Venture - Pflaum Gospel Weeklies

15. What Are the Marks of the Church? page 12
Use this visual to help children remember the four
marks of the Church. (1) On the chalkboard or on newsprint,
draw a circle, and say that just as a circle symbolizes
oneness and unity, the Church is one. (2) Draw rays
emanating from the circle, and say that just as rays of
light symbolize holiness, the Church is holy. (3) Draw
longitudinal and latitudinal lines on the circle, as if it
were a globe, and say that just as these lines crisscross
the entire circle, the Church is catholic. It reaches out
to the entire world. (4) At the top of the circle, draw a
shepherd’s crook and say that the Church is apostolic,
which means that it is guided by the teachings of the
Apostles, who were appointed by Christ to be shepherds
of his sheep.
16. What Do Catholics Believe About Death and
Resurrection? page 13
(1) Discuss with students how the feasts of All Saints on
November 1 and All Souls on November 2 remind us of
the mystery of the Communion of Saints. We celebrate
on All Saints’ Day those who have “made it” into full
communion with God. We remember on All Souls’ Day
those who are “almost there” and need our prayers.
(2) What local customs are observed on these two feasts?
(3) Do students observe any special customs within
their families? (4) Which church hymns are sung on All
Saints’ Day, and which ones are sung on All Souls’ Day?
(5) What color does the priest wear at Mass on each of
these days? Why?
Review
Quick Quiz, page 14
1. Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus
2. Cross out: liars, gang members, racists, gossips
3. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel
Praise and Celebrate
1. What Is the Liturgy? page 16
(1) Have each student make a poster showing the
four ways Christ is present in the Eucharistic Liturgy.
(2) Allow time for students to share their work.
2. What Is the Liturgical Calendar? page 16
(1) Give each student squares of paper in these colors:
violet, white, green, red. (2) Explain the colors’ liturgical
symbolism. Violet is for times of waiting and penance,
such as Advent and Lent. White is for times of
joy and glory, such as Christmas and Easter. Green is
for ordinary times. Red is either for times of sacrifice,
such as the day Christ died, or times of joy in the Spirit,
such as Pentecost. (3) Play a game in which you name a
Sunday or holy day in the liturgical year, and students
raise the correct-colored paper for that day. (4) Call out
these days by name: Ash Wednesday (violet), Easter
(white), Christmas (white), First Sunday in Ordinary
Time (green), Third Sunday of Lent (violet), feast of the
Immaculate Conception (white), Good Friday (red),
Second Sunday of Advent (violet), Fifteenth Sunday in
Ordinary Time (green), Pentecost (red). (5) Note which
days produce incorrect answers, and take extra time
to explain them. (6) Re-play the game until all or most
students get the answers right.
3. What Are the Sacraments of Initiation? page 19
(1) Ahead of time, write each of the words and phrases
given in the following key on separate slips of paper and
put them in a bowl.
KEY
Baptism—“In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit” • water • white garment •
cleansing from original sin
Eucharist—“This is my Body” • “This is the chalice
of my Blood” • the hymn “One Bread, One Body” • the
Last Supper
Confirmation—“Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy
Spirit” • the color red • the hymn “Come, Holy Ghost”
• the laying on of hands • the first Pentecost •
the bishop
(2) Label three different jars Baptism, Eucharist, and
Confirmation. (3) When the class meets, place the jars
and the bowl on a table in the front of the room.
(4) Form two teams, and have team members take turns
stepping forward, drawing slips of paper from the bowl,
reading them aloud, and consulting with their team
about the right jar in which to drop the paper. (5) After
the student has dropped the paper in a jar, give his or
her team a point if the correct jar was selected.
4. What Happens at Baptism? page 19
(1) Bring to class a doll, a glass cup, and a basin.
(2) Show students how to baptize an infant in case
of necessity. (3) Let one or two students repeat the
demonstration.
(1) Give students large paper triangles cut from drawing
paper. (2) Have each of them draw a self-portrait in the
center of the triangle. (3) In the top corner of the triangle,
have them write the words, “Child of the Father.”
(4) In the bottom left corner, have the boys write,
“Brother of Christ” and the girls, “Sister of Christ.” (5) In
the bottom right corner, have students write, “Temple
of the Holy Spirit.” (6) Discuss how their finished artwork
explains the ways in which Baptism has changed
them—from ordinary children into God’s children,
Christ’s brothers and sisters, and dwelling places of the
Holy Spirit. (7) Suggest that they hang the artwork somewhere
in their bedrooms and look at it each night
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