What Is A Joyful Path Year Two Like?

In A Joyful Path, Year Two, we focus on some of the main tenets of Progressive Christianity and Spirituality, giving our children the foundation they need to walk the path of Jesus in today’s world.  It has stories and affirmations written to help children clarify their own personal beliefs while staying open to the wisdom of other traditions.

Year Two will be similar to Year One, in that it will have 37 lessons, full color original artwork, a contemplative and introductory section for the teacher in each lesson, 37 original stories, incredible heart warming, feeling based activities, and tips to bring music and nature into each lesson.

Year Two will have be slightly different from Year One, in that we are going to focus more directly on our eight points, breaking them down into 3-5 lessons per point.

Unit 3 Lessons are:

 
• Lesson 1: What is Family?
• Lesson 2: People in the Neighborhood
• Lesson 3: The New Tribe
• Lesson 4: No Boundaries

Each Year Two Lesson Includes:

 
Teacher Introduction/Getting to the Heart of the Lesson
Teacher Reflection
Spiritual Affirmation with full color Art
Original Story, and Activities, Bible Verses,
Wisdom Quotes

Getting to the Heart of the Lesson

 
No matter what our family looks like outwardly, or whether our family is one of blood or one of choice, family is where we have some of the deepest connections of our hearts. Family is our first and lifelong teacher.

With our family we get to practice loving, accepting and giving in personal and challenging circumstances that are nearly impossible to get away from. We can also struggle to define ourselves both within and against our family. And yet people all over the world choose to live in family groups, even when it is possible or more convenient to live alone.

We want to teach our children to accept, celebrate and find joy in the family they have, while also expanding their sense of self way beyond the confines of one small family unit defined by heredity or legal bonds. This is an especially important concept for children who may be in a family in which they are being harmed in some way, where there is fear or loneliness.

Ultimately, we hope our children will grow to feel part of a spiritual family that approaches all persons in the world as brothers and sisters. Jesus and Paul often talked of
such a bond when they called “family” those who followed the way of life advocated by Jesus.

At the time Jesus was alive, it was common to think of God as a harsh judge or an all powerful king. Jesus tried to change that idea and spoke of God as being a father and all of us being like his children. In eastern cultures it is common to speak of God as a divine mother, as a way of affirming the same truth. The idea seems to be that just as children carry physical traits from their father and mother, children of spirit carry the love of God within them to share with all they meet.

Click here for more information on using this curriculum, Year Two

Click Here to download FREE copy of Year Two Introduction and Instructions “How to Use Curriculum”.

Click Here to see additional Year Two Single Units

Click Here to see Year One Single Lessons