When we say, “I believe in God . . .” we are saying “I give my heart to God.” We are expressing a desire to be in relationship with God. Which God? “The God who made heaven and earth.” The God who loves us so much he gave his only son to show us how to live and even die on the cross. It is the God who conquered death in the resurrection and gave us the Holy Spirit so that we will continue to know God’s love.
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Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry |
Tags: Baptism, Baptismal Covenant, Christian formation, confirmation, creed, Jesus, prayer 
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International World Water Day is held annually on March 22nd as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
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Baptism has its roots in ancient practices that preceded Christianity. Jewish rituals of purification were centered on the cleansing of the body with water. Many Jewish customs found their way into the initiation rites of the Early Church.
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Tags: Baptism, Christian formation, Christianity, confirmation, Holy Week, traditions, worship Comments Off
We all have stories of toddlers learning to express themselves at the altar rail. When receiving a communion wafer a whisper is heard, “Are you God?” They know whose bread they eat! Or a little boy stating after receiving communion, “Every time I go to the altar to eat the bread of Jesus, he just makes my heart go thump.”
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Tags: Baptism, blessing, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, children's ministry, Christian formation, Holy Communion, prayer Comments Off
It is through the waters of baptism in this sacred and holy rite that our tarnished image is made clean and we reclaim the fresh, pure image that is our birthright. We find that it can be good because it belongs to God.
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Tags: Baptism, children's ministry, discernment, Epiphany, God, spirituality Comments Off
The dive is a ritual that recalls Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. It is also the culmination of an intentional and prayerful effort on the part of the Greek Orthodox Church to steep the young men in the tradition of the church and form them as faithful Christians.
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Tags: Baptism, Christian formation, Christianity, discernment, Epiphany, family ministry, Trinity, youth ministry 1 Comment »
The naming of her child was to be part of the great unfolding of God’s plan for the salvation of the world. And so this simple act of obedience and following the ancestral tradition was used for the glory of God.
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Tags: Baptism, children's ministry, Christmas, Holy Name, Jesus, Naming, worship Comments Off
On January 8th we will celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, the first Sunday after the Epiphany. This season often gets left behind in the humble abode in Bethlehem where we have followed our three mysterious kings, and in our minds brings an end to the Christmas season.
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Tags: Advent, Baptism, Baptismal Covenant, Christian formation, Christmas, Epiphany, Jesus Comments Off
The Incarnation cycle focuses on the mystery of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. The Redemption cycle calls to mind the saving work of that same incarnate Word in the death and resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples.
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Tags: Advent, Baptism, Christmas, Epiphany, incarnation, prayer, resources Comments Off
At Christmas the church celebrates the birth of Jesus, when God entered fully into the human experience. The Feast of the Epiphany takes the Christmas proclamation a step further, when the divine revelation in Jesus was revealed to the world as the magi came from the east.
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Tags: Baptism, Candlemas, children's ministry, Christmas, Epiphany, family ministry, Magi Comments Off
For many churches, having children present (and participating) in worship continues to be a contentious issue.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry, Spirituality |
Tags: Baptism, children's ministry, Christian formation, Eucharist, family ministry, Holy Communion, parents, resources, spirituality, worship 1 Comment »
Those of us who minister with children know they have an innate sense of the spiritual and a deep connection with God.
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Tags: Baptism, children's ministry, Christian formation, meditation, parents, spirituality, worship 5 Comments »
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