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A Parent’s Guide to Prayer
In the belief that parents and Sunday school teachers are our principal role models and teachers in developing the spiritual lives of children, Anita Keire explains to parents and teachers what prayer is all about and how to guide their children in prayer. |
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Comments
“I liked what Anita had to say about children in worship and worship time in the classroom. It is exactly what we have been trying to accomplish here, and her book helps to reinforce these same ideas. I am also very pleased with the section on understanding the Lord’s Prayer. I know that information will be a very helpful tool for everyone. The information for teachers and families on how to get started with prayer is great. This book will be an excellent resource for teachers and families alike.”
“This book is written from the ground up. It is not only theory; it is firmly anchored in the personal and professional experience of Anita Keire. Her exceptional biblical knowledge and her parish life are combined with an ear which is finely tuned to the idiom of youth.”
“The Reverend Anita Keire has made great inroads into the mystery of prayer with her book, A Parent’s Guide to Prayer. This book will help teachers and parents uncover prayer for themselves and their children. The whole area of what is prayer and how we can pray has been opened up to be explored. The cloak of mystery is beginning to lift.”
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The Mustard Seed Series®
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This Series has both a Teacher’s Book and a Student’s Book for each grade level. |
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Kindergarten |
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This grade level introduces kindergarten children to God’s creation of the world, their place in it, the church, prayer, parables, miracles, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, life stories of five-year olds, The Selfish Giant, Mother’s Day, and God’s world in the Spring. |
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Primary 1 (Grade 1) |
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Old Testament stories of Creation, Noah’s Ark, Abraham, Sarah and Isaac, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph are covered in the fall. Beginning with Thanksgiving, children learn about Church Seasons, Jesus’ birth, Simeon, the Wise Men, John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism and temptations, more of his parables and miracles, Holy Week events, Easter, Pentecost and Peter’s first miracle. |
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Primary 2 (Grade 2) |
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Moses, Joshua, David and Goliath, Solomon, and Elijah are the Old Testament stories covered in the fall of the school year. Thanksgiving, Church Seasons, birth of Jesus, his flight into Egypt, his parables, Zaccheus, Palm Sunday, the Widow’s Mite, the Last Supper and Judas’ betrayal, arrest and trial of Jesus, his crucifixion, burial and resurrection, and Paul’s conversion and ministry cover the remainder of the school year. |
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Intermediate 1 (Grade 3) |
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Students are taught Bible reference skills this year and read from the Bible stories on Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark, Tower of Babel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Jesus’ birth, ministry, last days, crucifixion, and Easter. |
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Intermediate 2 (Grade 4) |
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Students read from the Bible about Moses’ birth, call, return to Egypt, the ten plagues, Passover, escape from Egypt, messianic prophecies, Jesus’ birth, the Wise Men’s visit, Jesus’ escape to Egypt, John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism, Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness, discipleship and opposition to Jesus, Jesus’ ministry, parables, and miracles, Holy Week events and Easter. Additionally students read and study the allegory The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Shoemaker Michael, How Much Land Does a Person Need? and The Other Wise Man. |
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Junior 1 (Grade 5) |
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Students are guided through an in-depth study of the Ten Commandments and read from the Bible stories on the Israelites’ time in the wilderness, Joshua and the invasion of Canaan, the importance of Judges Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. When studying the Bible story on the Wise Men, students will read the play The Other Wise Man. They review Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection before studying the early church with Cleon Makes His Choice. |
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Junior 2 (Grade 6) |
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The story of Ruth, Samuel, Israel’s monarchy and succession problems, Canaanite vs. Israelite culture, and the cause for the division of Israel are the Old Testament focus until Advent. New Testament studies and related topics include Elizabeth and Zechariah, birth of Jesus, A Christmas Carol, John the Baptist, Jesus’ Temptations, his ministry and message, parables and miracles, Judas’ betrayal, Holy Week events with dramatic monologues, and Jesus’ resurrection. |
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Seniors 1 (Grade 7) Pre-Confirmation 1 |
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This year’s study is an in-depth study of material covered in the lower grades. Students are more mature and preparing themselves for confirmation. Emphasis is put on understanding the religious significance of Bible stories and how the Bible historically evolved. Old Testament stories through Joseph are studied. New Testament and related topics covered are church seasons, overview of Jewish biblical history, John the Baptist, the Incarnation, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, his parables and miracles, the Lord’s Prayer, the Great Commission, the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth, the Trinity and the Atonement. |
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Seniors 2 (Grade 8) Pre-Confirmation 2 |
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Students study the life and events in Moses life, the invasion of the Promised Land, the Book of Judges, kings Saul, David, and Solomon, the division of the kingdom, the rise of prophets, their purpose, and the prophets Elijah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. New Testament and related topics are a review of Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, the Book of Acts and some Epistles, the formation of the early church, problems confronting the early church, the influence of Greek, Roman, and Jewish cultures, and church history to 500 C.E. |
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Confirmation (Grade 9) Living the Faith |
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Biblical studies and related topics studied are Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Proverbs, the prophets Jeremiah, Isaiah, Nehemiah, Ezra, and Jonah, Maccabees and Daniel, Job, the Gospels, Gospel Narratives, the Incarnation and Trinity, use of metaphor, sign, and symbol, Jesus’ message, parables, miracles, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection, the Sermon on the Mount, Epistles, meaning, interpretation, and purpose of scripture. Additional studies also include prayer, sacraments, worship, stewardship, church history from 500 A.D. to the present, Christian identity, discipleship and responsibilities, church membership, history of the Bible, church seasons, and complexities of the faith. |
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Teacher Training Manual |
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This book gives valuable insight into the practice of classroom management and instruction, a brief overview of our faith story, problems confronted in teaching and studying the Bible, and the theory behind the teaching mission of the Church, intellectual development and moral reasoning in children, and the process of faith development. There is also an extensive glossary, a diagram with symbols of Church Seasons and an explanation thereto. |
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Director’s Manual |
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The Director’s Manual gives important insights into how to run a Sunday School and how to implement the Mustard Seed Series. |
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Comments |
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Pre-Confirmation 1 and 2 and the Confirmation levels lend themselves to retreats, mentor programs, and adult Education.
“Every time I teach with your curriculum I mean to write…Your structured approach and “talking points” give us the framework to get through our class with confidence. When I think back to my panicky trips to art supply stores for any sort of craft project to keep a class of third graders from turning into an out-of-control mob, the long planning sessions with my co-teacher, the do it yourself theology planning—all overlaid onto a stressed and hectic schedule of parenting and work…All different this year! We can’t believe the change the Mustard Seed Series makes for quality of life for teachers, and real lessons and learning for the students. The pieces all work together—teacher’s guide, student books, A Parent’s Guide to Prayer, Bible readings, activities, discussion and ongoing weekly themes like the Lord’s Prayer…It really works! Basically, the Series show that you understand that Sunday School teachers are ‘amateurs’, ‘weekend warriors’ with other things on their minds. You give us what we need to perform like a pro…Thanks again—we are blessed by your fine work.”
“Our Sunday School is very pleased with the Mustard Seed Series. The students enjoy the continuity of the Bible-based lessons. They learn Bible content…as well as some historical context. There are ample opportunities for discussion to link the lesson with contemporary issues. Excellent resource materials are provided for the teachers. The lesson plans are clear and easy to follow. There is plenty of material, allowing for flexibility in structuring each class.”
“Incorporating classical literature like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the video Jesus of Nazareth is a streak of brilliance. Why haven’t other publishers been willing to try this?...Having been burned in the past, our teachers said things like, “These curriculum guides are all the same. They are filled with activities that couldn’t possibly work with our seventh graders.” Yet, after following the Teacher’s Book, they began to say things like, “I can’t believe it! This was written by someone who really knows kids! Everything works!”
“This program is outstanding; we are quite, quite pleased. The teachers found it easy to prepare and appreciated the depth of the material.”
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