17 - St. Thomas More Boynton Beach

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Saint Thomas More Catholic Church Tel: 561.737.3095 www.stmbb.org Parishioners, contact the Parish office at Tel. 561.737.3095 Lent purpose for parents: Teaching children to be generous and grateful In a materialistic, consumer oriented culture, we face a real challenge in teaching thankfulness and contentment to children. They are conditioned to believe they are entitled to everything they want — now! Kids have also come to believe they should always get the biggest and best. The Center for a New American Dream reports another disturbing trend known as the nag factor. Its recent surveys found that nearly 60 percent of kids nag their parents for a toy or a privilege even after being given a no. In fact, 10 percent of all 12- and 13-year-olds admit they will beg their parents more than 50 times for products they've seen on TV. Grateful Christian parents are called to cultivate character traits such as 16 // Fifth Sunday of Lent // March 17th, 2013 thankfulness, generosity and selfsacrifice. The Bible commands us, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Jesus warns us, "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). And Paul describes greedy people as idolaters who will not inherit the kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:5). One of the most effective ways to combat the cultural mind-set is by modeling a grateful attitude. Verbally thank God on a regular basis, even for simple things like a roof over your head and food. Also, do your best to model gratitude in your other relationships: friends, relatives and co-workers — and not only when they do something special for you. Let others know how much you appreciate them simply for who they are. Express that kind of unconditional gratitude to your spouse and children as well. Generous You can help your kids learn to be generous by serving others who are less fortunate. Christmas time is ideal for service projects. Your family might volunteer to serve Christmas dinner at a local rescue mission or visit residents at a nursing home, singing carols and delivering Christmas cookies. The majority of children receive a boatload of new toys each year. They soon lose interest in most of these toys, which wind up collecting dust in a closet, basement or storage bin. One family I know has instituted a Christmas tradition in which each of their kids chooses several of his or her old toys to donate to a homeless shelter or a local charity. They deliver the toys as a family the week before Christmas, so their children can see where their toys are being donated and experience the joy of giving away their possessions. Christmas also provides an excellent opportunity to start sponsoring a poor child in a developing country through an organization such as World Vision or Compassion International. Our family sponsors a little girl in Indonesia. When our children are old enough, we plan to take a short-term missions trip to Java to meet her. Finally, while your kids are still on vacation, set aside an afternoon for them to write handmade thank-you notes to the friends and relatives who gave them gifts. Even young children can participate by decorating simple cards with crayons, stickers and rubber stamps. Make this a family project, as you help your children learn to develop the "language of gratitude" through words and pictures. This article first appeared in the December, 2006 issue of Focus on the Family magazine. Copyright © 2006 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved.
Parishioners, contact the Parish office at Tel. 561.737.3095 Saint Thomas More Catholic Church Tel: 561.737.3095 www.stmbb.org First Holy Communion/ Confirmation Photography Photographer: Frank Donnino | Boynton Beach 561-732-1414 Website: http://www.mybaldphotographer.com/ There’s a $10 fee for a picture of the exact moment of each student Holy First Communion and Confirmation. This fee must be paid in advance, prior to the ceremony. These photos will be available to be downloaded from the website: www.stm.mybaldphotographer.com. No cash is accepted, only check. Please write the check to the order of Frank Donnino. The checks will be collected at the Faith Formation Office (please include clearly the name of the student). After the ceremony, and for a limited time, a Paypal option will be available on the website, for $15 USD. Faith Formation Reminders: Dear parents, please check carefully these dates, as there have been some recent changes. March 24th: Palm Sunday (students will prepare an essay about the homily, due next class). March 31st: Easter Sunday (students will prepare an essay about the homily, due next class). April 26th: Sacrament of Confirmation (6:30 pm) May 11th: First Holy Communion (10 am & 12:30 pm) SAINT THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH Honduras Medical Mission Tools & Medicine Donations Needed July 29th to August 4th 2013 Common over-the-counter analgesics and supplies are like gold to us and to the people we serve. Please visit the Parish center to make a donation of any of the following items: Multiple Vitamins (children and adult), Tylenol or Advil- type pain relievers, Liquid Tylenol for Children's Fever, Muscle Rubs, Hot/Cold Patches for sore backs and limbs, Any kind of bandages & band aids, Dental Hygiene Supplies, Ear and Eye Care Products, Cold- Flu- Allergy Medications, Cough Suppressants and Decongestion Liquids (Children and Adult), and any other items that are new and sealed. We would be grateful for any financial support with which we can purchase prescription medications as our Doctors direct. Parishioners, visit our website today! www.stmbb.org •Calendar of Events • Photos • Registration Forms • • Weekly Bulletin PDF • Seasonal Mass Parts • Upcoming Events • Directions & much more March 17th, 2013 // Fifth Sunday of Lent // 17
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