Pentecost Study - Available at Garden of Francis and The Shepherd and the Vine

Pentecost: Gifts of the Holy Spirit available at Garden of Francis and The Shepherd and the Vine is pre-printed and ready to use upon arrival. Just supply your own candles and Bibles!

A study on the history of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and Pentecost is included for older children (upper elementary and adolescence).


From Seeking the Plan of God:


Among all the liturgical celebrations, Pentecost is yet another that holds rich meaning for us. My son and I celebrated aspects of Pentecost throughout the entire year.


Please see the other Holy Spirit tagged posts on Seeking the Plan of God:
Posts tagged Holy Spirit on Seeking the Plan of God
Posts tagged Pentecost on Seeking the Plan of God


Gifts of the Holy Spirit Free Files: 


Years ago, a group of us sat down with the local diocesan requirements, our priest's requirements, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. We had some issues with confusion among sources, consistency for the children and their expressed confusion. Biblical lists versus what was provided in CGS training, versus other source all varied. But were they really that different? NO! They just used different terms.

We laid out the following terms and definitions for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit at level 3, utilizing each previous term they experienced in level 2 and level 1:

Wisdom
This gift helps us to understand the purpose and plan of God and to live  in a way that helps to bring about this plan. 
It begins in awe and wonder at God’s greatness.
Understanding
This gift helps us make the right
choices in life and in our relationships with God and with others.
Knowledge
This gift helps us to know what God asks of us and how we should respond.
Counsel
(Right Judgment)
This gift helps us to make correct choices in life through reflection, discernment, consultation, and advisement.
Fortitude
(Strength)
(Courage)
This gift helps us to have the strength to choose to do the right thing even when that is difficult.
Delight in the Fear of the Lord
(Piety)
(Reverence)
This gift calls us to be faithful in our relationships both with God and with others. It helps us to love God and to behave responsibly and with generosity and affection toward others.
Fear of the Lord
(Awe & Wonder)
This gift leads us to a sense of wonder and awe in the presence of God because we recognize his greatness.


Which levels we do what:
Level 1: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right Judgment, Courage, Reverence, Awe & Wonder

Level 2: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Strength, Piety, Fear of the Lord

Level 3: Change Piety/Reverence to Delight in the Fear of the Lord and Strength to Fortitude

Each level includes the terms used in previous levels so they see what connects and flows.


The documents at this link are free and includes the 3-part and 4-part cards (with definitions) as well as name labels for each level.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit Downloadable Files




The Shepherd and the Vine is offerings these sets pre-printed and ready to use!

Scripture booklets at Garden of Francis and The Shepherd & the Vine

New Scripture booklets at the Shepherd and the Vine as well as Garden of Francis. Nice thick glossy pages and large easy-read font.

Scripture booklets - Link


Individual and sets are available. 

Various stories from the Old Testament and New Testament, bound individually for focused reading and study.

Bound along the side, contains strong glossy paper. 

Each historical account includes a map of Israel as the first internal page, with the three most key cities of Jesus' life marked. You may then add the symbols and indicators appropriate to your environment to indicate the actual location of each event. Some of the historical accounts also include a map of the city of Jerusalem. 

Additional passages available upon request. Please ask! 

Complete 3-6 year old set includes the following 15 booklets: 
Good Shepherd and Found Sheep (2 booklets: Good Shepherd - short; Found Sheep)
Infancy Narratives (5  booklets: Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity/Adoration of Shepherd, Presentation in the Temple, Adoration of the Magi)
Kingdom Parables (5 booklets: Growing Seed/Grain, Hidden Treasure, Mustard Seed, Precious Pearl, Leaven)
Passion booklets (Last Supper, Matthew's account of the Empty Tomb minus verse 4, Pentecost)


Complete 6-9 year old set: 
All of the above, plus the following: 
  • Good Shepherd - longer (includes the Wolf and Hireling) (total of 3 Good Shepherd booklets)
  • Flight into Egypt (total of 6 infancy narratives)
  • Kingdom Parable of the Sower (total of 6 Kingdom Parables)
  • 7 additional moments of the Passion between the Last Supper and the Empty Tomb, other 3 Gospel accounts of the Empty Tomb, Ascension (total of 14 Passion narratives)
  • Moral Parables and Parables of Prayer (total of 8 booklets)




Vestment stand with Vestments of the Priest: The Entire Sequence!

+Joshua+'s Godfather demonstrates how our vestments work on our stands, with details on how a priest ties the cincture:




Where do I find these chasubles and other vestments? They are available in doll-size (shown in video) and miniature (a bit larger).

Garden of Francis



The Shepherd and the Vine



Edited to Add 3/29/2020: 

We now have priest stands available! 
The vestment stands are painted to represent a priest wearing his cassock. 






Montessori Folding Cloths - Folding Napkins


The Montessori exercise of practical life "Folding Napkins" has been much loved in our home. It was one of the first Montessori materials I ever created and one of the product images a young Legoboy +Joshua Alexander Gideon+ showcasing our new wood square tray.

These days we serge the edges for a smooth bordered edge. We also offer 6 cloths instead of the original 4:

  • One medial line
  • One diagonal line
  • Two medial lines
  • Two diagonal lines
  • 2 medial lines to show how to fold into 3rds
  • Blank for a variety of fold options


While this activity was designed for the primary level child (ages 3-6), it has been found to be very useful in many elementary environments as well, for those children who need the additional practice or for those who find its meditative qualities necessary. Also, it can lead into the art of napkin folding which is an amazing creative outlet for children of all ages, including adults!




Garden of Francis Customer Service

Jessica and Joshua at Garden of Francis have had one goal in mind since the beginning of their business over 10 years ago: to make sure the customer gets beautiful functional materials, even if that means replacing items.


There have been a few odd situations over the years including a map that arrived, the customer inspected it, decided it was fine, wrapped it up and put it into storage. 2 months later, she opened it up and found it covered in mold. It was fine on arrival but went bad in storage. That map was replaced.

Or the two customers who waited more than 13 months to say that they didn't receive their order, despite the post office having tracking information. One of those customers later posted pics of their atrium online and in the background were items from the missing order. Hm. Unfortunately if the post office damages a package, they hold for 6 months at the local regional location, then they dispose of the unclaimed items. All tracking links are e-mailed to the customers upon shipping and stored with their account information so they can log in and see it at any time.


Or a customer who mailed items to Garden of Francis that were not ordered from Garden of Francis yet demanded a refund. The items were sent back to the customer, at GoF's expense. And Jessica helped them find the actual company the customer had used.




A customer ordered Mass linens - the finger towel has always been made of a different material than the rest, but this customer was not satisfied and really wanted it in linen. She got a new finger towel.


Once in a great while items have had to be updated between posting the photo to the product listing and the customer ordering - this can happen with ready-made items or when a pattern needs changing - so a quick question regarding the difference gets things cleared up right away.


An international customer had her large order mixed together by customs and packaged into a completely different box - and another international customer had her items messed up by customs as well. Jessica worked with each of these customers to help them sort out every last piece. Why? Because she wanted to be sure nothing was lost and that the customer wasn't put out any further than already done.




What is heart-breaking is when the customer doesn't give Jessica or Joshua a chance to respond. Now it is a family friend trying to address e-mails so that Jessica can focus on orders and grieving the loss of her son and celebrating his life. Assistance is still immediately forthcoming and discussions of a proper resolution.

Empty Tomb - Interchangable Set
(shift around to provide 1 Gospel at a time)
A recent order was returned with a demanded refund because "everything was low-quality and mixed together" (paraphrasing). Each set had been packaged in individual plastic bags, but we think that because the customer ordered the Empty Tomb - Interchangeable Set but expected to receive only one Gospel's set, they tried to make a set with the remaining figures then thought everything else was mixed together even though it wasn't.

Some of the wood (pin maps and pasture bases) warped in shipment and these would have received an immediate replacement. The concern here is that the customer pointed out "stains" in the unpainted wood, which was nothing but wood grain: it was the wood itself.

She didn't like the size of the altar for the Good Shepherd Eucharistic Presence. Jessica would have sent her a larger one.

She didn't like one of the international figures - a replacement would have been sent.

She received one set of candleholders, but said there should have been two sets. Her order was combed over several times before shipping for accuracy. When it was returned, it was still fully accurate to what was actually ordered, except that the two cloth slings (for baby Jesus 3d figure) were missing. Only one set of candleholders was ordered.


She claimed certain figures (1 small Good Shepherd and several 3d figures) were extras. The 3d figures were in her interchangable set and the Good Shepherd is because of the individual components she ordered. It's all in the order.

Flight into Egypt doesn't include a donkey. There is no donkey in the Scriptures and no donkey mentioned in the product description.

The customer thought the 3d chalice was intended for the Eucharistic Presence of the Good Shepherd even though they were packaged with the Last Supper Jesus holding His hands up to hold the chalice.

She didn't like that the apostles are more identical than unique. She said that nothing on the website indicated they would match. Following is a photo of the original 3d figures (what was posted when she ordered) - painted version. She ordered UNpainted.


Following are Jesus and some of the apostles from the new set:
Jesus is holding the removable chalice


The customer could not identify the altar linens, but a simple question could have cleared it up quickly, even if the customer didn't want to look on the website for the photos and the dimensions on the product description. Palls, burses and altar cloths are very different from each other; the purificator and corporal are the same size but similar shape to the veil. A quick question or a quick look on the website would have cleared it up.

85% of the order was in perfect condition and exactly as described in the product descriptions, including a hinged Bible (two small rectangles connected with 2 hinges) that the customer insisted was part of the Books of the Bible work (it is a separate line item on the order).

15% would have received an immediate replacement. These items have had excellent reviews from so many people and Jessica would have been happy to replace them as well as answer any and all questions. It is so disheartening to read the cruel words people use towards someone who only wants to serve them.


Legoboy's Contributions to the Family Business: Raised Surface Maps of Israel

Any orders of topographical maps (raised surface maps) of Israel that shipped between November 1 and February 15, had some step worked on by Legoboy; this includes the map he delivered to the mailbox on November 16 - that I had to give the mailman the following Monday.

Many were hand-traced by him or had the form glued down before I laid down the plaster cloth. He traced all the rectangle outlines for me to cut and he helped sand a few.


Legoboy's Contributions to the Family Business: Three Dimensional Scripture Figures

Legoboy, my beautiful Joshua, has contributed so much over the years to our family businesses.

He has helped design products, tested products, worked on various stages of the making of physical items. From the beginning he has always taken care of all mail delivery (to the mailbox or going into the post office) and pick-up.

His appearance in our Keys of the Universe videos was on a contract basis.

He was setting himself up to take over all customer service for Garden of Francis. He would call himself the GoF IHM. Not Immaculate Heart of Mary. Garden of Francis Iron-Hearted Maiden.

We were working together to find a different shade of green for the background on Garden of Francis. He really didn't like it and he thought it was distracting customers, potentially turning some away. We never did get that fixed.

There has been so much more.

Most recently, he financially invested in one portion of our Garden of Francis business: 3 dimensional Scripture figures. The morning he left us, is when the agreement was put into place and the investment made.

The materials arrived later that week and I finally got everything in place in January.

Here are some samples. I also have a Divine Mercy Jesus, a standing prophet, a seated writing prophet, Bridesmaids oil lamps and flasks (sized to hold birthday candles).


Flight into Egypt
(no donkey is mentioned in the Scripture)

Close up of angel
Annunciation

Nativity

Empty Tomb
figures for all Gospels
Interchangable set includes all
Each gospel set comes accordingly
Shepherds
(the set includes an angel)
Last Supper
(set includes 12 generic male
figures for the apostles)
Wise Men
Annunciation

close-up of baby




3-D Scripture Models
Thanks to +Joshua's generous offer to help me create something new, our 3-dimensional products are now made of resin and have much more detail.
Size: Our 3d figures are 4-4.5 inches tall, standing.

Painted options available here: 3d Bible Figures - painted
Unpainted available here: 3d Bible Figures - unpainted

Adoration of the Magi: 3 Kings, Mary, Baby
Adoration of the Shepherds: 2 shepherds, 1 angel, 5 sheep
Annunciation: Kneeling Mary, Angel
Cenacle Level 1: 12 apostles, Jesus with hands to hold a chalice/bread, chalice
Cenacle Level 2/3: 12 apostles, Jesus (if painted, a symbol for each apostle will be included)
Empty Tomb (see below for details)
Flight into Egypt: Mary, Baby, Jesus 
Nativity of Jesus: Kneeling Mary, Kneeling Joseph, manger, Baby
Nativity: Baby and Manger only
Origin of the Liturgy of the Word: 9 men, 3 women
Presentation in the Temple: Joseph, Mary, movable baby, Simeon, Anna, turtle dove offering
Visitation to Elizabeth: Mary and Elizabeth

Please choose the Empty Tomb figures according to the Scripture you will use in your atrium:
  • Matthew - 2 women, angel, 2 guards, Jesus
  • Mark - 3 women, angel
  • Luke - 3 women, 2 angels
  • John - 1 woman, 2 men, Jesus
  • Interchangeable Set - 3 women, 2 angels, Jesus, 2 men, 2 guards

If we have missed any figures, or if there is anything we can make for you, please Contact Us!

*** Flight into Egypt: There is no donkey mentioned in the Scriptures, either for the Holy Family's journey to Bethlehem or their journey into Egypt. We are only providing figures that correspond with the Scripture texts. 



My Love

28 days since I held you in my arms and told you help was on the way. 90 minutes you suffered pain I can't even imagine.

You are my heart. My soul. My strength. My everything.

As I type this, 28 days 10 minutes ago I ran outside, hoping I was wrong. That you were just at the gym. I saw the box at the mailbox and the car with the trailer in front of it - and I knew. I just knew.

Just two more seconds. That's all the difference it would have been.

I love you. I miss you so much. You ARE love. The truest love.


Funeral Homily: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV5ZPEsQej8
(this link will be updated in the near future)

Be encouraged homily: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDZgQsCuCsA
13:40 is the key section
Pronouns are not Fr. Meyer's strength. ;)





Jesse Tree ornaments by Joshua


My son, Joshua, helped design these ornaments. He hand-burned our first set. I have not been selling them the last few years, but recently pulled them out, touched them up and prepped a set for showcasing.

The day he left this earth, Joshua had pulled out our Christmas boxes to get out the green ornament hooks - and the day before he had pulled out our small tree on which to hang them.

I finally got them together and they are available for sale. They can be in your mailbox in 2-3 business days if it's the only thing you order. Or in your hands within 3 hours if you are local.

Our Christmas season, as well as Lent and Easter sets will be available soon. Then I will work on adding the variations.

Holy Bible Box - Assembly

Paint the side with no names written on
Apply binding (gold duct tape in this pic)
to opposite side from where the name is penciled in
Paint/write the names on appropriately
Paint the backside (where the name was penciled in)
Paint/write the names on appropriately
Paint the backside (where the name was penciled in)


Placement of the pieces for the box itself

How the lid fits onto the box

Lid on the box; decorate as you like

When will my order arrive?

Back in February 2018, an announcement was posted on Garden of Francis and all related websites that material orders from that point onward to July 31, 2019 would be created in August and September 2019.

I am so happy to announce: that time is here!

The following is a list of order creation dates. These are the dates your order is scheduled to be created. Shipping will happen up to a week after, depending on paint, holidays, etc.

4-digit order numbers:
  • orders placed at gardenoffrancis.com

3-digit order numbers:
  • gardenoffrancis.com/store 
  • keysoftheworld.com
  • keysoftheuniverse-montessori.com
  • shepherd-vine.com
EDIT 8/19/2019: This chart will be updated weekly at this link: Order Arrival Schedule

2000
August 2-3
2002, 2009, 2016, 2022, 2026, 2033
August 9-10
2017
August 16
2020
August 23
2021, 2027
August 30
2030
September 3-4
2037
September 6
2040, 2050, 2053, 2063
September 9
2045, 2069? 2075
September 10
2072, 2081
September 11
2108, 2184, 2186, 2188
September 13
2113
September 16
2115, 2121
September 17-18
2122
September 20-21
2133, 2134
September 23-24
2145, 2150
September 25
2155
September 27-28
2164
October 1-2
2170
October 2
2191, 2192, 2196, 2199, 2213, 174
October 3, 4, 5, 7
2197
October 8-9, 11-12
2200, 2206
October 14-15
2203, 2208, 2209
October 16
2211
October 18
2212, 2215 (end of the old site)
October 21
119, 127 (begin orders on new site)
October 22
153, 159, 167
October 23
168, 2214
October 26