Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit
help us to relish what is right
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Today's Scripture
1 Kings 17: 2-9
Click on the Bible to find today's scripture passage or find it in your own bible at home.
5:02 min.
Reflection
This week, we join with the other catechism classes and focus on one of Jesus' ancestors - Elijah. Elijah was a prophet.
What is a prophet?
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they are people who hear from God and
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they speak on behalf of God to his people
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they call people out on idolatry and injustice
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they remind the people of God to be a light to the nations
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they challenge the people to repent of their sin and follow God
What is idolatry?
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Idolatry is the worship of idols
What is an idol?
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An idol is a false God
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An idol is anything that gets the attention we should be giving God
The prophet Elijah challenged King Ahab, his wife Jezebel and the people of God to stop worshipping the idol Baal. They had forgotten that they were God's children and he took care of them. They started to believe that Baal was the one who took care of them. So God caused a drought in Israel that lasted three years.
This video shows how God took care of Elijah during the drought.
1:48 min.
How would you have felt if, all of a sudden, birds started swooping in and delivering you food?
Video
4:08 min.
Matthew 6: 25-33
Discussion / Reflection
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How does God take care of the birds?
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Are you more important to God than the birds are?
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Yes, we are made in the image of God
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the book of Genesis in the Bible says God gave dominion over all the animals to people
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What are some ways God cares for us?
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What are some things you worry about?
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Do you believe God cares for you and wants to take care of all your needs?
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What can you ask God's help with right now?
Discuss these questions with your parents or sponsor OR write your thoughts in a Confirmation journal.
What is a Jesse Tree?
A Jesse Tree is like a family tree - Jesus' family tree. Since we belong to God's family too, the Jesse Tree is also our family tree. A Jesse Tree is a decorative tree used during Advent to retell the stories of the Bible that lead to Jesus’s birth.
The term Jesse Tree comes from this verse in the book of Isaiah:
"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD."
Isaiah was another prophet in the Bible. God used Isaiah to give his people hope. In this verse, Isaiah predicts the coming of Jesus. He is telling the people that, one day, a great ruler will rise up from the descendants of the great King David. Jesse, was David’s father.
This was exciting news to the people of Isaiah’s time. Many of the kings who ruled after David were poor rulers. They lead their people away from worshiping God. Eventually David’s kingdom split in two and then faded away.
Isaiah’s prophecy of a stump shows how the family of David had been “cut down”. Jesus would be like a new growth and a new hope for the kingdom that was once strong and worshiped God as one.
Activity Suggestions ...
Click on the image to learn how to make this raven.
In the package you received are some activity sheets that will help you to remember the story of Elijah.
What is Advent all about? How is Advent different than Christmas? In this video, Busted Halo explains the significance of this special season in the Church and why the experience of waiting, hope, and preparation is still so important in our lives today.
Closing Prayer
God, Our Father, thank you for the Bible which speaks to us of your constant love for your children despite our unfaithfulness. Thank you for sending prophets to lead your people back to you and to show us how to live in relationship with you. Please help me to trust you to care for all my needs.
Holy Spirit, show me how to prepare my heart during this Advent season to welcome you more fully into my heart and my life. Inspire me with creative ideas to share your hope with others. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Don't forget to submit your sponsor form
Please submit Confirmation Sponsor Forms by January 8, 2021.
If a candidate wishes to have 2 sponsors, please indicate in the comments box at the bottom of the form.
Share in the Forum
We have created a discussion forum for the Parish of St. Timothy Confirmation Group. Every week there will be a new topic of discussion related to that week's lesson. The forum is open only to those participating in the 2020 / 2021 Confirmation preparation program.
Here's where I'll be verifying your participation.
This forum is a place for serious, courteous discussion about spiritual-related topics. I don't want to see rude or unnecessarily silly comments or questions. Any unacceptable posts will be deleted, the student will lose access to the forum and we will communicate with your parents.
This week in the forum ... answer the question: What does the story of Elijah teach me?
You can send me a message below if you prefer not to use the forum.