The thing I like most about working in a church is the opportunity to connect with people of all ages and stages of life. We baptize babies and conduct funerals. We celebrate weddings and visit hospitals. Confirmation begins in a few weeks for our 6^th graders and the PEP Club meets monthly for our seniors. Faith is important at every phase of life.

So it is that Luke's gospel includes a few childhood stories of Jesus ignored by Matthew, Mark and John. On the 8^th day after his birth, Jesus is circumcised according to Jewish tradition. Six weeks after his birth Jesus is presented in the temple for dedication by the old prophet, Simeon, according to Jewish tradition. When Jesus was 12 years old, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem for the annual Passover feast, according to Jewish traditio…