The Gatekeeper
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level II 
November 2, 2010 - Level 2, Issue 02
In This Issue
History of the Kingdom of God
We Give Thanks
Welcome Ryan!
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Dear CGS Level II Parent 
The Good Shepherd
In November, Catechesis will meet every week except the week in which Thanksgiving occurs.  Meeting dates are:  Nov. 2/4/7; Nov. 9/11/14; and Nov. 16/18/21.
 
During November, Level II will reflect on the History of the Kingdom of God.  Although there are various messages a child can hear from these presentations, the timing in November may particularly raise up an awareness of the amazing and abundant gifts God gives to human beings.  Parents can help support the Catechesis this November by making special effort to notice gifts (great and small) and express gratitude through word and action.
 
We plan to hold a special communal mass for children and parents in the Catechesis on either the third Tuesday or Thursday of November.  We will provide families with details once they are finalized.
 
About twenty of our Level II children (and one or two older children) have just started their preparation to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.  They will continue special preparations in the spring to celebrate First Communion.  Please join in praying for these children and families in this very special year.
 
Peace,
The Level II catechist team:   

Myrna Gomez and Audrey Cusack on Tuesdays

Barb McHugh and Erin Walsh on Thursdays

Jane Ott, Aimee Jaszczor, and Byrd Matejka on Sundays

and Jane Ott (writer) and Lina Hilko (editor)

History of the Kingdom of God 
The History of the Kingdom of God begins, "In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth."  This awesome story unfolds, revealing the vastness of the History.  For example, plants and animals were on Earth long, long before human beings. In fact, humans haven't actually been around all that long.  And despite all the myriad moments of this history, there is one unifying factor--God is actively present in all moments.

Children are introduced to three particular "moments" in this great history:  Creation, Redemption (the time beginning with Jesus' life, death and resurrection, and the time in which we now live), and Parousia (the time when God will be All in All).  This history is great, and it is not yet finished.  We continue to write this story with God until the day God will be all in all.  The children are told that this great history that began with Creation, culminated in Redemption, and is completed at Parousia is called the History of the Kingdom of God.  And this history is told in the Bible.
 
There are so many thoughts that can grow from reflecting on and wondering about the History.  Certainly one conclusion is that God is great and we are very small.  Yet the converse of that also comes out.  Throughout history humans have asked, "Who prepared all this for us?"  When we see the careful unfolding of each and every thing and become aware of the many gifts of creation, it is natural to respond, "What wondrous love is this?!  I am very important to God and very loved."  When we recognize that each human being has a role in writing a page of this great History, how does that make us feel?  Perhaps we feel like the words of Mary's Magnificat:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.  For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness....  The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-49)
We Give Thanks
One way parents can help support their child's catechetical experience this November is by renewing efforts to notice gifts and respond.  You may think this is something you already do naturally, and you then may not associate it with catechesis.  But gift and response is one of the central themes in the catechesis.  Can you become more consciously aware of gifts and your response to gifts this November?  How can your conscious efforts influence your child?  Perhaps consider writing together a prayer of Thanksgiving to say before your Thanksgiving meal.  Maybe each family member can write a Thank You letter to God and share these out loud once a week during November.  Consider actively asking on a regular basis, "Who prepared this for me?"  There are so many things that make life special and are prepared by someone, often in secret, given freely, with no expectation of recompense.  Do you and your child notice these secret gifts?

Take time to think actively about what "response" means.  Response isn't just verbal, such as saying thank you.  A very important form of response is through action.  When we give food for the food pantry, we are responding, through our sharing, in gratitude to the gifts we have received.  When something special has been done by someone "invisible" (those secret, freely-given gifts), we may think there's really no way to show our gratitude.  But we do show our gratitude by doing something secret and giving it freely to someone else, such a sweeping a neighbor's leaves or shoveling their snow.  Parents can help children recognize all these forms of response:  verbal, written, and action-based.
Welcome Ryan!
Since our last newsletter, Jane Ott has welcomed her son Ryan to the world.  He was apparently very eager to experience all of God's gifts first-hand and decided to come early.  From his pictures, he certainly seems ready to join this great world.  So for now, Sunday Level II is being helped by Myrna Gomez.  Thank you Myrna and congratulations Jane!
Please provide comments about this newsletter to Lina Hilko, the editor, at [email protected] and/or Sarah Coles, St. Teresa's Director of Religious Education, at [email protected].