Kids Korner: Follow me (Jan. 21st)

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Read Mark 1:14-20 with your family.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and Judea, he asked many people to follow him. Women, men, children… everyone was invited to spend time with Jesus and learn about God’s love for them, and then share that love with their families, friends and neighbours.

Jesus’ followers, known as ‘disciples’ went everywhere with him. Even when he was trying to get a break and spend time by himself, his disciples always found him and didn’t leave.

Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John were the first disciples that Jesus found as we read in the Gospel of Mark. These four were especially close to Jesus, and when Jesus only took a few of his followers with him for special times of prayer or travel, it was always Peter, Andrew, James and John.

Even though they might not have understood everything Jesus tried to teach them, they were still very good friends.

Sunday Reflection – January 14, 2024

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Reposted from January 2021

Jesus chooses Philip and Nathanael

John 1 43-44 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. There he met Philip, who was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. Jesus said to Philip, “Follow me.”

45 Philip then found Nathanael and said, “We have found the one that Moses and the Prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

46 Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

Philip answered, “Come and see.”

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, “Here is a true descendant of our ancestor Israel. And he isn’t deceitful.”

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

49 Nathanael said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God and the King of Israel!”

50 Jesus answered, “Did you believe me just because I said that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see something even greater. 51  I tell you for certain you will see heaven open and God’s angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man.”


Kids Korner: Come and see (Jan. 14th)

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Read John 1:43-51 with your family.

In the three Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, no one knows who Jesus is until almost the end. But in John, everyone knows Jesus is the Messiah from the beginning.

The Hebrew people were waiting for the Messiah because they believed he would get rid of the Romans so they could live free. Jesus taught them a different way to be free – to love each other and work together to make the world a good place for everyone.

One of the special things about Jesus is that he never tells people what to do, he never gives orders. Jesus asks people to follow him and see what he is doing. Come and see, he tells the people he meets, and they do.

Jesus asks the same of us. Come and see what Jesus means to each person. Come and see what we can do to show love to everyone. Come and see how we all have a place in God’s world.

Sunday Reflection – Epiphany, January 7, 2024

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Mary has questions

Matthew 2 When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and said, “Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard about this, he was worried, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem. 4 Herod brought together the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?”

5 They told him, “He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote,

6 ‘Bethlehem in the land
    of Judea,
you are very important
    among the towns of Judea.
From your town
    will come a leader,
who will be like a shepherd
    for my people Israel.’ ”

7 Herod secretly called in the wise men and asked them when they had first seen the star. 8 He told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, let me know. I also want to go and worship him.”

9 The wise men listened to what the king said and then left. And the star they had seen in the east went on ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 They were thrilled and excited to see the star.

11 When the men went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they knelt down and worshiped him. They took out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave them to him. 12 Later they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they went back home by another road.

Kids Korner: Following the star (Jan. 7th)

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Read Matthew 2:1-12 with your family.

Epiphany, the celebration of the arrival of the wise ones, is the last part of the Advent-Christmas season.

It is because the wise ones gave gifts to Jesus, that we give gifts as part of our Christmas celebrations.

Those who followed the star were searching for something important, and they show us how to follow God’s call even if it takes a long time.

Sunday Reflection – Advent IV, December 24, 2023

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Mary has questions

Luke 1 26 One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee 27  with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. 28 The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, “Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31  and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32  He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not even married!”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!”

38 Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.

Kids Korner: Mary says yes (Dec. 24th)

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Read Luke 1:26-38 with your family.

The last Sunday before Christmas we always stop to think about either Mary or Joseph. This year we are focused at Mary.

Almost every Christmas carol tells us that Mary was meek, mild mannered, and obedient. However, that is not the image of Mary that the Bible gives us. Instead the Bible tells us about a young woman who wasn’t satisfied with just being given instructions, she wanted to know why God chose her. She asked questions and wanted answers.

She was also a young woman who was given a choice. God gives us choices all the time. We choose whether to believe in God and behave the way God wants us to behave, we are never forced. God wants to be in relationship with us, but we are the ones to decide yes or no.

Mary was brave. She knew she was going to be judged by her family and everyone in her village, but she still told the angel Gabriel that she was willing to be part of God’s plan to give birth to the Messiah.