The Four Circles of Youth Ministry

News

It is recommended that the Youth Ministry Programs integrate the following elements into all aspects of their programming: worship, fellowship, service, and witness. An exceptional program will see these elements not as four separate entities, but as four interlocking...

“Share Your Shelf” Weekly Program

Missions & Outreach News & Upcoming Events

Thank you St. Mary’s parishioners for your generous donations to our weekly food shelf collections. December’s Recipient: Community Emergency Service (CES) Food Shelf Needs: Individually Wrapped Hygiene Items: Toothpaste Toothbrushes Soap Shampoo...

The Parables of Jesus #1: Introduction

Parables of Jesus

Do you not understand this parable?The Parables of Jesus #1: Introduction What were the essential characteristics of the earthly ministry of Jesus? According to the Gospel of Matthew Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good...

The Parables of Jesus #2: Themes

Parables of Jesus

‘To you has been given the secret of the Kingdom of God’The Parables of Jesus #2: Themes A lifetime of study and practice would not suffice to exhaust the riches of the parables of Jesus. But some themes stand out, and we shall begin our study with an outline of some...

The Parables of Jesus #3: The Parable of the Sower (1)

Parables of Jesus

‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’The Parable of the Sower (1)[Mark 4:1-20] Perhaps the best place to start in studying the parables of Jesus is with the ‘Parable of the Sower’ in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Mark. It contains a fundamental lesson how to...

The Parables of Jesus #4: The Parable of the Sower (2)

Parables of Jesus

‘But to those outside, everything comes in parables’The Parable of the Sower (2)[Mark 4: 1-20] Jesus, we know, taught in parables. Why? We might think of many reasons, but Mark reveals a perfectly shocking one. Jesus taught this way so that people...

The Parables of Jesus #5: The Parable of the Sower (3)

Parables of Jesus

‘For there is nothing hidden, except to be revealed…’The Parable of the Sower (3)[Mark 4:1-20]  Mark tells us that Jesus begin his ministry by proclaiming  ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’...

The Parables of Jesus #6: Two Seed Parables

Parables of Jesus

‘And the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how’Two Seed Parables[Mark 4:26-32] We began our study of the parables with the Parable of the Sower because it clearly sets out why Jesus spoke in parables and the result. In short, it is a parable about understanding...

The Parables of Jesus #7: Five Parables from Matthew’s Gospel (1)

Parables of Jesus

The Kingdom of God is like…Five Parables from Matthew’s Gospel (1)[Matthew 13: 34-52] Imagine you are attending a Bible study led by the Evangelist Matthew himself. It is about 85 A.D. Your classmates are Jewish Christian converts from Palestine and Syria. Since the...

The Parables of Jesus #8: Five Parables from Matthew’s Gospel (2)

Parables of Jesus

‘Let them grow together until the harvest…’Five Parables from Matthew’s Gospel (2)[Matthew 13:24-52] In our last reflection, we considered the concerns that the Evangelist Matthew wishes to emphasize in his Gospel. First, he wants to point out that it is Jesus Himself...