Religious Education in the Classroom
Welcome to Week 9! 3MA examined the scripture passage of Luke 4:16-21 and completed the Picture This activity. Students had to picture themselves in the story: What is your role in this story? Why are you there? What can you see? What is the order of events? 

Below are their observations.

Charlie: I was an observer in the story.

Reese: I imagined the synagogue like an oval shaped ring that had stairs as seats. There was a small table with a plant on it, a bible and an assistant standing next to the table. 

Lucy: I imagined that I was a little kid listening to Jesus in the synagogue. 

Grace: I imagined that I was the assistant. 

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and this week is the first week of Advent. 3JR led a beautiful Advent Prayer Service on Monday morning. Advent means ‘coming’ and it is a time of preparation, waiting and praying for the arrival of Jesus Christ. 

Mt Carmel School Christmas Item 2021 - Jesse Tree
Mt Carmel School’s Christmas item for 2021 is decorating a Jesse Tree using symbols based on a selection of scripture passages. The passages tell the story of God and all the people who make up Jesus’ family tree. Jesse was the father of King David, who was a great leader and lived a long time before Jesus. Jesus’ family were descendants of King David. 

Each class has made a symbol based on their scripture passage and it will be added to our Jesse tree. Two classes per day will present their symbol during our morning Teams Assembly and explain its importance based on the scripture before hanging it on the tree. Students will make a smaller symbol, based on their class scripture, that they will take home to share with their family. 

Today Mt Carmel School started the Advent journey by adding the first two special symbols to our Jesse Tree.

The Jesse Tree Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-2

Gospel and Reflection
Mark 13:33-37 
Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” 

The key message of this passage is to ‘Watch’ and to welcome Christ into our life during Advent. He is here already but he wants to come closer. 

How can I keep in touch with God and others?

How can I prepare for the coming of the Lord?

Thank you to all the families who have provided donations for the Vinnies Christmas Appeal. It is great to see so many baskets filled with donations! Next week is the last week of the appeal.