Hello Faith Formation Families!
In last week's Flocknote, we reviewed our November lessons about Feeding the Hungry and talked a little bit about Advent. In your Faith Formation materials for December, available for pickup in the Parish Center, you'll find a Baby-Jesus-in-the-Manger craft kit. You can add a piece of soft hay to the manger for each act of kindness or mercy you perform during Advent to make a soft bed for Baby Jesus. Here are the directions for how to put him together:
This week, we'll start our December lessons about the Corporal Work of Mercy "Shelter the Homeless."
Don't forget to join me for Children's Liturgy of the Word online this weekend! You can find it on the parish YouTube page, or there's a link in this Flocknote after this week's lesson.
"Shelter the Homeless "
Family Lesson #11
Let's begin our lesson as we begin all things, with the Sign of the Cross.
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."
Then pray the "Our Father" together.
(prayer cards included in the Faith Formation materials available for pickup in the Parish Center)
Activity: Scripture Discussion
Today's activity is to dig a little deeper into the scripture passage I talked about in the introduction. Pull out your family Bible and look it up: Luke 15:11-24. Here's how...
First, find where the Gospel of Luke begins in your Bible. It's the third book of the New Testament, the part of the Bible that tells about Jesus's life and the early church.
Then, find Chapter 15. In some Bibles, the chapter numbers are headings on the section, like the one in my example. In other Bibles, you'll just find a big number 15 at the beginning of the chapter.
Next, find verse 11. The verse numbers are the little numbers at the beginning of each phrase or sentence. This is where you'll begin to read.
Then, find verse 24. This is the last verse you'll read in this passage.
Read Luke 15:11-24 together and then discuss it with your family.
What does this Bible passage teach us about God?
What does it teach us about ourselves, human beings?
What does it teach us about how God wants us to live?
Special Bible Verse
As a family, read this Bible verse a few times slowly. Take a quiet moment to think about what Jesus is telling us.
"Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found. Then the celebration began."
If you wish, you could also write out this Bible verse in fancy letters, or even try to memorize all or part of it!
God Sightings
My Advent wreath was a gift from my mother-in-law during the first Advent after Mr. Cathcart and I were married. I've always kept it in the middle of the dining room table, but this year, I tried something new and arranged our prayer space on top of a bookcase in a corner. The shadows of the Town of Bethlehem have never been so clear! That's my God sighting for this week, God's little reminder that changing things around can make them a little more clear!
Remember to share your own God Sightings in the "Share your faith work" section below!
Share Your "Faith Work"
Thanks for joining me this week! Remember to make room for Jesus!
Yours in Christ,
Corinne
Children's Liturgy of the Word
Faith Formation and Parish News
Plans for the New Year
With Michigan's current lockdown status, and as virus cases continue to rise in our state and across the country, Father Rob and our Faith Formation team have decided to continue virtual programming into January and through the rest of the school year. One of the many ways we can show how "Love Works" is by keeping one another safe! And as always, our love is at work for you!
Pick Up Your Faith Formation Materials
The materials you'll need to complete our December Faith Formation lessons, including the Baby Jesus craft, are available in the Parish Center. Come on by to pick up yours! If you're feeling unwell or if coming into the Parish Center makes you feel unsafe, or even if you just can't find the time during the day to get to church, please let us know and we'll plan on a special delivery porch drop off for you!
Christmas Cards
Back in April, Faith Formation families were invited to make and send Easter cards to older Blessed Sacrament parishioners. It was a big hit with the older folks, and we're doing it again for Christmas! If you would like to participate, contact Lyn Pajk at lynp@blessed-midland.org.
