God is Good Everyday! Faith Formation, Lent and Music

I forgot how much I enjoy working with Elementary age children for Faith Formation. My coworker is still out with an injury so I worked with the Faith Formation program again yesterday. We had the First Communion Retreat last Saturday and that just fueled my flame for formation again in young children.

Last night at the start of the program we had a gathering to pray and talk about the Liturgical Season of Lent with a powerpoint. Then out came the music. I had some videos stored on my computer from a few years ago when I was the coordinator, so I didn't have to work too hard to pull it all together.

A few of the older elementary (we had pre-5th at that time) remembered me and the music so they were leaders for the younger children in the "choreography".

This is one of the favorites - we made up our own "movements".


 This video has it all - music and choreography!

 

Prayer, powerpoint and music only lasted 10 minutes so it didn't infringe on the Catechist's time with the students, but enhanced the experience. If the children aren't engaged, they become bored and that leads to being tired and not paying attention. Elementary session is from 6-7pm, so that age is tired by this time of the day and need the music and movement to invigorate them for the rest of the lesson.

I feel so blessed to be able to enjoy time in prayer and Catechesis with all people, but especially children and youth.

The youth group meets from 6-7pm too, so I had them come out for the gathering with the younger students. After the elementary were released to their teachers we went to the youth room to work on posters for the March Food Drive.  They were so understanding of the situation.

At 7:00 we had a few minutes to get set up for the 6-10th grade to start at 7:15pm, playing music in the gathering area of course~

The youth gathered for prayer. Then we had a powerpoint that started with Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus in the Desert that youth volunteered to read. We then watched a great video from Busted Halo that was only a couple minutes long about our personal journey in the desert.

Make Faith Formation joyful. Learning can be joyful. Praise and worship can be joyful.
Lent is a penitential time, but still can be joy filled.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

"Therefore I praised joy, because there is nothing better for mortals under the sun than to eat and drink and be joyful;"

Mother Mary, Pray for us to be joyful and praise God everyday!  AMEN
God is good - EVERYDAY
and EVERYDAY God is good!

What We Believe - The Creed

What We Believe - The Creed or should I say creeds?

When we say "I believe" - we are pledging ourselves.
Just like saying Amen (I believe).

The creed exclaims our faith - our beliefs. This is what we believe!

Catechism of the Catholic Church

CCC 194 The Apostles' Creed is so called because it is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles' faith I is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome. Its great authority arises from the fact: it is "the Creed of the Roman Church, the See of Peter the first of the apostles, to which he brought the common faith".

CCC 195 The Nicene Creed draws its great authority form the fact that it stems from the first two ecumenical Councils (in 325 and 381). It remains common to all the great Churches of both East and West to this day.

Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
Her suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the Communion of Saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
the Resurrection of the body
and live everlasting. Amen.

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ.
the only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial
with the Father;
Through Him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
He came down from heaven
and by the Holy Spirit was Incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
He suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead
and His Kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Hillsong - This I Believe



Mother Mary, Pray for us to dig deep into our faith and believe. Amen.

10 Minutes a Day for Prayer?

Matthew Kelly asks, "Can you set aside 10 minutes a day for prayer?"

 In the same spot? How would that change you? What would get in your way? Is this something that can help you become the best version of yourself?
(Questions from his Decision Point program - session 4 - The Prayer Process)

Can we set aside 10 minutes a day for prayer? We can and we should.

We have our cup of coffee, we may read the paper, we watch the news or our favorite show. We make sure we are in front of that TV at just the right time to catch the newest episode or our sports show.  We make sure we are on time for work. We make sure we get to school and sports activities. We just need to make sure we "get to" prayer.

There is so much hustle and bustle in our lives that we need to "get to". Do we? Do we need to watch TV now? Do we need to get to that event?

We have to answer these questions everyday. If and when we choose the 10 minutes a day to pray we find peace and peace leads to happiness and happiness leads to less stress.

We hear all the time that we need to find time for ourselves - when you find time for yourself, invite God in.

Mother Mary, pray for us so that we find a time for prayer. AMEN