Saint Michael Parish
Generations of Faith
Learning Faith Together
February Playlists
Gratitude: Living Life as a Gift
Welcome to our February Generations session! I'm so glad you made time for some faith experiences with your family today. Remember that all things we do together as families are sacred.
Start by checking out this intro video which will explain what's in your family kit for this month: "Gratitude: Living Life as a Gift" As always, I'm looking forward to #learningfaithtogether.
Kits for this month's session can be picked up at St. Michael Parish at the GOF doors on: Tuesday, February 9th or Wednesday, February 10th from 5:00 - 7:00 PM or, in the parish office anytime after Tuesday, February 9th.
Don't forget to join us LIVE for an introduction to this month's theme on Facebook:
Sunday, February 14th at 12:30 PM
The live presentation video will be uploaded to our website 24 hours after it occurs.
Opening Prayer & What's in the Kit?
Exploring Faith Together
Welcome to our playlists! Each list is geared with activities, games and more for different ages of kids.
Feel free to have older siblings help younger siblings - we learn from teaching and doing together too. :D
Feel free to work through the playlist at your own pace, you do not need to complete it all at once.
Take a picture or two along the way and e-mail them to Nicky at nuerling@stmichaelcanfield.org or send them to me on our Remind app. It will be a great way for us to stay connected!
Grades K-1:
Read
"Saint Therese of the Child Jesus"
Find the paper in your kit and fold it into a storybook for this month.
Learn all about St. Therese and how she did little things to show her love for God.
What little things can you do?
Watch
Learn more about St. Therese of the Child Jesus by watching this video!
Do
Find the green craft sticks, the cut out flowers, foam circles and foam triangle in your kit.
Today, we are going to make a spiritual bouquet. As we assemble each flower, let's write one little thing we can do to show God's love to others on our flower.
Then, we can look at our bouquet to remember all the little things we can do to show God's love.
Click below for a picture of the completed project.
Pray
This month, we are going to again pray through song!
This video has a song that asks St. Therese of the Child Jesus to pray for us.
This month, let us ask St. Therese for the courage to do little things with great love.
Additional K-1 Resources:
Learn more about St. Therese here:
First Eucharist Preparation:
Read
This month, we will be reading the story of the Last Supper. This story takes place the night before Jesus dies. He is sharing one last meal with his closest friends.
Jesus shares his whole self with us every time we share in Eucharist, or Holy Communion, at Mass.
Let's learn more this month!
Watch
This month we learned about the Last Supper.
Let's dig more into this story.
"We Celebrate the Gift of the Eucharist."
Do
To help us remember the story of the Last Supper, we are going to make bread.
In your kit, look for the recipe card with the supplies to make your bread (ask an adult to help)!
Click below for a link to the recipe if you need it.
Pray
After receiving Communion, you can talk to Jesus heart to heart.
Write a short prayer you can say when you receive Communion.
You can write your prayer on the heart inside your pamphlet for this month.
Grades 3-5:
Read
Find the short bio of St. Francis in your kit.
When you are done, think about what it really means to be rich. What does God's loving presence mean to you?
Watch
Learn more about "Frankie" by watching this short video.
Frankie is inspired by a Gospel story that helps him transform not only his own life, but the whole global Church.
Do
Find the paper with the brick wall on it in your kit.
St. Francis taught us that living a life simply and giving back to others is a way of saying "thank you" to God for all he has done.
Build a wall of gratitude this month by writing things you are thankful for on each brick.
Pray
Reflect on this famous prayer of St. Francis this month:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Additional Resources:
Our story in video form:
Additional 3-5 Resources:
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Grades 6-8:
Read
Bl. Solanus Casey was a Capuchin friar who ministered to many people in Michigan, Indiana, and New York.
He was often heard telling people to "thank God ahead of time."
Read more about him in the short bio found in your kit.
Watch
Bl. Solanus Casey was often said to be saying, "if we would only appreciate..."
He called for us to "Thank God ahead of time." Bl. Solanus Casey believed that if we took to really appreciate each other the world would be different.
"If we'd only appreciate one another"
Do
Blessed Solanus has taught us the importance of being thankful for all things.
This month, my challenge to you is to find a way to express appreciation for someone in your life each day.
Write down how you chose to do this act of appreciation on the paper included in your kit.
Pray
In your kit this month, you will find a packet of 5 small cards.
On each is a passage from Scripture that reminds us to give thanks.
Offer a verse of thanksgiving as a prayer as you record your acts of appreciation for others.
Adults
Read
How do we find the strength and courage to find grace and show gratitude during a pandemic?
When we are stressed out and worrying about day-to-day activities it can be hard to stop and "thank you."
Read this article for a reminder of how grace surrounds us during these times.
"Grace and Gratitude During a Pandemic"
Watch
Fr. James Martin, SJ, focuses on the idea of savoring and gratitude in this short video message.
While it's a bit old (2010), he really opens up the heart of what it means to be grateful.
Do
A few different ideas to ponder this month:
1. Find scripture passages that have to do with thanksgiving and gratitude and spend time meditating on them this month.
2. Make a list of 1-3 things you are grateful for each day.
Pray
Anne Lamont says that one of the most powerful prayer that we can say is simply, "Thanks."
When possible this month, offer this one word prayer to God.
Notice how often you have cause to say, "thanks"
Additional 6-8 Resources:
Blessed Solanus Casey is on his way to sainthood. But, how does one become a saint? Check out the video below to learn more:
Additional Adult Resources:
Is gratitude connected to your overall happiness?
Praying Together
For closing prayer, listen to the video below as it leads you through a guided meditation on gratefulness and gratitude. While they don't explicitly mention that God is the reason for the planet and our life, we know God is!
Sharing Together
Don't forget to send a picture of yourself working on our projects for the month of October to: nuerling@stmichaelcanfield.org or on Remind. Thanks!