Children Program (6-12 years old) prepared by ĐH Tây Nam

Session I: I Am Home!

Theme explanation:

• Magis is the Latin word for “more” or “greater.”  Magis means doing the more, the greater, for God.  When you work (study for school, do your homework, …), give all of yourself!  When you play, play with all your heart and do not hold back.  When you dream, dream big!  Magis means the more, and not the most; the greater, not the greatest.  When you want to do the best, you may get “stuck” or become afraid because you may feel it’s too much.  If you want to do what is better, you are able to choose.  You strive to do great things for God, for your family (parents, brothers and sisters), for your friends and teachers.  So Magis means we should try to do the more, the greater, the better for God and for others.
• Each of us is precious in God’s eyes.  God calls each of us to follow him, to come home.  He calls each of us by our names. 

Art and Craft:  Living Stones (Name Stones)  (adapted from ‘101 Crafts to help kids grow in their faith’ by Laurine M. Easton)

Materials: Stones (smooth and clean, any shape, 1 per child), brushes, shirts to protect clothing, poster or acrylic paint, newspapers, optional: felt and glue

Before session:

Wash stones and let them dry so there is a clean surface on which to paint.  Make sure the stone has at least one smooth surface.

Directions:

1. Have children study their rocks and find the best place to paint their names.
2. Let the children’s creativity and imagination flow as they paint and decorate their personal “name stones.”
3. Optional:  Glue felt to the bottom of the stone.
4. Invite children to show their name stones and share something special about themselves.
5. Invite children to share about their group name (if they belong to one), where they come from, how many times they have been to regional gathering, and if there are any brother, sister, friend present attending this regional gathering with them.

Theme connection:

Talk to children and encourage them to share about what it means to come home, to go home, or to be at home.  Explain that we use the phrase “walk with the Lord” to describe our efforts to follow Jesus more closely or to come home.

Activity:  Walking with the Lord (‘101 Crafts to help kids grow in their faith’ by Laurine M. Easton)

Materials: Construction paper, poster board or cardstock, scissors, pencils, crayons, markers, masking tape, yarn or string

Directions:

1.      Have children pair up and trace each other’s foot or shoe onto a piece of construction paper, poster board, or cardstock.

2.      Each child cuts out his or her footprint and decorates it. Children might draw or write what they can do every day to follow the Lord (smile, be kind, help others, go to mass, pray, …)

3.      Gather and display the completed footprints (using the yarn or string) in the hallway or around the classroom.

Optional:  Older children can compose a prayer or thoughts related to “I Am Home” or “Walking with the Lord” to accompany their footprints.

Examination of Consciousness