There are many ways the Christian God can be pictured and each person has their own special image that comes to mind for them when they think of God and he becomes present to them. Many of our images of God come from Scriptural images from the Old Testament which are not always the same as the God that Jesus talked about and revealed to us.

Our image of God changes as we mature and our knowledge and experience of God increases. When we share our ideas about God with others we can be influenced by their ideas about who God is for them. This can also happen when we are introduced to images of God from other cultures and when we see examples in traditional and contemporary art. The God we relate to can also be shaped by particular characteristics we associate with God such as faithfulness, generosity and loving tenderness.

Below is a summary of the teaching that will happen in each class in term 1.

Ruma Korora - Mrs Stafford

God is Present in the World God is present in the world in creation, and speaks to people through the scriptures especially when they are proclaimed in the Church. God is active through people who accept his gift of grace – Mana Atua and God’s activity in the world is expressed through different cultures.

Ruma Kea - Whia McLaughlin

Our Gracious God God is gracious – a great giver of gifts. The greatest of these gifts of love is Jesus who revealed that God is Abba – his loving Father – Matua, who is also our Father. Our response to God’s gifts of grace is to truly appreciate them and to live lives of gratitude.

Ruma Kakapo - Mrs Cunningham

God is Creator God is the Creator of all that is, ‘seen and unseen’. Each person is God’s unique creation made in love for love. We are each part of what God made and ‘saw that it was good’. We are called to respect our own dignity – tapu as persons made in God’s image, the dignity of others and the value of all parts of creation. We are sacred and Holy because we share in the Tapu of God. We are also called to respond with praise and worship of God.

Ruma Ruru and Piwakawaka:  Mrs Callingham, Mrs Gallagher

God is Faithful God is always faithful – pono. This is one of the basic messages in the Scriptures. God calls people into a relationship sealed with a covenant. People may go back on their word and so awful things can happen, but God’s love – aroha is constant. In the new covenant of Jesus, Christians are called to trust in God, and to build up God’s Kingdom or Reign – Te Rangatiratanga on earth.

Ruma Tui and Whio: Mr Richmond, Mr Sutcliffe.

God’s Desire for Humanity God has created people to grow and change and to live life to the full. Through God’s gift of freedom people can do awful things, but through the gift of grace people are able to grow in virtue and turn from sin and in this way to become more like Jesus.

The Family/Whanau book has a wealth of information that can assist families in supporting their children with religious education. It outlines things to talk about that are specific to the strand that is being taught, attitudes and behaviours to encourage and prayers to pray as a family.

Classroom teachers are happy to answer any queries or questions you may have in relation to the God strand.

God Bless

Pamela Gallagher

DRS