced in class or at home. 2. Download from the LP Digital Library Reproducible 2a, We Praise and Thank God and Reproducible 2b, Chapter 2 Quiz. 3. God made each of us unique and calls us to do special work. No one else can do exactly the same things that we can. God expects each of us to use his or her special abilities to join in Christ’s work. 4. In the parable of the talents, Jesus tells us that he expects us to use our abilities. A special ability, or talent, is not a finished product. It is more like a seed to be tended, nourished, and developed. Each of us is unique, but we are all working Families in Mission Send home the Families in Mission pages after teaching the chapter so that families can further explore the teaching, grow in faith, and be inspired to go forth as missionary disciples. Enriching the Faith Experience Use the activities at the end of the chapter to enrich a lesson or to replace an activity with one that better meets the needs of your class. Called and Gifted #22. (USCCB) The Spirit moves among all the People of God, prompting them to use their gifts in responding to the situations in which they find themselves in the world. Stewardship. (USCCB) Disciples of Jesus Christ are grateful for what they have received from God and are eager to cultivate their gifts out of love for God and one another. Media in This Chapter Determine in advance if you will have children experience the media during class or at home. This media can be accessed by scanning the QR code with a web-enabled smartphone or tablet. Scripture in This Chapter 2 Samuel 23:2–5 God’s Approval of David as King Psalm 146:2 Praise to God Romans 12:6 We Are One Body in Christ Catholic Social Teaching Work and Workers Church Documents Catechism of the Catholic Church. The themes of this chapter correspond to the following paragraphs: 1936–1937. Declaration on Christian Education #8. (Second Vatican Council) The Church should provide an atmosphere that helps every child understand how all human culture is related to the Gospel message. Preparing for the Faith Experience God Gives Us Gifts Chapter 2 T13 Inclusion Scan the QR code for Inclusion articles or access them from the LP Digital Library. SAMPLE
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