RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM

STRAND
Church in the World
Term:
TRANSFER GOAL (whole strand)

YEAR LEVEL
Year 1
Date:

UNIT TITLE
Church as Community
Duration:

Engage in the life of the Church and respond to the needs of society

DISCIPLESHIP GOAL (this unit)

Students are encouraged to celebrate God's love with others.

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Believers gather in the Church to pray and to

celebrate in different ways.
God calls people to love and care for self and others.
Students will know:
The Church as a community that celebrates Gods
love.
People of faith gather to share aspects of their lives
as Church.

How do I pray and participate in Church

celebrations?
How do I show love to God?
Students will be able to:
Recognise ways we show love as a community.
Distinguish the features of the Church building that
mark it as a sacred place.
Describe some ways in which believers gather in the
Church to pray and celebrate various rituals.

ACHIEVEMENT STANDARD
By the end of this unit students will understand that we gather in the love of God to pray and celebrate.

ASSESSMENT
Diagnostic

Formative

Summative

How will you assess the students prior

knowledge and skills?

Through what other evidence will students

demonstrate achievement of the desired
results?

What authentic performance tasks will be

designed in order for students to demonstrate
deep knowledge skills and understanding?

KWL The meaning of Church.

Label the features of a Church

building.

Model for church display.

The students will give a tour of the

Church explaining the important
features of the building and prayer.

SCRIPTURE
Mt 18:19-20
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in
heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.
Acts 2:46-47
Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad
and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their
number those who were being saved.

CATECHISM
752 In Christian usage, the word church designates the liturgical assembly, but also the local community or the
whole universal community of believers. These three meanings are inseparable. The Church is the People that
God gathers in the whole world. She exists in local communities and is made real as a liturgical, above all a
Eucharistic, assembly. She draws her life from the word and the Body of Christ and so herself becomes Christs body.
1180 Christians construct buildings for divine worship. These visible churches are not simply gathering places but
signify and made visible the Church living in this place, the dwelling of God with people reconciled and united in
Christ.
1140 It is the whole community, the Body of Christ united with its Head, that celebrates.
1142 But the members do not all have the same function. Certain members are called by God, in and through the
Church, to a special service to the community. These servants are chosen and consecrated by the sacrament of Holy
Orders, by which the Holy Spirit enables them to act in the person of Christ the head, for the service of all the
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members of the Church Since it is in the Eucharist that the sacrament of the Church is made fully visible, it is in his
presiding at the Eucharist that the bishops ministry is most evident, as well as, in communion with him, the ministry
of priests and deacons.

TEACHER BACKGROUND
The literal meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words, rendered in English as church, is assembly. Over time the
word has come to be used exclusively of the collective of those who are followers of Christ. By association, the
physical place where Christians gather to worship is also called a church. The building is more than a simple
meeting hall. It is architecturally symbolic, and so tells us much about the Christian community.
Vatican II issued a Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. In this a blueprint was laid out for a renewed
understanding of the Church. Whilst it can be understood in many ways, the Council gave first place to seeing
the Church as the People of God.
Just as the covenant at Sinai had established Israel as Gods chosen people, so the covenant sealed on Calvary
forms the followers of Jesus into the People of God. Salvation comes to us not as isolated beings, but through
our union with Christ and all those who are his. This understanding of Church focuses more on people and their
relationship with God and one another, and on how this relationship is strengthened, than on institutional
structures and authority. It does not, however, neglect the proper place of these.
For the Jewish people the Sanctuary, and later the Temple, were sacred places. They were set apart through a
solemn ritual of consecration to be used exclusively for the worship of God. In a special way Jews encountered
Gods presence amongst them there. The Tabernacle or Holy of Holies was Gods dwelling place on earth.
At first Christians continued to worship at synagogue and Temple, and to celebrate Eucharist in their homes. But
as communities grew and the Church became more structured, buildings were set aside for worship. Christians
continued the Jewish tradition of consecrating the building with prayer and anointing, and of reserving it
exclusively for religious affairs. The practice of reserving the Eucharist in the church confirmed the view of its
being Gods special dwelling place in our midst.
The focus of any church building is the sanctuary or area set apart for celebrations, although the whole space is
considered the liturgical space. There are three essential furnishings here. The altar is the centrepiece of the
church. Traditionally made of stone, it symbolises Christ who is the foundation stone of the living Church. It also
recalls his sacrifice on the cross, which is re-presented there in the Mass. Covered with a cloth, it is also the
Lords Table from which we are fed with the Eucharist. The lecturer (ambo) or reading table is the place reserved
for the proclamation of the Scriptures and the homily. Vatican II reminds us that at Mass we are nourished at the
twofold table of the Lords word and body. The chair is reserved for the presider. It reminds us that we gather as
a community for worship, not just as individuals. Through the ordained minister, Christ continues to lead his
people.
In Catholic churches the Eucharist is usually reserved to be available for taking to the sick. The Eucharist is kept
in a secure cabinet, the tabernacle. A lamp burns nearby to alert people to the Lords presence.
Other features of the church include a cross recalling the mystery of Christs saving death. The baptismal font,
with the Easter candle nearby, is a reminder that we all share in Christs resurrection through baptism. There
may be statues or icons of Mary and the churchs patron saint. Stained glass windows not only beautify the
building, but also have a catechetical purpose.

SHARED CHRISTIAN PRAXIS

FOCUSING ACTIVITY

1: Church as Community

The focusing activity generates a focusing activity for the unit through a generative theme, engaging symbol or action.

NAMING (N)

REFLECTING (RF)

CHRISTIAN STORY
AND VISION (CS)

INTEGRATING (I)

RESPONDING (R)

Share experiences that are

familiar to students.

Reflect to understand our

experience more deeply.

Present Scripture/Tradition
related to the topic.

Apply Scripture/Tradition
to our own lives.

Decide what can be done

and how it can be lived.

Focusing Activity: Create an invitation to a party for your class and send them/leave them for the students. Set up a
mini-party with decorations, singing, gifts, sharing of stories and games.
N

RF

CS

LEARNING EXPERIENCES
1. Read a book or watch a clip about gathering to celebrate. Discuss

Adjusted Learning
Teachers to complete
according to need.

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2.

3.
4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.
12.

13.

how it feels to belong and celebrate special occasions with family.

Discuss how students know they belong to a family. List the signs
of belonging to a family, community, school. Share the sorts of
things families/friends do when they come together to celebrate.
What events are remembered or stories told.
Create a KWL chart about Church. (A)
Create an area in your classroom that represents the inside of a
church. Have the students use play-doh to create a model for
something they have seen inside the church e.g. Cross, altar, font,
tabernacle, chalice, statues. Place these in the display.
List when families and friends get together to celebrate. What do
these celebrations involve? Children write about and illustrate a
family celebration they have discussed.
Discuss that as people celebrate together as family and friends it
reminds us of the early Christian communities. Read Acts 2:46-47
They Spent Much Time Together and relate to present day
celebrations.
Discuss how people celebrate through special meals. Using a TChart list how Jesus celebrated with family and friends and
compare it with how we celebrate special occasions.
In Acts 2:46-47 praising God is an important part of the
celebration. Students will write a prayer thanking God for families
and special celebrations.
Identify how the church is a family, eg support, love, acceptance,
stories and traditions. Name things Church does as a family.
(mention sacraments as some children will have siblings who have
participated)
Discuss that there are various ways that Gods family celebrates.
Gods family celebrates at school, at various prayer gatherings.
List some of these.
List ways that the students Parish Church celebrates. Draw / paint
pictures of these celebrations.
Discuss the Eucharist is a special celebration in the life of Gods
family. Compare the preparation of a special meal/celebration,
with the preparation of the Eucharist celebration. A video of the
Liturgy of the Eucharist can be found here:
http://www.togetheratonealtar.catholic.edu.au/receive/dspcontent.cfm?loadref=46
Read Matthew 18.20 Where Two or Three are Gathered and
discuss the meaning. Using the KITE Method explore this text.
K- Know the Text See Catechism and Teaching Background
I Inspire the Imagination - Write out quote For where two or
three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.
Students illustrate then place in a prominent position in the
classroom.
T Translate to Life List times we gather as a school community
to celebrate.
E- Express the Heart Write a prayer thanking Jesus for being
with us as we gather each day. Share these prayers.
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14. Ask students to bring in photos of various Church celebrations

they have attended.
15. Students are given a picture of a Church celebration and in small
groups create a role play sharing- the important elements of that
celebration.
16. Sing Gather Together (John Burland) and discuss words in the
verses.
17. Use the Together At One Altar website to explore the Church.
Under the Craft tab are some useful resources including What
is on the Sanctuary? and Explore the Cathedral. These can both
be used to prepare your children for when you visit your own
Parish Church. You can also use the resource Sacred Objects and
Symbols eBook pages 6-12 and Flipchart Sacred Objects and
Symbols. (Kathy Horan - Garrett Publishing)
18. Prepare students for class visit to the church by giving the children
a blank cut out shape of the church with the name of the church
on it. Individually or in small groups, students draw what they
think they might see in the church.
19. Visit the Church and invite the Parish Priest and some Parish
Volunteers to provide a tour for the students. On the tour the
students will use various senses to experience the environment
(sight, hearing, smell, touch) and have the different features in
the church explained.
20. Recall and discuss the features of the church observed on the
tour. Provide an outline for students and ask them to illustrate
and label. (altar, cross, pews, candles, statue, tabernacle, font,
Holy water, Stations of the Cross) (A)
21. Make a Big Book about the church using digital photos of features
in the church e.g. cross, altar, lectern, Baptismal font, etc.
22. Students brainstorm Things people do in the Church e.g. Listen,
sit quietly, kneel, sing, pray, stand genuflect, sign of the cross.
Once list is compiled invite Parish Priest to visit for a chance for
the students to hear about and explore these actions. Students
can role-play and discuss why these actions are important.
23. Take pictures of students listening, kneeling, singing, praying,
genuflecting, and making the Sign of the Cross etc. Students will
annotate the pictures and then add to the class Big Book.
24. GRASP Task
Goal To inform others of the important features of the church
building and explain the actions and ways we pray when we
gather to celebrate.
Role- Tour Guide: Students will lead a tour of their Parish Church.
Audience A family member/ Parish Guest/Older Student
Situation You have noticed that some people have questions
about why we do what we do when we gather to pray.
Product Students will create a tour booklet, based on the class
Big Book that will be used to support the tour. It will include the
important features of the church (altar, cross, pews, candles,
statue, tabernacle, font, Holy water, Stations of the Cross) and
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ways we pray (Listen, sit quietly, kneel, sing, pray, stand genuflect,
sign of the cross) when we gather to celebrate.
25. Students will provide their tour for a family member/parishioner
or older student. (A)
Resources
Gather Together (John Burland)
Sacred Objects and Symbols, Kathy Horan - Garrett Publishing
Together At One Altar - http://www.togetheratonealtar.catholic.edu.au/
Appendices

Treasures New and Old (1: Church as Community) 2014