This Sunday, we explored one of Jesus’ most powerful parables—the story of a father’s love and forgiveness, found in Luke 15:11–32.

Jesus tells us about a man with two sons. One day, the younger son made a bold demand: “Father, give me my share of the inheritance.” And just like that, he packed his bags and set off to live life his way.

At first, the younger son had fun—he traveled, partied, and spent all his money. But soon, he found himself broke and hungry. He took a job feeding pigs, and it wasn’t long before he realized: even the pigs were eating better than he was.

That’s when he remembered his father’s love. “I will go home,” he said, “and ask for forgiveness.”

Meanwhile, the older brother stayed and worked hard alongside his father. So when the younger son finally returned and the father threw a huge party to welcome him, the older brother was angry. “I’ve been here the whole time. Where’s my celebration?”

But the father said something beautiful:

“This brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” – Luke 15:32

The story reminds us that God’s love is bigger than our mistakes. It meets us with open arms—whether we’re returning home or learning to forgive.

What We Learned

• God’s love is always waiting for us—no matter how far we wander.
• Forgiveness can be hard, but it brings healing.
• Sometimes we feel like life is unfair—but God’s grace is for everyone.
• We can be like the father—ready to forgive, love, and celebrate others.

Whether you’re heading off on vacation or staying close to home this summer, remember: God’s love goes with you. See you in church Sunday! 🧡

This week in class, we spent time with one of Jesus’ most famous teachings—The Golden Rule.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” – Luke 6:31

But we didn’t stop at just the one verse—we looked at the bigger story around it.

In Luke 6, Jesus is talking to a large crowd of people. Some were curious, others were hurting, and many hoped to hear something to change their lives. And Jesus said something that probably surprised them:

“Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.” – Luke 6:27–28

Wait—love your enemies? That’s not easy. It’s hard enough to love our friends when we’re having a bad day! But Jesus was teaching something radical. He didn’t just want people to follow rules—He wanted them to learn how to live with mercy, the way God loves us.

That’s where the Golden Rule comes in: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It’s a way to practice empathy—putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. When we live this way, we aren’t just being polite—we’re acting like Jesus. He showed us that real love takes action, even when it’s hard.

In class, the kids did an amazing job talking about what empathy means and how we can show it to others: listening, sharing, helping, and forgiving.

We also had a very special Sunday as we celebrated Mother’s Day. We made crafts, shared stories, and thanked God for the women who love and care for us like Jesus does—with strength, patience, and lots of grace.

And of course, our classroom continues to be full of wonder! After our nine chicks hatched during Easter week (plus a surprise tenth the next day!), we moved on to our butterfly project. Our caterpillars have formed cocoons, and we’re keeping watch, hoping to release the butterflies on a Sunday morning soon.

What We Learned

✔ The Golden Rule comes from Jesus’ teaching to love, even when it’s hard.
✔ Empathy means understanding how others feel—and responding with kindness.
✔ Jesus calls us to live with mercy, not just toward friends, but toward everyone.
✔ We can honor others—like our moms and caregivers—by living out Jesus’ love every day.

See you in church!

It had been a long, strange week for the disciples.

Jesus had been crucified. He had died and was buried in a tomb. But now, just days later, the disciples were saying He was alive again. Some of them had already seen Him. Others had heard stories from the women at the tomb. There was joy… but also confusion.

And Thomas wasn’t so sure.

He had seen the pain. He had watched Jesus be arrested, beaten, and taken to the cross. The grief was real, and the idea of resurrection just felt too hard to believe.

When the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” (John 20:25), Thomas replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were… I will not believe.”

Thomas wanted more than a story—he wanted proof.

And that’s when Jesus showed up.

A week later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples. This time, Thomas was with them. And Jesus didn’t scold or shame him. He simply turned to Thomas and said,

“Put your finger here; see my hands. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27)

Thomas didn’t need to touch after all. Just seeing Jesus was enough.

“My Lord and my God!” he said (John 20:28).

And Jesus responded, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

What We Learned

✔ It’s okay to have questions about our faith—Thomas did too.
✔ Jesus meets us with grace, not judgment.
✔ We can believe, even when we haven’t seen everything.
✔ Faith grows when we stay curious, honest, and open to God’s love.

This week, we saw how Jesus met Thomas exactly where he was, not with anger, but with love. And that same love meets us today. See you in church, so we can “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:18