Para la versión en español, haga clic aquí.
This Sunday, the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord, and the Christmas season comes to its official end. While many people took down their Christmas trees and decorations soon after Christmas Day, our Church has savored and continued to celebrate the great mystery of the Incarnation.
Now we fast-forward about thirty years in the life of Jesus to his baptism by John in the River Jordan. This event occurred as Jesus prepared to begin his public ministry. We put away the trappings of Christmas yet strive to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in our hearts throughout the year. In the same way, we celebrate Baptism once yet re-commit to the meaning of our Baptism every day of our lives.
As we begin Ordinary Time and follow the public ministry of Jesus—his teachings, healings, and interactions with others, we are invited to consider how well we are following him and how we will share in his mission in the year ahead.
May this new year be one of growth in faith, hope, and love—in us, in our Church, and in the children and families we serve! Amen.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to many online resources.
Video of the Sunday Gospel (Luke 3:15–16, 21–22)
Use these videos as you discuss the Sunday Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
John Baptizes Jesus
The Baptism of Jesus
The Baptism of Jesus
Holy Heroes: The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Gospel Readings for Kids—Luke 3:15–16, 21–22
Use this video as you discuss the Sacrament of Baptism:
Our Spiritual Home with Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Baptism makes us children of God.
For this lesson, you will use the Baptism photos and memories that parents sent to class with their children. You will need a baby doll, a water basin, water, a towel, a shell, paper towel rolls, tape/stapler, and a Church Year calendar. The children will pretend to baptize a baby doll. Encourage each of them to give the baby a name. Make sure you have at least one towel on hand.
Prepare in advance a note to send home asking parents to fill in the date of Baptism on the candle their child created during class.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Weekly Gospel Videos and Coloring Pages
Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Baptism
Promise
Lesson Theme: Baptism makes us children of God.
For this lesson, you will need scissors, pencils, holy water in a small bowl, copies of Catechism handbook page 14, and a Church Year calendar. If a child’s parents did not return the requested information about their child’s Baptism, be prepared to send the “My Baptism” activity (pages 3–4) home with a note asking the parents to complete it with their child. You may wish to arrange for an aide or aides to assist with the cutting activity. There is also a story coloring page available to accompany the story “Vincent’s New Brother.”
Since there is emphasis on the Sign of the Cross—both its gestures and words—in this lesson, we suggest that you bring a cross or crucifix if there isn’t already one in your classroom.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Weekly Gospel Videos and Coloring Pages
Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Baptism
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit.
For this lesson, you will need pencils, crayons, scissors, glue, and a Church Year calendar. Although it’s not suggested in the Teaching Guide, you may wish to bring examples of the symbols of Baptism (holy water, oil, white garment, candle) for the page 3 activity. Since there is emphasis on the Sign of the Cross—both its gestures and words—in this lesson, make sure to bring in a cross or crucifix if there isn’t already one in your classroom.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Baptism
The Holy Trinity
Venture
Lesson Theme: The Holy Spirit comes to us in Baptism.
Remind the children that Christmas is a season, not just a day. We conclude this season this Sunday with our celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Ask them to share their memories and any items they brought from their own Baptisms. Do they know who attended their Baptism? Ask them to identify who was present at Jesus’ baptism. Remember to have scissors, white drawing paper, and markers or colored pencils to create the baptismal symbol activity on page 5 in the lesson.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
What We Do—Heifer International
Read to Feed (promotional video)
Read to Feed: Official Video
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Remind the students that Christmas is a season, not just a day. We conclude this season this Sunday with our celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Do they know who attended their Baptism? Direct them to look at the images of Jesus’ baptism on the cover and ask them to identify who was present. This lesson also focuses on the Sacrament of Confirmation; encourage discussion of how these Sacraments of Christian Initiation invite us to belong to the Christian family but they also call us to participate. Being a Christian is not passive! Ask: How do you show that you belong to the family of God?
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
Sacraments 101: Confirmation (Why We’re Confirmed)
Image credit: Ian Dyball/Shutterstock.com
