November
side dishes
Side Dishes
choose 2 or more
Each household is asked to choose two or more side dishes from the menu below, in addition tp the main course. This is where you customize your family's experience to fit the ages, interests, abilities, resources, and needs of your household. If you have a Confirmation candidate, you are asked to complete the menu options under "With Teens/Confirmation Connection." Remember to choose at least two, but do try more. There is no limit!
exploring new testament
Giving Thanks with St. Paul
St. Paul's letters always contain some language expressing thanks to God. Born a Jew, Paul was steeped in this basic form of pray employed by the Hebrew people. For the Jews, prayer always began by blessing God and giving thanks. That pattern of prayer carried on into the early Christian communities, and remains with us today in our communal prayer and worship.
Let us compare and reflect on some of the thanks expressed in Paul's letters. Here are five passages from Paul to look up and book mark in your Bible.
Having read each passage, discuss, reflect on, or journal the following:
1. What similarities do you see between these passages? Are some more similar than others?
2. Have you heard any of these words and phrases somewhere else? Where and when?
3. What images do the words invoke for you?
4. If St. Paul were to write you a letter, what would he give thanks for? If he wrote our parish a letter, what would he give thanks for?
5. Do these passages give you any ideas for your personal or household prayer? How might you incorporate this patten of giving thanks into your prayer?
Let us compare and reflect on some of the thanks expressed in Paul's letters. Here are five passages from Paul to look up and book mark in your Bible.
- Romans 1:8
- 2 Corinthians 1:3
- Ephesians 1:3-4
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Having read each passage, discuss, reflect on, or journal the following:
1. What similarities do you see between these passages? Are some more similar than others?
2. Have you heard any of these words and phrases somewhere else? Where and when?
3. What images do the words invoke for you?
4. If St. Paul were to write you a letter, what would he give thanks for? If he wrote our parish a letter, what would he give thanks for?
5. Do these passages give you any ideas for your personal or household prayer? How might you incorporate this patten of giving thanks into your prayer?
Themes in St. Paul's Writings
We have learned that St. Paul wrote many letters, to many different communities, addressing a variety of issues during the course of his ministry. What were themes that ran throughout these diverse letters? Here is an article that briefly summarizes Paul’s life, ministry, and message.
