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:
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.
- 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 FOurth SUNDAY OF SUNDAY - APRIL 25
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.)
RESOURCE CORNERCartoonist 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 . . .
COMING SOON! Activities for Children
Click on the file below to download "The Sunday Paper and "The Sunday Paper - Junior" for this week. COMING SOON! 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.)
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

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 SundayThe readings for the Third Sunday of Easter:
(Click on the link for the text of each reading for this Sunday.)
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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 CornerThe 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. ![]()
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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.)
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 SundayThe readings for The Second Sunday after Christmas are:
(Click on the link for the text of each reading from this Sunday.)
Resource CornerIN 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.)
Activities for Children
Click on the file below to download The "Sunday Papers" for this week.
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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
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