All Saints with littleADVENT

Welcome Saints! This Friday is All Saints Day. I wonder if any of you know what a saint is? Saints are people who the Church remembers because they were extraordinary, heroic servants of God and God's people. By remember them, their service becomes an example for us to follow. We take this time to remember these Christians, pray, and thank God for them.

Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one withyour saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthlypilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship oflove and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by theirwitness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake ofJesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptablethrough the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever.Amen.

All children are welcome to come and join us at The Advent  this Friday at 7pm. All services are family friendly. If your family cannot make it for one reason or another, feel free to click here to print this book of activities that teaches about Saints of North America.

Here is a summary of the lesson the kids will receive that day. This is a great lesson to go over with your families this week:

"Jesus wanted to teach his disciples how to act and how to treat others, so he said to them, you are blessed if you have lost what you have, because God’s kingdom is there for you. You are blessed when you are hungry, because you are ready to feast with God. You are blessed when you cry and are sad because God is there to lift you up into joy. When someone is mean to you and you are not mean back, that means that you are closer to God’s love. But watch out for those who think they have everything and are satisfied and only play and not work too. Those who live this way will find themselves disappointed and not in God’s favor.

It’s not about clutching what you have, holding it tight in your hands. (show this with your hands, explaining how holding tight does not allow you to receive anything) It is about holding your hands, palms up, expecting good things. (open your hands to show the children how to receive good things.
The bottom line? Do to others what you would want them to do to you."

In closing, we pray:  Thank you God, for giving us the example of the saints. Help us to remember them so we can better know how to follow you. Amen.

Luke 6:20–26

The Beatitudes

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for jso their fathers did to the prophets.

Jesus Pronounces Woes

24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Lessons link