Nurturing Faith

Nurturing Faith… Gospel Acclamation : Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord has anointed Every Day in Every Way me to bring good news to the poor, and to proclaim release to the captives. Alleluia. (Luke 4:18) January 27, 2013 Third Sunday after Epiphany In honor of the New Year, let's unplug once a week

Technology is great and we certainly can't live without it. However, if your family Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 is always on the computer, watching TV or playing video games, it's time to take Psalm 19 (7) a break and reconnect with each other. Dedicate one day a week as an I Corinthians 12:12-31a "unplugged" day. On this day, turn off computers, televisions, smartphones and all other electronics. Use this day to get back to basics. Gospel: Luke 4:14-21  Go hiking, biking or swimming.  Create a special arts and crafts project. Promises, Promises (Objects-A Calendar)  Cook a meal together as a family. One, two, three, four. (Point to the calendar as you count off the Sundays in  Set aside a couple of hours for reading time. January.) Today is the fourth Sunday of the new year. Oh my, the days are flying  Visit the home of family or friends. by. Did any of you make any new year resolutions? You know what a resolution  is, don't you? It is when you make a promise to yourself that you will do Do some spring cleaning. something to make this year better than last year. Perhaps you promised to make  Draw, paint or take pictures. up your bed every morning. Maybe you promised to study harder in school.  Plant a vegetable garden. Would any of you like to tell us what promises you made? How are you doing at  Play board games or cards. keeping those promises?  Spend time talking, relaxing and laughing. Do you think it is important for us to keep our promises? I do, and I'll tell you why. God shows us that he thinks it is important to keep our promises because http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/851161/top-new-years- he keeps his promises. We know that God keeps his promises, because the Bible resolutions-for-families tells us that God cannot lie. (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18) We know that God keeps his promises because the Bible tells us that not one of his promises has failed. (Joshua 23:14) We know that God keeps his promises because the Bible tells us that he is faithful. (Hebrews 11:11) In our Bible reading for today, Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth where he was brought up. As was his custom, he stood to read and was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. This was what he read: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." When Jesus had finished reading, he rolled up the scroll and handed it back to the attendant and sat down. Everyone was watching and waiting to see what Jesus would say. He said to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Jesus himself was a promise from God. All of the things which Jesus had read from the prophet Isaiah were promises from God. God kept his promises by sending his Son. Let us give thanks to God for keeping his promises.

Our Father, we thank you for your faithfulness in keeping your promises to us. Help us to be faithful in keeping our promises. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

. . 1301

, 1-800-543- ,

www.standardpub.com

Publishing,

Standard Standard

purchased purchased

Books may be be may Books

Coloring Coloring

Reproducible Reproducible

permission. permission.

Used by by Used

Publishing.

Standard Standard

1986,1988 1986,1988

Pages for for Pages

Coloring Coloring

the-Bible the-Bible From Thru- From