April 29

Beloved families of Good Shepherd,

Peace be with you! Today is the Feast Day of St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century Italian mystic and writer. St. Catherine decided at the young age of six years old that she wanted to follow God and God’s ways of love. St. Catherine discovered the deep place within where she and God are one. From this place of close union with God, St. Catherine served as a pivotal peacemaker in her time.

This morning I shared the story “Love’s Way” with our four and five-year-old students at Good Shepherd Day School. This story describes six aspects of God’s ways of love and it begins like this:

“In each person—in you and in me—there is a deep, deep place. It is a place where God is at home in us and we are at home in God. God loves us, and never stops loving. Day and night, wherever we are, God is with us. And God is love. Love helps us to be kind and gentle (Love’s Way of Peace). Love helps us to be fair and welcoming to everyone (Love’s Way of Equality). Love helps us to be honest and true (Love’s Way of Integrity). Love helps us to know what is really important (Love’s Way of Simplicity). Love helps everyone to be part of the group (Love’s Way of Community). Love helps us care for our earth (Love’s Way of Stewardship). “

After the story, we wondered what the world would be like if everyone practiced these wonderful ways of God’s love. One child said, “It would be heaven on earth”. A second child said, “Our whole earth would turn into one big heart.”  A third child said, “all would be Love.”

These wonderful insights from our preschool students show me that children intuitively know that “Love is all”! Children come into the world already in close union with God, already operating on the wavelength of God’s love. Parents, caregivers, and ministers can provide children the theological language of God and the experiences to concretely practice and grow in God’s ways of love.

We’d love for your children to join VBS 2026: ROOTED IN LOVE, June 8-12, 9 am to noon!  We’ll explore ways to grow in the love of God and others through story, music, art, and games.  Go HERE to learn more and to register your children!

We hope to see your family this Sunday!

Many Blessings,

Patty