Hello Faith Formation Families!
Last week, in our first lesson about "Clothe the Naked," we talked about how we can live out this Corporal Work of Mercy by donating clothes that don't fit, volunteering to sort items at the Foster Closet, or making and donating hats, scarves, or masks. We learned a little bit about St. Martin of Tours, a 3rd century soldier who shared his cloak with a poor beggar, and we learned about Jesus's Two Great Commandments: to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves!
This week, we're going to explore "Clothe the Naked" a little further with a service project and a well-known saint whose name you might recognize!
This weekend's Children's Liturgy of the Word video is also linked in this Flocknote, so don't miss this opportunity to explore God's Word together!
"Clothe the Naked"
Family Lesson #3
Let's begin our lesson as we begin all things, with the Sign of the Cross.
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."
Then pray the "Glory Be" together.
(prayer cards included in your delivery)
Activities: Saint and Service
In today's activities, we'll learn some more about Saint Vincent de Paul and make friendship bracelets to clothe people with our love and invite them to share in our service!
SAINT
In your porch delivery packet, you should have received a St. Vincent de Paul coloring page. While you color, watch this short video about him made by students at DePaul University in Chicago, the university named for ...guess who!... St. Vincent de Paul!
Did you see the quotation from St. Vincent de Paul at the end of the video? Here it is again:
"I will always welcome joyfully any opportunity that comes my way to be of service to you."
Take a quiet moment to think about that quotation. When an opportunity to serve others comes your way, do you welcome it joyfully? It can often be easier to ignore opportunities to serve, especially when that service is difficult or inconvenient.
Did you watch the video in last week's Faith Formation lesson from the Douglas Talks YouTube channel? Douglas talked about how he regretted ignoring an opportunity to serve his classmate, and he resolved to help next time he saw someone in need rather than just hoping someone else would help instead.
If this quotation from St. Vincent inspires you and makes you want to serve others, flip over your coloring page and write it down so you can find it again when you need inspiration!
SERVICE
Here's the thing about St. Vincent de Paul... he didn't serve the poor all on his own. He invited others to serve alongside him and organized them so they could care for more people with greater love and joy.
St. Louise de Marillac & St. Vincent de Paul
Your service project for this month is to make a friendship bracelet (or two or three). When you give it away, I challenge you to invite your friend to live out one of the Corporal Works of Mercy with you, just like St. Vincent.
You could clean out your closets together and donate the clothes that don't fit, or bake cookies together to take to an elderly neighbor, or make cards for people in the hospital... the possibilities are endless!
I would love to know what project you and your friend do together, and I would love to see your finished friendship bracelets! Click on the "Share Your Faith Work" buttons below to share!
The embroidery thread you received in your porch delivery packet should be enough to make
4 simple braid friendship bracelets
OR
2 candy stripe friendship bracelets
OR
1 chevron style friendship bracelet.
Special Bible Verse
As a family, read this Bible verse a few times slowly. Take a quiet moment to think about what Jesus is telling us.
"And the crowds asked Jesus, 'What then should we do?' He said to them, 'Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.'"
If you wish, you could also write out this Bible verse in fancy letters, or even try to memorize all or part of it!
God Sightings
Look how the light shone through the stained glass of our beautiful church during Thursday morning Mass!
Share your own God sightings in the next section!
Thanks for joining me this week to learn about St. Vincent de Paul and his service to the world. Have a fantastic week!
Yours in Christ,
Corinne
Children's Liturgy of the Word
Faith Formation and Parish News
Sharing Tree Tag Tying
Every year, Middle School Youth Ministry ties the strings on 10,000 tags for United Way Sharing Trees around Midland County. This year, since our middle schoolers can't meet in person yet, we're asking for your help! Join us after Mass on Sunday, October 18 to help us tie tags! Click the link for more information.
Trunk or Treat
On October 31 after Mass, Blessed Sacrament Faith Formation will be hosting a COVID-safe Trunk or Treat from 5:30-6:30. Come and trick or treat around the parking lot, or host a trunk! My mom and my mother-in-law are going to be visiting from Ohio that week, and they're already making plans to host a trunk together. We hope you'll join in the fun too! Although decking our your trunk isn't necessary, we'll be holding a trunk decorating contest. For ideas, just Google "trunk or treat images." People have been very creative! Click the link to sign up to host a trunk! (Trick or treaters don't need to register.) OR bring candy donations to the Parish Center anytime this month.
