The end of the school year is fast approaching and bringing mixed feelings of excitement, relief, expectation as well as perhaps a little sadness, particularly for families with children preparing to leave for new challenges ahead.
July’s resources encourage children to think about living in faith, hope and love, and following Jesus through their words and actions. Our everyday lives are filled with opportunities to live out the Gospel and if we pay attention, we can challenge ourselves to never miss a moment!
This newsletter shares some of the content children will experience in school throughout July, and suggests ways for you to engage with them about it. We hope it is a useful resource for your family prayer time.
IN HIS NAME
In the assembly for the week beginning 7th July, we hear how the disciples were amazed at what they could do in the power of Jesus’ name. Children will be inspired to know that with Jesus, they too can do incredible things in His name.
The assembly explores inspiring people, Corrie ten Boom and St Oscar Romero, who found that it’s not always easy to share in God’s mission of loving Him and loving each other. But by putting their faith and trust in God, they continued to do incredible things in spite of the hardships they faced.
With your child/ren, you might like to…
- Take the opportunity to explore the sign of our faith, the Sign of the Cross. As you do the actions and say the words, ‘In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen’, explain that at the beginning of prayers this reminds us that we are praying in God’s name.
- With older children, you might like to explore the lives of people today or some of the saints who show/ have shown great courage and fortitude in God’s name.
DON’T MISS THE MOMENT
In the Gospel for the week beginning 14th July, Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan which reminds us of Jesus’ call for us to love our neighbour. The assembly for that week explores the question ‘Who is our neighbour?’ and children learn that the answer is - EVERYONE! Through a drama, children will learn how we can love others through our everyday actions, and that little unplanned acts of kindness can make all the difference.
With your child/ren, you might like to…
- Read the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and discuss what we can learn from the responses of each of the characters.
- Talk about how we can look out for opportunities to show consideration for others and carry out little acts of kindness in our everyday lives. You might want to make this a challenge on one particular day or over the week.
FAITH HOPE AND LOVE
In the prayers for the week of the 14th of July, children hear that God's laws are not beyond us but 'in your mouth and in your heart'. The prayers this week help children to recognise that when we love God with all our heart, soul and strength He gives us the gifts of faith, hope and love - gifts that guide us and help us to grow closer in our friendship with God.
In your family prayer time you might like to ask God to help you to share these gifts of faith, hope and love with others using the prayer below.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us all we need to live according to your Word.
Help us to share faith, hope and love each day.
Amen
Credits:
Created with images by track5 - "Elementary School: Schools Out! A small group of excited primary age pupils running out of school at the end of the day." • Africa Studio - "Burning candles on dark background" • Thomas - "Colorful light from gothic stained glass windows illuminating church interior with patterned reflections"