The Gatekeeper
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level I 
December 1, 2009 - Level 1, Issue 05
In This Issue
Puzzle Map
Prophesy of the Virgin
Advent Idea - Prophesies
Christmas Eve Family Mass
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Dear CGS Level I Parent,   
The Good Shepherd
 
The season of Advent has begun.  Purple is the liturgical color for a season of preparation preceding a great feast.  Advent is a season of preparation for the celebration of our great feast of Christmas.  (Lent is the season of preparation for our great feast of Easter.)  Children will begin their time in Atrium this week by setting up the prayer table for Advent, with a purple cloth and the Advent wreath.
 
How are you as a family preparing for the joyful feast of Christmas in these weeks of Advent?  There are so many things we do to prepare for Christmas.  You can help enforce the concept of preparation by including your child in preparations.  Consider letting Christmas unfold more slowly this year, using all the time the church gives us to build up to the day.  Perhaps the pieces of your nativity set can be placed out slowly, starting just with Mary, Joseph, and a donkey.  Slowly add other animals and a stable.  It can be a great honor for your child to take Jesus out of a special hiding place when you return home after Christmas mass.  And that's a good time for the shepherds and sheep to join, as well.  Finally, the Magi can come on Epiphany.
 
What other ways can you slow down your preparations?  Can certain decorations be brought out on each Sunday of Advent?
 
Also consider if there are ways in which you want to use the entire period of preparation given to us by the church, instead of feeling pressured or anxious at the last minute.  Can you and your child start wrapping gifts now, even though you keep them hidden away until later?  I know I suffer terribly from wrapping at 1AM on Christmas day!  Is there any food that can be prepared well in advance and frozen?  Can you and your child work together on that?  (Remember that pouring is a practical life skill!)
 
Level I children will receive two presentations this week one of a map of Israel and one of a prophesy.
 
Peace,
The Level I catechist team:
   Betsy Peterson, Martha Garcia Barragan on Tues.
   Kathy Murdock, Donny Wallenfang on Wed.
   Anne Edwards, Sylvia Pelini, Erin Walsh on Thurs.
and Lina Hilko (editor)
Puzzle Map
This presentation works with a map of the regions of Israel (Galilee, Judea, Samaria, and Perea) and significant bodies of water (Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Dead Sea).  Important events in the life of Jesus are related to each of these regions.  For example, if you were at the CGS mass celebrated on November 19th, you recall that the leper who was healed and returned to give thanks was from Samaria.  Over time, as children work with maps in Level I and II, they may connect more closely to such a Gospel because something clicks in their mind, "Hey, I've heard of that place, Samaria!"

Presentations of geography nourish the child's unfolding understanding that Jesus is a real person that lived in a real time and in a real place.  This is a very important foundation to the child's appreciation of the gift of the Incarnation -- Heaven and Earth united through Jesus Christ, true human and true God.
 
The puzzle map presentation is one of three Level I presentations related to geography.  Children who were in Level I Atrium last year likely received the other two presentations:  the globe and the raised relief map of Israel.  (If desired, you can learn about the other geography presentations from the newsletter archive dated 11/18/2008.)
 
Prophesy of the Virgin
In celebration of the Advent season, a time for preparation, the children will be asked to reflect upon some words spoken by a prophet and recorded in the Old Testament.  Children will learn that the prophets are people who listen very attentively to God's voice and then speak His words to others.  The words the children will hear this week are from Isaiah 7:14:  "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel."  Emmanuel means "God is with us."  What a beautiful name!
Advent Idea - Prophesies
There are various prophesies which are presented through the three years of Level I.  Perhaps your family would like to use these prophesies as a part of family prayer, such as before meals, during Advent.  You and your child can prepare cards with the words of each prophesy.  Perhaps you can write the words and your child can illustrate the card.  Then, your child can choose just one to read (or have read) before each family dinner. The scripture passages are as follows:
  • Isaiah 9:2 - The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
  • Isaiah 7:14 - Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel.
  • Numbers 24:7 - A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.
  • Micah 5:2 - But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from You shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel.
  • Isaiah 9:6 - For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
In the newsletters for Levels II and III, I included a link to an interesting web site called Advent Conspiracy.  The message of the site likely cannot be digested by the 3-6 year-old child, but if you as a parent are interested in the message of the site, I didn't want to cheat you.
Christmas Eve Family Mass
Planning is well underway for the Christmas Eve Family Mass at 4PM.  You should have recently received an e-mail from Sarah Coles explaining opportunities for your child's involvement.  Key highlights:
  • If your child is interested in a reading/speaking role, let Sarah know by Friday, 12/4.
  • Rehearsal at 10AM on Sunday, 12/20.
  • Practice singing Silent Night at home.
  • If participating, be at church by 3:30 PM on 12/24.
Feel free to comment on this information to Lina Hilko, [email protected], the editor and/or Sarah Coles, [email protected], St. Teresa's Director of Religious Education.  Thanks!