Catechism 2020
Important Documents
Below is the syllabus (document on the left) for Catechism including resources, important dates and an overview of the class. There is also a schedule (document coming soon) for when our class will meet and when you need to do family faith formation activities at home.
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Faith Formation at Home
Faith conversations at home is the #1 predictor of youth having sticky faith beyond high school. This year in Catechism we want to support you by providing a resource to engage one another in your family in conversation around the Bible. We have created space for you to do this by only meeting in class two times a month and asking that the other two weeks you spend time together watching these videos and answering the questions together.
These videos will pair with the material we will be studying/discussing in class from God's Story, Our Story. These videos are produced by the Presbyterian Church for their confirmation class and we are using them for our Catechism class (preparation for Baptism) because they create conversation around how your life and God's story fit together. We also included some videos from the Bible Project to help us better understand the Bible.
Below are the videos to watch and discuss at home.
These videos will pair with the material we will be studying/discussing in class from God's Story, Our Story. These videos are produced by the Presbyterian Church for their confirmation class and we are using them for our Catechism class (preparation for Baptism) because they create conversation around how your life and God's story fit together. We also included some videos from the Bible Project to help us better understand the Bible.
Below are the videos to watch and discuss at home.
The Power of Story
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During our parent/student meeting we started watching this video to get a better understanding of how we will engage these videos at home. We did not finish it in class, so please complete this at home this week.
I invite you to find a half an hour where you can sit down as a family and watch this video and have a conversation about the questions. You could do it during supper, on the road, or in the comfort of your living room. Have your Catechism youth write down notes in their journal and we will discuss them in our next class session. |
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God Loves the World
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You are invited to regularly find an hour in the week to gather as a family. This week as a family to watch the video and have discussions around the questions.
Catechism youth are required to write down notes in their journal from your discussion and have them bring them to the next class discussion. This video pairs well with Chapter 1 and 2 from God's Story, Our Story. Parents are encouraged to read these chapters as well. It can add more to your conversation about the video. |
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We wander far from God
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Please find an hour out of this week as a family to watch the video and have discussions around the questions.
Have your Catechism youth write down notes in their journal from your discussion and have them bring them to the next class discussion. This video pairs well with Chapter 2 and 3 from God's Story, Our Story. Parents are encouraged to read these chapters as well. It can add more to your conversation about the video. |
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What is the Bible?
Watch the following videos together as a family and after watching them discuss together the questions below. Catechism youth will get credit by taking notes from your discussion in their journal.
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Discussion Questions:
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How to Read the BibleDiscussion Questions:
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Literary Styles in the BibleDiscussion Questions:
Ruth 1:1-17 Isaiah 40: 28-31 Luke 10:25-37 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
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Jesus is the Way to God
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We will not have class this Sunday, so please find an hour out of this week as a family to watch the video and have discussions around the questions.
Have your Catechism youth write down notes in their journal from your discussion and have them bring them to the next class discussion. This video pairs well with chapters 4 and 5 from God's Story, Our Story. Parents are encouraged to read these chapters as well. It can add more to your conversation about the video. |
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The Spirit Helps Us Live GOd's Love
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Please find an hour out of this week as a family to watch the video and have discussions around the questions.
Have your Catechism youth write down notes in their journal from your discussion and have them bring them to the next class discussion. This video pairs well with chapter 6 from God's Story, Our Story. Parents are encouraged to read these chapters as well. It can add more to your conversation about the video. |
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Catechism in a nut shell
Part 1: God's Story
We begin our Catechism class by asking "What is your story?" The youth usually respond by telling their story starting at their birth. But their stories really begin at the beginning - as a part of God's creation if they choose God's story to be a part of theirs. By choosing to follow Jesus, they become a part of God's story - past, present and future.
The first section of Catechism is centered around understanding God's story as we read it in the Bible. With the help of Michelle Hershberger's book God's Story, Our Story we learn about God's story of salvation throughout history. Youth have an opportunity to make a commitment to Christ and join the body of Christ - the church -through baptism.
The first section of Catechism is centered around understanding God's story as we read it in the Bible. With the help of Michelle Hershberger's book God's Story, Our Story we learn about God's story of salvation throughout history. Youth have an opportunity to make a commitment to Christ and join the body of Christ - the church -through baptism.
PART 2: OUR STORY
During the middle section of Catechism we work on writing our stories - our testimonies. The youth share their faith stories and commitments to Christ and the church on the Sunday of their baptism. Following baptism, the church community welcomes the new members to the body of Christ with a social event. Then we begin the conversation about what does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? Just like a tree, our faith needs watering to grow, so we talk about the various disciplines to help them grow individually and corporately as a part of the church community.
Part 3: Their Story
The final section of our Catechism class focuses outward. The last words that Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20a were: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." We end our focused year of faith development on learning how to help build disciples.
Building Disciples:
Throughout our lives we have the opportunity to meet and build relationships with many different people. Maybe it is someone on your sports team, a friend on Facebook or even a family member. As Christ-followers, Jesus calls us to share the good news! So in the last section of our Catechism class we learn to share our love for Jesus with others using a resource called 3 Story by Youth Specialties.
Building Disciples:
Throughout our lives we have the opportunity to meet and build relationships with many different people. Maybe it is someone on your sports team, a friend on Facebook or even a family member. As Christ-followers, Jesus calls us to share the good news! So in the last section of our Catechism class we learn to share our love for Jesus with others using a resource called 3 Story by Youth Specialties.
This resource reminds us of the importance of our life stories connecting with God's story through Jesus Christ and our stories connecting with other's stories. Just like three circles intertwined, when we (circle 1) have a relationship with God through Jesus (circle 2) and with others (circle 3), we have the opportunity to help others connect to God. By sharing our personal faith experiences with those we have a relationship with, we give them a glimpse into who God is and why God cares about them. Over time, this can be the beginning of a relationship between them and God. And as they grow closer to God, you grow closer to God too.
As we continue to grow in our relationship with God, our lives begin to reflect the light of Christ. During this section we also discern together as a class what it looks like to follow Jesus. How do our decisions and actions reflect the spirit of Christ so that others will see Christ in us and yearn for a relationship with Jesus too?
As we continue to grow in our relationship with God, our lives begin to reflect the light of Christ. During this section we also discern together as a class what it looks like to follow Jesus. How do our decisions and actions reflect the spirit of Christ so that others will see Christ in us and yearn for a relationship with Jesus too?