Faith To Go Podcast: Faith and Suffering
Hosted each week by the Faith Formation team at St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego, David Tremaine, Maya Little-Sana and Jackie Pippin, the Faith To Go Podcast highlight themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your conversations throughout the week.
Activity Time: Rejected Musical Chairs
Supplies – chairs, music
Set up chairs in a circle facing outward for a game of musical chairs. You can just have one fewer chair than you need and play multiple rounds where just one person gets out, but then you start it all over again. Have children walk around the chairs while music plays, but when the music stops, they need to quickly find a seat.
After the first round and one kid is out of the game, explain that Jesus was rejected by his hometown. It doesn’t feel good to be rejected or have to sit out in a game. Jesus wants us to be open to including others and welcoming them into our lives and into the fold.
-Adapted from sermons4kids.com
Story Time: Gospel Reading and Reflection
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) What does St. Paul’s community do that shows that we are disciples of Jesus?
2) What is something that might not show that we are disciples of Jesus?
3). Why do you think we can get distracted from going out into the world?
4) What would it look like to have more balance?
5) What does Jesus say we need to go out and make disciples?
Dinner Time: Jesus' Hometown
Below is a prayer with which to start your meal and then discussion questions to explore this week’s topic with your family while you eat.
Prayer- The days are getting longer.
Keep your Spirit in my heart and mind
during this growing season.
Be with me as I finish the school year,
participate in summer activities,
enjoy the gift of summer turning into fall.
Help me recognize your works in all that I do
at work,
at rest,
and at play,
So that I can give thanks for all you provide,
even without my even asking.
Amen.
Questions:
What is it like to come home after you’ve been out of town for a long time.
What do you think it was like to see Jesus as a child?
Why did the people from Jesus’ hometown have so many questions about him?
Why did they doubt his ministry?
What ministry or work did they missed out on because of their doubt
Bedtime: Reflections for Children at the End of the Day
During your bedtime routine, invite your children into a time of reflection about their day, maybe by saying, "Did you know that God really wants to know what happened in your day today, and that God is always listening whenever you need to tell God something?" Then continue with these questions:
1) What are some things that happened today that you want to tell God about?
2) What is one happy thing that happened today? What is one sad thing that happened today?
3) Did you see God or feel God with you when those things were happening? Where did you see or feel God when those things happened today?
4) Read to your children this week’s scripture selection, then ask the questions that follows.
Mark 6:1-13
Jesus and his disciples came to his hometown so he could teach in the synagogue. The people in the congregation were astounded. “Where is he getting all this? How does he know all that? Have you seen the miracles he’s don’t? Isn’t he a carpenter, Mary’s son? We know his whole family.” At that point they began to be offended by him. Jesus said to them, “No prophet gets any respect from their hometown.” He was amazed at how little they believed in him.
He went about the villages teaching. He needed some help to reach all the villages, so he sent out his disciples two by two and gave them authority to cast out unclean spirits. He told them to travel lightly, and depend on the kindness of the people they would meet. If they were invited to stay at someone’s house, they should thank them for their generosity. He said, “Don’t overstay your welcome or get pushy with people. If they don’t want to talk to you, then move on.” So they went and proclaimed the message Jesus had been proclaiming, that everyone should turn their lives around and follow God. They cast out demons, and healed people who were sick.
Did the story remind you of anything that happened in your day today?
5) What are some things that you want to tell God that you are grateful for today?
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: