In Unit 4, children will learn that as Christians, Jesus calls them to be like the Apostles and share his teachings with others. They profess their faith in the Apostles’ Creed and live it by using God-given talents to serve others.
		The Church Continues the Mission of the Apostles Prior to presenting each chapter, refer to the TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME pages in your child's book, or print out these pages from TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME. Learning Focus This chapter will help the children • understand that we are all called to be Christ's disciples and share his teaching with others. • understand that the Church is apostolic because it carries on the faith of Jesus and the Apostles. • identify the Marks of the Church as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Background Many families have certain traditions that are passed on from one generation to the next. They may include skills such as painting, sewing, or cooking, as well as celebrations, stories, and songs. The faith we have today has been passed down from Jesus through Mary and the Apostles to us. For this reason, we say that the Church is apostolic. Like the Apostles, who were sent by Jesus to bring the Gospel to all nations, we are called to live our faith and spread the Good News to all people. Continuing the Apostles' Work This chapter teaches children that there are many ways they can continue the Apostles' work. We can celebrate Sunday Mass, attend religion class, love and obey their parents or guardians, comfort those who are ill or sad, apologize when we hurt others, pray, help others, and follow the example of Mary and the saints. The faith we have inherited is summarized in the Apostles' Creed. Periodically, it is important to reflect on each phrase of this creed. Whenever we live according to our faith, we are following in the footsteps of the Apostles.
		We Are Committed Through the Sacraments Prior to presenting each chapter, refer to the TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME pages in your child's book, or print out these pages from TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME. Learning Focus This chapter will help the children • understand the meaning of a vocation. • identify Matrimony and Holy Orders as Sacraments at the Service of Communion. • understand that God wants us to use our talents to serve others. Background Children are too young to make a legally binding commitment, such as signing a contract, or making a will. And yet they can begin to understand the meaning of commitment through the keeping of promises. Once we make a promise, we have a responsibility to keep it. It is a responsibility that commits us to certain actions, provided they are morally good. At Baptism every new Church member has promised to follow Jesus and to turn away from evil. This promise is a lifelong commitment that we carry out in the supportive community of the Church. The Call to Serve Others Jesus Christ calls us to serve others according to our vocation in life. Some people serve the Church through the sacrament of Holy Orders. A man becomes a deacon, priest, or bishop; he promises to help, teach, and serve others. Some people serve the Church through the sacrament of Matrimony. A man and woman promise to love and serve each other and their children. They promise to build a strong family that will help others. As the children will learn in this chapter, the sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders help adults keep their commitment, or promise, to serve others. The grace of these sacraments lasts throughout life.
		We Are Faithful to Our Commitments Prior to presenting each chapter, refer to the TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME pages in your child's book, or print out these pages from TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME. Learning Focus This chapter will help the children • understand that every Christian has a vocation. • understand the work of the Church leaders and servers. • realize that individual talents can be used to serve God and others. Background Every Christian has a vocation, or calling to serve the Church by loving God and others. We first say "yes" to this vocation in Baptism. As adults we may choose to live out this vocation as ordained ministers, religious, single, or married persons. The bishops at Vatican II refer to the institution of marriage as an "intimate union." Through its statement on the role of marriage in the modern world, the Church asserts the sacred bond of commitment made between husband and wife. They are "no longer two but one (Matthew 19.6)...[marriage is] a mutual giving of two persons, and the good of the children demand total fidelity from the spouses and require an unbreakable unity between them." Spouses have a mission of commitment to each other, the raising of children, and to the Church. Different Gifts, One Spirit Church membership requires a commitment to work and worship with others. We use our individual gifts to become a community of deeper faith, hope, and love. Leadership and service go hand in hand. In addition to the specific work of the pope, bishops, priests, deacons, catechists, musicians, lectors, and altar servers, every Catholic has a responsibility to contribute in a positive way to the life of the parish.
		We Pray for Faith Prior to presenting each chapter, refer to the TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME pages in your child's book, or print out these pages from TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME. Learning Focus This chapter will help the children • understand that the Apostles' Creed is a statement of faith of the Apostles. • recognize that the Apostles' Creed tells about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. • realize that as we pray, the Holy Spirit helps us be faithful to the Apostles' Creed. Background From a historical standpoint, the Epistles represent the earliest writings of New Testament scripture. Through these letters, we learn how Jesus Christ's followers established community through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We also learn how their faith developed and came to be articulated. Over a period of time, formal statements of belief, known as creeds, were used to succinctly say what the Church community believed. According to Church tradition, the Apostles wrote the Apostles' Creed. While this tradition is questionable, the Creed's statements do indeed seem to express the faith of the early centuries of the Church. For instance, the Creed was used in all Baptisms throughout the Church in the fourth century. The Importance of Faith The story of Stephen who was chosen by the Apostles to help them and his willingness to die as a martyr for his faith contains an important lesson for all Christians. We, too, are to base our lives on this faith, which unites us with Catholics everywhere. We are to witness to our faith in our words, decisions, and actions. We are to share this faith in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with others. Because what we believe is a mystery, the words of the Apostles' Creed take on deeper meaning as we grow in faith. Praying the Creed should always bring new insight.