Child and Family Ministry Update
St. Joseph Parish
We are a community striving together for Heaven
5th Sunday in Lent
I am going to continue to challenge your families to keep Sundays holy with a few activities. I'll try to change up a few things each week. Today is the first Sunday Mass in which we can't attend Mass at our parish. How does that feel? Please do at least one or as many as you can of the following activities as you can together as a family and then fill out the google form with what you did and reflect on the experience. Don't forget to email me (or anyone on our staff prayer intentions for Father to offer during Mass)
Activity 1: Watch 10:30 Mass on Facebook Live
Activity 2: Sing Along during Mass with Mr. Van Deusen and all participating in Mass
You can use the Living with Christ PDF that is attached to the bottom of this newsletter or click here to follow along with the readings. Living with Christ has graciously given everyone permission to use these readings and reflections daily during this health crisis. The songs that will be sung are:
Entrance: We Belong to You
Psalm: With the Lord there is Mercy
Offertory: You Are Mine
Communion: Loving and Forgiving
Activity 3: Spiritual Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Activity 4: God's Power Science Experiment
This is written for parents to read and do with their children. Or older kids to do with younger siblings.
BEGIN by asking: What are some ways that we see God's power over nature, disease, and even death? From the Old Testament to the New Testament we have seen God/Jesus show many signs! What about creation? the parting of the Red Sea? healing the blind? What about the miracle we read about in today's Gospel (John 11:3-45). Re-read as needed.
{Ask:}
- Why did Jesus not go right away when he heard about his friend? [Jesus said in verse 4 "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."]
- Did Jesus know what happened to Lazarus before he arrived? [Yes, He knew that Lazarus was dead.]
- Why was Jesus glad He was not there with Lazarus? [He wanted the disciples to believe.]
- What did Martha think when Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again?” [She thought Jesus meant when all people are resurrected at the last day. (Perhaps Jesus’ return)]
- Who did Jesus say He was? [The Resurrection and the Life]
- What happens to people who believe? [They will never die.]
- Who did Martha believe Jesus was? [The Christ, the Son of God]
- How do you know that Jesus was emotionally attached to this family? [When He saw Mary weeping, Jesus wept, too.]
- How did the people react after Lazarus came from the tomb? [Many people believed in Jesus.]
Now try the experiment by pouring a layer of milk on a shallow plate. Add a few drops of different types of food coloring. Finally, dip a q tip in dish soap and put it in the milk in the middle of the food coloring. Or if you don't have those ingredients, just watch the video of it working below.
Discuss what happened:
Watching the colors swirl and move is really neat to watch. It’s even more interesting once you figure out WHY the colors move. The more we learn, the more we understand this experiment.
People, you, me, scientists, like to think they have God all figured out. But the truth is, there is no way we can EVER know enough about God. The more we learn, the more we realize there is more TO learn.
In this event, Jesus raised someone from the dead. Jesus showed people that He controlled life and death. Not only does Jesus control who lives and died, but He controlled whether or not HE lived or died.
Jesus didn’t have to hang on the cross. He could have gone **POOF** and disappeared whenever He wanted. But we don’t have a God who is magic. God is supernatural. He is BEYOND what is natural in our eyes.
After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, many people believed that Jesus was the Son of God. And then there were the others who went to the Pharisees.
Sometimes we have a hard time believing in Jesus. Life can really stink. Death is awful. But Jesus said that the death of His friend happened so that glory would be given to God. Jesus stayed on that cross because He loves you. And when bad things happen we need to ask the hard question: How will God glorify Himself in this situation? And when God is glorified, people then believe.
How are you able to find and glorify God during this pandemic?
Please fill out the Google Form
I'd like each family to fill out the Week of March 29th google form reflecting on which one (or more) activity you chose to do. Thank you so much for participating!
Other Info
Giving
If you are looking to making your weekly contributions to St. Joe's Parish, you can use this link or you can drop off a check in the parish office mailbox.
https://stjoesbb.weshareonline.org/Sacramental Prep
Family Pictures
Child and Family Ministry
Email: acollins@stjoesbb.com
Website: https://www.stjoesbb.com/for-children
Location: S89 W22650 Milwaukee Avenue, Big Bend, WI, USA
Phone: 262-662-3317
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StJoesBB