1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God

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 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12 "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

For many of our youngest parishioners, this is the first week of school. Usually, that means sharpening pencils, filling lunch boxes, riding the bus to school, meeting new teachers, and making new friends. Not this year. Instead, students are at home, sitting in front of computers, learning remotely and alone. Many of us are having trouble counting our blessings. Of course, we are grateful for reliable Internet access, a roof over our heads, families to love us and help with lessons. But we’re allowed to feel a little grumpy about the experiences and rites of passage we are missing.

The Beatitudes are a series of blessings given by Jesus to his disciples during the Sermon on the Mount. They will be the focus of the virtual fall curriculum for Children’s Ministry at The Church of St. Michael & St. George. While this is not what we originally planned for rolling out a fall program, after reading these familiar words, it seems that they were written just for a time such as this.

On Sunday, August 30, CSMSG Children’s Ministry will host a drive-by packet pick up of materials families may use at home to follow the Beatitudes curriculum. Each package includes a set of thoughtful lessons and activities based on the Beatitudes. By following the lessons, participants will learn about the structure of a Beatitude - a blessing and a promise - and how to apply it to everyday life.

We hope that families will be comforted and inspired by the words, activities, and prayers provided by the Beatitudes curriculum. Families will receive additional details regarding the packets and opportunities for accompanying Zoom or video lessons. We look forward to counting our blessings with you.

God Bless,

Mary Beth & Amy