Celebrating the Word of God (July)

We are called to renew our commitment to proclaiming God’s Word to others every year. Our mission is to help those we teach to grow in their knowledge and love of God’s Word. One of our joys as catechists is to open the Scriptures to our students and help them to appreciate what a wonderful treasure God’s Word is.

Here are some ideas for helping students develop a life-long love for God’s Word:

Enthrone the Bible

Highlight the centrality of Sacred Scripture in our lives by giving the Bible a special place on your classroom prayer table. Drape a seasonally colored cloth over the table and place a Bible stand in the center. If you do not have a Bible stand, place a book underneath the cloth to elevate the Bible. Set a candle next to the Bible and complete the display by using a wide ribbon in a seasonal color as a bookmark.

Enthrone the Bible by having students process in line from outside the classroom to the prayer table, with one student carrying the Bible. Have the children sing together an Alleluia verse or some other appropriate song. After the Bible has been placed on the table, encourage the students to show reverence for God’s Word by tracing the Sign of the Cross on the open Bible, bowing before it, or touching it reverently with their hand. Each week, as you prepare to read from the Scriptures, begin with an invocation of praise and thanksgiving, such as, “We thank you, Lord, for the gift of your Word!”

Teaching Students to Use the Bible

Even students as young as third grade can learn to navigate their way through the Scriptures. Pair the students up and give each pair a Bible. Turn to the Contents page and point out the two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Have them count the number of books in each section. Ask them to locate the first page in Genesis and read the first passage aloud. Do the same with the first passage in Matthew. Point out and explain the significance of the chapter and verse numbers.

Then have the partners work together to find specific Scriptural passages you list on the board. It will be slow going at first, but once the students “get it” they will feel a real sense of accomplishment. During subsequent classes, have students locate the Scripture passages you are studying each week in their classroom Bibles.

Acting Out the Scriptures
Dramatizing a Scripture story often helps students to better understand its meaning. This is most effective when the story involves multiple characters such as: the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37); the Coming of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-13); or the Calming of the Storm at Sea (Mark 4:35-41).

After sharing and discussing the story, work with the class to prepare a skit. Older students can do this on their own, working in groups. Have props on hand to bring the story to life: a few old robes; costume beards; and objects mentioned in the passage. The students will enjoy performing their plays for one another, but for very special occasions, arrange for them to share their dramatizations with another class or during a prayer service with parents in attendance.

Praying with the Scriptures

Choose a relevant verse from your weekly Scripture passage to proclaim in prayer with the class. Have the students repeat the passage as a refrain. Invite students to work in groups to study the Psalms and find an appropriate passage that mirrors your lesson theme. Praying with God’s Word helps students to recognize that God continues to speak to us today.