Imitating Christ’s Humility If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God,    did not regard equality with God    as something to be exploited, but emptied himself,    taking the form of a slave,    being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,    he humbled himself    and became obedient to the point of death—    even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him    and gave him the name    that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus    every knee should bend,    in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess    that Jesus Christ is Lord,    to the glory of God the Father.

World Day of Prayer and Action for Children

Loving God,

your Son told his disciples
to become like little children.
Lead us to work for the welfare
and protection of all young people.
May we respect their dignity
that they may flourish in life,
following the example of the same
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Focus on children

This year the focus of the World Day of Prayer is on children You may find this information of interest to your children or youth

http://www.dayofprayerandaction.org/

web sites on Character from Catholic Boards in Ontario

Here are a list of helpful websites from Catholic District School Boards in Ontario I think that they are very useful - check them out and let me know what you think
 catherine

http://rccdsb.edu.on.ca/religiouseducation/character-development/
Renfrew County has some excellent ideas that can be adapted to church school

 From Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board I found a great Social Justice poster! I like this poster on Social Justice as it is Christ Centred! Sometimes I think that we focus too much on the works and neglect to make the Christ connection - it doesn't hurt to keep the connection alive What di you think?

http://schools.alcdsb.on.ca/social_justice/Site Pictures/footprintswebposter.jpg

another great site for you

www.books.bc.ca; www.goodminds.com

 Recommendation of books from Literacy Numeracy Secretariat
 And Still the Turtle Watched, Sheila Macqill-Callahan
Everyone Needs a Rock, Bird Baylor
Fearless Warriors, Drew Hayden Taylor
Ice Dreams, Drew Hayden Taylor
Treaty Promises, Indian Reality: Life on a Reserve,
Harold LeRat Jingle Dancer, Cynthia Leitich Smith
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, Simms Taback
Keepers of the Earth, Keepers of Life (series), Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac
Knots on a Counting Rope, Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Ribbon Rescue, Robert Munsch
SkySisters, Jan Bourdeau Waboose
Something for Nothing, Kelly Early
 The Fox, Ron Brooks
The Moccasins, Earl Einarson
The OK Book, Amy Krouse Rosenthal
The Table Where Rich People Sit, Bird Baylor
 The Warriors, Joseph Bruchac
Three Day Road, Joseph Boyden
Red Parka Mary, Peter Eyvindson
Morning on the Lake, Jan Bourdeau
Waboose Nanabosho Stories, compiled by Emerson Coatsworth and David Coatsworth Authors: Lenore Keeshig-Tobias and David Bouchard

On-line websites for Making the Christ Connection Resources

Check these out!
 Teaching Character Education through Picture Books -has many character traits and topics
  Bannockburn Elementary School - character education program book list

 Hamilton City Schools District - book list for character education http://www.lanepl.org/educators/booklistk.htm

Jordan, Utah School District - six character traits and role models (mostly American) http://web.jordan.k12.ut.us/majestic/pdf/CharacterBooklist.pdf 

US Department of Education -books that can support character development http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/citizen/partx2.html

On-line Bibliographies:

Check out the following websites for more resources on Making the Christ Connection

 Union Presbyterian Seminary -Children’s literature: a resource for ministry http://storypath.wordpress.com/category/lectionary-links/#!/page/1

 Josephson Institute Center for Youth Ethics - uses six pillars: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship http://charactercounts.org/resources/booklist.php

  Homeschool Share - provides story books that connect to Bible stories and character traits http://www.homeschoolshare.com/bible_and_character_study.php 

PICTURE THIS! Using Picture Books To Introduce or Teach Skills - links story books with character education. Also includes bullying, math, science, multiculturalism… http://www.augusta.k12.va.us/66879034105238/lib/66879034105238/picture_this_picture_book_concepts.pdf 

Central Rappahannock Regional Library - Library in Virginia that provides a list of storybooks for teaching character education
http://childrensbooks.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=childrensbooks&cdn=parenting&tm=7&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.answerpoint.org/teachers_place/character_education.asp


 Union Presbyterian Seminary -Children’s literature: a resource for ministry http://storypath.wordpress.com/category/lectionary-links/#!/page/1

New LInk to Help Make the Christ Connection

The following link follows the lectionary and also lists secular children's books relating to the Gospel values of the church year. Try it - it will help you help your children make the Christ Connection! http://storypath.wordpress.com/category/lectionary-links/#!/page/1