1

God’s Gift Reconciliation: Chapter 1 (God Calls Us Friends)

Student Book

Outcomes Action Plan Optional Activities

VIDEO First Reconciliation Introduction

Chapter overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKxSpBhzUUo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcc3GLYK3kc

Page 1 Name the purpose for their gathering

Describe activities shared with friends

Identify the focus of the chapter (God created us for friendship with him)

Engage: Good Friends

Opening Prayer

Pages 2-3 Explain that God created us to live in friendship with him

Describe how Adam and Eve lost the gift of God’s grace

Define grace, temptation

Scripture Story: God’s Gift of Grace

Pages 4-5

Retell the story of Adam and Eve

Discuss the impact of Original Sin

Define Original Sin

Activity: The Wrong Choice

Discussion: Stuck Along the Way

Pages 6-7

Describe God’s promise to send a Savior

Retell the story of Adam and Eve and God’s promise to send a Savior

Define Savior, reconcile

Discussion: God’s Promise

Activity: The Story of Our Faith

Pages 8-9

Experience praying a litany of thanksgiving for the gift of God’s friendship

Prayer: Our Friendship with God

Worksheet: Taking the Right Path

Page 10

Identify ways we accept the gift of God’s friendship

Connection to Life: I Live What I Learn

Closing Prayer

Worksheet: Fresh Starts

2

God’s Gift Reconciliation: Chapter 2 (Jesus Saves Us)

Student Book

Outcomes Action Plan Optional Activities

VIDEO Chapter overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv6JmlxHkeA

Page 11 Identify experiences of needing help

Identify the focus of the chapter (God sent Jesus to be our Savior)

Engage: Saved Again!

Opening Prayer

Pages 12-13 Tell the story of Joseph’s dream

Explain that Jesus is the Savior promised by God

Scripture Story: Jesus, Our Savior

Pages 14-15

Describe Jesus as present with us in the sacraments

Discuss the importance of Baptism

Write a prayer of thanksgiving

Define Baptism, sacrament

Discussion: Welcomed into God’s Family

Activity: Children of God

Pages 16-17

Describe the sacraments as helps we are given for the life of faith

Identify the Sacraments of Initiation

Explain that God forgives our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Define Act of Contrition, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Sacraments of Initiation, sin

Discussion: Friends with God

Activity: On Your Way

Pages 18-19

Reflect prayerfully on the Sign of the Cross Prayer: A Welcoming Sign

Worksheet: Reconciliation Word Search

Page 20

Identify the Sacrament of Reconciliation as making things right again with God

Connection to Life: I Live What I Learn

Closing Prayer

Worksheet: What is Sin?

3

God’s Gift Reconciliation: Chapter 3 (Jesus Forgives Us)

Student Book

Outcomes Action Plan Optional Activities

VIDEO Chapter overview

Lester’s Choices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y03gJZ1yq4

Page 21 Identify with an experience of receiving another chance to do better

Describe Jesus as giving us another chance when we sin

Identify the focus of the chapter (Jesus forgives our sins)

Engage: Another Chance

Opening Prayer

Pages 22-23 Tell the story of Jesus’ call of Matthew

Explain that Jesus knows us well and loves us

Scripture Story: Matthew’s Second Chance

Pages 24-25

Identify steps for making good moral choices

Apply the steps for making good moral choices

Define free will, moral choice

Discussion: Making Good Choices, I Listen to God’s Word

Activity: Right or Wrong?

Worksheet: Accident, Mistake or Sin

Blackline Master C

Pages 26-27

Explain that Jesus offers us his forgiveness when we sin

Define mortal sin, venial sin

Discussion: We Are Tempted to Sin

Activity: Clearing the Road

My Own Reconciliation Booklet: Page 2

Blackline Master D

Pages 28-29

Describe and experience prayer to Jesus as a loving conversation

Prayer: A Loving Conversation

Page 30

Identify opportunities to practice making good moral choices

Connection to Life: I Live What I Learn

My Own Reconciliation Booklet: Page 3

Closing Prayer

4

God’s Gift Reconciliation: Chapter 4 (Jesus Heals Us)

Student Book

Outcomes Action Plan Optional Activities

VIDEO Chapter overview

Ricky’s Reconciliation

How to Go to Confession

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvvEC_BTTx8

Page 31 Name people who love and care for them

Identify the desire to be reconciled when we have hurt people we love

Identify the focus of the chapter (The Sacrament of Reconciliation heals us through the forgiveness of sins)

Engage: Handle with Care

Opening Prayer

Pages 32-33 Retell the story Healed Through Forgiveness

Explain that Jesus healed a man and also forgave his sins

Scripture Story: Healed Through Forgiveness

Pages 34-35

Explain that Jesus heals us by forgiving our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Explain that we confess our sins to the priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Identify the effects of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Define confess, contrition, forgiveness

Discussion: Jesus Forgives Our Sins

Activity: Forgiveness Soup

Pages 36-37

Name two ways we celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Identify reconciliation room choices

Discussion: Celebrating the Sacrament

My Own Reconciliation Booklet: Page 4

Pages 38-39

Describe and experience a Daily Examen Prayer: Praying About My Day Worksheet: Which Commandment?

Page 40

Recognize praying about our day as an important, good habit

Connection to Life: I Live What I Learn

My Own Reconciliation Booklet: Page 5

Closing Prayer

5

God’s Gift Reconciliation: Chapter 5 (The Holy Spirit Guides Us)

Student Book

Outcomes Action Plan Optional Activities

VIDEO Chapter overview

Kevin’s Temptation

Sunday Missal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0blf0n9hy4

Page 41 Identify experiences of welcome

Identify the focus of the chapter (The Holy Spirit helps us when we prepare for and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation)

Engage: Warm Welcomes

Opening Prayer

Pages 42-43 Retell the story of the prodigal son

Explain that God welcomes us back after we sin through the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Scripture Story: Coming Home

Worksheet: I Follow Good Advice

Pages 44-45

Describe how God is like the father in the Scripture story

Discuss how to make an examination of conscience

Define conscience, examination of conscience, Seal of Confession

Discussion: A Celebration of Forgiveness

Discussion: Our Inner Voice

Discussion: Examination of Conscience

My Own Reconciliation Booklet: Pages 6-7

Pages 46-47

Describe the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a celebration of God’s forgiveness

Order the steps in the Rite of Reconciliation

Define absolution, penance

Discussion: Going to Confession

Act of Contrition: Read together (Student Book, page 74)

My Own Reconciliation Booklet: Pages 8-14

Blackline Master H

Pages 48-49

Re-enact the parable of the prodigal son, using imagination

Prayer: Can You Feel the Joy?

Worksheet: I Think About the Times I Didn’t Follow Jesus

Page 50

Identify ways to share peace with others Connection to Life: I Live What I Learn

My Own Reconciliation Booklet: Pg. 15

Closing Prayer

6

God’s Gift Reconciliation: Chapter 6 (God Is Always with Us)

Student Book

Outcomes Action Plan Optional Activities

VIDEO Chapter overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGyGK0kUEQ8

Page 51 Describe feelings of being lost/being found

Identify the focus of the chapter (God is always ready to welcome us back in the Sacrament of Reconciliation)

Engage: Lost and Found

Opening Prayer

Worksheet: Sacrament of Peace

Pages 52-53 Retell the story of the Good Shepherd

Explain how God is like the Good Shepherd in Jesus’ parable

Scripture Story: The Good Shepherd

Sticker Activity

Pages 54-55

Describe God’s love and care for everyone

Explain that God searches for us and welcomes us back when we sin

Identify examples of sins of omission and sins of commission

Discussion: God’s Everlasting Love

Activity: Toward God’s Love

Pages 56-57

Explain that celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation strengthens our relationship with God

Describe the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a help for our journey of faith

Explain that the Sacrament of Reconciliation brings us closer to God, to the Church, and to our family and friends

Define confession, Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

Discussion: Returning Again

Activity: More Help for the Journey

My Own Reconciliation Booklet: Pages 16-17

Pages 58-59

Experience a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s love and forgiveness

My Own Reconciliation Booklet: Pages 18-20

Page 60

Recognize God’s constant love for us Connection to Life: I Live What I Learn

My Own Reconciliation Booklet: Pages 21-24

Closing Prayer

7

First Reconciliation Review Review Student Book -- pgs. 61-75 (I Live My Faith)

Watch Brother Francis FORGIVEN video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmAbu7BWQiU

Watch Grace and Forgiveness video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4csCoTgheo

Optional: Blackline Masters N, O and P

Reconciliation means bringing together, coming back, or reuniting

A. We receive and celebrate God’s forgiveness of our sins B. Jesus gave his apostles the power to forgive sins in his name C. Now/today, Bishops and Priests

1. Forgive sins in Jesus’ name 2. He received this power to forgive sins in the sacrament of Holy Orders 3. He will never tell anyone what you confessed 4. You may sit and face the priest, or go behind a screen 5. The priest may read a story from the bible 6. He may talk about what can you do to make right choices 7. He will wear a purple stole (a vestment the priest wears when celebrating the sacrament)

o The stole is a sign of obedience to God and of his priestly authority o Purple is a sign of penance

D. It will bring us back together with God in friendship E. It brings us back to the Church and makes us stronger members F. It brings us peace G. It heals our relationship

Contrition A. Is being sorry for our sins and promising not to sin again (being sorry for our sins because we believe in God and love Him) B. A prayer of sorrow

My God, I am truly sorry for choosing to do wrong and failing to do good. Please help me to try to be good and to love you above all things. Amen

8

Examination of Conscience A. Is our thinking and praying about whether or not our choice show love for God, ourselves, and others) B. We ask ourselves questions to help us to remember what we have thought, said, or done C. We ask ourselves if there were times we could have done well for others but did not

Confession A. After examining your conscience then you have some sins to confess B. Tell our sins to the priest

1. The priest will NEVER tell anyone the sins that are confessed

Penance A. A prayer or kind act we do to show God we are sorry B. Do right after the celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation C. Prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, etc.) D. If you do not do the penance right afterwards and wait a couple of days then you did not receive the sacrament

Absolution (comes from a word that means taking away) A. When we receive absolution our sins are taken away; FORGIVEN B. When the priest gives absolution, he stretches his right hand over your head and prays:

I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit C. You make the sin of the cross, and then respond AMEN D. Jesus used the gesture of laying hands on people when He was blessing or healing them