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The great Fifty Days of rejoicing in the Risen Lord begins at the Great Vigil of Easter and leads us to the great feast of Pentecost. During this season, the Paschal Candle is lit at all worship services and "Alleluia" is sung on every possible occasion. It is a time of great festivity, especially after the simplicity and austerity of Lent and quiet solemnity of Holy Week. There is no fasting - and usually no kneeling since standing is the symbolic posture of living the risen life.  The liturgical color is white, except for the day of Pentecost when red dominates as a reminder of the flame of faith brought by the Holy Spirit. Some other notable features of this season:
  • All through Eastertide, we read from the Acts of the Apostles, the story of the beginnings of the Church.
  • We focus on the post resurrection appearances of Jesus to the first disciples - a way of strengthening their faith until the coming of the Holy Spirit.
  • We acknowledge the coming of Spring in the celebration of Rogation Days in the Sixth Week of Easter - asking for God's blessing on the new life growing after winter sleep. This is also a time to focus our attention on our stewardship of Creation.
  • We reflect on how Jesus remains among God's people in the Holy Spirit. 

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot yet gather as a group until conditions are safer. As we enter this joyous season, we are given the opportunity to give thanks to God and our express hopes for the future by making time to grow more deeply in our faith. 

Scroll down this page to the current Sunday to find resources and suggestions for each week.  Since you know your family's needs better than anyone, you will be able to use these resources and suggestions in ways uniquely appropriate to your family.

The Fiftieth Day of Easter - Pentecost


PictureThe Blessing of New Fire - the Great Vigil of Easter at St. Luke's

Scholars who study human history and development (anthropologists) describe fir as one of the markers of the progress of humans. For tens of thousands of years, humans gathered around fire for light, warmth, protection, community, and better food. From our own experience, we know that fire has the power to sustain life and to destroy. In this way, it speaks of the power of God. Think fire, think God. 


READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY

The readings for Pentecost Sunday: 
​(Click on the link for the text of each reading for this Sunday)
  • Acts 2:1-21 (Theme: Luke the Evangelist (our parish patron) understands the gift of the Spirit as a reversal of the world's confusion and social breakdown that was about about in the story of the Tower of Babel. In the Spirit, all humanity is united (hearing in each one's own language) to form a new community - the Church.)
  • Romans 8:22-27 (St. Paul envisions that there is a destiny for humanity and all of the created world. 
  • ​John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 (For Jesus, death is not something to be feared since he sees his own death as his way to return to the full presence of God the Father. From there, Christ will begin the process of being fully with us in the gift of the Spirit - the reality powerful force of love shared between the Father and the Son.) 

Resource Corner

Watch the Legos tell the story of when Jesus' friends receive the Holy Spirit. 
This video helps to explain the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled the disciples of Jesus Christ, and the Church was born. (Well suited for ages 5-12 but anyone can enjoy it!) 

Family Activity ​​
​​Pentecost is sometimes called the birthday of the Church. The Gospel for Pentecost reminds us that the Church begins with the command to forgive.

Within the family, the domestic church, we learn how to forgive and how to accept forgiveness. The gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to do both. Today is a fitting time to share a family celebration of reconciliation.

As you gather together as a family, sit quietly for a few minutes, inviting everyone to reflect upon their need to forgive and to receive forgiveness. If there is a situation or issue within the family that needs attention, spend some time reflecting on how your family might address it.

​Read together today’s Gospel,
​John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 . Talk together about how Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us in all the works of discipleship, including forgiveness, and to bring us peace. Pray together today’s psalm (Psalm 104:25-35, 37) or the Prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking that the Holy Spirit help your family. Share with one another the Sign of Peace.
​Facebook discussion group 
​Also available for parents is a special Facebook Group where parents can support one another, ask questions, offer advice, share ideas and insights as we work together to strengthen the faith of our children. For permission to participate in this discussion forum, please contact Mother Mary at youth@stlukeslebanon.org

GODLY PLAY ON LINE!

Godly Play teacher Rose Brown  leads us through this week's Godly Play Online lesson . . . 

Jesus told the disciples to wait together, and to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit.  That day has come and now the Spirit comes to them in a surprising way!  What will happen next?

Putting Faith into Practice
​
​​(Use examples from everyday life to teach a vital truth about the faith. They don't need to be structured into a lesson plan but are part of how we live out our faith.)
  • Speaking in tongues. The story of Pentecost tells us about the disciples speaking in many languages. This is sometimes called the "gift of tongues". The nature of this gift in the Pentecost story is different from what some Christian as consider "speaking in tongues". Many groups of Christians see what is called ​glossolalia or "ecstatic utterances" also as a gift of the Spirit. The gift in the Pentecost event was given  to enable everyone to know the story of Jesus even if they spoke a different language. Glossolalia is the kind of sound we utter when we are struck "speechless" because of a wonderful feeling that is beyond words. When was the last time you watched a beautiful fireworls display and heard people go "Oooohhh" "Ahhh". This is a kind (although very simplified) of glossolalia  -  very different than speaking French to a person from France, or Russian to a person from Russia.  This latter kind of tongues is what happened at Pentecost. 
  • Tongues of fire. Fire, throughout the bible, is a symbol of purification and transformation. Just like when a campfire consumes the wood and turns it into energy (heat and light) and reduces it to its basic components (what remains as ash), a fire that "doesn't consume" is a sign that someone's inner life is being changed and transformed by God. Remember the story of the burning bush when Moses was called to lead God's people out of Egypt. Similarly, the tongues of fire signal an important change in the first disciples as they receive the gift of the Spirit for the first time. That same change occurs in us in slower ways beginning at our baptism.

​​​​​​Activities for Children
Click on the file below to download "The Sunday Paper and "The Sunday Paper - Junior" for this week.
sunday_paper_-_pentecost_sunday.pdf
File Size: 144 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

sunday_paper_jr_-_pentecost_sunday.pdf
File Size: 157 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.

And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit
help us to relish what is right
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Seventh Sunday of Easter - Sunday in Ascensiointide


Picture
Part of Disney's Fantasia movie was created when artists listened to classical music and drew or painted what they heard in the music. They were asked to let go of any plans and just listen to their hearts and their souls as the music played. Sometimes it is difficult to let go of control and simply let God work through us - to paint what music makes us feel at the moment. God calls us to do just that: God calls us through Jesus to volunteer to serve God's people in God's name, however that needs to happen in any time and place. 


READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY

​The readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter: 
​(Click on the link for the text of each reading for this Sunday)
  • Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 (The leaders of the new community (the Church) picks two candidates who meet agreed upon criteria to fill the ranks of their leadership (replace Judas Iscariot). Then they leave it to God to make "the call." Matthias is chosen and now shares in the ministry of The Twelve Apostles.)  
  • 1 John 5:9-13 (Theme: The witness God has given to the world happens in two ways. First, in the saving works of Jesus. Second, in the outcome of that work - eternal life for those who believe.)
  • John 17:6-19 (Theme: As Jesus prays, he describes the union that exists between him and the Father. He speaks this aloud so that those who hear him may understand that this is the same closeness (union) that is desired for all those who follow him. All Christians are consecrated (set apart) not only for their own sakes, but for the mission of Jesus in the world.) 

resource corner

​Jesus has offered a special prayer for us, and we can recall its blessings for joy and hope in our lives. The words of this prayer also remind us that we should live as people who love God, sharing His compassion with those around us. This video offers a lesson on the gospel of the day.

Family Activity ​
Pentecost is sometimes called the birthday of the Church. The Gospel for Pentecost reminds us that the Church begins with the command to forgive. Within the family, what we sometimes call "the domestic church," we learn how to forgive and how to accept forgiveness.The gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to do both.

Today is a fitting time to share a family celebration of reconciliation.As you gather together as a family, sit quietly for a few minutes, inviting everyone to reflect upon their need to forgive and to receive forgiveness. If there is a situation or issue within the family that needs attention, spend some time reflecting on how your family might address it.

​Read together today’s Gospel - 
John 17:6-19. Talk together about how Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us in the work of forgiveness and to bring us peace.

Pray together the Prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking that the Holy Spirit help your family. And then share with one another a Sign of Peace and Reconciliation.​
Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.

And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit
help us to relish what is right
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

GODLY PLAY ON LINE!

​Mother Mary Kisner leads us through this week's Godly Play Online lesson . . .

There were many people in Jerusalem for a festival that day.  But God had something else in mind.  The disciples were waiting for the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus told them to.  And the Spirit arrived in a surprising way.
This is the closing story in the series "Knowing Jesus in a  New Way."  We will continue with two additional stories from Godly Play in May, then take a break until the fall. 

​Meanwhile on the first Sunday of June, July, August, and September, we will feature activities for families entitled "Celebrating God's Creation."

Putting Faith in Practice
​
​(Use examples from everyday life to teach a vital truth about the faith. They don't need to be structured into a lesson plan but are part of how we live out our faith.)

  • ​Casting lots. Many ancient societies (including biblical Israel) chose leaders by making "allotments". "Casting lots seems like leaving things merely to chance but these ancient people felt that God could influence the way the lots fell. Amish communities still choose their annual leader by this method: whichever man picks up the hymnal that includes a piece of paper marked with a black spot is the preacher for the next year. Coptic Christian elect their pope in a similar way: a child picks a ball in which the names of the candidates are written. The one chosen becomes the head of the Church. 
  • Divine will/Discernment. We often talk about God's plan. We discern this plan in many ways. Think about how you may have joined your particular church or congregation. Was it by accident of birth? or relocation? or did you feel an inner pull toward the community in view?  Ultimately, following God's plan comes form a habit of yielding up control to God regardless of how we imagine ourselves doing it. 
  • The name of God. When we say, "Stop in the name of the law!" we invoke the authority of our community's laws to make something happen. So the name of God conveys for us the divine mercy and power of God. For this reason, one of the 10 commandments bids us not to use the name of God in vain - that is, for useless or negative purposes. When we use God's name, we should do so carefully and with purpose. When we value the name of God, we also learn to value one another's name - a name given to us in our baptism into the family of God.  

​​​​​Activities for Children
Click on the file below to download "The Sunday Paper and "The Sunday Paper - Junior" for this week.
sunday_paper_jr_-_7th_sunday_in_easter.pdf
File Size: 141 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

sunday_paper_-_7th_sunday_in_easter.pdf
File Size: 129 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


​Facebook discussion group 
​Also available for parents is a special Facebook Group where parents can support one another, ask questions, offer advice, share ideas and insights as we work together to strengthen the faith of our children. For permission to participate in this discussion forum, please contact Mother Mary at youth@stlukeslebanon.org

tHE sIXTH sUNDAY OF eASTER

Picture
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Jesus' command open us to lives that are changed and transformed by his love. Each time we renew our baptismal promises, we remind ourselves and one another that we will "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving [our] neighbor and [ourselves] . . . strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. 


rEADINGS FOR THIS sUNDAY

The readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter: 
​(Click on the link for the text of each reading for this Sunday)
  • Acts 10:44-48 (Theme: Even the early disciples were reluctant to take strangers into their special community. The Holy Spirit gave them the courage they needed to see that others, not of their faith, needed to hear about Jesus and that, if they put their faith in Jesus, would be an equal part of God's family.) 
  • 1 John 5:1-6 (Theme: When we make our baptismal promises (or renew them), we acknowledge that we promised to model our lives on the life of Jesus. The pattern of our behavior, then, must reflect the ways in which Jesus acted.)
  • John 15:9-17 (Theme: the relationship of Jesus (the Son) and the Father are the model for our relationships with one another. So, we must love one another in the same way that the Son loved the Father. When we love one another in this way, we show our love for God.)​

Resource Corner

A video explanation of why Jesus calls us his friends. (from ShareFaith KIDS)
Jesus said, "As the Father loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love." (John 15:9)
The children in this video perform this memory verse with hand motions! They are really enthusiastic about sharing the love of Christ with people. They pray your heart is touched by the Lord! Join in!

Family Activity 
In family life, we have many opportunities to show love in action. Each time we postpone a task to tend to the needs of another, we show ourselves to be on the path to following the example of love shown to us by Jesus. Sometimes the sacrifices we are called upon to make for others are small. But these small choices to love and to serve others prepare us for the larger choices and sacrifices that we may be called upon to make. If we are people who have practiced showing our love for others with generosity, we will also be people who are willing to lay down our lives for those we love.

As you gather as a family, talk about the meaning of the word generosity. Ask each family member to describe an action that shows generosity. To be generous is to give freely to others without counting the cost. Recall that generosity is one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Introduce today’s Gospel reading by saying that Jesus taught us to be generous in showing our love for one another.

​Read together today’s Gospel, John 15:9-17​. What examples did Jesus give to us that show this kind of love? (washing his disciples’ feet; accepting death on the cross) Jesus helps us to show this kind of love to others. In today’s Gospel, Jesus promised that God will give us whatever we ask for. One of the things we can ask for from God is a generous spirit so that we can love others as Jesus did. Conclude in prayer together by praying Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s Prayer for Generosity.

godly play online!

​Mother Mary Kisner leads us through this week's Godly Play Online lesson . . . What did Jesus do for 40 days after his resurrection from the dead?  He met several times with his disciples, and gave them a mission to go out and tell the good news of God's kingdom.  Then he met with them one last time and told them to wait for the Holy Spirit

Putting Faith in Practice
​
​(Use examples from everyday life to teach a vital truth about the faith. They don't need to be structured into a lesson plan but are part of how we live out our faith.)
  • Gentiles. The word gentile come from a Latin word that means "the nations." Because the Bible is the story of God's people, a gentile is someone from another nation - so it refers to anyone who is not a Jew or does not follow Jewish religious customs. This was a great division in the bible that set a boundary between those who were "God's people" and those who were not. Early in the Church, the disciples realized that the good news of Jesus did not recognize such barriers and that all people could be God's people. How do we make such distinctions today among people of different races and nationalities? If God makes no distinctions, can we do so and still remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles?
  • Friendship. We all need friends. Real friends are people we can trust. Such relationships don't happen all at once, they grow over time. One reason it takes time is that we need to learn to trust someone. The deeper the level of trust, the deeper the friendship. Jesus calls  us friends because he knows our innermost thoughts and trusts us. Like any friend, we must honor that trust or risk losing that trust - and the deep friendship we enjoy with Jesus.

​​​​Activities for Children
Click on the file below to download "The Sunday Paper and "The Sunday Paper - Junior" for this week.
sunday_paper_-_6th_sunday_in_easter.pdf
File Size: 136 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

sunday_paper_jr_-_6th_sunday_in_easter.pdf
File Size: 162 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Prayer for Generosity

​Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God,
Teach me true generosity.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve.
To give without counting the cost,
To fight heedless of wounds,
To labor without seeking rest,
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward
Save the knowledge that I have done your will.
Amen.

(St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Facebook discussion group 
​Also available for parents is a special Facebook Group where parents can support one another, ask questions, offer advice, share ideas and insights as we work together to strengthen the faith of our children. For permission to participate in this discussion forum, please contact Mother Mary at youth@stlukeslebanon.org

THE Fifth SUNDAY OF eASTER - May 2

Picture
The new life Christ promises is lived in relationship with God, as intimate as the connection between a vine and its branches. The Holy Spirit flows through us because of our connection to Christ, and, apart from Christ, we can do nothing. In the Baptismal Covenant, we promise to nurture those connections - through the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.


​READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY

The readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: 
​(Click on the link for the text of each reading for this Sunday.)
  • Acts 8:26-40 (Theme: Philip is sent to being the good news to outsiders of every kind. First, the Samaritans and then a royal official from Ethiopia. The good news of Jesus is meant for people in all places and in every age.)
  • 1 John 4:7-21 (Theme: "God is love." The love of God is of a different nature than the love we usually feel. It is not an emotion or a feeling but a decision that we make to be part of God's life. This love comes to us in the Spirit of God. We know we are connected to God and one another by this Spirit by the way we chose to show love to one another.)
  • John 15:1-8 (Theme: The life of a Christian is not passive but active and committed to a purpose/cause. We are joined to Christ to live out the mission of Jesus in our own day and age. If we simply sit back and do nothing, we may lose this great treasure.)

​RESOURCE CORNER

Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. When we choose to be connected to Him, He helps us to produce good fruit, like love, peace, joy, and forgiveness. This illustrated video explains how this happens.
God is the Vine is worship music for kids based on John 15:5. This fun song can help in explaining "I am the vine you are the branches". Enjoy! (The lyrics are printed in the file below the video.)
god_is_the_vine_-_video_-_lyrics.pdf
File Size: 54 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Family Activity 
The goal of our life of prayer is to increase our awareness that Jesus lives with us always. Prayer is more than a dialogue with God; prayer is a lifting of our minds and hearts to God so that God might dwell and act within us and through us. The pinnacle of our life of prayer is our communion with Jesus in the Eucharist. Through this sacrament, we receive Jesus himself, and he remains with us. Our life of prayer and our union with Jesus will lead us to fruitful service to others.

Place a plant in your gathering space. Invite everyone to look at the plant, noting the connection between the plant and its leaves. Talk about the connection between all the parts of a healthy plant.

​Introduce today’s Gospel by saying that Jesus talked about his relationship to his disciples using this metaphor. Read today’s Gospel lesson, John 15:1-8 .

Talk about the ways in which we are invited to relate to Jesus as his disciples today—prayer, Scripture, the Eucharist, and so on. When we do these things, Jesus promises to remain with us and to lead us to serve others well.

​Pray together that we will continue to be attentive and open to Jesus as he works in our lives today. Pray together the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love.

​GODLY PLAY ONLINE!

​Mother Mary Kisner leads us through this week's Godly Play Online lesson . . .
J
esus calls the disciples to a mountain in Galilee where he gives them one last instruction.

​Putting faith into practice
​(Use examples from everyday life to teach a vital truth about the faith. They don't need to be structured into a lesson plan but are part of how we live out our faith.)
  • Fruit. When we think of fruit, we think of the yummy sweet things we get at certain times of the year, like strawberries, apples, oranges, grapes. Did you know that a tomato is actually considered a fruit? It has little to do with sweet taste but with the way it produces seeds. Fruits are actually the way that nature has of producing seeds that will assure continuing life. We "bear fruit" in Jesus in the same way. With the fruits of the spirit, we plant seeds all around us that may later inspire others to follow Jesus. This is how the gospel spreads - by the seeds of the Spirit that grow in us and that we share with others.   
  • Vines. We see vines all around us. We don't often see grape vines but they are the best example of how God's life is shared out among the people who follow Jesus - and how that sharing keeps us all connected to one another.  Do you have vines in your gardens? Is there ivy growing on your house? Note how the vine spreads and grabs onto anything near to help support its life.

​​​Activities for Children
Click on the file below to download "The Sunday Paper and "The Sunday Paper - Junior" for this week.
sunday_paper_jr_-_5th_sunday_of_easter.pdf
File Size: 199 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

sunday_paper_-_5th_sunday_of_easter.pdf
File Size: 137 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that the Son became one of us and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and the truth which the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church teaches, because you have revealed them to us.
Amen.
Act of Hope
O my God, relying on your infinite mercy and promises, I hope to receive, the help of your grace, the forgiveness of my sins, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
Amen.
Act of Love
O my God, I love you above all things with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself because you firs loved us. I forgive all who may have injured me and I ask forgiveness from those whom I have injured.

Amen.

Facebook discussion group 
​Also available for parents is a special Facebook Group where parents can support one another, ask questions, offer advice, share ideas and insights as we work together to strengthen the faith of our children. For permission to participate in this discussion forum, please contact Mother Mary at youth@stlukeslebanon.org

THE FOurth SUNDAY OF SUNDAY - APRIL 25

Picture

​The Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as "Good Shepherd Sunday." The Good Shepherd knows us by name, protects us from evil, and lays down his life for his sheep. This shepherd seeks out the lost and restores them to their community.


​READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY

GODLY PLAY ONLINE!

The readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter: 
​(Click on the link for the text of each reading for this Sunday.) ​
  • Acts 4:5-12 (Theme: The message of acceptance, of new life, of hope in and through Jesus Christ is one that needs to be heard in the midst of all the other messages out there.)
  • 1 John 3:16-24 (True love is manifested in action, modeled upon the experience of Jesus' love for us.)
  • John 10:11-18 (The intimacy that exists between a shepherd and his flock parallels that between the Father and the Son. This mutual knowledge is to bring Jesus' followers into union with him and with one another.) 

​RESOURCE CORNER

Cartoonist Ron Wheeler illustrates the story of Jesus as the Good Shepherd ​
​Douglas learns how Jesus is like our shepherd and we are like his sheep. Douglas' grandma let him borrow a little sheep stuffed animal so he could help explain to kids how we are kind of like sheep and Jesus is our Good Shepherd.

Family Activity
The Good Shepherd makes sacrifices for the sheep not because it is required, but because it is a choice. That sounds a lot like parenting and the dynamics of a healthy family life. Parents choose to make sacrifices for their children out of love, not obligation. Christian parents model and invite their children to choose to make sacrifices for other family members and for other people, acting out of love rather than obligation.

When you gather as a family, invite each family member to consider the attitude that permeates their participation in family life. Read a common examen, such as any of the following: Do we do family chores cheerfully and without having to be asked multiple times? Do we gladly share with others? Do we willingly contribute to the family good when asked? Read aloud today’s Gospel, John 10:11-18. Discuss together how the example of the Good Shepherd might inspire your family life. Invite each family member to make a renewed commitment to one action/attitude to focus on in the upcoming week that show that we will choose to follow the example of the Good Shepherd. Pray together that we will be able to honor our commitment. Pray together Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s Prayer for Generosity.
Mother Mary Kisner leads us through this week's Godly Play Online lesson . . .
The disciples return to the work they did before they knew Jesus - fishing.  But there is someone on the shore making breakfast for them.  When they meet up with Jesus, he will have a message for Peter.


​​Activities for Children
Click on the file below to download "The Sunday Paper and "The Sunday Paper - Junior" for this week.
sunday_paper_-_4th_sunday_of_easter.pdf
File Size: 125 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

sunday_paper_jr_-_4th_sunday_of_easter.pdf
File Size: 139 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


​Putting faith into practice
​(Use examples from everyday life to teach a vital truth about the faith. They don't need to be structured into a lesson plan but are part of how we live out our faith.)
  • Shepherd. Sheep are useful, but they need a shepherd to survive. They follow the herd even if the herd is going in a bad direction and they can't do much to defend themselves. A Shepherd shows his sheep where it's safe to eat or drink, he protects them from predators, and he finds little lost sheep that have wandered off and gotten lost. Who are those whose trusted voices that show us the way?
  • Foundation. Every building needs a foundation. Without a foundation, the building can sink into the ground or even just fall down when the ground moves just a little bit. Peter tells us that Jesus in the foundation of our faith and our life. With Jesus as our foundation, we will have a strong building throughout our lives. 

​Facebook discussion group 
​Also available for parents is a special Facebook Group where parents can support one another, ask questions, offer advice, share ideas and insights as we work together to strengthen the faith of our children. For permission to participate in this discussion forum, please contact Mother Mary at youth@stlukeslebanon.org

Prayer for Generosity
Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God,
Teach me true generosity.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve.
To give without counting the cost,
To fight heedless of wounds,
To labor without seeking rest,
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward
Save the knowledge that I have done your will.
Amen.


tHE tHIRD sUNDAY OF Sunday - April 18

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Today we hear about the living power of Jesus to pen new life to all. Our prayers and action can reflect God's desire to reconcile all things to himself. We ask this day, "Open our eyes of faith, that we may behold Christ in all his redeeming work." This reminds us that the actions of the Church and of individual Christians must be judges as to whether they are redeeming works or demeaning works. We are all called to heal bodies and souls both of individuals and our society. 


Readings for this Sunday

The readings for the Third Sunday of Easter: 
​(Click on the link for the text of each reading for this Sunday.) ​
  • Acts 3:12-19 (Theme: We read again from the Acts of Apostle to remind us of the history of the early church. This includes "the teachings of the Apostles" which we promise to follow in our baptismal covenant.) 
  • 1 John 3:1-7 (Theme: Can Christians sin? Seems like a silly question, but we need to understand that our life as disciples is a daily, gradual incorporation into the life of Christ. We will see everything clearly only when we see Christ face to face. This is a wonderful promise about eternal life.)  
  • Luke 24:36b-48 (Theme: Jesus, risen from the dead, is "really real" - he is not a ghost or a figment of the imagination. Our bodies really matter to God. So they should really matter to us. It is only in our bodies that we can experience God's creation - and the creator who made it all.)​

Godly Play online!

Mother Mary Kisner leads us through this week's Godly Play Online lesson . . . 
After Jesus walks to Emmaus with two disciples, that same evening he appears to the others in Jerusalem.  Only, Thomas was not there.  He meets Jesus one week later in a stunning encounter

Resource Corner

The video below describes how Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection from the dead. (Please note that the phrase "for fear of the Jews" is about the political leaders of Jerusalem at the time and not all people who held Jewish beliefs.)
Here is a video presentation using Legos to tell the story of Jesus' appearance to the disciples.
Family Activity
Family life is strengthened through storytelling and shared meal times. In a similar way, Christian life is sustained by God’s word in Scripture and by Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. We are especially sustained in our faith through our weekly celebration of Mass. Today’s Gospel reading reminds us that the Scripture and the Eucharist are given to us so that our acts of bearing witness to Christ might be strengthened.

As you gather as a family, ask each person to share their favorite story about your family. Talk about the importance of these memories about your family life and the importance of the meals you have shared together as a family. Recall that these stories and meals strengthen the love you share. In a similar way, our Christian life is strengthened by sharing God’s Word and the Eucharist at the Church's liturgy.

Read together today’s Gospel, Luke 24:36b-48. Discuss the mission that Jesus gave to his disciples after their shared meal. The Eucharist also sends us to be Christ’s witnesses in the world today. Conclude by praying together that we will be strengthened by God’s word and by Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist to be witnesses to Christ. 


​Activities for Children
Click on the file below to download "The Sunday Paper and "The Sunday Paper - Junior" for this week.
sunday_paper_-_3rd_sunday_of_easter.pdf
File Size: 134 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

sunday_paper_jr_-_3rd_sunday_of_easter.pdf
File Size: 145 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Putting faith into practice
​(Use examples from everyday life to teach a vital truth about the faith. They don't need to be structured into a lesson plan but are part of how we live out our faith.)​​​
  • Fish. Fish became a significant Christina symbol in the early days of the Church - maybe because several of Jesus' closest disciples were fishermen, but perhaps because there is a Jewish poetic tradition that sees fish as the main course served at the banquet celebrating the coming of the Messiah. In this context. eating fish may symbolize the defeat of the great sea monster (Leviathan). It is also interesting to note that in Greek, the acronym for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior  is ICHTHUS - the word for fish! We must remember that in ancient cultures, names meant everything. One's name told you something about the person it belonged to, not unlike the Native American practice of naming children.   
  • Peace. Whenever Jesus appears to his disciples, he greets them with "Peace be with you." The GReek word for peace is Eirene. This word can mean harmony between two or more people. It can mean a balance in the relationship of a person and a thing. In Greek mythology, Eirene was the goddess of peace and wealth. She had two sisters, Eunomia, the goddess of law and legislation, and Dike, the goddess of moral justice. Like the middle sister keeping the balance between the two, Eirene's peace and wealth are the product when the other two are in good and right relationship. 

​Facebook discussion group 
​Also available for parents is a special Facebook Group where parents can support one another, ask questions, offer advice, share ideas and insights as we work together to strengthen the faith of our children. For permission to participate in this discussion forum, please contact Mother Mary at youth@stlukeslebanon.org

The Second sunday Of Easter - April 11

This Sunday is often called "Thomas Sunday" because the gospel lesson focuses on Thomas, whose name means twin, stands alone in the gospel. Perhaps we are his twin, each of us standing in his shoes, asking to touch the wounds in which life became unsustainable, more inclined toward knowing the power that fascinates us, than the power that liberates us. Perhaps we need to focus less on Thomas' doubts and more on the fact that he believed.

Readings for this Sunday

The readings for The Second Sunday after Christmas are: 
​(Click on the link for the text of each reading from this Sunday.) ​
  • Acts 4:32-35 (Theme: They were not of one heart and soul because they tried really hard. They did not sell their possessions because it was the right thing to do. Instead, everything they did was because of their belief in the resurrection.)
  • ​1 John 1:1-2:2 (Theme: We have for our advocate, someone who is not a mean person, but a person of whom it was said, "This is my beloved son." Not a guilty person, who stands in need of pardon for himself; but Jesus Christ himself the righteous one; not a mere petitioner, who relies upon the good graces of another, but someone that has "walked the talk.")
  • John 20:19-31 (Theme: Thomas comes to faith because he first has the chance to voice his doubt and questions and then experiences Jesus for himself.)

Resource Corner

IN this video, children tell and reflect on the story of Thomas from today's gospel lesson.
Here's the same story with a little different approach.
Peace Prayer 
attributed to St. Francis (BCP p.810)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
​

Godly Play Online!

Two people on the way home to Emmaus invite a stranger to share a meal.  It turns out this person is none other than the risen Jesus.​

Putting faith into practice
​(Use examples from everyday life to teach a vital truth about the faith. They don't need to be structured into a lesson plan but are part of how we live out our faith.)
  • Doubts. Doubts are in important part of learning in life. Asking questions is as important (and sometimes more so) than having an answer. It is through these kinds of doubts that science advances. Skepticism about the answers someone gives us can spur us on to discoveries that we never thought possible before.  Doubts/questions about faith are an important step in deepening our knowledge and love of God.​​​​​
  • Sharing. Sharing possessions becomes a mark of our personal generosity. It is a form of graciousness. We are taught from the time we a little to share what we have with our siblings and our friends. As we grow older, this kind of sharing can extend to more important things than toys or clothes. 

​Activities for Children
Click on the file below to download The "Sunday Papers" for this week.​
sunday_paper_-_easter_2.pdf
File Size: 140 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

sunday_paper_jr_-_easter_2.pdf
File Size: 123 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Family Activity

Within normal family life, there are many opportunities for conflict. Jesus did not promise us the absence of conflict in our lives. Instead, he gave us the gifts of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation so that we could reduce conflict. The measure of Christian family life is not the absence of conflict, but the manner in which conflict is resolved. Filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit, we ask Jesus to help us to bring peace and forgiveness to situations of conflict in our families.

​As your family gathers, take this opportunity to examine how your family resolves conflict. Recall a recent argument or disagreement and discuss how the conflict was resolved. Consider whether the conflict was resolved peacefully, in the spirit of Jesus. If not, discuss alternatives that might be tried in the future. 

Read together today’s Gospel, John 20:19-31. Recall that we have each received Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit helps us to be people who forgive others and seek peace. Pray together the Prayer to the Holy Spirit or the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis.

Facebook discussion group 
​Also available for parents is a special Facebook Group where parents can support one another, ask questions, offer advice, share ideas and insights as we work together to strengthen the faith of our children. For permission to participate in this discussion forum, please contact Mother Mary at youth@stlukeslebanon.org

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