Entering the Body of Christ

OBJECTIVE

There is no greater comfort in this world than knowing that our Lord united us with Himself through the Holy Sacraments, especially Holy Communion in the Divine Liturgy. We are blessed to be called members of the Body of Christ, with Christ as the head, called to celebrate the Divine Liturgy together. In this unit, we will develop the understanding of 5th graders on the initiation, unity, and function of the Body of Christ centered on the Divine Liturgy.

HOOK/INTRODUCTION - 10 Minutes

Who likes celebrating their birthday? Why is it so fun? (typical answers: you get gifts, you get cake, you get to be with family). Did you know that the Church has a birthday too? Does anyone know when it is?

The Pentecost is the Church's birthday and Christ gave the disciples a very special gift for the Church. Do you know what the gift is? The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is what united as one Body in Christ.

In this unit, we will be discussing the Liturgy in 4 weeks. Today we will discuss the Who, What, When, Where, Why, How of the LITURGY

Before all of that, we must start from the very beginning -- the Church's BIRTHDAY. If it's the Church's birthday, then it's also all of our birthdays as well because WE ARE ONE BODY IN CHRIST

HOLY SCRIPTURE- 5 Minutes

Key passages can be found throughout the lesson

CONTENT (Key Points) - 20 Minutes

WHO

The Holy Spirit united the disciples into one spiritual body -- The Body of Christ. We join the Body of Christ when we receive the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation.
All who are baptized and chrismated into the faith have received the Holy Spirit and are now included into the Body of Christ. This includes all of us
- "We have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:13
- "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ...For in fact the body is not one member but many...But now indeed there are many members, yet one body." (1 Cor. 12:12, 14, 20)
As one body, we partake of one Eucharist, the Body and Blood.
- "For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread." (1 Cor. 10:17)

WHAT

The Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion was taught by Jesus to the disciples themselves as St. Paul reminds us:
- "On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and said, "This is My Body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, He took the cup of wine after supper, saying "This cup us the new covenant between God and his people -- an agreement confirmed with My Blood. 1 Corin 11:23

WHEN

The Church began on the Day of Pentecost - 50 days after the Resurrection.
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Paraclete (Advocate).
- Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere ... and to the ends of the earth."

WHERE

The church is the Body of Christ, with Christ as the Head. The word "church" means "an assembly of called-out ones", not a building.
Wherever Christians assemble together and share in the Divine Liturgy, it is the church. As Christ said:
- Matt 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

WHY

God planned for the church long before the Church began on the day of Pentecost. Jesus wanted all believers to be once again united with Him and God the Father.
Sharing in the Divine Liturgy together and partaking of the Holy Communion together, we become united with Christ, just as Christ wanted for us:
- John 17:21 "I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one -- as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."

HOW

The Church began on the Day of Pentecost - 50 days after the Resurrection.
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Paraclete (Advocate).
- Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere ... and to the ends of the earth."
During the Divine Liturgy, the priest prays the following:
- Make us all worthy, O our Master, to partake of Your Holy Body and Your precious Blood unto the purification of our souls, bodies, and spirits, and unto the remission of our sins and iniquities, that we may be one body and one spirit with You. May our partaking of Your holy Mysteries make us one with You unto the end; and bless us.

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Why do you think it's important that we learn about the beginning origins of our Church? It's important because we need to understand that we are One Body in Christ. We are all part of the same family.

But, how do we become a part of this family? Through baptism, repentance, confession, and partaking of the Holy Body and precious Blood.

CONCLUSION - 10 Minutes

We have learned the following today:

The Church is the Body of Christ
Christ is the Head of the Body
The Divine Liturgy is for those who believe in Christ and are baptized into the Body of Christ (the Church). When we sin, we re-enter the Body of Christ through repentance and confession.

The Liturgy is for partaking of Holy Eucharist together so that we are united in God through Jesus Christ.

ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes

Sing a song together:

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Have students share an Agape meal together to reinforce unity as the Body of Christ.

Have students fill out the attached chart of the 5Ws and H with corresponding Bible verses (verses can be found on page 2 of Attached Activities)

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

We will be teaching the Divine Liturgy for this unit from the perspective of the Divine Liturgy being a celebration of the faithful as One Body in Christ. Today we remembered that the birthday of the Body of Christ is Pentecost. We also talked about the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW of the Divine Liturgy and the Body of Christ.