Page 26 - Lessons and Activities on Prayer

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aPoStLeS' CreeD
Catechist background
e word “creed” comes from the latin word “cre- do,” meaning “i believe.” a creed contains basic truths of the catholic faith and fundamental be- liefs about each person in the Trinity and the “job” each one has. e creed also reminds us of the timeline of salvation history.
e apostles’ creed is the oldest creed we have. it is the foundation for the other creeds. is creed is rooted in apostolic times and re ects the beliefs of the apostles and their followers. as the early christians were baptized, they professed their faith with the simple statement “i believe that Jesus is the son of God,” which was a very short creed. by the third century, a person to be baptized responded to three questions based on the Trinity.
Today’s baptismal rite for children includes three questions that either the person to be baptized an- swers or the parents and godparents answer if the person being baptized is an infant. ese three questions are 1) do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? 2) do you believe in Jesus christ, his only son, our lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was cruci ed, died and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? 3) do you believe in the holy spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
e statement “descended into hell” in the apos- tles’ creed refers to sheol or the place of the dead. Jesus visited those who died before he lived. it is not the place occupied by satan and the bad angels.
in the past, the apostles’ creed was used for liturgies with children because it was simpler and easier for them to understand; the new roman Missal allows this creed to be used in all liturgies and commends its use especially during lent and easter. is creed reminds us of our baptismal promises, which we renew at easter. e creed is also used at the beginning of the rosary.
Prayer
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, su ered under Pontius Pilate, was cruci ed, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
APoStleS' CreeD LeSSon PLan 1
Objectives
□ To know the meaning of the phrases about God the Father and God the son
□ To write a favorite phrase using Morse code
materials
□ Template of the Morse Code □ Copy of the Apostles’ Creed □ Mini marshmallows □ Pretzel sticks
lesson
▪ Gather the children around you. ▪ discuss the fact that the apostles’
creed talks about God the Father, God
the son, and God the holy spirit. ▪ Talk about what the children know
about God the Father, and relate
it to the phrases in the creed. ▪ Talk about what the children know
about God the son, and relate it
to the phrases in the creed. ▪ direct the children to do the Morse
code activity (page 28).
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Twenty-Third Publications Sample