A Fertile Heart - Year 3 (S) by fertileheart.org.uk

Key Stage 2 Year 3

A Fertile Heart Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Love is creative. To have a fertile heart is to love, grow and make a positive difference.

A Fertile Heart Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Children have a natural desire to love. They have a longing to make a difference. They love growing. A Fertile Heart helps them understand that these desires are all connected. God’s first words to us were, “Be fertile!” And the whole of the Bible teaches us that we are fertile through healthy, loving relationships – with God and each other. Learning to authentically and appropriately receive and give love leads to us having fertile hearts. Using the concept ‘fertile’ helps the children see the similarity between plants growing through fertile soil, sun and water, and us growing through a caring environment, love and truth.

Key Stage 2: Year 3

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love Panda Press Publishing would like to thank the following contributors to A Fertile Heart: Kathryn Lycett, John Cook, Mary Dickenson, Maryanne Dowle, Bernadette Eakin, Christopher Hancox, Louise Kirk, Gavin McAleer and Rebecca Surman Thanks also to Dr Charlie O’Donnell, Joe Smiles, Michael H. Barton, Mary Flynn, Rev Dr Stephen Morgan and Fr Wayne Coughlin for their kind support. ISBN: 978-0-9930555-6-0 A Fertile Heart KS2 Scripture quotations taken from various authorised translations. Every effort has been made to locate copyright holders and to obtain permission to reproduce sources. For those sources where it has been difficult to trace the originator of the work, we would welcome further information. If any copyright holder would like us to make an amendment, please inform us and we will update our information during the next reprint. All images and illustrations used under licence. Design © 2021 Panda Press Publishing Limited Illustrations and Images: Shutterstock All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher who can be contacted at hello@fertileheart.org.uk British Library Catalogue Publication Data. A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library. Printed and bound in the UK and published under licence by Panda Press Publishing Ltd, 1 Newcastle Street, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 8JU Company Number 11786188 Printed, bound and distributed in Australia by Createl Publishing, 98 Logistics Street, Keilor Park, Victoria 3042, t: 03 9336 0800, f: 03 9336 0900, www.createl.com.au Keep in touch Facebook @afertileheart Linkedin.com/company/a-fertile-heart Twitter @afertileheart visit A Fertile Heart at www.fertileheart.org.uk Version 7, September 2021

Imprimatur:

Nihil Obstat for KS2, 3 & 4: Reverend Jonathan Veasey. Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, 30th November 2020.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

04/07/2018

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Foreword His Grace George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel “The Glory of God is humanity fully alive”. Thus wrote St. Irenaeus in the 3rd century. His words remain true to this day. They mean that God is the creator of the gift of life. In that gift, each human person receives a share in His own creative love. His revelation in life and love, as well as through creation, is pure gift. This is the ‘grace’ of which we speak, in order that “we may have life and have it to the full” (Gospel of St. John 10:10). This truth lies at the heart of the Gospel. It is what it means to be truly human. The gift of life is bestowed by God in order that we may flourish and thrive. We do this in the first place simply by living with gratitude. We do it by responding to His love in a life of joyful communion with Him. We express it by actively engaging in the good of others so that mutual ‘flourishing’ may take place. The more we give, the more we receive. The ‘Gospel of Life’ outlined above is, indeed, ‘Good News’. It is revealed in every aspect of human nature and creation itself. This is the life-giving teaching we seek to hand on to our children who are “the messages we send to tomorrow”. The Rite of Baptism reminds us that parents are the first and best teachers of their children. The Catholic school exists primarily to educate children to receive and respond to God’s love for each one of them and for all. Our schools are designed to help parents fulfil their God given task of caring for their children in the school of love. The Catholic school is not just a place for professional education – existing for improvement in learning - important though that is. It is a place of formation, a place in which ‘lessons for life’ are imparted, received and shared. The whole school community teaches and learns these lessons in a truly Catholic environment. Human relationships are obviously at the heart of life and flourishing. We are made to relate to each other, body, mind and spirit. The physical, emotional and spiritual reality of our being are part and parcel of the ‘holy trinity’ of each one of us. Thus affective sexuality education is a crucial part of human formation. A Fertile Heart is the culmination of several years work of dedicated individuals [teachers, theologians, education advisers and parents] from within the dioceses of Birmingham, Cardiff, Clifton, Arundel and Brighton and Shrewsbury. They have worked tirelessly to create a resource which puts the human person and the flourishing of our pupils at the heart of the Catholic school. It is offered as an important aid to pupils, parents, teachers, governors and clergy to remind us all that “We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning God had meant us to live it” (Ephesians 2:10).

Introduction If you don’t know how a car works, you’re not likely to be able to fix it. If you don’t know something about how crops grow, you’re not likely to be a great farmer. If you don’t understand a mobile phone, you’re not likely to get the most out of it. Understanding what it is to be a human person will help us know how to think and act, and so be happy and fulfilled. This booklet is the second stage of a curriculum that goes from Reception to Y11, comprising 11 modules for Years 3-6. A Fertile Heart seeks to give a coherent vision of what it is to be human, empowering the young person to understand themselves more deeply, and therefore make better, more informed choices. In KS1 we focused on Bible stories to help the children learn about life, growing and love. This continues in Y3, with a focus on Jesus in John’s Gospel, and in particular on: receiving and giving; Jesus being our light and living water; decreasing in selfishness so that we can increase in life and love; and bearing much fruit in union with Jesus. In Y4 we begin to turn to reason more, to help the children grasp the foundational understandings of personhood and relationship. Just as there is no point in branching out into other subjects if children have not learnt how to read, write and do arithmetic, so it is more important to thoroughly cover the essentials than it is to cover a breadth of less important things. Thus, personhood, relationship, dignity, freedom, happiness, tolerance and the importance of being rational and being open to faith are all dealt with thoroughly. Some concepts are introduced that maybe, by themselves, don’t seem central. Please be assured that they are, as will be more apparent in looking at the whole curriculum. Two very important dimensions to being human are the need for love and relationship, and the desire to grow and make a meaningful difference. We can only truly grow and make a meaningful difference if we have meaning and purpose. Thus, underpinning PSE/PSHE and RHE/RHSE is the need to help the pupil to understand themselves: both in their given-ness - including what it is to be human - and in their uniqueness - their personhood. Key to gaining correct self-understanding is the ability to think correctly. If they don’t get that process right they won’t understand themselves correctly and be able to withstand destructive pressures from within and without. As humans, therefore, we have to come to understand ourselves in the light of reason. Crucially, authentic faith strengthens reason and opens it up to deeper realities. This curriculum is completely set against the polarisation of faith and reason. Whether referring to faith or not, it always seeks to reflect and think things through logically, and help the young person to slowly learn to do the same. Central to the understanding of being human is that we are called to be fertile. We use ‘fertile’ and ‘fruitful’ interchangeably in KS2 - with the emphasis on growing, helping others to grow and making a difference. At the core of reality, all creativity comes from the communion of persons in reciprocal complementary unity. Reciprocal complementarity is when, as well as the equality of personhood, the God-given differences between persons shape the relationship between them in a bond of mutual love. This is true of God himself, and of the relationship of each of us with God, and with each other. Within this creativity is the fertility of procreation, but so are all dimensions of creativity and growth. KS2 will focus on this general truth, helping every pupil to gradually get in touch with their deeper fertility at the heart of their personhood, and their ability to cooperate with others for the good of all. This will allow us, in KS3 and 4, to situate procreational fertility within this deeper, richer understanding of the communion of persons, and uniquely, marriage. This prevents sexuality, sex and parenthood being dealt with in a reduced or even merely functional way. This curriculum is not dumbed down. Some of the concepts dealt with might challenge the pupils and stretch them, but all modules have been tried and tested and found to really engage and lead on the young person. Please persevere in rational trust! The last three modules, on faith and science, are more specialist and so the modules and powerpoints are enhanced by extended podcasts, embedded in the powerpoints and available separately on our website. The modules often refer to parents and family - and obviously your pupils will be in very diverse family situations: you will know best how to keep the example but communicate it sensitively. The curriculum deliberately does not deal with reproductive biology, as we think this is best done discretely. And finally life is joyful. The modules are open to a sense of fun - please use that opening!

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Family Involvement The Church consistently speaks of the triangle of family, parish and school that, working together, truly help the young person grow. With increased emphasis on a school’s responsibility to help the child grow in RHE/RHSE, it is essential to seek parental involvement. These modules are written with this in mind. Each module has various suggested activities, with corresponding downloadable worksheets when needed. Perhaps one of these activities could be adapted or continued - or one of your own used - for the child to go home and discuss with their parent/carer, with a view to returning to school with something to add to the subject. The worksheet might sometimes help with this. Modules & Prayer The 44 topics included here are called modules, not lessons. Piloting the curriculum revealed that much more was gained from each topic being visited over the week focusing on a lesson, rather than being simply a stand-alone lesson. The home activity and follow-up discussion in the class complement this. Thus, a quote from the module might be on the whiteboard Monday morning - with a little five-minute discussion on it during the day, the main lesson be on Tuesday and a continuation take place later in the week, after the home activity. This more holistic approach also helps communicate to the children the importance of learning about themselves: situating self-understanding at the heart of education, not merely being an imposed add-on. At the heart of this self-understanding is the truth that we discover ourselves in relationship, especially with God. Therefore, from module 4e onwards, the lessons start with a meditative prayer (except for 6e when it is part of the lesson, and 6i-k when it is at the end). The concepts and truths learnt here are always secondary to the reality of that relationship. Planting Seeds The whole curriculum starts, in Reception, with both the creation stories of Genesis 1 and 2. These are filled with fertile images of gardens, seed and fruit, which show us that God’s call to man and woman to ‘Be fertile!’ (Gen. 1:28) isn’t separate from the fertility of all life. Thus, we also encouraged the children to plant and tend seeds as a living backdrop to their learning. This could be done again in Y3, especially in conjunction with their science module. This gives a good setting for exploring that, for instance, being loved and belonging is the fertile soil of us growing, that the light of truth helps us grow, that grace waters us into life, and that true freedom and tolerance mean we can all grow together. We are unique within creation as being able to think, choose and relate to each other and our Creator. This means we can consent to what we are, and cooperate in our growth. Such obedience is like being directed towards the sun (cf. key point in module 4h & drama in 4i), and allows us to grow in true beauty. At the heart self-understanding is the knowledge that I need to receive from God before I can respond, and give - and this is eloquently reflected in the seed receiving light, nutrients and water and then being able to blossom and seed itself. Starting at Y5 or Y6 A strength of this curriculum is its integrated, developing vision. However, a side-effect of this is that it is slightly harder to immediately enter into it at the start of Y5 or 6. This will, obviously, only be a problem in the first year of using A Fertile Heart. The glossary provided helps if words that have been thought through in Y5 say, suddenly appear in Y6. References back to previous modules should also be an aid. However, if the children can be won over to accept modules from earlier years, there would be benefits, as a one-off, in completing Y4 and Y5 modules in Y5, and a selection of Y4 and 5 modules, and then all of Y6 ones, in Y6.

Glossary Person A rational being for whom relationship is central to their fulfilment and happiness. This is a richer understanding than ‘individual’, which can mean a thinking being whose fulfilment is found primarily in themselves. Fertility The capacity to cooperate in growth. We are not Creators, but we are not sterile either: we can cooperate in our own growth, the growth of the other and the relationship between us. We tend to think in terms of babies when we hear the word fertile, but you can have fertile crops or a fertile imagination or intellect, etc. Understanding fertility in this broader sense helps us understand that it is as a person that you are fertile, not primarily as a gender: every person is called to be fertile in this sense and every person can be. It is through communion with God and each other, in love, that we are most fertile. Freedom The ability to readily act in complete accord with my true nature - in harmony with who I truly am. True human freedom always seeks truth and love. The false understanding of freedom is to be able to do what I like. Tolerance Respect for the other’s true freedom. (So, if we misunderstand freedom, we will misunderstand tolerance as well.) Nature The given-ness of something, of who I am. Justice Acting in accord with the nature of things. Joy The deepest experience of being alive, growing, and being in life-giving relationship; of being and living in accord with who I truly am. Initiator The one who takes a lead in a relationship of love: not a controller or someone who dominates, but one who initiates out of love for the other. In turn, the initiator receives from the receiver & responder. Receiver & Responder The one who first receives from the initiator in a communion of love, and loves in return by accepting the love offered and responding to it. In the Bible, this receiving of love is often called obedience or submission, but in a respectful way that is in no way demeaning, and is fulfilled in the response - often an initiating in itself - being then received by the initiator, and responded to, etc. - resulting in a life-giving relationship of mutual submission and respect. Reciprocal Complementarity This is the relationship of love between initiator and receiver & responder, where both persons benefit from the other and their genuine differences enrich each other. It helps us see how right order in relationship does not mean domination, but rather can be mutually beneficial. It can be seen that the three above definitions are interconnected. This relationship is primarily between persons, but can also be between things - such as reason and emotions. Appropriate Vulnerability Relationship and intimacy require a certain vulnerability on behalf of both persons. Especially as we are growing, we can tend towards too little vulnerability or too much. Appropriate vulnerability is the ability to allow one’s relationships to grow steadily and with appropriate boundaries, that benefit both persons.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Year 3 Modules a-k

Contents: Year 3 Y3 focuses on Jesus in John’s Gospel to develop the children’s understanding of who they are, and their relationships. In particular, we see how Jesus is our light and living water, helping us to grow like sunlight and water does plants. Home, school and church are our soil. Jesus also teaches us that he is the vine and we are his branches, and together we can bear much fruit (John 15:5). Module 3a: God is Our Father To understand the three steps to receiving and giving - starting with the Our Father. Module 3b: The Light of Truth To understand that what we think is the ‘way we are facing’: that knowing truth means we face the right way. Module 3c: Water of Life To understand that receiving Jesus, the water of life moves us towards God our Father. To see how this helps us to love, grow, and be healthy and beautiful. Module 3d: Marriage, God, man and woman To learn from the Wedding at Cana about relationship: with God, between man and woman, and with others. Module 3e: Increase and Decrease The stories of John the Baptist and of Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3 help us to see how living in the Spirit helps us to grow, and why being willing to ‘decrease’ means we can increase in love and happiness. Module 3f: Now that’s increase! The Raising of Lazarus in John 11 helps us understand the importance of trusting in God even when things are hard. We see how Jesus’ miracles help us to trust that if we decrease for him, he will increase in us. Module 3g: Unless a Grain of Wheat dies… To know what we mean by ‘a fertile heart’. To understand what Jesus means by asking us to die with him so we can live with him. This and the following modules really complement First Holy Communion preparation. Module 3h: Remain in my love To understand more how we can learn about the spiritual by reflecting on the physical. To know the importance of being faithful to God, ourselves and others. The remaining modules focus on John 15. Module 3i: Pruned to be pure To know that growth is sometimes hard, and that being loved by the Father helps me to cope with difficulties. Module 3j: Water, wine and blood! To have a fertile heart is to have a loving heart, united to Jesus’. By revisiting the Wedding at Cana, the Last Supper, and the Crucifixion, we see that Holy Communion and Mary’s Immaculate Heart help us in this. Module 3k: Commanded to be Joyful! To understand why keeping Jesus’ new command makes us happy. To know that we have been chosen by Jesus to ‘go out and bear fruit’.

God is Our Father

Learning Objective

Success Criteria

To understand the three steps to receiving and giving.

1. I can understand that to receive, I need to face the person and be open.

This module picks up the main theme of Y2 - the Our Father prayer - and puts the key building blocks in place for Y3 and beyond. Year 3 will focus on John’s Gospel. Step 1 Activity. This is a simple activity of trying to get a child to ‘receive’ a cuddly toy from you, and then give it back; maybe use different children for each stage. It should be fun and simple, and so be memorable, as we will revisit it, e.g. 3e. 1) Get the child to stand apart from you. Explain that they must stay put, you will move towards them offering the toy, and they have to receive it. Check class understanding, then announce the last rule - the child has to be facing away from you. Walk to the child and offer them the toy. Repeat as necessary. The child might try various ploys, but don’t let them succeed. Eventually, conclude that for the child to receive the toy, they really need to be facing you. 2) Now let the child face you, but with their arms folded. Then repeat as in (1) to get the class to understand that they also can’t receive unless they are open to receiving. Finally, let the child face the right way and be allowed to move their arms. You move towards them, offer the toy and they can receive.

2. I can understand that to give, I need to face the person and move towards them.

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:16

3) Now, the same situation, but ask a child to give you the toy back, without moving from their spot. Get them to face away from you again. Obviously, they won’t be able to give you the toy. 4) Now repeat with the child facing you, but still remaining put. They still won’t be able to give you the toy back. Eventually let them move and give you the toy. Explain: this shows us that to receive we need to be facing the person and be open to give we need to be facing the person and move towards them.

Key Point

Receiving and giving

We are God’s family. He is Our Father. By receiving love from him and loving him in return, we get closer and closer as one family.

Step 2 Using a cuddly heart or a picture of one, explain that what is true of a toy or any object is also true of love itself: to receive love we have to be facing the person and be open to receive from them; to give love we need to be facing the person and move towards them. (We will have to explore more what we mean by ‘spiritually facing’ and ‘move towards’ in other modules.) Explain: It’s also the same with communicating. If you are talking to me, who do you face? Me. Why is that? Because if you didn’t it would seem rude, I might not hear you, you wouldn’t know if I was listening. To really listen - to receive everything the other is telling us - we need to be facing them and open to receive (e.g. concentrating, not distracted); to communicate to others we need to be facing them with our voice moving towards them. 10

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

God makes his home in us

“Anyone who loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home in him.” John 14:23

Suggested Activities Loved by the father Step 3 Jesus tells us some very simple but important things about God: 1) He is our Father; 2) as his children we come from him; 3) He always faces and moves towards his children. Therefore to receive from him we need to face him and be open to him. To love him back, we need to face him and move towards him. Jesus tells us how much God loves us (Read Jn 3:16). God didn’t just give us a cuddly toy or heart - he gave us his Son. (Activity 1.) Jesus does talk explicitly about us moving towards the Father (or being towards the Father). He also says it in other powerful ways (Read John 14:23). He invites us to choose God as our Father. Home is where we are most open to receive love; it is where we learn to love every person of our family. Every time we pray to Our Father; every time we try to live and love as his children - to keep his word; every time we act as Jesus acted: we are choosing God as our Father. This means we are even more able to receive love from him. Ask: In what ways can we pray? In what ways can we act like Jesus acted? Discuss in pairs/small groups and take feedback. Explain: Praying also makes us more open to our Father, so it doubly helps us receive. And it is a way of loving God, of moving towards him! Trying to act like Jesus is like moving towards our Father, so as well as helping us receive from him more, it is a way of giving him love. Pray the Our Father together. (Activity 2.)

Summary

1. Use the video clip to help the children to learn Jn 3:16 by heart. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=k2iHNzNJkJw&t=50s 2. In pairs/small groups, the children make posters/banners: “We choose God as our Father.”

Suggested Resources 1. Cuddly toy and maybe cuddly heart. 2. The following can be used as background music for SA 2: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=mKoPEmzN5JA https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GgAy-jydfN8 https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9BuSzSbMf-s

The most important part of life is loving. To receive love we have to be facing the person and be open to receive from them. To give love we need to be facing the person and move towards them. Prayer and trying to act like Jesus help us face God, be open to receive from him and move towards him. They help us receive and give love to God!

The Light of Truth

Learning Objectives

Success Criteria

To understand that spiritually what we think is the ‘way we are facing’. To see that knowing truth means we face the right way.

1. I can understand how thinking is like seeing with the soul.

Step 1 Read children’s version of the cure of the man born blind (Jn. 9).

2. I can understand how the light of truth guides me in the right direction.

Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB1yPN_gT8U (1:42) Recall prior learning: What did we learn in the last module? About receiving and giving love? To receive love we need to be ‘facing’ the person and open to receive. To give love we need to be ‘facing’ the person and ‘move towards them’. But we do need to understand what spiritually ‘facing’ them and ‘moving towards’ them mean. Ask: What three things do plants most need to grow? Soil, water and light (sunshine). The soil is where the seed is planted. For you, that’s your home, and parish and school: the place where you can grow. Step 2 Today we are thinking more about light. Light feeds the plant and also gives it direction: the plant grows towards the light. We need normal light to help us see. Ask: How will you get home today after school?

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Explain: To get home, we have to know where we are and where we are going, to face the right direction and to see the way. Heaven is our true home, so in our relationships - we might say deep inside us, in our spirit - we can see the same link between getting home, knowing, seeing and facing the right way. We could say that here we are talking about the eyes of our soul. Ask: Can you think of times when someone wasn’t listening to you? Or maybe, you knew mum or dad were talking to you, but really you were concentrating on the TV or game? You weren’t really listening because in your spirit you were ‘facing’ a different way - you were focusing on TV. Explain: What we are physically doing is important, but what is going on in our spirit is even more so. We are physical and spiritual; they are connected, but not the same. We can see the physical, but not the spiritual; but understanding how the physical works often helps us understand how the spiritual works - they reflect each other.

The light of truth

Step 3 Ask the children to recap the healing of the blind man. He was able to see and believe in Jesus. Some people saw he was cured, but still refused to believe in Jesus. Explain: To start, the man couldn’t see and didn’t know the truth. Then he was healed: he could see. Then he was also able to see with the eyes of his soul, believe Jesus and see the truth. The men around him could see, but no matter how much Jesus tried to help them, they couldn’t see with the eyes of their soul. They couldn’t see the truth, or believe in Jesus. They remained spiritually blind. Instead of facing Jesus and others, in love, they remained ‘facing’ themselves, only looking inward to what they wanted.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6

Key Point

Suggested Activities

Light helps plants grow and face the right way. Light helps us see, so we know which way to go. Jesus, and the light of his truth, help us see with the eyes of our soul, and spiritually face the right way.

1. At the end of the Youtube clip, play the game suggested, or an alternative, like hiding something in class from a blindfolded child and getting another child to direct them to it.

Read John 8:12. Ask: What do you think Jesus means by this? Is he offering to guide you home from school this evening? Explain: He’s offering to guide you home in a different way. He is the light for our spiritual eyes to see by. We have all been selfish, and let our eyes stay just on what we want, so firstly Jesus heals us so that we can see the light of truth. Then the light of his truth helps us to face the right direction - so as to love God and each other.

2. In groups, create a cartoon strip of someone tempted to tell a lie, but then deciding to be truthful.

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Jc6-EICgM I am the Light of the World (2:19) (Activity 1.) Step 4 Explain: The truth Jesus gives us sets us free and helps us grow (see Jn 8:31-32). But, more than that, Jesus is the Truth (Jn 14:6). He is always ‘facing’ God the Father receiving love and giving love. He is always ‘facing’ us - being the Father’s love to us. When we make our home in him and in his word, his truth, then we too face the right way - towards God and others - rather than turning in on what I want, always ready to think ‘it’s not fair’. Step 5 When we receive the light of the sun, we also feel its warmth, and that opens us up, like flowers. In the same way, the truth of Jesus opens our hearts up - which means we can receive love even more. There’s one thing that stops us receiving that light more than anything: lying. Lying is like closing the eyes of your soul. We all know the temptation to lie. It wasn’t me. I didn’t do it. I didn’t hear you. They started it. Ask the children to reflect on an occasion when they might have told a lie, or been lied to. Did the lie lead to happiness, love and life? No, so let’s all promise to be strong, never lie, and so remain open to God’s love. (Activity 2.)

Summary We face the way we are looking. Spiritually, we face the way we are thinking. Jesus is the truth; he is light for the eyes of our soul. His truth helps us face the right way and be open to receive love. Let’s live in his truth - even when it’s hard!

Jesus heals the blind man

“If you make my word your home, you will indeed be my disciples; you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:31-32

Water of Life

Learning Objectives

Success Criteria

To understand that receiving the water of life moves us towards God our Father. To see how this helps us to love, grow, and be healthy and beautiful.

1. I can see that Jesus is the living water of life, who helps me to love.

Step 1 Show pictures of different flowers, from different habitats. Include some beautiful weeds. Ask the children to comment on them. Do they like them? Are they beautiful? Which is their favourite? Then show images of dead flowers these should be the only ones they say they don’t like, and aren’t beautiful. Explain: In a way, we are like flowers. We are all unique and beautiful, though we may come from different places. We may have favourites, like our best friends, but hopefully we can see that everyone is beautiful. Flowers grow when they are alive and don’t when they are dead. They show us that growth, health and beauty go together, and it doesn’t matter so much if they grow a lot or a little - a sunflower isn’t more beautiful or healthy than a buttercup.

2. I can understand that our souls need grace like our bodies need water.

Jesus says, “No one can enter the kingdom of God, without being born through water and the Spirit.” John 3:5

Recap: We’ve talked about how plants and flowers need soil. And so do we: our ‘soil’ is home, church and school - places where we can grow. We’ve talked about how plants need light, which they open up to and grow towards. And we do too. Who is our light? Yes, Jesus - he gives us the light of his truth so that we open up to his love and face the right way. What else do plants and flowers need to grow? Yes, water. And so do we. Explain: To live, we need water to drink, but we also need ‘spiritual water’ which we call grace. We know what our ‘soil’ is, and we know who our light is. We now need to think about where this spiritual water comes from. In John’s Gospel we hear that it comes from Jesus. In fact, he is our living water as well as our light. John is telling us that Jesus helps us to grow, and be beautiful and healthy. Step 2 Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvmD4CRDFZI ‘Living Water?’ to 4:20. Discuss the story to check understanding. (Activity 1.) Explain: Jesus is our living water who helps us to love in practical ways, like when Maria asked Jesus to help her to be a good friend to Pei-Ling. Can we think of other times Jesus can help us to be more loving - even when it might be difficult? Allow time for discussion in pairs/small groups and take feedback. Often, when we talk about Jesus being the water of life, we are simply comparing his grace to water. But, there is one special time when the link is visible. Ask: Who remembers what happens at Baptism? Allow time for a brief discussion. Read John 3:5. Explain: Jesus is helping us to understand the connection between the real, wet water of our Baptism and the ‘spiritual water’ which we call grace. This is the living water in our story today. Baptism really does show 14

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

A child’s baptism

us that the physical and the spiritual are connected. Read John 4:14. John’s Gospel also tells us that “from his heart shall flow streams of living water” (7:38). This happened in a very real way on the Cross. Just after Jesus had died for us, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear “and immediately there came out blood and water” (20:34). Display a picture of the Divine Mercy, This picture is from a vision Sr Faustina had last century, in Poland. It goes with the simple prayer, “Jesus, I trust in you.” Ask how the picture makes the children feel, and what they can see in it. Explain that the two streams of light - red and white - represent this blood and water, and so represents truth and grace. (Activity 2.)

Suggested Activities 1. Ask the children to write down two questions they would like to ask the Samaritan woman about her meeting with Jesus and compare suggested answers.

Key Point

2. At home this evening, ask mum or dad to look up ‘The Divine Mercy picture’ and see if they like it. Explain to them what the red and white rays represent.

Jesus deliberately wants us to see that as plants need light and water to grow, we need his truth and grace. This way we grow to be healthy, happy, beautiful, unique children of the Father.

3. Learn/sing the song ‘Water of Life’ (2:30) https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=H30QEVBMndA

Step 3 Explain: this takes us back to our last lessons, about giving and receiving. Briefly recap giving and receiving a cuddly toy, giving and receiving love. We learnt that the most important part of life is loving. To receive love we have to be facing the person and be open to receive from them. To give love we need to be facing the person and move towards them. Then we learnt that Christ our light gives us the truth that faces us in the right direction and opens us up to love. He is light for the eyes of our soul. Today we have learnt that Jesus is also our living water who moves us towards the Father, helping us give love as well as receive it. Jesus being our light and living water means we receive truth and grace from him. He gives us the ability to truly receive and give love.

Jesus says, “The water that I shall give will become a spring of living water inside (you), welling up for eternal life.” John 4:14

An important part of what we have learnt is that, especially in relationship to God, we have to receive love so as to be able to give love. That’s an important truth about being human. Jesus first gives us grace and living water so that we can then love in return. (Activity 3.)

Summary Jesus is our living water who moves us towards the Father, helping us give love as well as receive it. Jesus being our light and living water means we receive truth and grace from him. He gives us the ability to truly receive and give love.

The Divine Mercy

Marriage, God, Man and Woman

Learning Objective

Success Criteria

To learn what the Wedding at Cana teaches us about relationship with God, between man and woman, and with others.

1. I can understand that in relationships it is important to listen, share and keep promises.

The first three modules set the foundation for looking at relationship: receiving and giving. These next three modules take specific stories from John’s Gospel to learn more deeply about different aspects of relationship. The last five modules focus on what Jesus says about being fruitful, in John.

2. I can see that both growing and learning to love take time.

Step 1 Read the Wedding at Cana: John 2:1-11 (Check understanding of ‘gallon’ and ‘host’). Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwlh-fDsvS0 John 2 Jesus Turns Water Into Wine (3:07)

“Do whatever he tells you. John 2:5

Ask: What happens in this story? Mary and Jesus were invited to a wedding. They ran out of wine. Mary asked Jesus to do something about this; he didn’t seem willing at first. Mary tells the servants to do what Jesus tells them. They do and he turns water into wine! The celebration carries on. Explain: This is a lovely, simple story - but it also teaches us a lot about relationships. Let’s first look at our relationship with God, then at marriage, then at relationship in general. Step 2 (Activity 1.) Explain: The servants did what they were told straight away. They were obedient. Ask the children for examples of obedience to check their understanding. The Bible tells us a lot about being obedient to God. Better still Jesus showed us how to be obedient to God and how this made him happy and free. Mary was obedient to God too. Mary knew that Jesus loved her completely. She knew he would want to help the wedding couple, even though he maybe didn’t sound willing to. The servants followed her example, and so everything worked out for the best.

Key Point

She teaches us two very important things about obedience: 1. It’s a lot easier to be obedient to God when we trust he loves us completely; 2. Obedience doesn’t mean being timid and fearful - it means being respectful and trusting. That’s why real obedience makes us free and happy - not trapped and sad.

All our relationships grow as we learn to listen, trust and share. These are especially important in marriage.

A last, but important thing this story teaches us about God is that our little things matter to him. Turning water into wine isn’t the biggest miracle that Jesus could have done - especially for his first one! - but he did it because he cared about the couple and their big day. Step 3 Explain: Jesus’ first miracle shows how special God thinks marriage is. There are lots of different relationships and our family groups can look different; God loves us all and values all true love. But from the start, God has taught us

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

The Wedding at Cana

that marriage is a central part of his plan for us to grow in love and truth. Even though a man and a woman can love each other in many ways, marriage brings the best out of their relationship.

Suggested Activities

God created man and woman in his own image. This means that every male is made in the image of God. And every female is made in the image of God. But, in a special way, man and woman in marriage reflect God - a communion of love.

1. In pairs/small groups, ask the children to think of some questions to put to the servants in the story. Then select some children to be ‘interviewed’.

Obviously Jesus and Mary weren’t married, but the only recorded conversation between them as adults - at a wedding - teaches us something important. They both knew the other loved them completely. They were both strong characters. Importantly, because of their long, loving relationship, they really heard what the other was saying.

2. Write a speech bubble for each of the qualities we need in our relationships.

It is so easy to misunderstand each other in what we say and do.

Suggested Resources

Mary said, “They have no wine.” but Jesus understood that Mary knew he could help the wedding couple, and wanted him to do so.

1. Downloadable template of speech bubbles.

Jesus said, “Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not yet come.” Mary understood he meant “I don’t have to do this, and my plan was to remain ‘hidden’ longer - but I’m going to do what you ask, because I love you.” Jesus and Mary show the equality and complementarity between man and woman. (Help the children with the word ‘complementarity’.) They enrich each other. We will think about complementarity, and what it means, throughout this course - but at its heart is a love from two persons that enriches both of them and deepens the unity between them. Step 4 We’ve learnt a lot today about relationships. Ask: Can you remember all the different relationships we have talked about? God and us: man and woman; Mary and Jesus, and the servants, the host, and the couple.

Learning to care

Explain: The story had a happy ending, but there were lots of things that could have gone wrong. In pairs/small groups ask the children to think of some examples and then take feedback. In all our relationships we need to be polite, caring, strong enough to stand up to pressure, trustworthy and most of all… patient. Only then do we get to understand what the other person is really saying or why they are doing something. (Activity 2.) Learning to love is a lifetime’s journey. But we’ve taken a lot of steps on it today! Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_Cbk4i37HM Miracle at Cana (3:00) as a recap on today’s lesson.

Summary Trusting God loves me completely helps me be obedient, which helps me grow. Man and woman are equal. In marriage they are complementary - their differences enrich each other. All relationship needs us to be patient, caring, loyal, polite, and confident that we are loved.

Increase and Decrease

Learning Objectives

Success Criteria

To see how living in the Spirit helps us to grow. To understand that being willing to decrease can help me increase in love and happiness.

1. I can understand that being a child of God means to live in the Spirit.

In this module we look at two stories from John, chapter 3: Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus about Baptism, and John the Baptist telling us that he must decrease and Jesus must increase.

2. I can understand that putting others first helps me grow.

Step 1 Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7743kxargw Jesus and Nicodemus (3:10) Explain: There was a lot in that short video! Ask: What things do you remember hearing? Take suggestions and maybe record on flipchart. Ask: How did Nicodemus feel when hearing Jesus say these things? Confused. Did he listen to him? Why? Yes. First of all, because of the miracles and good things Jesus did. Did Nicodemus believe Jesus? Yes, eventually - though it was hard.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things will be given you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Ask: How do you feel when mum tries to explain to you that it’s time for bed or that you have to do your homework? We have a struggle in us don’t we? Explain: Real trust is rational: it is when we choose to trust mum - or God above our emotions and even our thinking at that moment. Step 2 Explain: Jesus is telling us that our physical life is amazing - we should enjoy it and do what we can to physically grow and be healthy - BUT our spiritual life is so much more important and amazing and eternal, and we should focus more on growing spiritually and being spiritually healthy. Chocolate and winning and watching TV are fun. But love and faith and meaning are so much more special. And they help others, much more than me having my own way all the time. And then we can enjoy sharing chocolate, playing together, watching TV together - so when we choose the spiritual first we win in every way! But we also know how hard it is to remember that when I’m in one of my ‘it’s not fair’ moods! Read Mt. 6:33. Explain: Here, Jesus is making the same point again: if we choose the spiritual first, we enjoy the physical more as well. We call focusing on love, faith and meaning ‘living in the spirit’. We cannot see love, faith or meaning. God is at the centre of love, faith and meaning - and we can’t see him. Display pictures of a chocolate cake and a cake tin. Tell the children there is a bigger, much nicer cake inside the tin. Ask: which cake is more tempting? Choosing the cake they can see shows us why we need God’s help to ‘live in the Spirit’ - because it’s easier to focus on me, and now, and what I can see and what I feel; whereas living in the Spirit focuses on us, on what I can’t see, on the eternal, on what I believe and think.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

John the Baptist baptises Jesus

Key Point Jesus wants us all to be happy; when we put him first we are all happier. This means ‘decreasing so he can increase’.

Recap: Do you remember the quote we learnt: John 3:16 (replay the song from 3a). Explain: It’s easier to trust God when we know he loves us, so one reason he gives us Jesus is to help us believe that. Jesus would have died just to save you and that is a lot of love! Living in the spirit gives us life, but we can’t do it without God’s help: we need to receive this help before we can give. Also we need to remember that there are people of other religions and there are people with no religion. And they will all agree that it is better to focus on love, caring and meaning, rather than chocolate, winning and watching TV - so we can all help each other to live like this. Step 3 In the Bible, straight after the story of Jesus and Nicodemus we hear about John the Baptist. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYdwSsaFuOk (0:30) Ask: What does John the Baptist say? He must increase, I must decrease. What does this mean? Take suggestions from the class. Explain: John had been at the centre of things: lots of people were coming to him for baptism. Then Jesus started preaching and everyone was going to him instead. John didn’t worry about this, he wasn’t jealous; in fact it made him happy: his life was about wanting Jesus to increase, even if that meant him decreasing.

Suggested Activities 1. Repeat initial activity from 3a with giving and receiving a cuddly toy, but this time start with child holding one, and you offering another. Help them see that they have to give theirs to someone else in order to have their hands free to receive yours. Pause a little before giving yours. That moment is when we experience the emptiness of giving, before we receive even more. 2. In small groups create a simple drama where one of you is tempted to be more important, but chooses to be less important. Show how your choice makes you happier. Make a storyboard of your role play. 3. Make a double sided bookmark ‘He must Increase’, ‘I must Decrease’.

We know being like John the Baptist can be hard! Often we like to be the most important person and to be at the centre of things! Ask the children to think of some examples and take feedback. Explain: When it’s our own birthday party, we are the centre of attention, getting lots of cards and presents. But when we are like Jesus we can also enjoy everyone else’s birthday party, we don’t get jealous that we are not at the centre. Wanting Jesus to increase, and me to decrease is the way we face God, the way we move towards him, the way we grow in happiness. (Activities 1 and 2.) Choosing to be less important for Jesus isn’t about not growing, not trying new things - it is about not giving in to that ‘it’s not fair’ feeling. It allows me to know I’m important because I’m loved and special; I’m not loved because I’m important. Watch and join in with the song: He must Increase, I must Decrease: (2:20 or less!) https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/

Summary Being a child of God means letting God be my spiritual heart, living in the spirit, and learning to be happy not having to be important. This allows us to enjoy all of life more. This is what ‘seeking first the kingdom of God’ means. John the Baptist described it as ‘I must decrease; he must increase’.

Jesus and Nicodemus

“He must increase; I must decrease.” John 3:30

Now that’s increase!

Learning Objectives

Success Criteria

To understand the importance of trust when things are hard. To see how Jesus’ miracles help us to trust that if we decrease for him, he will increase in us.

1. I can understand how Jesus raising Lazarus to life helps me trust in him in my difficulties.

Jesus wants us to have life and have it to the full (Jn. 10:10). If we trust him in our dark moments, we can receive so much more from him. This is the mystery of death and resurrection, experienced in our day to day life of faith.

2. I can begin to see how his help in my difficulties is linked to death and Resurrection.

Step 1 Ask: Who likes surprises? Can you think when you might be asked to close your eyes and wait for a surprise? Discuss in pairs/small groups and mind map. Ask: How did you feel while you waited? When you opened your eyes? Explain: These are lovely surprises and they make us happy and excited, but only because we trust the person who asked us to close our eyes. If you were with a stranger in a strange place, who did the same, you would be right not to trust them, and you would want to tell someone about it straight away. Ask: Can you think of times you needed to trust the people who love you, in bigger ways, because you know they want what is best for you?

“I came that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

Explain: To use the words of Jesus, in all these examples we have to die a little bit so that we can grow in life - but sometimes we need help so our trust can be greater than our fear. Step 2 Explain: Last module we learnt: he must increase, I must decrease. Our whole life is full of moments, big and small, where we have to trust and to decrease, so that spiritually we can increase. And the bigger the step, the scarier it is, and the more we need to trust. Read Jn 10:10. Jesus wants us all to be fully alive and to give us so much love! But he knows that sometimes we find it hard to trust what if it goes wrong? Of course, he doesn’t want us to get hurt, but sometimes growth means a sort of ‘dying to myself’ (we’ll come back to this in the next module and in 3i). So, he spends a lot of time trying to help us to trust him. Step 3 Explain: Lazarus, Mary and Martha were friends of Jesus. When Lazarus became ill, Martha and Mary had sent for Jesus, hoping he would come and heal their brother. But Jesus waited four days - not because he didn’t care, but to ‘stretch’ their trust in him so that he could help them grow even more. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct6whNNApmA Jesus Calls Lazarus Out Of His Grave (3:48). Discuss the story to check understanding. Ask: How many ‘trust’ moments did you recognise - when someone had to accept ‘decrease’ so that Jesus could help them increase? Discuss in pairs/small groups and take feedback. 1) Martha and Mary: they had trusted Jesus to heal Lazarus, but he hadn’t even turned up. Then he didn’t apologise. But they both said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Martha then added, “Yet, even now, I know that God will do anything that you ask.”

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Jesus raises Lazarus to life

Suggested Activities 1. In groups, prepare questions and then ‘interview’ Martha and Lazarus. 2. Write speech bubbles for Martha, Jesus and Lazarus.

Suggested Resources 1. Downloadable speech bubble template

Needing to trust on first day of school 2) The crowd: Jesus could heal strangers, why not heal Lazarus his friend? Jesus asked them to trust him by asking for the stone to be rolled away from the tomb.

Martha said, “Even now, I know that God will do anything that you ask.” John 11:22

3) Jesus also had to trust in God the Father. He had told everyone to trust in him because he was the Resurrection. How would he have looked if Lazarus had not come back to life? But he did! That was amazing! What an increase! From death to life. But Martha, Mary, the crowd could all increase too because they had trusted even in the darkness. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmHLoyw5mIg Lazarus Awakes From The Dead (1:32) Step 4 Let’s think more about Martha. Explain: Martha trusted Jesus; she was the first to go to meet him. Jesus then gave her the opportunity to grow further. He asked her not just to believe in him as the Resurrection in the future - but to believe in him there and then: that his power was alive in her at that moment. That’s a lot harder to believe. And it is the same for us. We can believe that Jesus will raise up the saints, or other people, but he wants you to believe in him here and now, in your life, especially in those moments when we feel forgotten, when it feels dark, when we don’t feel important. Then afterwards, we know the joy of increase, of having grown. (Activities 1 and 2.)

Key Point Lazarus must have appreciated life so much more after being brought back from death! But so must Martha and Mary and the others who learnt to trust in Jesus even in their sadness and pain.

Summary Jesus wants to help us grow in receiving and giving love. We need to trust him in times of decrease, so that he can increase us - make us grow. His miracles, and especially his raising of Lazarus help us to trust him. If he can bring Lazarus alive out of the dark of the tomb, he can certainly bring you and me out of any darkness we fear today.

Unless a Grain of Wheat dies…

Learning Objective

Success Criteria

To know what we mean by ‘a fertile heart’. To understand what Jesus means by asking us to die with him so we can live with him.

1. I can explain what we mean by a ‘fruitful’ or ‘fertile heart’.

This and the following modules really complement First Holy Communion preparation.

2. I can see how Jesus’ death and Resurrection helps me in my everyday life.

Step 1 Ask: Do you sometimes get measured at home to see how tall you are? Yes, and we get excited when we see that we are growing. Would you feel happy if you got 4/10 in a spelling test? No! We like it when we do well and can see that we are learning more. Explain: We love growing. We love making things. We love helping each other to grow. We love making a difference. In pairs/small groups discuss different ways we can do these things. Take feedback. Explain: All these are ways of being fruitful. Fertile is just another way of saying fruitful.

“Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it bears much fruit.” John 12:24

Genesis tells us that when God made man and woman, the first thing he told them was, “Be fertile!” or “Be fruitful!” (Gen. 1:28) It’s not surprising that we love being fruitful - God made us that way! Jesus lived among us and told us, “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). What we have been learning all year is that receiving and giving love, as Christ did, is the best way of being fruitful! Jesus’ life shows us the best way to be fruitful is to be loving. Step 2 Explain: In one sense Jesus was very fruitful: 2,000 years after him there are 1.3 billion Catholics in the world and 1 billion other Christians. That’s nearly a third of the world! And there are 1.9 billion Muslims who think Jesus is a holy prophet of God, second only to Mohammed. If all of us Christians and Muslims truly lived like Jesus, the world would be a much happier place - and at least you and I can try. But in an earthly sense he wasn’t fruitful. He preached for three years, and the authorities arrested him and made him suffer and die on a cross. Not very successful. Not very fruitful. Ask: So which one is right? Read John 12:24. Jesus then says, “Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (12:24) He taught his disciples that he was going to be handed over, suffer, die and rise again (e.g. Mk. 8:31). He knew what was going to happen! What is important is that he said ‘and’ not ‘but’ - ‘and rise again’. He lived what he taught us (Jn 12:24). To him, dying was part of his being fruitful. In fact, it was by dying - in trust of God and love of us - that he became so fruitful. Step 3 Ask: So, do we have to die, like Jesus, to be fruitful? No, but lots of saints have. We call them martyrs. The martyrs have been very fruitful in bringing souls to God, despite their death looking like defeat. (Activity 1.) 22

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

English: “Be fertile!” Hebrew: ‫רְפ‬ ּ ‫ּ֥ו‬ Pronnounced: Pe ru! Gen 1:28

Explain: Two saints who weren’t martyred for their faith were Our Lady and St John. They were both at the foot of the Cross of Jesus - uniting themselves with his sacrifice on the Cross. We’ll learn more about sacrifice in preparing for First Holy Communion, but for now let’s just remember that sacrifice is offering ourselves to God - which is exactly what Jesus did on the Cross. Jesus had 12 apostles. All of them died for him… except John. Mary and John teach us that God doesn’t want us to die. He wants us to grow and be fruitful. But we are fruitful when we are united to Jesus’ death on the Cross. The martyrs were united in a special way - through their death. Mary and John were united with it in an even more special way - by sharing it with him. This united Mary’s heart with Jesus’ so closely, that she became mother of us all.

Key Point Sacrifice means uniting with Jesus on the Cross in our spirit and being willing to decrease with him, out of love of God and each other. Step 4 Explain: We can be united to his dying in two ways: through joining in the Mass and through being willing to decrease so that he may increase. I don’t have to die to do that, but the ‘me’ who often thinks ‘it’s not fair’, who puts myself first, who can be mean or lie so that I get my way – that part of ‘me’ has to ‘die’. The Mass helps me to be strong against my ‘selfish self’; and every day I have lots of opportunities to decrease for Jesus.

Suggested Activities 1. Research a martyr with someone at home, and find out 3 facts about them. 2. Create a role play showing how we can decrease for Jesus. Have two different endings - a bad one and a good one. 3. Using a Cross template draw Jesus on the Cross with Mary, John, a martyr, you and a friend at his feet. Draw flowers growing around the five people. Play https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Z2fR9fUD5bM Unless a grain of wheat, Bernadette Farrell (4:26) while drawing.

Suggested Resources 1. Downloadable Cross template. 2. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Z2fR9fUD5bM Unless a grain of wheat, Bernadette Farrell (4:26) to play during Activity 3.

Ask: How many opportunities to decrease for Jesus can you think of? Discuss in pairs/ small groups and mind map suggestions. Ask: Do you remember Maria being a good friend to Pei-Ling? (Module 3c.) She prayed for help in not having her own way. She was united to Jesus in prayer and in decreasing, in love. (Activity 2.) Watch A Grain of Wheat. Death Or Life? (2:17) https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4KCk6pQ_P6k (then Activity 3.)

Summary We really want to increase - to grow, make things, make a difference, and help others to grow. We call this ‘being fruitful’. Often that is easy enough, but sometimes we are even more fruitful when we are willing to die to selfishness, with Jesus. Then, we have to decrease so we can increase! And that’s hard, but he helps us, and it’s amazing when we can. If it dies it bears much fruit

Remain in my love

Learning Objectives

Success Criteria

To understand more how we can learn about the spiritual by reflecting on the physical. To know the importance of being faithful to God, yourself and others.

1. I know that I can learn about what goes on inside of me by seeing how it reflects what goes on outside of me.

Step 1 Activity: In pairs write down five things that describe appearance. Ask the class to describe a few children using the agreed five criteria. Ask: Did these facts really describe each child? Did they say all there is about them? Why not? Explain: We might have been right about what they look like, but we are all much more than what can be seen. What things can we say about N. apart from what they look like? Kind, funny, helpful etc. God created the world so that the things we can see help us to understand the things we can’t see. We have to reflect on the things we can see, and listen to what God tells us, and this way we learn about what we can’t see. Step 2 Show mustard seeds to class. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifKH0y7O_I The Parable of the Mustard Seed (1:10, though only first 34s is needed) Read ‘Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”’ (Mt. 13:31-32) We are part of the kingdom of God. When we are loving and kind, we are sowing spiritual mustard seeds. Our acts may be small, but they help God’s kingdom grow, and grow and grow. Ask: What small seeds of kindness can we sow? Take suggestions from the class. Explain: We can also apply this to ourselves: you are God’s seed, by trusting God and being loving and kind, you slowly grow, and grow, and grow... from a tiny seed into a tree that can then bear fruit. Step 3 In Genesis, the very first thing God told us was to “Be fruitful!” (pe-ru… remember?). So, us being fruitful is clearly important to God. At the Last Supper, Jesus said some important things about how to be fruitful. Ask: Does anyone know what a vine is? Yes, it’s the plant that grapes grow on. A vinedresser is the person who tends the vine, like a gardener tends his plants and flowers. Read quote from John 15. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0yu1qyevwE The True Vine (2:32 - this continues John 15 longer than we did. You can stop at 1:30 to avoid overload. Even then, it covers all of Jn 15:1-11) (Activity 1.)

2. I can explain what Jesus teaches about remaining in his love.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. Remain in me, as I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, unless it remains part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.” (from John 15)

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Suggested Activities 1. Comprehension quiz - use powerpoint and/or download worksheet.

I am the Vine, you are the branches

2. Ask children, in pairs, to come up with three ways of giving that will help them grow too. Then watch https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=gET4P4ZQsCQ God is the Vine (2:54). This is just a little manic, so the Remain in Me song is offered to relax them back.

Key Point Being faithful to God helps me be faithful to who I truly am, to be faithful and giving to others, and to stand up to people when I should.

Suggested Resources 1. Mustard seeds.

Step 4

2. Downloadable quiz sheet.

Explain: Today, let’s focus on what Jesus says about remaining. If we think of the people who love us, what is it about them that really shows their love? Yes, they stay with us - they remain. In all the ups and downs of life, they are there. Even when you’ve been naughty, they might be disappointed, but they remain . Mum never says, “You can go hungry today, because I’m bored with you.” We can get very hurt, if people we love don’t remain with us. That’s very hard. Jesus promises to always remain with you. Always. He even came back from the dead to still be with you. And he asks you to remain in him. Always. Sometimes we do wrong. Sometimes we are embarrassed about what we’ve done wrong. Sometimes we don’t understand why God has allowed bad things to happen. Sometimes other things can seem more fun than praying and going to church. There can be many reasons why we can feel that we don’t want to remain in Jesus. And they are all wrong. What most helps us to grow, what most helps us to ‘bear much fruit’ and be joyful - is remaining, in love. Be faithful. To God. To yourself. To others. Faithfulness to others means always being kind and keeping our loving promises. It doesn’t mean giving in to pressure. It does mean wanting what is best for them, and giving. (Activity 2.) Listen to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUh3e5be8gE Remain in Me (2:59)

Summary Jesus uses parables about how things that we can see, grow - to teach us about how we spiritually grow too. He uses the parable about the vine and the branches to help us understand how to be fruitful and joyful. Most of all, we need to remain faithful to God. 25

Pruned to be pure

Learning Objectives

Success Criteria

To know that growth is sometimes hard. To see that being loved by God the Father helps me to cope with difficulties.

1. I can understand that life involves suffering.

Step 1 Recall prior learning. Revisit the story of Adam and Eve. Explain: Eden was a perfect garden. God planted it. He had provided the soil, the water and the light, but he also wanted a gardener: Adam (2:15). Then God made Eve to help Adam (2:18). Together, they helped the garden produce fruit. Ask: What was Jesus telling us in our last module? Which two words did he keep using? Fruit and remain. He wants us to bear fruit, by remaining in Jesus, his word and his love. Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0yu1qyevwE The True Vine (2:32 but stop at 1:30.) Explain: This is similar to the Garden of Eden, but this time, we are the branches, not the gardener. Ask: Who is the gardener? God the Father. And who is the light, the water and the vine? Jesus. Wow - God the Father and Jesus are very busy even before we, the branches, start to grow!

2. I can begin to see that Jesus’ Cross turns my suffering into new life.

“Every branch that bears no fruit, my Father cuts away… and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes…” John 15:2

Explain: All this is important. God is our loving gardener. Jesus gives us all we need to grow. God wants us to grow. He wants you to grow physically into a healthy adult. He wants you to grow spiritually too, so that you can get better and better at receiving and giving love. Ask: Which do you think is the most important? Explain: To grow spiritually is the most important. But it’s all important. God wants you to grow. Step 2 Explain: Jesus tells us that one thing the gardener does is prune the branches. Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49SGMPV_cjs (to 1:23 only) Explain: Pruning helps to keep a plant healthy, to keep it growing the right way and to keep it producing fruit. All the things we want for ourselves! But the pruning itself… that’s not so appealing! Display a picture of someone cutting off a branch… and a picture of someone pruning a branch… From the outside, they look the same! Read Jn 15:2. Explain: That doesn’t seem very different either! Step 3 Explain: Part of the difference, then, is our attitude. Sadly, bad things happen to us. We all suffer sometimes. Some people seem to suffer a lot. And it is hard to understand why a loving God allows this. Jesus tells us that pruning is part of how we grow. Pruning is part of that dying to my selfish self (see 3g). It includes me really listening to the word of God (15:3); knowing that God wants what’s best for me and wants me to grow; that when things go wrong I have the opportunity to trust God more; that when other people suffer, I have the chance to forget me for a bit, and concentrate on helping them. 26

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Pruning to bear fruit.

“Happy are the pure in heart: they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

We certainly don’t want to suffer; we do lots of things to help us and others be healthy and grow. But, sometimes bad things happen and it is hard to trust then… hard to ‘remain’. Instead, we can feel like sulking, and telling God he doesn’t love us, and that “it’s not fair”.

Key Point No one wants to suffer! But the God who gives us light and water in Jesus, also prunes us so that we can grow. If we can trust him when this happens, we grow more. Step 4 Explain: John’s Gospel was written in Greek! And in Greek the word ‘to prune’ is very similar to two other words: ‘to cleanse’ and pure.

Suggested Activities 1. Discuss examples of the children bearing fruit. Then, discuss ways maybe God is pruning us. Ask each child to record three examples of each on the downloadable template.

Suggested Resources 1. Downloadable template for Activity 1.

We can sort of see why. Ask: What does cleansing mean? Pruning and cleansing are about cutting or washing away, so that we can be healthy and strong, and grow the right way. What does pure mean? Completely clean, or free from anything that spoils it. Read Mt. 5:8. Explain: Pure love of God is facing him completely - one direction. Spiritual pruning makes us pure, growing in one direction - towards God, instead of sometimes facing our selfish self instead. This is really important because it helps us when things are hard. Ask: Who likes to win a race? But does it hurt sometimes? How? What is a marathon? It’s when people run over 26 miles! They have to do a lot of training for that! And it hurts. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci-umUMPLE8 The Spirit of London (2:21) Ask: Do the runners enjoy suffering? No, they talk about running through the ‘pain barrier’. So, why do they do it? Take suggestions. Explain: We could say it ‘prunes’ them so they can enjoy the marathon and everything connected with it. Maybe, our earthly life is training for our ‘heavenly marathon’.

Training for heaven.

And remember, one of the best bits of the marathon we watched was when people helped the man who was really struggling - and the best bits in life are when we help people who are struggling too. (Activity 1.)

Summary Plants need to be pruned to grow. This keeps them healthy, grow straight and produce more fruit. God the Father prunes us too, making us pure. We don’t like the suffering - and try to avoid it. We should ask for help in avoiding it. But sometimes, in our everyday life, we just have to trust and keep loving. This pruning is like Jesus’ death and Resurrection.

Water, wine and blood!

Learning Objectives

Success Criteria

To understand more about water, wine and blood in the Gospel. To see how Holy Communion and Mary are important to our growth.

1. I can understand how we share Jesus’ fertile heart through sharing his Precious Blood.

To have a fertile heart is to have a loving heart, united to Jesus’. By revisiting the Wedding at Cana, the Last Supper, and the Crucifixion, we see that Holy Communion and Mary’s Immaculate Heart help us in this.

2. I can see that Mary’s Immaculate Heart invites me to unite my heart with Jesus’.

Step 1 Recap. Ask: Can you remember Jesus’ first miracle? Turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana. What was Jesus’ last miracle, before he died? Turning wine into his Precious Blood at the Last Supper, as Holy Communion for his disciples. Read Mt. 26:28. (This might need more help if the children haven’t got to the Last Supper in their FHC preparation.) At the Last Supper Jesus also talked about being the vine and us being the grapes. Ask: What did the people in Jesus’ time use grapes for? To make wine.

Jesus took a cup of wine and said, “Drink from this, all of you, for this is my blood.” Matthew 26:28

Can you remember one more time in John where we heard about water and blood? When Jesus died a soldier pierced his side with a spear and immediately, “there came out blood and water” (19:34). This was a sign he was dead, but it also had a deeper meaning. Recap. Show picture of Divine Mercy. Explain: The water and blood symbolise Baptism and Holy Communion, and also truth and grace - water and light. Ask: What do you think Jesus is trying to tell us in connection with water, wine and blood? Explain: It’s all connected with life. Water is a symbol of life. Nothing can live without water. Wine is a symbol of new life and joy - one reason why adults drink it at weddings. Blood is more than a symbol of life - we talk about ‘lifeblood’ because without blood we die. Step 2 Explain: From this, we will just think about three things: life, Communion and Mary our mother. We know Jesus wants us to grow: physically, but even more importantly, spiritually - in who we are, in our ability to receive and give love. That is right at the heart of us. Jesus wants you to have a fertile heart.

Water and wine for Mass.

Ask: What job does the heart do? It pumps blood around the body. Explain: You and I are part of the Body of Christ, so, when he offers us his blood it is a way of his blood pumping round all his body, giving it his life. Explain: But Jesus always goes one better. He asks for our hearts to be united to his. He doesn’t just want to be fertile for us, he wants to be fertile with us. He wants our hearts to beat as one. Sharing water is good. Sharing wine is good (when we are older!) But sharing his blood in this special way of Holy Communion is amazing. It means we don’t just share our human life; we don’t just share a happy life - we share in God’s life: now that is life to the full! Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKVMKfIm7HU HOLY KIDS! The Sacred Heart of Jesus (4:36 - though maybe best to stop at 2:45 though see Suggested Activity 2).

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Hearts united in love.

Key Point We have looked at lots of different images today, including water, wine and blood and in different ways they all say the same thing. Jesus wants us to be fruitful with him, to be one with him. And Holy Communion, and Mary, help us to do just that.

Step 3 Ask: Can you think of any names or titles we give to Mary? Explain: One title we give to her is the Immaculate Heart. (Show picture of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts.) Jesus’ heart is the source of love, but Mary’s heart now perfectly reflects his. They beat as one. She is fruitful with him, because of him. One perfect team. (Activity 1.)

From the Cross, Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, this is your son.” Then to the disciple he said, “This is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19:27

Ask: Who noticed the problem at the wedding feast at Cana? Mary. She also knew to ask Jesus to help. They worked as a team, united in understanding and love. Ask: Who was at the foot of the Cross? Mary and the disciple Jesus loved - John. Jesus said something very special to them. Read John 19:27. Explain: This is when Mary became our Mother too. Jesus’ heart and Mary’s heart have always been united, but on the Cross they become closer still, in love. Jesus wants our hearts to be as close to his as Mary’s is, and he invites us to be her children, so that she can help us to do this. Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaquwkfPwJU Immaculate Mary Hymn (3:31 - perhaps join in with the chorus second time around - from 1:46) Step 4 There is one more thing Mary did at Cana. Can you remember? She saw the problem. She spoke to Jesus. And then what? Watch https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=nwlh-fDsvS0 (3:21 - or just to 1:28 for the answer) She tells the servants, “Whatever he tells you to do, do it.” (2:5) or “Do whatever he tells you.” And she says that to us too. Not just when we are in a good mood. Not just when we like it. But always.

Summary Water is a symbol of life - Jesus changed it into wine. Wine is a symbol of life and joy - Jesus changed it into his Precious Blood. By drinking Jesus’ blood in Holy Communion we share in God’s life and bear fruit with him.

Suggested Activities 1. Design and make a badge of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and/ or the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Downloadable template available. 1. Not easy, but make the Sacred Heart pancakes as shown https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=AKVMKfIm7HU (2:45 onwards). Adapt or simplify as appropriate.

Suggested Resources 1. Downloadable template for badges. The Immaculate Heart of Mary shows her heart pierced by a sword. This refers to her suffering at the foot of the cross (Lk 2:35).

He gives us a fertile heart. Mary helps us to do this, and you cooperate when you “do whatever he tells you”.

Commanded to be Joyful!

Learning Objectives

Success Criteria

To understand why keeping Jesus’ new command makes us happy. To know that we have been chosen by Jesus to ‘go out and bear fruit’.

1. I can understand that obedience to Jesus makes me free and joyful.

Step 1 Recap. Ask: What have we learnt about Jesus being the vine and us the branches? Jesus wants us to bear lots of fruit! We do that if we remain in him. The Father is our loving gardener. In Jesus, he gives us light and water: truth and grace. Sometimes he has to prune us so we grow healthy and straight. Explain: Today, we are going to focus on three more words he uses: love, commandment and joy. Let’s listen to Jesus again, and particularly listen carefully to the end. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0yu1qyevwE The True Vine (2:32 all through). Read Jn 15:9-10. Ask: What is Jesus telling us here? Explain: A child shows love for their parent by doing what they ask. Jesus did this all his life - with God and with Mary. Did it make him sad or happy? Happy! He says: “I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you, and your joy be complete.” (v. 11) It is so easy to believe that I need to have my way to be happy. We all feel it at times don’t we? But it’s a lie. Thankfully, God’s love is deep in our hearts. And his love helps us see it for the lie it is. Joy is that sense we have inside us of being alive - so it is not surprising that we only find true joy when we are growing in life to the full.

2. I can see how loving with Jesus means I am more fruitful.

Jesus said, “Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” John 15:9-10

Activity: Think of some happy times with your family. Make a list. Ask: What do we see in all these examples? We are happiest when we are united and doing things together: and that means we all need to ‘play by the rules’. Keeping the family’s commandments doesn’t spoil our fun - it increases it. Ask: What games do you like playing at break time? What do you enjoy about them? When do they go wrong sometimes? Explain: It’s often when someone stops playing by the rules! Good rules help us to feel safe and be happy. The more the person who makes the rules is loving and wise, the more we can be confident to follow them. And Jesus is very wise and loves you completely! So we should always follow his commandments. We do that by following his example - Jesus wasn’t just the holiest person who ever lived: he was the happiest! Step 2

Joyful in love.

Read Jn 15:14-17. Explain: Wow, what an amazing invite! At Cana it was servants who helped Jesus and Mary, but we are not servants any more - Jesus calls us friends. When we see Jesus doing lovely things, saying amazing things, we want to choose him, to follow him. But he has beaten us to it! He chose you long before you chose him. Even when you were inside mummy, he chose you. Even before you existed, he knew you (Jer. 1:5). The title of our course is ‘A Fertile Heart: receiving and giving creative love’. Can you see why? Jesus wants you to have a Fertile Heart. He gives love, and when you receive it, you bear fruit and are able to give love too. God’s first commandment to us was, “Be fertile!” - bear fruit! Jesus’ new commandment is “love one another as I have loved you”: and when we do, we bear fruit, we are fertile.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Fruitful with Jesus.

Key Point Keeping Jesus’ commandment to love as he has loved us is the path to true growth and joy.

Step 3 Let’s see if we recognise this song. Watch https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=LzRa5-h-w9g Let it Go (1:35). Ask: Did that sound the same as usual? Why not? Explain: It was a piano lesson, so it went slower. We could recognise the song, but the child needed to keep on learning. Ask: So, are you good at knowing how to love? Explain: you can love now, but there’s so much more to learn. Listening to our teacher - week in, week out - helps us get better at playing the piano; and it’s the same with learning to love. And that teacher is Jesus. This is why he asks that, “my words remain in you” (v. 7) and tells you that you are made pure/pruned by the words he speaks to us. So keeping his commandment doesn’t just mean choosing to love, but also choosing to learn from God how to love. If we do both of those, we will be joyful, and fully alive.

“I no longer call you servants… I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I called you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last… My command to you is to love one another.” John 15:14-17

Step 4 Explain: Jesus has given us this wonderful invitation. He is saving the whole world, making us all one family under God the Father. But instead of just doing that for us, he wants to do it with us. What shall we do? Say no or yes? Yes! He wants people to teach others of his love - by what they say and do. Whom shall he send? Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcxOkht8w7c Here I am, Lord (4:09). The children could join in the chorus. (Activity 1.)

Summary Jesus commands us to love one another as he has loved us. He can teach us how to do that with his truth. He can help us to do it with his grace. Through obedience we grow in love and joy, and make more of a difference. This makes us truly joyful.

Suggested Activity 1. In groups, design a poster showing Jesus’ teaching that he is the vine and we are the branches, and his invitation to bear much fruit with him. (Replay Here I am, Lord, while they do, then Remain in Me (2:59) https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=lUh3e5be8gE and others.)

Suggested Resources 1. Sugar paper, felt tips etc. for posters.

The most amazing ‘fruit’ ever is the ‘fruit of thy womb, Jesus’ that we remember every time we pray the Hail Mary. Let’s finish our year by praying it now, and ask that we may be as fruitful as Mary... Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for the sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen 31

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A Fertile Heart Receiving & Giving Creative Love

If you don’t know how a car works, you’re not likely to be able to fix it. If you don’t know how crops grow, you’re not likely to be a great farmer. If you don’t understand a mobile phone, you’re not likely to get the most out of it. Understanding what it is to be a human person will help us know how to think and act, and so be happy and fulfilled. This booklet goes from Y3 to Y6, comprising eleven modules every year. It seeks to give a coherent vision of what it is to be human, empowering the young person to understand themselves more deeply, and therefore make better choices. In KS1 we focused on Bible stories to help the children learn about life, growing and love. This continues in Y3, with a focus on Jesus in John’s Gospel, and in particular, on receiving and giving love. In Y4 we begin to turn to reason more, to help the children grasp the foundational understandings of personhood and relationship. Just as there is no point in branching out into other subjects if children have not learnt how to read, write and do arithmetic, so it is more important to thoroughly cover the essentials than it is to cover a breadth of less important things. Thus, personhood, relationship, dignity, freedom, happiness, tolerance and the importance of being rational and being open to faith are all dealt with thoroughly. A Fertile Heart unites thinking, reflecting, praying and discussing. It uses lessons, videos, activities and music. It invites parents, school and parish to unite in helping our young people to grow into truly life-giving, happy, fulfilled persons.

RRP £9.99 ISBN 978-1-7397628-3-4

9 781739 762834

Version 7 | September 2021