September 21 Class Update: Starting the Journey

Greetings!

I hope everyone all had a wonderful time at our first class of the year this past Tuesday, as I had a great time meeting all the 8th graders and getting to know them.

We had the opportunity to share a little bit about ourselves in our time of introductions.  I enjoyed reading the responses to the questions I posed at the start of class and the exit slips.  If you of students asked a question on your exit slip, I will share my responses at our next class.

During class, I led everyone in doing hand motions to represent the different parts of salvation history.  Perhaps you remember some of them.  If you want to see them again, please look below for a link to a video I recorded.

Since God has saved us, He has sent us the Holy Spirit so we can proclaim this Good News--as symbolized by the bubble wrap everyone all got to pop in class.

Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of St. John chapter 7:37-39, where the scene is at the final day of the Jewish Feast of Sukkot, or Tabernacles, during the ritual of pouring water into a bowl.

Sukkot is one of several Jewish feasts in the autumntime.  Another is Rosh Hashanah, when it's customary to eat apples.  Everyone got to take home a Honeycrisp apple that I bought at the Oak Park Farmers' Market.

As a reminder, our class is having a field trip next week:  We'll be touring the Church and looking at the artwork and symbols inside.  Like we did this past Tuesday, we'll meet outside the entrance to the school building.

I'm so pleased by the wonderful start we had, and I look forward to continuing in the journey with you as we swim on the ocean of God and encounter His presence--remember the floating device?  

We journey together connected as one Church, or in the Native American words, "All my relations."

God's blessings,
Paul Rubio

P.S. Here's a video of Baba Yetu, the Lord's Prayer in Swahili, which I played at the beginning of class during our opening prayer time.

Here is a video of the hand motions.

I took this photo of the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean back on March 1 at Pompano Beach, FL. I am grateful for the new year we have begun together as we swim in the ocean of God and encounter His presence.

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