RE at St Thomas More School

This is what I wrote last year (my, how time flies! Which is what our priest was saying at church today – Advent is a time of waiting, but then we look back and ask where has the time gone?!):

An Advent Calendar is a popular way of counting down the days to Christmas. Nowadays, many Advent Calendars are filled with chocolate, and are decorated with popular cartoon characters, but traditionally they have a picture of a nativity scene, and each window opens to reveal a small image that has something to do with the story of the first Christmas.

Here is a link to the Woodlands Junior School’s Advent Calendar. By visiting this calendar each day, you will learn more about Christmas around the world.

There is also an interactive Advent Calendar aimed at younger pupils – perhaps you have a younger brother or sister who would enjoy playing the games on this calendar?

Finally, you could visit the Culham Institute’s 2007 Advent Calendar When you click on the day, you find out more about St Nicholas, as well as revealing part of an icon of that saint. There is then a link to an Advent activity. For the 2008 Christmas feast, click here. For the 2009 Advent Calendar, the Yule Lads and Lasses, click here.

You can find many more Advent resources on the REEP Advent Resources page.

An historical Advent calendar can be found at the Geffrye Museum.

Have fun – and happy Advent!

(The photo above was taken from the Calendars for Christmas website.)

I’m afraid it’s a bit late, but I hope you all had a happy Easter! Click here to read the BBC’s page on Easter. Click here to read the BBC’s school page on Easter, which has other links to help you learn more about Easter.

Today is Good Friday, the day that Christians remember Jesus dying for them on their cross. For more information, have a look at this BBC link.

An Advent Wreath is another popular symbol used during the four weeks of Advent. You could make your own one at home, or perhaps your form class could make one. My church gave out instructions on how to make an Advent Wreath, so I am going to share them with you, in case you want to make one too.

You will need the following items, many of which can be bought from a florist:

1 plate sized base.
An oasis, which you will need to fit into the base, then soak well.
4 candle holders, which will fit into the oasis.
Some evergreen leaves, cut into small pieces, which will fill up the oasis and round the base.
A piece of purple ribbon, to tie around the base.

(If you can’t get those items, why not make your own Advent Wreath like this one?

This is the meaning of the Advent wreath:

1. The circle is a symbol of eternity. God has no beginning and no ending.
2. The evergreen is a symbol of the never changing love of God. He always loves us.
3. The four candles – there is one candle for each week of Advent. As Christmas draws nearer the light gets stronger. The light is a symbol of Christ, the Light of the World.
4. The purple ribbon (and the purple vestments worn in church) is a sign of the pain of our longing for Jesus’ Spirit to come into our lives, so that we may be like him, a little light leading people to God.

You could use the Advent wreath at home in the following way:

1. The family gathers around the wreath.
2. The candle(s) is (are) lit by one member of the family. (Take turns!)
3. A hymn is sung.
4. Each member of the family prays.
5. Pause for thought.
6. All say the Our Father and the Hail Mary.

This is taken from my church newsletter:

During the season of Advent we think about the coming of Jesus into our world. The readings on Sundays are taken from the parts of the Bible which tell us about God’s special people, the Jews, longing and waiting for the Messiah. This name means Saviour, that is, someone who saves and makes whole. We know that Jesus is the Saviour and he has shown us how we can be saved. We believe that he is Risen and Alive, helping us to be saved. We allow him to come among us every time we are forgiving, kind and patient. We meet him in others when they are kind to us.

Let us, during these four weeks of Advent, help to bring Jesus to everyone we meet by sharing our love with them. After all, Jesus said: “Whatever you do to others you do to me.”

Have a fun and happy Advent!

An Advent Calendar is a popular way of counting down the days to Christmas. Nowadays, many Advent Calendars are filled with chocolate, and are decorated with popular cartoon characters, but traditionally they have a picture of a nativity scene, and each window opens to reveal a small image that has something to do with the story of the first Christmas.

Here is a link to the Woodlands Junior School’s Advent Calendar. By visiting this calendar each day, you will learn more about Christmas around the world.

There is also an interactive Advent Calendar aimed at younger pupils – perhaps you have a younger brother or sister who would enjoy playing the games on this calendar?

Finally, you could visit the Culham Institute’s 2007 Advent Calendar (I can’t seem to find a 2008 one yet – perhaps someone could help me out?) When you click on the day, you find out more about St Nicholas, as well as revealing part of an icon of that saint. There is then a link to an Advent activity.

You can find many more Advent resources on the REEP Advent Resources page.

An historical Advent calendar can be found at the Geffrye Museum.

Have fun – and happy Advent!

(The photo above was taken from the Calendars for Christmas website.)

Here is a link to the Diocese of Bath and Wells’ annual Jesse Tree. Jesse was one of the ancestors of Jesus, and the tree is used to remind us of the story of God’s relationship with the world, from the creation of the world to the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

Here is the “Jesse Tree prayer”. Perhaps you could say it with your family or your class?

Thank you, God, for our family.
Help us as a family this Advent season to prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birthday at Christmas. As we think about his family tree, may we grow to love him more and to love our own family more. Amen.

(I found the image at this website. If you follow the link, you can find out more about the Bible readings and the symbols for each day during Advent. Why not make your own Jesse Tree?)

The Year of St Paul – Secondary Video from Catholic Westminster on Vimeo.

This Sunday, the Feast Day of St Peter and St Paul, is the start of the Year of St Paul, when the Church will celebrate the 2000th birthday of St Paul. This is the Cardinal’s message to you.

You can find out more information about St Paul on the Diocesan website.

This Sunday the Church celebrates its birthday – Pentecost. To find out what happened during the first Pentecost, watch the slideshow below.

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Happy Birthday, Church!

It’s terrible, but I only just realised it was 23 April today – St George’s Day – so I thought I would wish you all a happy St George’s Day!

St George is the patron saint of England, Portugal, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republic of Macedonia.

I couldn’t let this most important day in the Christian calendar pass by without wishing you all a happy, peaceful and joyful Easter!