FAmilies Growing in Faith 7th grade 2020-21
I am Julie Sutton and I will be the catechist for 7th grade this year. The video to the right is a brief introduction to the year. I do hope that sometime soon we can meet in person, but for now digital is what we've got.
I am a joyful Catholic and have a Masters' Degree in theology from Walsh University. I look forward to answering your questions and supporting your whole family, especially the 7th graders, in your faith journey for the next few months. My email is [email protected] You can call me at 330-492-3119 x 219 or 330-415-6238 3/7/2021 Happy Sunday 7th grade! I can hardly believe it has been a year since we stopped having classes last spring. In some ways it seems like more than a year and in other ways it has gone really fast. I did not think at that time that we would be altered for a whole year (and more). Somebody said to me last week, "I can't believe we lost a whole year!", but we didn't lose the year in fact, this has been one unforgettable year! I am grateful for my church family and am sure that even when we are not together, that we are still a community! I have been praying for each and every one of you and your families. This weekend's lesson is partly about the 10 Commandments and how they help us to live well. Take the time to do the activity on the front and review what the Commandments mean in your life with the page on the inside. I like the Gospel (Here is a video--we are not using the 2nd option mentioned) because it helps us to see that Jesus had emotions like us. All of the emotions are a part of who we are, and even the uncomfortable ones like anger and sadness are important. It is okay to be angry and sad and frustrated--Jesus was--and, like Tyler in the story on pages 2-3, we need to find ways to talk about those feelings so they don't make us feel bad for a long time and harm us and those around us. Have a good week and as always--shoot me an email or call if there is anything I, or the parish, can do for you or your family!! Peace and all Good, julie s 2/28/2021 Hi 7th grade! End of February--March is almost here--Spring? This is the 2nd week of Lent.
Here is a video message for you!! Here is the Gospel video. I will send you the meditation I recorded when it is up on Monday. Finally here is the link for the family activity about racism. It is a very important issue that damages many and we all need to do our part to build an antiracist society!! Peace and all Good to all of you!!! Julie S 2/7/2021 Hope you will take some time with Visions magazine this week.
1/31/2021 I am attaching a video lesson today that will take you through the Visions booklet for the week. You can get the booklet out and watch each section and pause to do the readings/activities or use the video however it is helpful. I do miss seeing real faces, but I pray for you all the time. If you don't have the booklet--I can mail it or get it to you and/or give you digital access. You CAN have digital access and still come pick up paper copies when you are able. Here is a video tour of the Sea of Galilee Here is a video about Misericordia Here is the video of the Misericordia Heartzingers singing the National Anthem at a baseball game. Be well. Be safe. Be kind!! Peace, Julie Sutton 1/10/2021 This week I sent a video message--because I talk faster than I type!! Here is my link: https://youtu.be/RjRLktJFLsY Here is a link to the Gospel for the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus: https://youtu.be/p-Wh-A20dSg |
Useful Links:
12/13/2020
Hello 7th graders and families! I recorded a video message a few days ago and almost forgot to share. Sorry to be so late: https://youtu.be/_7zIm1Jn5ok Here is the Lego version of today's Gospel. Remember to have faith, which will help you keep hoping and be able to find JOY in big and little ways--even in dark and difficult times! Peace be with all of you. Love, Mrs Sutton 12/6/2020 HI Everyone, I hope and pray that you are all staying safe and well! Today's booklet talks a lot about gift giving and being generous from your heart. It also has a story that can help you understand where the Gospels in the Bible came from through history. I don't know if you had a chance to look at last week's booklet, but it does have an Advent calendar that you might want to use this year. Did you know that each week of Advent has a special theme? The first week is about Hope and this week is about Faith. I have a question--do you think that having Hope gives you Faith? Or does having Faith help you to have Hope? Think about it a little, or even talk it over with your family and let me know. I would love your thoughts!!! Here is a link to a video about Our Lady of Guadalupe--the Patron Saint of the Americas. Here is a video of today's Gospel. Finally, here is a video to help with the Faith and Hope question--if you feel stuck. You can skip for 1 min to 2min 30 sec if you like or watch the whole thing. Have a blessed week!! Peace, Mrs Sutton 11/22/2020 Hope you will take time to work through the lesson for this week. It is themed around Catholic Social Teaching and Works of Mercy. We are all called to help each other, especially those most in need of help. In our current situation it takes a little more creativity to find ways to serve others, but it can still be done. We all can be more kind. This link will take you to a series of videos about Catholic Social Teaching if that helps you to learn and understand. Here is the video of the Gospel. 11/8/2020 Make sure to read your Visions magazine. It is a good one and gives you a chance to think about when you have been wise and foolish. God gave us brains and wants us to use them to do smart and good things not foolish and careless ones. I especially like the part about the first reading—and how it ties to the Gospel. It shows us that Jesus was a faithful Jewish man reading the scriptures and teaching his followers about them. The history of God’s love of God’s people goes way back in history!! I also like that Wisdom in the Old Testament is written about as a female person. Many Scripture scholars think that Wisdom is like our idea of the Holy Spirit. See if you can match all of the old Wisdom quotes on pg 7 with their modern equivalents. I thought it was pretty hard. If you want to match ‘em up and snap a picture and send it to me I can tell you if you got them all right! Here is a video about the Gospel: https://youtu.be/s98Rx-ovgv4 Have a fabulous week! Many Blessings to you all!! Mrs Sutton 11/1/2020 This is the day we celebrate All Saints. This video is a message from me about what I've been up to this week. The Gospel today is from the Sermon on the Mount and has the Beatitudes in it. With the Beatitudes, Jesus gives us a lot of ways to live and choices we can make so that we can be truly happy. Hopefully this video will help you understand. Finally, sorry to have asked you to look up verses in the Bible that don't exist last week--a typo, not a prank. Have a great week everyone!! Peace, Mrs Sutton 10/25/2020 Here is a message from me to you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71IcO-KlycE Here is the Gospel—with a beat: https://youtu.be/EbIOdj529Uo Here is a challenge for you: Find a Bible (or a computer I guess) and look up 1 John 4: 20-21 and summarize what it says? To be clear this is in 1 John (First letter of John) NOT the Gospel of John—the letters of John are close to the end of the bible. Email me what John says about love in that little section. Note: I gave the 6th graders the same challenge—will I hear from more of them or more of you? Hmmmmmmm Have a wonderful week. Peace and all Good, Mrs Sutton 10/18/2020 The video to the right gives some tips about using this week's Visions booklet. I hope it helps! This is the link to the October Family Activity 10/4/2020 This week’s lesson is again—so important. I feel like I say that every week, but still. You are in 7th grade now and as you get older, you have more responsibility for yourself and in other ways. Take a long look at pages 2-3 and reflect on what is hard for you. I hope and pray that when you feel overwhelmed or anxious that you have a good support system. It is so important to have someone you can talk to and ask for help when you need it. For many of you it is friends, but you have adults that care about you as well. It can be hard to talk to your parents, teachers, counselors because you may think they won’t understand or don’t have time. All I can say is if you are not okay—you must ask for help—be brave and be honest and keep trying. You are all beloved and precious children of God The Gospel story is pretty shocking! Read the Gospel story on page 4, but make sure you also read pg 5 because otherwise it is hard to understand the point of the story. Pgs 6-7 will give you some ways to live out your responsibility as a Catholic Christian. This month the Service ideas suggested are focused on care for the Earth (https://stmichaelfamiliestogether.weebly.com/serving.html), maybe this will inspire your family to do something together to serve! Here is the Gospel in video form: https://youtu.be/GmJKWntv1DU Here is a video about why Catholics should care for the environment: https://youtu.be/wSnXuCxiHXE Remember too, that part of Families Growing in Faith is that families can pick a 30 minute prayer and service activity to do together. The website has updated suggestions on the “Prayer” and “Service” pages and you can report what you do or have done through the communication boxes or by email to your catechist (me!) or email to [email protected] 9/27/2020 I hope everyone had a good week- The weather was sure great!! The week's lesson is about making Choices! We make lots of choices everyday. I like the story about Tony, because he has a hard choice and whichever one he chooses he will let someone down. Think about how you would feel. My favorite discussion question on that page is the last one: How else could the story have ended? The Gospel is on page 4. If you prefer a video version you can pick one of the ones posted on the right: Page 5 talks about parables--Can you meet theHey 7th grade challenge to create your own parable? If so send it to me--I would love to know what you think! Pages 6-7 give you some practice making decisions for pretend, BUT what I really like is the Pray, Think, Act section at the very end of the booklet. Who can you help today? HERE is what I choose to say yes to!! Have a great week and keep in touch--especially if you have any questions at all!! Peace and Prayers to all, Mrs. Sutton The first lesson is for 9/20/2020 and I have posted a video of the Gospel for you. The icebreaker on the first page of the booklet might be hard to do at home, but the rest of the lesson is good. I love this Gospel reading because it reminds us how generous God is. We could never be good enough to earn God's love, but God loves us anyway! Looking at pg 7 of the lesson I promise to: 1. Answer all emails and phone messages as quickly as possible. 2. Respect each student and family and not compare one to another. |