Question of the Week

Reading I Isaiah 49:1-6 - Servant of the Lord
Reading II Acts 13:22-26 - Salvation from the family of Abraham
Gospel Luke 1:57-66, 80 - The Nativity of John the Baptist Key Passage John heralded [Jesus’] coming by
proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. (Acts 13:24)

Adults: In what ways do you help people in your life prepare themselves for meeting Jesus?
Child: How do you help others to be their best, as John did?

Reading I: Ezekiel 17:22-24 - Prophecy of the restoration of Israel
Reading II: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 - Walking by faith
Gospel: Mark 4:26-34 - Seed grows by itself and the mustard seed
Key Passage: Yet when [the mustard seed] is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade. (Mark 4:32)

Adults: What is the "good soil" that has allowed your faith to grow like the mustard seed and provide shelter for others?
Child: How do you help your faith grow like the mustard seed?

Reading I: Genesis 3:9-15 - The fall
Reading II: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 - Paradox of the ministry
Gospel: Mark 3:20-35 - Jesus and Beelzebub; Jesus and his family
Key Passage: Jesus said, "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:35)

Adults: In what way could you widen the circle of your family to include someone in need?
Child: Whom could you invite to share a happy time with your family?

Reading I: Exodus 24:3-8 - Ratification of the covenant
Reading II: Hebrews 9:11-15 - The sacrifice of Jesus
Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 - Passover preparation
Key Passage: While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." (Mark 14:22)

Adults: In what ways have you practiced the words of Jesus and been bread for others?
Child: What can you do to prepare to celebrate Holy Communion with your parish family?

Reading I: Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 - Proofs of God's love
Reading II: Romans 8:14-17 - Sons of God through adoption
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20 - Commission of the Apostles
Key Passage: Moses said to the people, “For ask now about former ages, long before your own, ever since the day that God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of heaven to the other: has anything so great as this ever happened or has its like ever been heard of?” (Deuteronomy 4:32)

Adults: What signs of God's love have you witnessed in your life?
Child: How can you be a sign of God's love to others this week?

Reading I: Acts 2:1-11 - Descent of the Holy Spirit
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 - Many gifts, one Spirit, and the analogy of the body
Gospel" John 20:19-23 - Appearance to the disciples
Key Passage: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:4–5)

Adults: What gift of service have you received from the Holy Spirit and how well are you using it right now?
Child: What gift do you hope to receive from the Holy Spirit? How could you use it to serve others?

Reading I: Acts 1:1-11 - The Ascension of Jesus
Reading II: Ephesians 1:17-23 - A Spirit of wisdom
Gospel: Mark 16:15-20 - The Commissioning and Ascension
Key Passage: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. (Ephesians 1:17)

Adults: Who in your family has the gift of wisdom? How does he or she use this gift?
Child: Who is the wisest person you know? What has he or she taught you?

Reading I: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 - Peter in Caesarea
Reading II: 1 John 4:7-10 - God's love and ours
Gospel: John 15:9-17 - A disciple's love
Key PassageJesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12)

Adults: How is love of others connected to love for God?
Child: Who needs Jesus' love this week? How can you show them his love?

Reading I: Acts 9:26-31 - Saul visits Jerusalem
Reading II: 1 John 3:18-24 - The actions of believers
Gospel: John 15:1-8 - The vine and the branches
Key Passage: [The vine grower] removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. (John 15:2)

Adult: When have you been "pruned" by your experiences in a way that led to greater abundance?

Child: When have you felt stronger or better because you did something hard to help another person?

• Reading I: Acts 4:8-12 - The stone that has become the cornerstone
• Reading II: 1 John 3:1-2 - Recognizing the Son
• Gospel: John 10:11-18 - The Good Shepherd
• Key Passage: Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11)

Adult: Whom are you shepherding in your life right now, and who shepherds you?

Child: Who has been like a shepherd to you by their example? For whom could you be a shepherd?

• Reading I: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 - Peter's discourse on Jesus' resurrection
• Reading II: 1 John 2:1-5a - Keeping the commandments
• Gospel: Luke 24:35-48 - Jesus appears to the Eleven
• Key Passage: Jesus said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself."
  (Luke 24:38–39)

Adult: What questions about Jesus still arise in the midst of your faith?

Child: What question would you like to ask someone about Jesus' appearance to the Apostles?

• Reading I: Acts 4:32-35 - Life of the Christians
• Reading II: 1 John 5:1-6 - Belief in Jesus Christ
• Gospel: John 20:19-31 - Appearance to the disciples
• Key Passage: Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul; no one claimed private ownership of any possessions; everything they owned was held in common. (Acts 4:32)

Adult: What could you do this week to inspire your family to resemble the early Christians more closely?

Child: What could you and your family do to help others who are in need?

• Reading I: Acts 10:34a, 37-43 - Peter's discourse
• Reading II: Colossians 3:1-4 - Mystical death and resurrection
• Gospel: John 20:1-9 - Peter and the disciple at the tomb
• Key Passage: Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7)

Adult: What change could the hope of the resurrection of Christ inspire you to make?

Child: What bad habit would you like to "clear out" during the hopeful time of this Easter season?