Welcome to Family Faith Formation! Happy New Year! January Lesson - Caring for the World: The Beatitudes and Praying in Color

Feast of the Epiphany Today! Aka: Three Kings Day

Epiphany = Three Kings or Three Wisemen or Magi They followed the Star of Bethlehem They came from the East. They were strangers, not from the area They were rich. They brought gifts for the “newborn baby king.”

Gifts of the Three Kings for Baby Jesus Gold: So Beautiful to See Frankincense: So Wonderful to Smell Myrrh: Perfumed Oil; So Great to Feel and Smell All Gifts were very expensive. Only kings could afford to buy them.

Many People Still Celebrate Epiphany, Like Christmas! Give and receive gifts Have a party Bake a cake with a little baby in it

Opening Prayer: Our Father Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Time for Sunday Sessions— Beatitude and Prayer Projects!

Home Study - Lessons Growing Up Catholic – Schedule online Check-In Questions

New Year Projects EXPANSION OF VISION: FROM CENTERING ON ME TO CONSIDERATION OF MY NEIGHBOR FOCUSING OUTWARD: THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGING THE WORLD BY CHANGING ME Lambs: The Beatitudes Doves and Saints: Praying in Color

The “Bee-Attitudes” Or How to Be Happy, According to Jesus Objective: To help the students and their parents learn more about Jesus’ teachings on the Beatitudes, or how to be happy in this life. The metaphor of happy bees buzzing around the garden! Based on Matthew 5:1-12

Eight Sayings of Jesus: How He Wants Us To Be Happy: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.” Be happy when you are poor in spirit, because then you will find that your riches are in the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Be happy when you feel you have lost what is most dear to you, because it is then that you will feel the love of the One who is the most dear to you. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.” Be happy with what you have, because then you will find that your heavenly Father provides everything that you need.

“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, * for they will be satisfied.” * Be happy when you are hungry for the things of God, because then you will find that only God can satisfy. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Be happy when you are caring for others, because it is in caring for others that you will find a heavenly Father who cares for you.

“Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” Be happy when your heart is right with God, because it is then that you will see that God is at work in the world around you. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Be happy when you help others to get along peacefully with one another, because it is then that you will know the peace that comes from being a part of the family of God. “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ” Be happy when others treat you badly because you follow me, because your reward will be great in heaven.

“Bee Happy Cups”

Doves and Saints: Praying in Color “The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” Romans 8:2 Objective: To teach the children an imaginative and intuitive way to pray for others

What Is Prayer? Why Do We Pray? Talking to God So that we can communicate and feel close to God; to show God that we have faith, hope and love; because we believe that prayer is powerful – that God hears our prayers and answers them; sometimes God doesn’t answer the prayers the way that we want but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t hear us. Sometimes God prefers to say “no.” God knows what is best for us and says no to help us.

There are Many Ways to Pray —All are Good! memorized prayers like the Our Father and Hail Mary; mass, bedtime prayers, grace; made-up prayers Sometimes it is hard to think of ways to pray; but we can use our imaginations and our talents to pray in many different ways Scripture tells us about prayer: Saints will look up the passages in their bibles

Praying in Color: Using Creativity and Imagination to Pray for Others That means that as we pray for someone, we create a picture of our prayer by using markers to surround who we are praying for with beautiful colors Begins with quiet reflection Name the person(s) Steps in the Process engage the mind, body, spirit: heart, hands, imagination, senses, feelings, soul End Result: A Visual Picture of your Prayer

Example of the End Result: A Picture of Your Prayer

Ask the Children to Share what they Learned, Who they prayed for Surprising and touching answers! Film: Fr. Robert Barron on the Beatitudes Next Month: CIRCLE OF GRACE – Safe Environment Presentation We are obliged, by the diocese, to offer this information; if you do NOT want to participate, you must give us the “Opt Out” form

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