FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN, USE THE QUESTIONS/ACTIVITIES IN BOLDED ITALIC TYPE.
(prayer book pp. 851—2): 4—11 February
Family project: St. Cecilia Week of 4 February
St. Agatha’s feast is 5 February. Watch the video found here:
St. Agatha is the patron saint of bell-ringers. Explore different kinds of bell tones (maybe just with your phone) and discuss how we use sound to honor God. Ask you children why we ring bells at some times in the service of Holy Eucharist (at 10 o’clock). Answer: The bell is a signal that we are marking a specific presence of the Holy Spirit, e.g., that the Spirit is present in each element of bread and wine. Review the words of the eucharistic prayer (pp. 334—336 in the prayer book.
Q. What is the Church?
A. The Church is the community of the New Covenant.
Refer back to our unit on the New Covenant.
Q. How is the Church described in the Bible?
A. The Church is described as the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which
all baptized persons are members. It is called the People of God, the New Israel, a
holy nation, a royal priesthood, and the pillar and ground of truth.
There is no word for “church” in the Bible. In the Hebrew of the Old Testament, the assembly of the people of Israel is the body of worship. In the New Testament the word is ekklesía, which means “assembly” or “gathering”. Talk about whether anyone can be a member of any church is he or she does not gather for worship.
Family project: Ash Wednesday Week of 11 February
Attend Ash Wednesday service as a family.
Q. How is the Church described in the creeds?
A. The Church is described as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
Q. Why is the Church described as one?
A. The Church is one, because it is one Body, under one Head, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Q. Why is the Church described as holy?
A. The Church is holy, because the Holy Spirit dwells in it, consecrates its members, and
guides them to do God’s work.
Q. Why is the Church described as catholic?
A. The Church is catholic, because it proclaims the whole Faith to all people, to the end
of time.
“Catholic” [katholikos] is Greek for “universal”.
Q. Why is the Church described as apostolic?
A. The Church is apostolic, because it continues in the teaching and fellowship of the
apostles and is sent to carry out Christ’s mission to all people.
Q. What is the mission of the Church?
A. The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in
Christ.
Jesus summarizes the law to be love of God and love of neighbor. If love of God is “vertical” and love of neighbor is “horizontal”, use a cross to illustrate how either dimension is out-of-balance/plumb once the other dimension is out-of-balance. How we relate to God is reflected I how we relate to each other.
Q. How does the Church pursue its mission?
A. The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and
promotes justice, peace, and love.
Q. Through whom does the Church carry out its mission?
A. The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members.
Ask your child for his/her ideas for how he or she participates in the mission of the Church (in prayer and worship, in the proclamation of the Gospel, in promoting justice, peace, and love).
Review with your child the Baptismal Covenant found on pp. 304—5 of the prayer book.