Religious Education
Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door I will come in.
Rev 3:20
Dear Parents/ Carers
This week our Year 3/4's led us in prayer to celebrate the first week of Advent. They used the idea of “connection” to help understand the Gospel of Mark.
Mark 13:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’
The Gospel of the Lord
Often by the time the Church celebrates Advent as a way of preparing for Christmas, the shops have been filled with Christmas paraphernalia for weeks. It starts off with a few decorations and wrapping paper and eventually takes over every retail outlet. Surrounded in this excess of Christmas consumerism, it is often difficult to draw attention to the season of Advent and we need to prepare ourselves spiritually for the celebration of Christmas. It is important to stay awake, as Mark tells us in his Gospel. Awake to what is happening around us in the world and awake to what is happening within us.
I asked some of the children from Year 3/4 JM to share with me their reflection of the first week of Advent. Click on the links below to hear their responses.
Here are some reflection questions that you might like to think about over the week.
In what ways does our society need a call to ‘Stay awake’?
How is it possible to challenge attitudes of complacency in society?
How can you demonstrate that faith is an important aspect of life?
How do you nurture your spirituality and faith?
Take Care
Bernadette Reed
(Religious Education Leader)