“You are the salt of the earth.”
Source: USCCB.org Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5:13
“I am the light of the world, says the Lord…”
Source: USCCB.org Gospel of John, chapter 8:12
For Parents To Teach To Their Children
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
USCCB
Connie’s Abstract Icon of Madonna and Child for Children
Our Art Gallery
Religious Art in Our Churches:
Icons, Stained Glass Windows, Mosaics, Paintings, Carvings, Stations of the Cross, Beautiful Fonts, etc.
Our Readings from USCCB.org
A Reading from Isaiah, chapter 58:1-10
Source: USCCB.org
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you remove from your midst
oppression, false accusation and malicious speech;
if you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday.”
Responsorial Psalm–Psalms, chapter 112:4
“R. (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
Alleluia.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.”
Allelulia–John, chapter 8:12
“R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.”
‘You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.’”
Our Song–“This Little Light of Mine”
Source: Hymnary.org
“This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine.
2 Ev’rywhere I go,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Ev’rywhere I go,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Ev’rywhere I go,
I’m gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine.
3 Jesus gave it to me,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Jesus gave it to me,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Jesus gave it to me,
I’m gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine.”
Our Prayers–The Apostles’ Creed and The Nicene Creed
Invite your family to read each of the creeds out loud. Over this week, discuss the meanings of the challenging words, a few at a time: “creed,” “Profession of Faith,” “descended,” “ascended,” “communion of saints,” “Begotten Son,” “consubstantial,” “salvation,” “incarnate,” “Scriptures,” “prophets,” and “apostolic.”
Note the difference in the first few words of each creed. The “Apostles’ Creed” begins, “I believe in God,
the Father almighty…” The “Nicene Creed” begins, “I believe in one God, the Father almighty…” This is a great opportunity to discuss with your children the difference between “monotheism” (one true God, Creator of the Universe) from”polytheism” (many false gods and goddesses with specific “roles”). The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians all had polytheistic religions, which we now view as mythology. All Christian Churches and ecclesiastical communities are monotheistic, as are Judaism, and Islam.
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Decorating Children’s Prayer Books
Materials:
Suggested Family Activities
In preparation for First Holy Communion, invite your child to learn, or to write, a prayer for them to say after they have received the Eucharist.
“Father, through Jesus Christ, in union with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. Let your light shine in and through me as I begin the week ahead. Help me to love others as you love them.”
Prayer after Communion
From the “Liturgy of the Eucharist”
Please read out loud the prayer several times this week:
Priest: “O God, who have willed that we be partakers in the one Bread and the one Chalice, grant us, we pray, so to live that, made one in Christ, we may joyfully bear fruit for the salvation of the world. Through Christ our Lord.
Congregation: Amen.
Provide art/drawing supplies for your child to draw the Bread (Host) and Chalice, to reinforce the concepts. These drawings were made on watercolor paper with chalk dry pastels.
“We are all a child of God.”
BLESSED FIRST COMMUNION
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“God, our loving Father,
thank you for all the ways you bless me.
Help me to be aware that every person,
place and adventure I experience is an opportunity to love you more. “
