Sunday, February 15, 2015

Faithful Families Resources February 15 2015


No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?
~Elbert Hubbard

Family Closeness
Game:
Ibble Dibble
An "ibble dibble" is a dot made on the skin with a felt pen. Everyone playing is assigned  a number.  Someone starts by saying: "Ibble Dibble number # (their number) with no ibble dibbles calling ibble dibble number # (another player's number) with no ibble dibbles." The person's whose number has been called must respond by choosing a different player and saying “ibble dibble number # (whatever number they are) with no ibble dibbles calling ibble dibble number # (the number of the player they have chosen) with no ibble dibbles." If a person makes a mistake, stumbles over their words or gets the number of ibble dibbles wrong then they receive an ibble dibble (a spot mark on their cheek). That person then carries on with “Ibble dibble number #  with one ibble dibble calling ibble dibble number # with no ibble dibbles (however many they have). Keep playing until someone has five ibble dibbles.

Sharing:
Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.
  • Are you more like an apple or an orange? Why?
  • What is your favourite thing to think about?
  • Would you rather not be able to laugh or not be able to cry?

Story
With your family read: Mark 1.9-15
Questions for Discussion:
  • Who saw the heavens open and the Spirit descend like a dove?
  • How do you think Jesus felt when he heard what God said to him?
  • What did Jesus say when he came out of the wilderness?
  • What words would you like your parents to say to you?

Prayer and Celebration
Lenten Seasonings
Wednesday 18th February  is Ash Wednesday, the day marking the beginning of Lent, the forty days preceding Easter Day. This is traditionally a time of repentance (saying sorry and turning from sin). The resources for prayer and celebration for the next six weeks will focus on ways your family might “celebrate” well this season. Lent is a good time to focus on God’s care and provision and on our dependence on him, but also on saying sorry.

Pat-C-Ana
There are many ways and patterns of prayer.  Praying with Pat-C-ana is just one [pronounced Patsyanna].  It was originally written by Fr Richard Browning for use by children at church and school. The prayer below can be used as a way of remembering and teaching which finger represents which type of prayers.

From the thumb to little finger
we pray with PAT-C-ANA:
Praise and adoration -
Thank you, thank you.
Confession saying sorry:
its forgiveness that we need.
Asking 'n asking: for others then for me.
From the thumb to little finger
we pray to God the Father.
        
 The prayers below help to unpack the type of prayer to use with each finger or can be used on their own.
 
Praying with PAT-C-ANA

Thumb: Praise and adoration
Awesome Lord and Father, the earth is yours and all that is in it. You are our God and we are your people;
Index finger: Thanksgiving
Thank you for life and love, for a home to live and a family to love.
Middle finger:  Confession
Forgive us when we hurt others, and when we offend you.
Help us to love like you love us.
Ring finger:  Asking for others
We pray for…
my family and friends and those that I love.

Little finger: Asking for me
And lastly for me, I place myself into your loving care.
Amen.

Family Time Extra
Promise Banner
Each week of Lent create a panel each with a different picture for a wall hanging. This could be done simply on pieces of A4 paper with coloured images or more spectacularly using 50cm square calico, connect each panel together with string so they hang. Each panel will reflect a different story from the Lenten season.

Week 1:           Genesis 9.18-17: Picture: Rainbow
Week 2.           Genesis 17.1-7,15-16 Picture: Footprints
Week 3.           Exodus 20.1-17 Picture: Stone Tablets
Week 4.           Numbers 21.4-9 Picture:Snake on a Stick
Week 5.           Jeremiah 31.31-34 Picture: Heart
Week 6.           Marl 11:7-10. Picture: Palms.
(Seasons of the Spirit 2002)

(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning

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