Seeing God clearly Seeing God clearly

Have you ever gotten your eyes checked, maybe at home or at school? The doctor or nurse might give you a test to see if you can see  something. If you don’t do well on the eye tests, what happens? You might get some tools (glasses, maybe) to help you see more clearly.
In the Gospel reading today, we hear a story of one of our Lord’s amazing miracles. In this miracle story, we hear how Christ healed the young man who was blind. When Jesus saw the blind man, He put mud on his eyes and told him to go wash it. When the man did this, he could see again. Even though he had been blind ever since he was born, he could see for the first time now!

God wants us to see Him clearly. Of course, we don’t know what He looks like, but we can know what He acts like. Sometimes, we might notice that we can’t see God or know Him very clearly. When we can’t see God clearly, maybe we start to do the wrong thing a lot. Maybe we have some bad habits that we want to stop.

View & Print this Week’s Children’s Word HERE.

HISTORY LESSONS…IN OUR CHURCH SAINT BEDE

Do you study history at school? Do you learn about the presidents or about the founding of our country? Or about battles and soldiers from long ago? All of those things are important, and sometimes exciting! But did you know we have a lot to learn about our history of our
Church, too?We can learn about things from hundreds and hundreds of years ago! But, you know, somebody had to  write those things down. Somebody had to tell the stories so we can learn about them today.

One of those historians was Saint Bede. Saint Bede lived thirteen hundred years ago! He was a monk in England who wrote many things about the Christian Church there. He told about how English people first learned about Jesus Christ. He told about the first English saints who believed in Christ, but who got in big trouble for it. He told about many miracles that happened there. He told about how the Christian Church grew and grew in England.

We remember Saint Bede, Wednesday. May 27th (June 9, OC).

Welcome to “The Children’s Word,” a weekly ministry of the Orthodox Christian Network. Each week, Presvytera Alexandra Houck writes this little newsletter for young parishioners! You will find age-appropriate articles, stories, and activities in every edition. The newsletter is provided in PDF format so that you can easily download and print it, and share it.

Each issue includes a message on the Sunday Gospel lesson and on one of the saints for the week. You’ll also find a coloring page and other activities. It is designed for a 8.5 x 14 page, so it can be printed and folded.

During this Time of Uncertainty for Kids

  • Create a safe place for conversation. Create a spot for your kids to talk about what makes them scared. Many times just speaking it out dispels the fear.
  • Be honest. You yourself experience fear.  Sometimes kids are reluctant to admit what makes them feel scared. There’s nothing that breaks down walls better than humility. There’s comfort in knowing other people, especially their mom or dad, also experience fear.
  • Teach Them. Prayer is the go-to when they are feeling fearful.  Nothing brings a sense of peace and calm like talking to Jesus. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. — Philippians 4:6
  • Printable Materials. Supplemental Children’s activity books and drawings. OCN also brings you a weekly Children’s Word. It is a weekly ministry of the Orthodox Christian Network. Each week, Presvytera Alexandra Houck writes this newsletter for young parishioners! You will find age-appropriate articles, stories, and activities in every edition. The newsletter is provided in PDF format so that you can easily download and print, and share it with your parish, church school, homeschool, family, and friends. Each issue includes a message on the Sunday Gospel lesson and one of the saints for the week. You will also find a coloring page and other activities. It is designed for an 8.5 x 14 page, so that it can be printed and folded.
  • Read Scriptures Together.  One of the most significant ways to have peace of mind in today’s rapidly changing situation is to read Holy Scriptures. The Scriptures have remained the same for 2000 years. Share that fact with your children. There is not much else that has not changed that has done more good for people on earth than His Word! So read on with confidence and conviction that God is with you and your family. God’s word is truth, and the truth is that God does not want us to carry fear in our hearts. He is longing for us to bring those fears to Him.  Jesus Walks on the Water (Mt 14:22-34)/27.  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  Do not carry fear in your heart Romans 8:15.  Psalms. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. — Psalm 56:3.  I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:4. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10 

If you know of more Children’s Resources please be sure to email: info@myocn.net


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Presvytera Alexandra Houck

Presvytera Alexandra Houck created The Children's Word bulletin so children will know they are not only welcome in church, but even more, an essential part of the Church family. She hopes the weekly bulletin will be just one more way we can make kids feel at home in church. Presvytera Alexandra is a graduate of Duke University and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Her husband, Fr. Jason Houck, is a priest at St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis, MN. Presvytera Alexandra and Fr. Jason have five small children: Lydia, Paul, Silas, Philip, and Sarah. Presvytera Alexandra grew up attending Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Asheville, North Carolina with her nine siblings.

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