1 Grade 1 – Lesson 2 Key Points • in Church: Holy Water, Genuflection

Grade 1 – Lesson 2

Key Points  In church: holy water, genuflection, altar, chalice  God created the world to show His love.  All creation is God’s gift to us, and His Son, Jesus, is His greatest gift.  Thanksgiving is showing God we are grateful for all that he’s given us.  Human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. This means that we can love, make moral decisions, and that we have a soul (we are spirits with bodies).  God gave Adam and Eve the responsibility to care for creation, so each of us is responsible for treating creation with care and respect.

Materials Gifts from God handout Song: “All Things Bright and Beautiful” Song: “Majestic” (VBS) The Lord’s Prayer

Catechist Prayer before the lesson: God our Father and Creator, the world abounds with your wonders. I thank you for the colors, aromas, textures, and tastes that enrich my life. Help me care for the world, O Lord. May I work to repair the damage already done and work to protect that which can be saved. Help me teach the children to be caretakers of your creation. Amen.

Remember to:

 Read through the Lesson in the Catechist Guide before class.  Call each child by name  Kneel or sit down to be at eye-level when talking or playing with the children  Smile, use kind words, show patience

Before the lesson:  Hand out the Gifts from God worksheet for students to color before class starts.

[10 min] Invite – Opening Prayer (p.57)

 Begin by handing out the Lord’s Prayer cards and pray:

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

 Recite the prayer on page 57 and read the Bible passage (You can play the Lumen Christi song in the background).  Play the song “Majestic” from VBS CD, Track 5. Or play the DVD/YouTube video and let the kids sing and dance.

[20 min] Discover – Gifts from God(p. 58)

 Read Gifts from God on p.58 o God created the world to show His love. o All creation is God’s gift to us, and His Son, Jesus, is His greatest gift.  [Skip pp. 59 and 60)  Read Thank God on page 61 and color the Connect Your Faith section. o Thanksgiving is showing God we are grateful for all that he’s given us.

[15 min] Visit Church  Quietly walk the kids to church.  Lead the kids in blessing themselves with holy water at the font by placing their fingers in the water and making the sign of the cross. We always use our right hand, even if someone is left-handed. Explain that the water was blessed by a priest, so it contains God’s power to protect people, places, and things from evil. We also use holy water to remember our baptism and freedom from sin.  Explain that when we visit Jesus’ house, the church, we are in a holy place to pray. The church is a special place where Jesus invites us to be with him. We do not see him, but we know that he is here.  Go to a section of pews and practice genuflecting. We genuflect facing the altar to show respect for Jesus, who is present in the Eucharist inside the tabernacle. The right knee should touch the floor, while the left knee is in front and bent at 90 degrees. While in this position, make the sign of the cross, then stand up and go into the pews.  Explain that we are supposed to go to Mass every weekend.  At Mass, we hear stories from the Bible, then the priest prays over bread and wine and it becomes the body and blood of Jesus.  The cup for the wine is called a chalice.  Return to the classroom.

[15 min] Discover – In God’s Image (pp. 68-70)

 Read In God’s Image on page 68 and discuss using the questions in the catechist manual o Human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. This means that we can love, make moral decisions, and that we have a soul (we are spirits with bodies).  Read God’s Command on page 70. o God gave Adam and Eve the responsibility to care for creation, so each of us is responsible for treating creation with care and respect.  [Skip pp. 71-72]

[5 min] Live - People of Faith – St. Albert the Great (p. 73)

 Read St. Albert’s biography and explain that he is our parish’s patron saint.

[10 min] Sending – Prayer of Praise and Thanks

 Recite the prayer on page 74.  Pray the Glory Be together.  Sing “All Things Bright and Beautiful”