January’s virtue: Courage
There is a story about fear and courage entitled, “The Monster Who Grew Small.” In it a young boy, Miobi, is afraid of everything that moves. A regular scaredy cat. Miobi is led on a journey where he must face his worst fears and find courage within. This ultimately means facing a monster so large and horrible, a whole village is terrified of it. He discovers an unexpected truth in the process. The closer he gets to the
monster the smaller it gets and the farther he runs from it the larger it looms. Once he realizes this, the monster is no longer a threat. In fact, it’s no bigger than a baby kitten which he can now hold in his hand. He brings it back to the village where the people who had lived in fear of the monster are now both relieved and curious. They ask if the Monster has a name. The monster answers, “I have many names. Some call me Famine, and some Pestilence (or perhaps Pandemic?), but the most pitiable of humans give me their own names.” It yawned again, and then added, “But most people call me What-Might-Happen.”
We live in a spirit of fear when we place our energy and focus on “What-Might-Happen…” The unknown is scary, no doubt about it. We can take great solace, however, in the passage from the New testament: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 here the author asserts that God has not placed within us a spirit of fear. Just the opposite in fact! When fear of any kind has its grip on us, we have a choice. We can focus on What-Might-Happen and drive ourselves crazy with anxiety over what we cannot control. Or we can choose to focus on What-Has-Happened! In our baptism in Christ Jesus, we already have within us the power, the love, and the courage to face whatever life may ask us to face. And never alone.
Lower Elementary (Gr K-3) 
KNOW
Bible story: Paul’s Conversion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eRXq-cKmr0
Prayer: The Serenity Prayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iRPITm-tsM
Saint: Paul the Apostle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0p0W_Zbt1s
LIVE
What is courage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkg-ffNGv_E
Brave and Strong song (copy and paste into a browser) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjdofjoLmvs
GROW
Courage prayer activity to do with parent--- https://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/2015/09/esther-finding-courage-prayer-activity.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+FlameCreativeChildrensMinistry+(Flame:+Creative+Children%27s+Ministry)
Blind courage activity with parent https://www.kidsofintegrity.com/lessons/courage/hands-options/blind-courage
Seeing eye dog video-- Seeing-eye dog leads blind man from burning home - CBS News
Upper Elementary (Gr 4-6) 
KNOW
Bible story: Paul’s Conversion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlXFy3zjJh4
Prayer: The Serenity Prayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iRPITm-tsM
Saint: Paul the Apostle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0p0W_Zbt1s
LIVE
Courage and Fear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1CxKPrK5GY
Courageous song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkM-gDcmJeM
GROW
Courage activity to do with parent https://www.kidsofintegrity.com/lessons/courage/hands-options/snuff-out-fear
Courage Activities List https://carrotsareorange.com/ways-teach-kids-courage/
Middle School (Gr 7 & 8)
KNOW
Bible story: Paul’s Conversion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N0CTqfEHyI
Prayer: The Serenity Prayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iRPITm-tsM
Saint: Paul the Apostle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvHnGnW6vI8&autoplay=1&list=PL58g24NgWPIzvBk2IQVES_xC4WTm6-CDI
LIVE
Courageous song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkM-gDcmJeM
Courage kids—play through 3.20 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRWU4V4OY68
Courage motivational video—Will you? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNmviNR1-sM
GROW
How to be brave (copy and paste link into browser) https://www.heysigmund.com/how-to-be-brave-a-video-for-kids-or-their-support-crew/
Courage activities list: https://carrotsareorange.com/ways-teach-kids-courage/
High School (Gr 9-12) 
KNOW
Bible story: Paul’s Conversion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N0CTqfEHyI
Prayer: The Serenity Prayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iRPITm-tsM
Saint: Paul the Apostle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvHnGnW6vI8&autoplay=1&list=PL58g24NgWPIzvBk2IQVES_xC4WTm6-CDI
LIVE
Courageous song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkM-gDcmJeM
Courage definition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XTcB1evO8c
Courage motivational video—Will you? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNmviNR1-sM
GROW
How to be brave (copy and paste link into browser) https://www.heysigmund.com/how-to-be-brave-a-video-for-kids-or-their-support-crew/
Courage exercises https://soulsalt.com/courage-exercises/
Courage muscles https://www.success.com/5-bold-exercises-to-work-your-courage-muscle/
Adults and Parents
KNOW
Understanding Courage: https://stepswithgod.com/understanding-force-courage/
A Parable about Fear (not just for kids) http://www.na-recovery.org/board/index.php?topic=1427.0
Courageous Women of the Bible: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/10-examples-of-feminine-courage-from-women-in-the bible.html#:~:text=10%20Examples%20of%20Feminine%20Courage%20from%20Women%20in,Ruth.%20...%205%20Hannah.%20...%20More%20items...%20
LIVE 
Facing up to Our Fears: https://eng.1sept.ru/article.php?ID=200702212
Courage In the time of Covid (video): https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=courage+and+covid&docid=608003001221055821&mid=BA22B05FBC0CC97B60CFBA22B05FBC0CC97B60CF&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
GROW
Courage and Faith:https://shrineofstjude.org/prayer/faith-reflections/courage-and-faith/
Be Not Afraid: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/april-web-only/be-not-afraid.html
Daily Reflection- Fear: (Song) https://divinemercy.life/2020/05/07/reflection-129-do-not-be-afraid-2/
