http://www.echoingtheword.com Echoing the Word is an exciting resource in religious education and faith formation, providing for the Christian growth of people ministering in the faith development of children. Formative, practical, contemporary approach to catechesis. en-au Copyright 2002-2004 Pauline Electronic Publishing 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +1000 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +1000 Echoing the Word http://www.echoingtheword.com/images/logo_news.jpg http://www.echoingtheword.com info@echoingtheword.com (Joanna Coleiro) Editorial http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=942 Sr. Joanna Coleiro, fsp
Perhaps one of the most extraordinary things that Christianity tells us about God is that God chose to come among us and to become one like us. The story of Jesus is the story of God Among Us. It is through Jesus that we, as Christians, know what God is like. It begins with a manger, a baby, a mother. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Erin Wedge) Featured Articles http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=936 In this reflection on key Scripture texts of the Advent season, Erin Wedge brings to life the richness of the scriptural name Christians give to Jesus, Immanuel. Although the name ‘Immanuel’ is so frequently used in prayer and song at this time of year we very often can tell students no more than that it means “God with us”. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Jan Grajczonek) Reviews & Resources http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=940 Jan Grajczonek reviews three children’s publications that can be used to help develop themes associated with Advent: The Perfect Present by Fiona Roberton; The Little Refugee by Anh Do and Suzanne Do; and If the World Were a Village by David Smith. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Kirsty Power) Reviews & Resources http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=950 Kirsty Power reviews three books which can be used in the Religious Education context and beyond: No One But You by Douglas Wood; Baptizing Harry Potter by Benedictine monk Luke Bell; and Mary’s First Christmas by Walter Wangerin. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Paul Taouk) Reviews & Resources http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=949 Paul Taouk reviews Voices of Christmas by Nikki Grimes – a unique book that brings to life the characters of the Christmas story through a series of engaging soliloquies. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Tony Densley) Theology http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=937 Tony Densley reflects on what it means to live the Advent season in Australia, at a time in the year when we traditionally experience the dual forces of drought and floods. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Anne Victor) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=945 Anne Victor’s activity for young students invites them to explore what it means to wait for something special. Anne offers teachers online resource ideas, among others, to develop an understanding of what it means to wait for Jesus. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Beth Nolen) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=947 Beth Nolen’s activity guides students through making a poster about Advent with a partner or a small group, including learning about Advent symbols and interviewing people who might know something about Advent. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Jennifer Callanan) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=943 In this engaging activity from Jennifer Callanan students are encouraged to discover the nature of God by exploring what Jesus reveals to us about God in the parables. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Anne Victor) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=946 In this activity, Anne Victor invites students to reflect on how Mary and Joseph prepared for the birth of Jesus and to illustrate how they prepare to celebrate Jesus’ coming. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Beth Nolen) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=948 This activity from Beth Nolen invites older students to work together as a class to identify those people who most need to discover ‘God among us’. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Peter Arndt) Social Justice http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=944 Peter Arndt’s justice article reminds us of the deeper meaning of Advent as a time of greater commitment to and awareness of those around us. Through a simple Advent Wreath prayer, Peter leads students to consider ways they can take action for change for the good of others and the world we share. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Jan Grajczonek) Religious Literacy http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=941 Jan Grajczonek helps early years teachers break open the abstract notion of ‘God among us’ for young children. Starting with the telling of a story (also reviewed in this issue) Jan invites students to reflect on their experiences of gift giving and gift receiving. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us info@echoingtheword.com (Jan Epstein) Movies http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=939 Jan Epstein reviews the recently released movie, In Time starring Justin Timberlake as Will Salas. Set in a dystopian world in 2161, In Time tells the story of a world in which it is only by buying, or stealing, time that one can live beyond 25 years of age. A movie to set students thinking about the value of time, how we use it and the damage done when power to control commodities is in the hands of a small group in society. Vol. 10 No. 5, 2011 Preparing for God Among Us