Welcome to the final session of the Family Formation year! I hope that your conversa-

tions about Mary over the past few weeks were good for your family. This month, The Greatest Rescue Mission (Evah) reaches its completion with a lesson

on Jesus—Lord, Messiah, Savior, and New Adam. After centuries of an expanding series of covenants with Israel, God finally comes to Earth himself and takes on our human form and na-ture. This fact alone should make us stop and reflect upon how much God loves us. God became a man so that men (and women, of course) might become both free from sin and in a close rela-tionship with Him forever. It is, in effect, a return to Eden. A new beginning for humanity.

We believe that Jesus also came to Earth so he could reconcile us to his Father on the cross. He bore all of humanity’s sin—yours, mine, our grandchildrens’—so we could have a new start. And to top it all off, after three days he rose from the dead, to prove that Love, Truth, and Good always win in the end.

Our lesson – and to a great extent, our Faith-- is organized around three main “takeaways:”

#1: A New Start. In our rescue story, Jesus offers humanity as a whole a new be-ginning— via a “new and everlasting covenant” to be shared with the world. That’s a big, broad concept. But it is also important that our children under-stand how every day individual people, marriages, families, and whole commu-nities get a new start in life when they encounter him. It happens every day.

#2: He is Alive. It’s true. Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is still alive. We do not worship the memory of someone…we worship that very someone, who remains present to us. How? Prayer. Scripture. Eucharist. Sacraments. The love in our lives. All these things, and more, given through the power of the Holy Spirit.

#3. A New Destiny. But wait—there’s more! Jesus promises to come again (in person) to establish a New Heaven and New Earth. We will receive new bod-ies…like the one the disciples saw Jesus had when he had risen. It will be the end of the current age, and the beginning of something new we will share for all eternity with him.

Please enjoy the conversation with your family, make use of everything at www.smpfamily.org, and feel free to contact me with comments or questions.

Have a great summer!

Tim’s Take Family Faith Formation May 2017

“Return of the King” StmFamily.org

Family Formation Takeaways- May Return of the King

Who is Jesus? Is He your friend? Can you talk to Him everyday?

What do you think it was like for Mary to be the mother of Jesus as he was growing up?

Do you think Jesus had friends growing up? What do you imagine that was like for the other children in Nazareth?

How do you think John the Baptist knew that Jesus was God’s Son?

What do you think it was like to be one of Jesus’ disciples following him around?

What do you think Jesus’ favorite meal was?

How can your family be Jesus to someone this month?

What words would you use to describe Jesus?

Jesus is God. Why does this matter?

Middle school classes talked about the Lord, Liar, Lunatic argument. Go over that as a fami-ly. What is your reaction to it?

What are some qualities that make a good friend? Who is your best friend and why?

What does it mean to have Jesus as a friend? How can we have a friendship with Jesus?

Middle School students– tell your parents about the witness speaker you heard in class. What did you get from their story?

How can your family be Jesus to someone this month?

St. Michael Children’s Programs VBS: July 10-14, 9am-12pm Rock, Paper, Scripture: May 26, June 16, July 28, 6pm-7:30pm Crafts, Games, Food and Fun: August 11, 9am-12:30pm Movie Nights: June 28, July 26, August 23, 7pm

St. Michael Middle School Youth Ministry Youth Group Dates: May 12, June 9, June 30, July 6, July 21, August 18 VBS Volunteering Canobie Lake-Tuesday July 25 Middle School Retreat-August 4 End of Summer Party: August 24 or 25 (location TBA)

St. Michael High School Youth Ministry Youth Group Dates: May 14, May 21, June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25, July 9, July 23, July 30, Aug 6, Aug 13, Aug 20, Aug 27, Sep 10, Sep 17, Sep 24 VBS Volunteering Canobie Lake-Tuesday July 25 Instagram Scavenger Hunt- Thursday July 27 Hiking Trip to Mt. Major-August 10th End of Summer Party: August 24 or 25 (location TBA)

Pentecost Pentecost is celebrated 50 days or the 7th Sunday after the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter. The word Pentecost means fifty. On this day, we remember that Mary, a couple of other women, and the twelve disciples were in the

other room of a house in Jerusalem. As they prayed together a strong wind came up with a loud noise and flames of fire came to rest above the heads of the twelve disciples. Immediately the disciples were inspired and filled with courage and strength to spread the word of God to all people. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are knowledge, under-

standing, counsel, strength, piety, fear of the Lord and wisdom. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, peace, joy, pa-tience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, generosity, mildness, self-control, modesty and chastity. The dove, wind

and fire are all symbols of the Holy Spirit. A New Pentecost: Experiencing the Fire of the Holy Spirit

St. Michael Parish Thursday, June 1st, 7-8pm Friday, 2nd, 7-8pm

Celebration of Catholic Charismatic Renewal Ste Marie Church Manchester Saturday, June 3rd 5pm Praise and Worship 6pm Mass

Pentecost Sunday Mass 7:30am, 9am, 11am

Birthday Party for the Church What better way to celebrate the birthday of the church than throw a party? Here are

some party ideas: Read Acts 2:2-4 Game Ideas

Pin the flame on the Apostle Tongue Twister Gifts/Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Share which Gifts of the Spirit you see in one another Make paper fruit – write a Fruit of the Holy Spirit on each.

Pentecost celebrates the diversity and unity of the Global Church Hang signs saying, “Come Holy Spirit” in different languages. Make foods from different countries

Summer Memory Maker

Make Mother’s Day Cards for elderly friends or neighbors that have family far away. Make a Mother’s Day Card for your Godmother!

Memorial Day – May 29th

“On this Memorial Day, we remember the men and women who have died

serving our country. We are grateful for the sacrifice they have made. Lord Jesus, we pray that you will always keep these

special people in your care. Amen”

1. Discuss Memorial Day with your children. Talk about the ways we remember those who have died serving our country.

2. Cut out a cross from poster board, decorate it with the American Flag and write the names of those you know who have served our country.

3. Go to a Memorial Day Parade.