January 11: 
Today's class was on Zoom.  If you were unable to attend, please complete the assignment below. 
Watch this video on Formed.  During the video, there are several "pauses" with additional resources and some questions.  Write down the questions and your answers.  Email to md4582@gmail.com & faithformation.ststanislaus@gmail.com

December 14: 
Login into Formed.org. You’ll be asked for your Parish and email address. They will send you an email link to access the site. All our classes will be under YDISCIPLE.
 
***Access the site and watch “The Christmas Pageant that Almost Wasn’t”.  https://watch.formed.org/advent-3/videos/the-christmas-pageant-that-almost-wasn-t
 *** this is no longer available. 
For those who missed this class,  and the video presentation a new video presentation will be posted with new questions.  You will be notified via email and the work will be needed to be sent prior to the next class. 

What can be shared about this class: 
 
This class focused on Advent. The definition of advent means – “coming”.  In the Catholic Church it means – the period leading up to Christmas. The four Sundays preceding Christmas, which is when Christian’s celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, are recognized for four virtues.
 
1^st Week of Advent: Hope – Reminds us.. Jesus is coming.  Read Bible verse 15:12-13
 
2^nd Week of Advent: Faith – Reminds us .. to prepare the way of the Lord.  Read Bible verse Luke 3:4-6
 
3^rd Week of Advent: Joy – Reminds us.. The joy at the coming birth of Jesus.   Read Bible verse Luke 2:10
 
4^th Week of Advent: Peace – Reminds us.. “Glory to God in the highest heaven and earth, peace for those he favours.”   Read Bible verse Luke 2:14.
 
There are four candles representing the virtues of Advent, three purple and on rose. Which week in Advent is represented by the Rose candle?
 
So, after this summation on Advent; What do you think are the four virtues of Advent?
 
 
Question #5: Tell me about you Advent preparations, do you have an Advent Calendar or light candles in Advent wreath, if neither think about preparing for the coming of Christ for next Christmas.
 
 
Have a wonderful and Blessed Christmas Day!
 
Mr. & Mrs. DeMild
 
Reply to: md4582@gmail.com & faithformation.ststanislaus@gmail.com
 
Helpful Links:
https://saintstanislaus.net/
https://watch.formed.org

November 9: 
Login into Formed.org. You’ll be asked for your Parish and email address. They will send you an email link to access the site. All our classes will be under YDISCIPLE.
 
Access the site and watch the 5 sessions under YDISCIPLE/Who is God/Is Jesus Really Divine? https://watch.formed.org/ydisciple/season:5/videos/is-jesus-really-divine-with-julianne-miles
 
There are 5 scenes in this section, watch all of them and answers the questions below.
 
Scene 1: Explore how Jesus’ identity has been confused.

• Christ has left many varied impressions on humanity over time.
• Popular culture offers thousands of different images and interpretations of who Jesus is.
• Among believers and non-believers, much confusion exists about Jesus’ true identity.
• Some people says Jesus is the same as any other religious leader.

1. What makes Jesus unique or different for other religious leaders out there? (hint: I am)

• Christianity, unlike other religions, is based on the person of Jesus.
• In no other religion in history did the messenger claim to be God
• We know Jesus is God because of what He says about Himself in Scripture (e.g. John 11:25; John 8:58) Jesus tells us He is God and to believe in Him is to believe in God.
• Jesus’ divinity claims were scandalous violations of Jewish Law.
• We can trust the Bible as the most reliable text in all of history.

2. What do you find most convincing about Jesus’ claim to be God?

• Is Jesus’ claim to be God true? C.S. Lewis said we have three options: Jesus is Lord, Liar, or Lunatic.
• The Liar scenario is flawed because telling lies didn’t benefit Jesus. He could have lied when He was asked if He was King of the Jews; instead, he told the truth, resulting in His death on the cross.
• The Lunatic scenario is implausible because Jesus was kind and compassionate. He also had consistent and lucid answers to his followers’ and enemies’ questions.
• The Lord option is plausible because liar and lunatic are implausible.

3. Do you remember the story of doubting Thomas where he didn’t believe Jesus rose from the dead until Jesus appeared before him (John 20:24-29)? Are there situations where you’ve refused to believe something until you saw it with your own eyes?   

• Jesus proved He is God by His actions—He performed numerous miracles. These acts aren’t just recorded in the Bible; historical documents also speak about Jesus performing miracles.
• The Resurrection is the greatest proof of Jesus’ divinity.
• When the disciples saw the risen Jesus, they were looking at God Himself.
• The story of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection is amazing and unbelievable. Even the disciples doubted it, especially Thomas.

4. What do you think about the claims that Christ made?

• Jesus wants each of us to decide “who He is” in our lives. He posed this question to the disciples, and he poses it to us today.
• “Lord” expresses the recognition of the Divine Mystery of Jesus.
• We come to the same point in our lives as Thomas did—we know that Jesus is Divine, but what does that mean? We have a choice to make.
• When Jesus is Lord of your life, you’re called to something higher. It’s hard choice, but when you make it, it will change your life.

5. What concrete things can you do this week to more fully give your life to Christ?

 
Reply to: md4582@gmail.com & faithformation.ststanislaus@gmail.com
 
Helpful Links:
https://saintstanislaus.net/
https://watch.formed.org

October 12: 
Login into Formed.org. You’ll be asked for your Parish and email address. They will send you an email link to access the site. All our classes will be under YDISCIPLE.
 
Access the site and watch the 5 sessions under YDISCIPLE/Who is God/Is God Really My Father? https://watch.formed.org/ydisciple/season:5/videos/is-god-really-my-father-with-scott-powell
 
There are 5 scenes in this section, watch all of them and answers the questions below.
 
Scene 1: The Fatherhood of God
 

1. In your own words what makes a father a “good” father?

• Fundamentally, we call God “Father” because His is the Father of Jesus and the Father of the Trinity
• In the Gospel of Mark, we read about Jesus’ baptism, when the whole Trinity is present.
• God’s Fatherhood is tied up in the fact that He is Jesus’ Father.

2. What does God’s Fatherhood mean for us?

• God the Father is also God the Creator – He is our Father Because He created us.
• The language used to describe Adam’s relationship with his son, Seth, is the same language used in Genesis when God created us. God really is our Father.
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that because of original sin we let our trust in the Creator die. We started to view God as a tyrant, someone who won’t let us do the tings we want to do.

3. Is God really good?  Can we trust God and why?

• Some people get confused by who God is: In the Old Testament, he seems vengeful, wrathful, and unforgiving . But in the New Testament, God seems loving, kind, and forgiving.
• God’s Fatherhood isn’t fully understood until Jesus comes to earth.
• When Jesus, God’s Son, suffers and dies for us-this is wen the depth of God’s love for us is finally revealed.
• Jesus teaches His disciples to pray with the words “Our Father.”

4. Pray the Our Father slowly, deeply and digest the words.  What new insights did you gain about what you were praying?

• Scott revises the story of the Prodigal Son to illustrate that a “good” father who followed the traditions of Jesus’ time would have punished a rebellious son and sent him away.
• Unexpectedly, Jesus introduces a different kind of father - a father who is waiting and watching and anticipation for his son’s return, one who embraces and celebrates his son’s return, despite his poor choices in the past.
• God, the Father, is longing and waiting for us to return to Him with our hearts.

5. In what ways do you need to return to God with your heart, and how can you accomplish this in the upcoming weeks?

Send info to: md4582@gmail.com & 
faithformation.ststanislaus@gmail.com
 
Helpful Links:
https://saintstanislaus.net/
https://watch.formed.org


September 14: 
Login into Formed.org. You’ll be asked for your Parish and email address. They will send you an email link to access the site. All our classes will be under YDISCIPLE.
 
Access the site and watch the 5 sessions under YDISCIPLE/Who is God/ Is God Really Real : https://watch.formed.org/ydisciple/season:5/videos/is-god-really-real-with-chris-stefanick
 
Scene 2: Arguments for God
·The Argument from Design: Order and beauty in the world imply and intelligent creator.

• Wisdom 13:1: For all men who were ignorant of God were God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know Him who exists.
• The Argument from Causality: Everything is here because of something else. This leads to the problem of “Infinite Regress”- nothing can breathe life into itself, at some point, there has to be a cause.
• The Argument from Your Heart: for every need, there is something to fill it.

• Some people may be called anti-theists-they have difficulty believing in God because of the hurt or pain they’ve experienced.
• God doesn’t cause bad things to happen but allows it so that a greater good may come (God’s Plan), either in this life or the next.
• God doesn’t promise us freedom from suffering, but He does promise us His presence in our suffering.

 
When you face pain in your own life, what helps you deal with it?
 
Scene 4:
What does it mean to be a “living example’ of the Christian faith?
On a scale from 1 (not at all) to 10 (completely), what rating would God give you for being a sign of Him is this world?
 
Scene 5:
What are you doing to grow your faith?
 
Send to: md4582@gmail.com &
 faithformation.ststanislaus@gmail.com