Growing in God's Story

Many of us have learned about our traditions and family stories by sitting around a supper table listening to our parents and grandparents hand down tales of their life experiences.  We gather, give thanks, break bread and share our stories of happy times and struggles.  These family stories become a part of who we are and are often passed on to our own children and grandchildren.

God has gifted our Church family with the same opportunity when we gather at Mass to hear His story through the scriptures and share in the greatest banquet of all, the Eucharist. God’s story becomes a part of our journey of faith.

Children learn best through storytelling, especially when it appeals to all their senses.  Growing in God’s Stories gives children the opportunity to enter into the stories in scripture using their imaginations and wondering beyond the stories themselves.  Through God’s Word and the use of manipulatives, children are asked to listen with their ears, watch with their eyes, keep their bodies quiet, and listen with their hearts to what God is trying to tell them.  They are challenged with a series of questions to wonder and place themselves in each story so that it becomes a part of them.  At the same time, they learn the language and symbols of our rich faith traditions.

Within our parish family, Growing in Gods’ Stories is used during pastoral classroom visits and by parish catechists to enhance the Sacramental Preparation of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. (Recorded by Jenny Doyle with stories told by Ali Chinnick, Parish Catechist, and volunteer Catechists Pat Forster, Lucy Haggeman and Colleen Koehler.)

We are presenting them here so you have the chance to share in these stories and share with any children in your lives - whether you are 2 or 92!  Click on each title to reveal the corresponding video.