tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875378753321384442024-03-14T13:58:49.068+10:00faithful familiesWeekly resources to help you nurture the faith life of your familyAYCFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06743777149542150193noreply@blogger.comBlogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-52771962467500488032017-12-25T00:00:00.000+10:002017-12-25T00:00:39.197+10:00Resources for 1st Sunday after Christmas (NYE) 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I have never heard anything about the resolutions of the apostles, but a good deal about their acts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">~ Og Mandino<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The Edge<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Get a small coin of some sort. Each family member takes turns sliding their coin along the top of the table from one end to the next. The goal is to get it the closest to the edge without it sliding off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.</span><b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What was the hardest thing about this year?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is something that you achieved this year?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is something you want to give thanks for this last year?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What are your hopes for next year?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you hope to do, experience, discover or be next year?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 36px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Story</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: Luke 2.22-40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Who do Simeon and Anna think Jesus is?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How do you think Simeon and Anna knew the baby Jesus was the one promised by God?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What does this passage say about Jesus growing up?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">People like to celebrate New Year’s Eve and Day in many different ways. Some people like to stay up until the clock strikes midnight – others like to go to bed so they can be up fresh for the first day of the year. Whatever you like to do, may you be encouraged this New Years Eve to think about how God might be honoured, remembered and shared in your family. Pray together, either at midnight or on getting up on the first of January. Give thanks for the year ahead. Ask God to guide you and your family in all you do… and dedicate yourselves to serving Christ in the year to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As a family discuss how you might serve your community and world in 2018. Talk about some of the things happening in the world you would like to change and decide how to make a difference. Make a commitment to give a certain amount of money to a charity or cause. Work out how your family might raise money or give time or talents to help a local charity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Family Time<o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt><b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Big Dreams 2015</span></i></b></tt></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One day an expert was speaking to a group of students on time management and he used this illustration. Firstly he took out a wide mouthed jar, then he produced about a dozen large rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he smiled and asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was onto him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good!" Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?" One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches is this: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I wonder…what are the big rocks you wish to fit into your family life next year? Sit down with your family and dream some dreams and make some plans for 2018. What things would you like to do? What places would you like to see? What habits would you like to make together?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Thank you for reading the Faithful Families blog this year. We'll take a little break now but be back with you with more FF resources very soon! Peace in Christ, JK</i></b></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-90405053015433853112017-12-18T00:00:00.000+10:002017-12-18T00:00:03.457+10:00Resources for Advent 4, Christmas Eve 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit.~ Rick Warren</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We are now in the season of Advent, a time that is focused on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ; we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart everyday. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on Earth. Over these four weeks, the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In addition to the weekly resources, have a look at the special Advent page for some ideas and resources on how to celebrate the season well in your home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Family Closeness</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Game:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Pass the Parcel</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This old game still gets played at parties but could be a fun game to play at home around the table. It would also be a great way to unveil a gift for your family. Put something nice in the middle for the whole family – like a family movie pass or a note saying you are all going to your favourite restaurant. Wrap it up. Now put multiple layers of wrapping on with small prizes in between such as chocolate bars or sweets. Blindfold a family member. Their job is to say when to stop passing the parcel. Pass the parcel and when it is stopped, someone gets to take off a layer. You might even like to play music or sing a song while the parcel is passed around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Sharing:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is the best gift you have ever received?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is the best gift you have ever been given?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is the most precious gift in the world?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Story</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family, read Luke 1.26-38.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(For a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children, look at<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.sermons4kids.com/jesus_is_coming_to_town.htm">http://www.sermons4kids.com/jesus_is_coming_to_town.htm</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What did the angel call Mary to begin with? Why do you think he called her this? What do you think it means?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think surprised Mary the most, seeing an angel or the news he gave her?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What things did Gabriel tell Mary about who her baby was?</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Prayer and Celebration</span></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A prayer for candle lighting during Advent:</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">O God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">as light comes from this candle,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">may the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">warming our hearts and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">brightening our way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">May Christ our Saviour bring life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">into the darkness of this world,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">and to us, as we wait for his coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Amen.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(<a href="http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/adv.html">http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/adv.html</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Family Time</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Song Stories</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A great way to explore the story of Christmas would be to listen to some Christmas Carols or hymns with your family. One option would be to listen and sing together and just enjoy the music and your family. Alternatively, listen very carefully to the words and to the feel of the song. Discuss what this particular carol is saying about the birth of Jesus. Are there any words or phrases that children don’t understand? Discuss what these might mean.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-44073032236800984642017-12-11T00:00:00.000+10:002017-12-11T00:00:37.218+10:00Resources for Advent 3, December 17 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpGeNr7icZk/VGFbnMC59pI/AAAAAAAABaA/DAOd916yjZ4/s1600/journey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpGeNr7icZk/VGFbnMC59pI/AAAAAAAABaA/DAOd916yjZ4/s1600/journey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">- C.S.Lewis</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We are now in the season of Advent, a time that is focused on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ, we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart everyday. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on Earth. Over these</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">four weeks the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In addition to the weekly resources, have a look at the special Advent page for some ideas and resources on how to celebrate the season well in your home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Game:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Alphabet Car Game</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Since the theme this week is 'journey', here is a game you can play next time you are in the car. It is a simple game that requires players to find all the letters of the alphabet in order on car number plates. A letter on a number plate can only be claimed by one player, the first to call it out. Multiple letters on the one number plate can be claimed and by different players. Whoever gets to z first is the winner. Find some more travel games for the car at the bottom of this blog post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Sharing:</b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What are the best and worst things about long journeys?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is your favourite thing to do on a journey?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Where is your favourite place to journey to?</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Story</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family, read John 1.6-28:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.sermons4kids.com/gifts_that_jesus_brings.htm">http://www.sermons4kids.com/gifts_that_jesus_brings.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Who was it that John’s disciples were waiting for?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What evidence did Jesus give that he was the one?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How did John prepare the way for Jesus?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Prayer and Celebration</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>A prayer for Advent<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We thank you, Lord God, for the prophets and leaders who looked forward to the coming of Jesus the Saviour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We thank you for those who prepared the way for him, like John the Baptist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We thank you for the angels you sent with the message about Jesus;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">and we thank you for Mary, who believed the message and was willing to do your will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We thank you most of all for Jesus, who was born to save us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In this Advent time, when we get ready for Christmas, help us to hear your message, to be excited that you want to be with us, and help us to be part of your plan for this world you care so much about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.lunt.org.uk/resources/pages/liturgy/prayers_school.htm">http://www.lunt.org.uk/resources/pages/liturgy/prayers_school.htm</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Service</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Here are some more Advent Service Ideas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Get a group together to sing at a nursing home.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Go through your cupboard and give some clothes to a charity.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Encourage your children to think of what toys they have that are still in good condition that they might give to a charity.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family, choose a way to give a gift to a needy family. This may be best done through a registered charity or church. If you can make food donations take your children shopping to buy the food so they can actually see what it is they are giving. Some charities have schemes where people give gift-wrapped presents for children from needy families.</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Family Time</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Are trips in the car a nightmare? Why not turn them into a family adventure? Here are a few ideas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Semi Search</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">All you need is a sheet of paper to keep score, one person to be scorekeeper and a writing utensil. Each player chooses a colour. Each player's name and chosen colour is then written down on the score card by the score keeper, who will announce when there is a winner. Each player announces each semitrailer on the road that is his chosen colour. One mark, or point, is given for each semi the person identifies as his colour. The game can be played until one person reaches a certain number of points. Most people play Semi Search until one person reaches 50 points, but a longer game can be played for older children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Travelling</i></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i> Bingo</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bingo cards will need to be made prior to the trip, but only take a few minutes to make. Be sure to make several sets to allow for more than one game of Car Bingo to be played, especially if travelling a long distance. To make the Bingo cards, draw five columns of five boxes centred on the paper. You can use coloured or white paper, whichever is more convenient. Over the top of each column, one letter per column, print the letters B-I-N-G-O. Next, draw or place stickers of various items that may be encountered along the trip. Some popular suggestions are cows, tractors, umbrellas, dogs, horses, sheep, barns, lawn furniture, radio or television towers, different colours and types of cars (such as a red truck or blue station wagon), police cars, ambulances or fire trucks. You want the children, and/or adults, playing to have to search for the objects. Each player is given one card and a writing utensil to mark their boxes. When an object on the card is identified, an "X" is marked on the box for the object. When a person completes a row (up, down, across or diagonal), he or she wins. The game can be played until one person wins two games, or if fewer people are playing, the first to win three out of five.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>The State Game</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">To prepare to play the State Game takes a little more effort than the other car games. However, if travelling a long distance, especially across country, the effort is well worth it. To play the State Game, make a list of all the Australian states on a sheet of paper. Make as many copies of this list as may be needed while travelling. Each player is given one list of the states and one writing utensil. The object is to find as many different states on the license plates of other vehicles as possible. The game can be played once or again played until one person wins two games. Be sure to make plenty of copies of the state lists, as this game becomes popular fairly quickly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Guess Mobile</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">Name a guess master -- the person who poses a guessing challenge. He or she could ask passengers to guess the color of the next passing car, or how long before you get to the next town. Or, with three clues, what it is that someone else sees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Car Scavenger Hunt</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">Hand your kids a pack of index cards and ask them to write or draw pictures of 50 things they might see on a trip. Keep the cards for scavenger hunts when players vie to match what they see with the cards.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-34801145963130041342017-12-04T00:00:00.000+10:002017-12-04T00:00:13.939+10:00Resources for Advent 2, Sunday 10 December 2017<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18Ma79gYeVM/VGFW1tBP8WI/AAAAAAAABZw/7pMDNvYw3xo/s1600/waiting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18Ma79gYeVM/VGFW1tBP8WI/AAAAAAAABZw/7pMDNvYw3xo/s1600/waiting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">Wait for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the LORD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">~Psalm 27:14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We are now in the season of Advent, a time that is focused on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ; we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart every day. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on Earth. Over these four weeks the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Everyone closes their eyes and must guess how long a minute is, by opening their eyes when they think a minute is up. Try playing this game using a piece of music. Did players guess a longer or shorter time for a minute? Another way to play is to get everyone to walk between two walls trying to move slowly or quickly enough that they will reach the wall just as a minute is up. If you reach the wall before time, you are out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(Inspired by Christine Gapes. <i>New Games for Community</i>)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you hate waiting for?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">When do you find waiting most difficult?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you do to make waiting easier?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What can’t you wait for?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Story</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read <b>Mark 1.1-8</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.sermons4kids.com/voice_in_the_wilderness.htm">http://www.sermons4kids.com/voice_in_the_wilderness.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What was the message John the Baptist had?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why do you think John dressed and lived as he did?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think it means to be baptised with the Holy Spirit and fire?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Advent Prayer Pattern</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This pattern may be used this week to begin meal times or to begin a family sharing time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It may begin by asking everyone to quieten down and to think about what it means to wait and to think of one word to describe that feeling. During the prayer, the leader is going to say: “Waiting feels like…” and each person will be free to speak her word aloud. Parents might need to help little ones with a word that describes the feeling of waiting.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Music. Choose a piece of gentle music to listen to. Try some different pieces each time to try to find one that expresses a feeling of waiting.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Prayer: All of us wait. Each day brings its own dose of waiting. We wait in the dentist’s office, at sports practice, at school, for parents and children, for brothers and sisters. We wait for dinner to be ready, for the refund, for the text message from a friend. We wait to be big enough to ride the roller coaster, old enough to stay up late, secure enough to be on our own. Our waiting feels like…(give people a chance to voice their feeling) Advent calls us to celebrate waiting. Each time we wait, help us to remember how the world waited for a saviour. Help us to remember we are always waiting for your return. Help us find and recognise you in each other. As we wait. We are Advent people.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Lord, the N…family is waiting for you. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">All: Come, Lord Jesus. </span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">(From </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Rituals and Icebreakers</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">. Kathleen O’Connel Chesto.Ligouri)</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Now is a great time of year as we move towards Christmas to begin to think about how you may serve those in need. Christmas can be a sad and lonely time of year for many people. How might your family serve Christ the King this Advent and Christmas, and make a different in people’s lives at the same time?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Instead of (or as well as) buying gifts for each other, buy an animal for a family overseas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au/?gclid=CK-Q7b-d1awCFYI0pAodtxWtpg">http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au/?gclid=CK-Q7b-d1awCFYI0pAodtxWtpg</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Serve in a homeless shelter or soup kitchen..</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Nativity Exploration<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In this period as we move towards Christmas, why not use artwork to explore the story of Jesus' birth? Apart from the many Christmas cards that you may receive, the internet also provides a wealth of resources. If you go to <a href="http://www.textweek.com/art/nativity.htm">http://www.textweek.com/art/nativity.htm</a> you will find links to many depictions of the birth of Christ through the ages. Invite your family to choose their favourite picture and to describe what they like about it. Discuss the different pictures and what you find interesting in them. Get each member to draw their own nativity picture and explain it.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-73415586847842575702017-11-27T12:47:00.000+10:002017-11-27T12:47:07.729+10:00Resources for Advent Sunday, 3 December 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sEqXpSewmFk/VGFTlYBca8I/AAAAAAAABZk/skZ4kTwYllc/s1600/promise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sEqXpSewmFk/VGFTlYBca8I/AAAAAAAABZk/skZ4kTwYllc/s1600/promise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">God never made a promise that was too good to be true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Dwight L. Moody<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This week we enter the season of Advent, a time that is focused on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ, and we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart every day. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on Earth. Over the next four weeks, the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In addition to the weekly resources, have a look at the special Advent page for some ideas and resources on how to celebrate the season well in your home.</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Pay-Off</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This simplified version of Pay-Off can be played with any number of family members. Everyone needs a red token or piece of paper and a black token or piece of paper. Family members will get points depending on what token they and others show. At the start you decide on how many rounds you will play. It should probably be at least five. Each person decides which token they will show but does not let other family members know. On the count of three, everyone will place their token on the table at the same time. Points are awarded in the following way:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If everyone puts down red – everyone loses two points.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If some family members put down red and some put down black – those who put down black get 2 points, those who put down red lose 2 points.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If everyone puts down black – everyone gets 2 points.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Have a discussion after every three rounds about what you put down or to make promises about what you will put down next go. This could be a good source of family discussion about promises and keeping them.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What are the biggest promises people make in their life?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why are some promises hard to keep?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How do you feel if someone doesn’t keep their promise?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think God has promised us?</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Mark 13.24-37<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think this reading is about?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What does it mean to be ready?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How can we always be ready to meet Jesus?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This week take a look at the special Advent page to get some great ideas for celebrating this season. Most of the ideas will require some preparation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The Advent Conspiracy website provides a great way to think about Advent with the charge to: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All. It encourages us to think about how we might reshape the time that leads to Christmas in a life giving and counter-cultural way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.adventconspiracy.org/">http://www.adventconspiracy.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity</span></b></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Begin thinking about how you might do something really special together as a family for Christmas. How might you really spend quality time together, how might you truly give of yourselves to one another. Throughout this blog, there are hundreds of ideas for spending time with your family. Find something special and enjoy the time.</span></tt></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-73853398811162248042017-11-20T04:30:00.000+10:002017-11-20T04:30:00.182+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 26 November 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WUFrZXx65k4/VGFOHri7uxI/AAAAAAAABZU/qsaMFaBk8-4/s1600/Gold_Crown_with_Diamonds_PNG_Clipart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WUFrZXx65k4/VGFOHri7uxI/AAAAAAAABZU/qsaMFaBk8-4/s1600/Gold_Crown_with_Diamonds_PNG_Clipart.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">- C. Everett Koop</span></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>1 to 100</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">On the left hand side of a piece of paper, list the names of everyone at the table. Two dice are passed from person to person and rolled. When someone rolls a double, they grab the pen and paper, and begin writing the numbers 1 to 100, in order, next to their name. When someone else rolls doubles, they ask for the paper and pen, and begin writing the numbers next to their name. The paper and pen pass around the circle until someone wins by reaching 100. To make the game longer you can get the person who rolls doubles to put on a jacket and hat before they begin to write.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Another variation of this game, that might be used with older children, involves a knife, fork and a block of chocolate. When a person rolls a double, they get the knife and fork, and must cut a single piece of chocolate off the block. The piece must be picked up with a fork and eaten. No hands are to touch the chocolate. Leave the wrapping on the chocolate at the start of the game. To make the game harder you can get the person who rolls doubles to put on a jacket and gloves before they begin to cut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What makes a person a good friend?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you do that makes you a good friend?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What might make someone a good king?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What might make someone a bad king?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Story</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This Sunday is celebrated by many churches as ‘Christ the King’. It is the last Sunday in the church’s year before the season of Advent, a special time of waiting and preparation for the birth of Christ and his return. Apart from the reading listed below, you might like to read some of the other passages where Jesus uses the image of a king in his parables. Try Matthew 22.1-4 and Luke 19.11-26.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 25.31-46</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Who is the Son of Man? (Jesus)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What things did Jesus say people did or didn’t do for him?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Who did he say they did these things for?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">When we serve, care for and love those who need our help, we serve, care for and show love for Jesus. What do you think about this?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In his book, ‘The hour that changes the world,’ Dick Eastman outlines twelve different types of prayer that, if prayed in five minute blocks, enables one to pray effectively for an hour. For me, the most powerful aspect of this idea is the realisation that there are many different ways to pray. This is an important thing to teach children who often use thankfulness as their default prayer setting. While there is nothing wrong with this, it is of benefit to broaden their prayer horizons.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;"><b>Praise and Worship</b></span></h2>
The first type of prayer is praise and worship. Maybe the easiest way for children to get a grasp on this is to describe it as: telling God how wonderful He is and why. Get your family thinking of all the fantastic things about God – His creation, His wisdom, His Son etc. As a form of praise and worship, go around the table getting each person in turn to say a word describing what God is like and a reason He is so great. For example: God, you are powerful because you made all creation.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Now is a great time of year, leading into Advent, to begin to think about how you may serve those in need. Christmas can be a sad and lonely time of year for many people. How might your family serve Christ the King this Advent and Christmas, and make a difference in people’s lives at the same time. Here are a few quick ideas:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Place a present under a charity Christmas tree that gives gifts to children.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Provide a box to Operation Christmas Child</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.au/">http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.au/</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Think of inviting someone in your neighbourhood, who might be alone at Christmas, to spend it with your family.</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity</span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Family Time Line<o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">To help your family think about good things God has given you, work together to make a family time line. Draw a line in the centre of a long sheet of paper. Choose a starting date to write at the left end of the line. Your time line may cover a week, a one month period, or the school holidays, or a year. To help family members think of time line events, ask questions such as: “What was something we did that we really enjoyed? How did someone help us in a special way? Who are some new friends our family made?” Display the time line on a wall or door. Allow younger children to enjoy drawing pictures to illustrate the time line. (From <i>Adventures for Growing Families by </i>Wes & Sheryl Haystead.)</span></tt></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-59925086660242165632017-11-13T05:00:00.000+10:002017-11-13T05:00:10.058+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 19 November 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qpNoPcPd0_A/VGFAsBUYx2I/AAAAAAAABZE/MeQV5va371A/s1600/MP900448537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qpNoPcPd0_A/VGFAsBUYx2I/AAAAAAAABZE/MeQV5va371A/s1600/MP900448537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Children need models more than they need critics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">~Anon<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Tumbling Tower</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Collect 10 to 20 empty boxes from your recycling bin (or other empty packages like juice bottles or egg cartons). Make sure they are completely empty and seal the topics with sticky tape. The first person picks a box and sets it in place. The next person puts a box on top of it and so on. Keep going until the tower falls over. The person who topples the tower is out and a new round begins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What words do you like? Why do you like them? Is it the sound or what they mean or how they feel when you say them?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is your favourite saying?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What words do you most like to hear?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;"> </span></b><b style="line-height: 36px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Story</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 25.14-30<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.sermons4kids.com/dont_bury_talent.htm">http://www.sermons4kids.com/dont_bury_talent.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think of this story?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why did one of the servants bury his talent?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think is the message of this story?</span></li>
</ul>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>North, South, East, West</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Get a compass and a map and work out where North, South, East and West are. Find out what communities or countries are in those directions. Try and find out some of the needs of those places. When you pray face each of the different directions and pray for the needs of the places in those directions. This is something you might do over several weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity</span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Dance Night<o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Rent a dance DVD and learn a new dance together.</span></tt></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-80995398690577236442017-11-06T05:00:00.000+10:002017-11-06T05:00:05.444+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 12 November 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KVX7_N11EM8/VFdBeedSrII/AAAAAAAABYI/NHof36K-KfM/s1600/MP900402372%2B(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KVX7_N11EM8/VFdBeedSrII/AAAAAAAABYI/NHof36K-KfM/s1600/MP900402372%2B(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Let no Christian parents fall into the delusion that Sunday School is intended to ease them of their personal duties. The first and most natural condition of things is for Christian parents to train up their own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. ~</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Katherine Walden</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>If I went to Mars...</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This game can be played with a range of starting statements such as:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If I went to Mars, I would take...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I went to the shop and I bought...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I went on holidays and I took...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The first player makes up something that they took or bought and says, for example:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If I went to Mars, I would take a green apple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The next person makes something up and adds it to the previous person's, for example:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If I went to Mars, I would take a green apple and a hat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Each successive person adds another thing to the list while reciting all the objects previously named. When using this with your family, see how many times you can go around the table before someone makes a mistake. How many objects can your family remember?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">These questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about your family. The key is to listen! A simple pattern to use might be:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is the best thing and the worst thing that happened to you this week?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is something that you might say thank you to God for this week? (One for the adults particularly to share: Where have you been aware of God’s presence in your life this week? What “God moments” happened to you this week?)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is one thing you think you are good at? Tell the members of your family something you think they are good at.</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Story</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 25.1-13</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This is a parable about being ready to meet Jesus.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What made five of the bridesmaids wise?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Who do you think the bridegroom is in the story?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The job of the bridesmaids was to meet the groom. Why were five not ready?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How can we always be ready for Jesus?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: 36px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Prayer and Celebration</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This week, learn a new prayer off by heart, together. Write or find a prayer that you can use with your family every night at mealtimes and family sharing times. The prayer does not have to be complicated, but simple enough for everyone to remember. It might include some lines of thanks or praise or asking. Here is one prayer you might learn together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for all the benefits you have won for us, for all the pains and insults you have borne for us. Most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">St Richard of Chichester [1197-1253]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity</span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Show and Tell Night</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Get each of your family members to share something. It could be a picture they like, a hobby or interest, something they have learned, a joke or story, something they have made or made up, a game, something they found in the back yard.</span></tt></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-37478478202896735012017-10-30T05:00:00.000+10:002017-10-30T05:00:18.409+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 5 November 2017 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejnMJllPXAo/VEw1QLaS6sI/AAAAAAAABXU/nlfZGPwiQT8/s1600/MP900430644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejnMJllPXAo/VEw1QLaS6sI/AAAAAAAABXU/nlfZGPwiQT8/s1600/MP900430644.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="bqquotelink"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In every conceivable manner, the family is the link to our past and bridge to our future.</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">~ <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Alex Haley</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Stand Next To…</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This is a game that will have your family moving about. Either one person does the call or everyone takes turns. Someone calls out: “Stand next to something that...” and finishes the sentence with whatever they can come up with: “is green”, “has the letter A”, “belongs to mum”, “smells good”, “is edible”. Your imagination is the limit.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is something that makes you laugh?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If you could own only three things, what would they be?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is boredom? Why does it happen?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: 36px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Story</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 23.1-12<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.sermons4kids.com/all-puffed-up.html">http://www.sermons4kids.com/all-puffed-up.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Have you ever heard the phrase “walk the talk?”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think it means?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What did Jesus say the Pharisees did wrong?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How might Christians show off?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>A Prayer of Humility for children adapted from the Litany of Humility:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Help me to look for what is good in others and forget what is bad in them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Help me to put others first and not worry if I'm not picked or am ignored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Help me not to seek approval and not worry about being the centre of attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Help me not to be afraid of not being liked or worry about being hurt or not believed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Help me to look beyond myself, even if it's not my turn, and to help others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Deliver me, Jesus, from all of these and make me as holy as I should be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Amen<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">~Author Unknown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Read a Book Together</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Pick a book. It doesn’t need to be a long one and read it out loud together. Some of Dr Seuss’ longer ones might be suitable – for instance, <i>The Five Hundred Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins</i> or <i>Bartholomew and the Oobleck</i>. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-78312246530865399932017-10-23T05:00:00.000+10:002017-10-23T05:00:08.308+10:00Faithful Families resources for 29 October 2017 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKtNl6g_Ikw/VEK7s2SWqdI/AAAAAAAABW0/8C93KQyIfYg/s1600/MP900448712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKtNl6g_Ikw/VEK7s2SWqdI/AAAAAAAABW0/8C93KQyIfYg/s1600/MP900448712.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In bringing up children, spend on them half as much money and twice as much time. ~ </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Author Unknown</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Zip Zap</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This is a </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">basic game consisting of two words: "Zip" and "Zap". Someone will begin the "flow" by turning to the person next to them and saying "Zip". The flow will continue in the same direction with everyone saying "Zip" until someone decides to reverse the flow by saying "Zap." At that time, the person who just got "zapped" will look at the "zap"-er and say "Zip!" Flow then reverses from its original with everyone saying Zip again. </span><b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Example:</b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> The "Zip" starts clockwise around the circle until one person looks the other way and says "Zap." Then the "Zip" flows counterclockwise until someone else says "Zap." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Zip continues the flow, Zap reverses it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If someone says the wrong word, mumbles, stalls, or looks the wrong way for the word they said, they're out. Continue playing until down to two players. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(From <i>The Source for Youth Ministry</i>)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is or was your favourite nursery rhyme as a child?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is or was your favourite outdoor game to play as a child?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: 36px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Story</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 22.34-40<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What does it mean to love God with all your heart, mind and soul?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What might this look like? Sound like? Feel like?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What does it mean to love your neighbour as yourself?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: 36px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Prayer and Celebration</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Squeezy Prayers</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">One way to pray is to use "squeezy prayers." Everyone holds hands in a circle. An adult will begin the prayer. When they have finished, they squeeze the person's hand next to them to show it is their turn. They may pray out loud, or silently, or may squeeze the next person. When the squeeze has reached the starting person, they may say another </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">closing prayer or just Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Here are suggestions for ways of using the squeezy prayer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Using a squeezy prayer, ask God for something that is needed in the world… like peace, or understanding or for help in a particular problem in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Using a squeezy prayer, say thank you for a good friend or friends. Say them by name and even say something you like about them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Using a squeezy prayer, say thank you for something that you are good at, like a gift God has given you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Story Night</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tt><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Dedicate a night to telling stories. Ask each member to bring and tell a story. This could be something that happened to them, a story they have made up or the retelling of a story that they have read. Stories are not allowed to be read.</span></tt></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-87996159687518242752017-10-16T03:00:00.000+10:002017-10-16T03:00:14.707+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 22 October 2017<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">The family should be a closely knit group. The home should be a self-contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honoured; a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /><span class="apple-style-span">~ Billy Graham,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><i>“My Answer.”</i></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Feely Bag</i></span></b></tt><tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Get two bags or two old socks. Place identical items in each of the two bags or socks. Some suggested items to use are: bottle caps, cotton balls, small sponge pieces, keys, large buttons, etc. Show your children the two bags and match each set of two items one to one. In this way, the child will see and understand that there are two identical items of each kind. Refill the two bags or socks and give one of the bags containing identical objects to the child. Take one of the objects out of the bag and show it to the child. Tell the child to feel in his bag for an object that is just like the one that you took out of your bag. Remind the child to "feel" not look. </span></tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">When do you feel closest to your family?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">When do you feel God’s presence with you the most?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is your favourite place to be by yourself?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 27px;"> </span></b><b style="line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 27px;">Story</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 22.15-22<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.sermons4kids.com/kids_pay_taxes.htm">http://www.sermons4kids.com/kids_pay_taxes.htm</a>)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:</span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">[The Pharisees thought they could trick Jesus with this question about taxes. If Jesus said, ‘no, don’t pay tax’, then he would be in trouble with the Romans, but if he said, ‘yes, pay tax’ then the people would think he approved of Rome. His answer here suggests we need to honour the Government and honour God.]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What things should we do to be a good citizen?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What things should we do to be faithful to God?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Do you think the two ever come into conflict?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If being a good citizen conflicted with being a faithful disciple what would you choose to do?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Prayer and Celebration</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Praying ACTS</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Often children get into the habit of always praying thank you prayers or always praying asking prayers. One way to help them broaden their idea of prayer is to teach them this simple way of remembering some different types of prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A – adoration : Prayers telling God how wonderful He is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">C – confession : Prayers saying sorry for the wrong we have done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">T – thanksgiving : Prayers thanking God for all He has done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">S – supplication: Prayers asking God for the things we and others need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">On different days of the week, you might like to get your family to talk about and pray each of the different types of prayers. Alternatively, you could write the four letters on pieces of paper and pick them out of a hat to determine which one you will use. When it come to confession prayers, help your children think not just about their own personal sin but the things we as a people have failed to do – like care for the environment or the needy.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity</span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Photograph Night</i></span></b></tt><tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Take your family out on a photographic adventure. Make a list of photos they must take at particular places and go out and get them. E.g. photo with a policeman, a funny photo, a photo with at least two animals.</span></tt></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-66897575000299576022017-10-09T03:00:00.000+10:002017-10-09T03:00:25.823+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 15 October 2017<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
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<br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px;">The daily activities of family life are the canvas for experiencing and sharing their faith life with one another.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">~Diana Garland<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Family Closeness</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Hot Potato</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">One family member sets a timer for a random amount of time. It could be anything from 10 seconds to 90 seconds or more. If you are using a smart phone timer make sure no one can see it, including the person who set it. An object (it doesn’t have to be a potato) is passed around from person to person until the timer goes off. The person holding the object when the timer goes off must answer a question from other family members or do something silly like sing a song or do a dance or something the family has decided. Play again as many times as you like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px;">What would you do if you were invisible for a day?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px;">What kids are popular at school? What do you think makes them popular?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px;">How do you think children are affected by movies?</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Story</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 22.1-10<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.sermons4kids.com/excuses_excuses.htm">http://www.sermons4kids.com/excuses_excuses.htm</a>)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px;">Why do you think people didn’t go to the wedding banquet?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px;">Have you ever not gone to something you were invited to?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px;">How did the king make his wedding banquet happen?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px;">Who do you think the king in the story is meant to represent?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px;">What do you think God might be inviting you to?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span><b style="line-height: 36px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Prayer and Celebration</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>A Prayer for Children</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Loving God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">your Son told his disciples<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">to become like little children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Lead us to work for the welfare<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">and protection of all young people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">May we respect their dignity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">that they may flourish in life,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">following the example of the same<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Jesus Christ our Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Amen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>A Prayer for Family Life</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">God of compassion,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">shared the life of a home in Nazareth,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">strengthen us in our daily living<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">that in joy and in sorrow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">we may know the power of your presence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">to bind together and to heal;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">through Jesus Christ our Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">From the Church of England:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/topical-prayers/prayers-for-children-and-families.aspx">https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/topical-prayers/prayers-for-children-and-families.aspx</a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Bonus Family Activity</span></b><br /><b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px;">$5 Dollar Shopping Night.</span></b></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px;">Take your family to a supermarket and give each member $5 or some other appropriate and affordable amount. Tell them that they will be buying something to contribute to dinner but they are not allowed to tell one another what they are buying. Send them off to make their decision then get back together once you have bought the items. Enjoy your interesting dinner!</span></tt></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-64863758614254066632017-10-02T03:00:00.000+10:002017-10-02T03:00:20.207+10:00Faithful Family Resources for 8 October 2017<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
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<br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If I had my child to raise all over again,</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.275px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I would do less correcting and more connecting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I’d do more hugging and less tugging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">~ Diane Loomans, "If I had my child to raise over again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Paper Strips</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Give everyone in your family a sheet of newspaper and tell them to </span></tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> <tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px;">tear it into as long a strip as possible. For a greater challenge, turn off the lights.<o:p></o:p></span></tt></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Have you ever worn something in public that embarrassed your parents?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What was it?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Where was it?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What did your parents do or say?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What happened?</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Story</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 21.33-42<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://sermons4kids.com/parable_of_the_tenants.htm">http://sermons4kids.com/parable_of_the_tenants.htm</a>)</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Which character is like God in this parable? Which character is like Jesus? Which character is like people?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Did the tenants have any right to the vineyard?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why did they attack the slaves and the son?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is Jesus trying to teach us with this parable?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Prayer and Celebration</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Passing of the Cross</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use a small wooden cross or even a metal one on a chain. In a circle, the cross is taken up. Whoever holds the cross is the person who prays. This prayer begins with one person who either says a prayer out loud or silently says or imagines a prayer. The cross is passed when the person who holds it is finished. Each person takes their turn. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prompts may be given by someone as the cross is passed. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">E.g. See…a friend in need, a hurt that needs healing…etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Pray one sentence…prompt: thank you God for...</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Fast Progressive Dinner</span></b></tt><tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As a fun different meal idea, take your family on a fast food progressive dinner. Start at one fast food place for entrée…maybe fries, move to another for main course and then on to another for dessert. To make it even more unusual, don't decide where you will go... put the names of all the fast food places you know into a hat and draw them out as you go along.</span></tt></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-27432756357398340542017-09-25T03:00:00.000+10:002017-09-25T03:00:26.512+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 1 October 2017<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">~Rabindranath Tagore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><i>The other chocolate game</i></span></b></tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">You will need as many different types of chocolate bars as there are players for this game. Alternatively it could be played with other random objects. Everyone is seated around the table. At the start of the game, put the chocolate bars in the middle of the table where everyone can see them. Set a timer for ten or so minutes. Everyone takes turns rolling the die until someone rolls a 1 or 6. When a 1 or a 6 is rolled, that person can do one of two things: they can take one of the bars from the table and hide it in their lap or ask for one by name that some else has taken. For example: John rolls a six and says, “I want the Snickers that Peter has.” If Peter has the Snickers, he hands it over to John. If not, it is the next family member's turn. People roll the die and take bars from each other until time is up. At the end, the family should put the chocolate bars back in the middle and share them out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;">Who put your parents in charge of you?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;">Why is it important for children to listen to their parents?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;">When do you think your parents stop having responsibility for you?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;">What do you think it is like being a parent?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></b><b style="line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Story</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 21.23-32<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;">Who gave Jesus permission to do all the things he did?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;">Is it better to say no to your parents but then do what they ask or say yes and then not do what they asked?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;">Why did the Pharisees and other people find it hard to believe in Jesus?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;">Why do people find it hard to follow Jesus today?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span><b style="line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Prayer and Celebration</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Teaspoon Prayers</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">One simple pattern for shaping prayer is to remember the three words – thank you, sorry and please. The first three letters of these are TSP which reminds us of a teaspoon. Teach this to your children so that they can remember a way of praying that includes these three things. Have a teaspoon on your dinner table to remind the family to pray for these three things before eating each night. You could even decorate the teaspoon in some special way so that it stands out and you don’t forget.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Bonus Family Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px;">15 Minute Activity Pick<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px;">Make a commitment to spend at least 15 minutes a day doing an activity of your children’s choice.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-75311091977249473412017-09-18T03:00:00.000+10:002017-09-18T03:00:20.483+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 24 September 2017<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-noELd0gzQAM/VBYBoi0PPmI/AAAAAAAABTU/CNyTAlBdano/s1600/MP900382986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-noELd0gzQAM/VBYBoi0PPmI/AAAAAAAABTU/CNyTAlBdano/s1600/MP900382986.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. Mark 10:13-16 ESV</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Concentration</i></span></b></tt><tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Gather about twenty objects and put them on a tray. When you are ready to play uncover the tray and give everyone about two minutes to memorise what is on it. Then take it away. Give </span></tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">everyone a pen and pencil and give them a few minutes to write down what they remember on the tray. Children might need helping in writing the names of object. (<i>Youth Ministry Encyclopedia, </i>Lyman Coleman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What character from a book or television are you most like? How are you like them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Who is someone who has made a difference in your life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Story</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 20.1-16<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why were the people who worked all day upset?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Do you think what the landowner did was fair? Why or why not?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If in this parable the landowner represents God, what do we learn about God?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">God’s grace means everyone is loved, forgiven and accepted no matter what they have done. What do you think about this?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think about the statement: God gives us what we need, not what we deserve?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 27px;">Prayer and Celebration</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Prayer Placemats</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use your computer to create some prayer placemats for your dinner table. These could simply have three or four different prayers printed on them for your family to pray together at the dinner table. Your children could then colour them in or decorate them. To finish them off, laminate them so they will last longer. If your children are as handy at desktop publishing as many are, get them to design the placemats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Crowd Squeezer</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Step 1: Spread a sheet or blanket on the grass and challenge everyone to pile on top so that no part of any person's body touches the ground beyond the blanket.<o:p></o:p></span></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Step 2: If the group succeeds, fold the blanket in half and try again.<o:p></o:p></span></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Step 3: Continue in this way to see how small an area you can all squeeze.</span></tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-41439661041602168342017-09-11T15:08:00.001+10:002017-09-11T15:08:19.332+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 17 September 2017<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggSsCvpGAxU/VArCRJIaISI/AAAAAAAABSQ/WmnDGgzKmqI/s1600/MP900442476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggSsCvpGAxU/VArCRJIaISI/AAAAAAAABSQ/WmnDGgzKmqI/s1600/MP900442476.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><span class="apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22.275px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Parents shouldn't give up doing what is best for their children even when their children are ungrateful.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 22.275px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">~</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">Martin Luther</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.275px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Stopwatch Games</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With a stopwatch and a bit of imagination, your family can clock hours of crazy contests.<o:p></o:p></span></tt></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How long does it take to blow a perfect bubble after you put a new piece of gum in your mouth?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How long can you chew your food for before it disappears?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How many times can you click in a minute?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How long does it take to run around the house?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><tt style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How many baskets can you shoot in 2 minutes?</span></tt></li>
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<b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If you were told tomorrow that you were going to jail forever how would it change the way you act or live?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If you were told tomorrow that you were adopted how would it change the way you act or the way you live?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If you were told today that you are a special child of God how would it change the way you act or live?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 27px;"> </span></b><b style="line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 27px;">Story</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 18.21-35<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Is forgiving someone seventy times a lot?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Do you think Jesus really meant we should keep count?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Who do you think the king might be in this story?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Who do you think the first slave might be?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Knowing God forgives us, why do we often find it hard to forgive?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 27px;">Prayer and Celebration</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Gratitude Board</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">On the fridge or at your table, keep a small whiteboard called a gratitude board, and on it things are recorded and dated (whenever someone is passing by) that they want to say thank you for or that they are glad about. These can be used once a week or on a more regular basis as the focus for family prayers.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Follow the Leader</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Depending on the age of your children play a game of follow the </span></tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">leader. The leader goes around the house doing a variety of things e.g. crawl across the carpet, jump through the dining room, climb over a bed, clap hands in the bathroom etc. Everybody has to do what the leader does.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-89621838902779369572017-09-04T09:00:00.000+10:002017-09-04T09:00:26.667+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 10 Sept 2017 (14th after Pentecost, Year A)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8wo9Sf1Mhy4/VAEl3oldAaI/AAAAAAAABRg/GGjgiio3xyU/s1600/MP900448619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8wo9Sf1Mhy4/VAEl3oldAaI/AAAAAAAABRg/GGjgiio3xyU/s1600/MP900448619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Hear, O Israel: The </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> is our God, the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> alone. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">You shall love the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. ~</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Deuteronomy 6.4-7</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Blind Draw</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everyone is given a sheet of paper and a pen. You have three minutes to draw a picture of something that everyone agrees to...but you must either close your eyes or be blindfolded or have the light turned out.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is the hardest thing about being (your age) years old?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is the best thing about being (your age) years old?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What things don’t boys understand about girls?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What things don’t girls understand about boys?</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Story</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">With your family read: <b>Matthew 18.15-20<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.sermons4kids.com/dont_get_even.htm">http://www.sermons4kids.com/dont_get_even.htm</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Why do you think it might be wise to point out someone’s sin against you in private first?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What kinds of sins do you think this instruction might cover?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Are there things people might do which should immediately be taken to someone in power like</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">a parent or teacher or police officer?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Why might it be necessary to take someone with you if someone won’t listen to you when you point out their sin?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How did Jesus treat tax collectors and sinners?</span></span></li>
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<b><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Prayers of Confession</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prayers of confession are a normal part of a Christian’s prayer life. All of us, including children, do things we wish we hadn’t, or don’t do the things we should. Confession (saying sorry and asking God for forgiveness) is something that parents should model to children. There are various ways we might engage our children in prayers of confession.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Burning Prayers</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Your family might like to individually write down things they would like to say sorry for. These prayers might then be placed in a bowl and burnt as a symbol of God’s forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The following words might be used to help children have a language for this type of prayer:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I got really angry today. I think I know why, and I wish I wouldn’t. I feel so out of control. I feel disappointed. Jesus, I am sorry for any hurt I have caused today. Help me to be gentle. Help me to love more and more. Help me to love. </span></span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Help me to put aside the things that hurt others, you, and me.</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I am sorry for . . . .</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Grant your grace to me, that I might grow more into who I am, and who you call me to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Words from Scripture might be used to help children see that God takes away our sins from us and forgives us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">These could include:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If you sin, Jesus Christ always does the right thing, and he will speak to the Father for us. Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">” (</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">1 John 2:1–2</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">, CEV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How far has the <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">” (</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Psalm 103:12</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">, CEV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service</span></span></b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Explore creative ways you could raise the profile of a particular charity that you would like to support.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Talk about why it is good to give to charity in secret. Read Matthew 6.2 - 4</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Discuss how you might get the balance between these two right and why they are both important.</span></span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bonus Family Activity</span></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Collage of Dreams</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Use photos, words and pictures from old magazines, glue, sparkles etc to make a collage of the things your family would like to do with their life. This might begin by each member making a list of 10 or 100 things that they would like to do in their life…like skydive </span></span></tt><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><tt><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">or write a book or learn to ride a bike. Alternatively the collage might be about things your family might like to do this year together. Put the collage up somewhere visible to remind you of your dreams and plans.</span></span></tt></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-23001946160011362312017-08-28T09:00:00.000+10:002017-08-28T09:00:27.113+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 3 September 2017 (13th after Pentecost, Year A) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My father didn’t tell me how to live, he lived, and let me watch him do it.<br />~ Clarence Budinton Kelland</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Game<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Letter On</span></i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Choose a category of things; it could be food, movies, places. The first person says the name of something in that category. The next person must say another thing in that category that starts with the last letter of the thing you previously said. There is a 10 second limit and nothing can be repeated.<span class="apple-converted-space"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(from The Source for Youth Ministry)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">1. Your best friend doesn’t invite you to her birthday party. How do you feel? What do you say to your friend?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">2. You are on a school field trip and you just found out that a few of the kids have brought along their pocket knives and are planning to carve their name in a tree. Do you tell the teacher? Why/why not? What do you say to your classmates?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Story</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read: <b>Romans 12.9-21<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think about these rules for Christian living?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Is doing these things easy or hard? What makes them so?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How are we to treat others?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How are we to treat enemies?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why do you think followers of Jesus should live this way?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 36px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 36px;">Prayer and Celebration</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Ways to say “I forgive”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">At the top of a piece of paper, write the words: “I forgive you.” Ask “What did God do to show He forgives us?” Then encourage your family to list as many ways as they can which show forgiveness to others. The list may include words and actions. Suggestions of words might be, “That’s OK” or “It's all right.” Suggestions of actions might be hugs, smiles, and handshakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service</span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Previously my family has spent a day disconnected from technology, prior to making a donation to a charity connected with the famine in East Africa. There are many charities like World Vision who have activities like the Forty Hour Famine that help young people and adults think about what it is like to go without. These are great events but they can at times be difficult for families with young children to engage with. The truth is we shouldn’t need prompting from a charity to help our children think about others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With my family, we agreed around the dinner table that we would go without technology – TV, computers, games etc – for the day. Now this might seem trivial but the purpose of it was that every time we felt like we wanted to watch TV or go on the computer, we remembered that others in the world are going without a lot more than we are, and that we can use what we have to help. Why do this and not just give money? I am passionate about helping my children to grow as thoughtful disciples of Christ and so I want them to engage in a small action of self denial so they can reflect more deeply on what it means to give.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I wonder what creative ways you might engage your children’s hearts and mind so they may grow to love and serve others?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>Hands and Feet</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Draw around the outlines of your children's hands and feet onto cardboard. Cut them out and write words on them that might help them to remember how they help Jesus build his kingdom. They might be words like serve, share, love, grow. Alternatively draw pictures of these things or get your children to draw pictures of these things. Blutack or sticky tape them around the house so that they might be reminded throughout the week that they are workers in the kingdom of God.</span></tt></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-70720517103676258252017-08-21T09:00:00.000+10:002017-08-21T09:00:18.243+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 27 August 2017 (12th after Pentecost, Year A)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibx94WDX9Zc/U_UxQt9dc7I/AAAAAAAABP4/V3W1V6FShVU/s1600/MP900440328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibx94WDX9Zc/U_UxQt9dc7I/AAAAAAAABP4/V3W1V6FShVU/s1600/MP900440328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at her parents every time around – and why her parents will always wave back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">~William D. Tammeus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>...a few of my favourite things</strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everyone at the dinner table says five of their favourite things. This could be a favourite colour, number, TV show, movie, animal, friend, toy, food, book. The following night you can test your memory and see if you can remember the 5 favourite things that all the family members told you the previous evening.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">If you could be any animal, what animal would you be? Why?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is the bravest thing you have ever done?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Have you ever wanted to grow up faster? Why? What is good about the age you are now? What would be good about being older?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Story</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">With your family read<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Matthew</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> 16.13-20</span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">[In this reading Jesus asks his disciples who they think he is. This is done against the backdrop of the region of Caesarea Philippi which had numerous temples to different religions including one to Caesar as God. In this passage we hear Jesus refer to himself as ‘Son of Man’, a phrase he often used to refer to himself.]</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is the first question Jesus asks?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why do you think he wants to know what others think of him?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is Jesus' second question?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why do you think he asks his disciples this?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How does Jesus respond when Peter gets it ‘right’?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why do you think Jesus tells the disciples not to tell anyone who he is?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Intercessory Prayer</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A useful image for intercessory prayer is a stretcher.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">From Mark 2.3-12, some people lowered their paralytic friend through the roof into the presence of Jesus.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This is a good image of the work of intercessory prayer.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">That is, don’t labour too hard with the words </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">to use, simply do the hard work of placing or ‘lowering’ the person into the presence of Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Place on the stretcher someone you know who needs help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Lower on the stretcher someone who you can love better this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Put onto the stretcher a place that needs peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Put onto the stretcher one who needs healing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Put on the stretcher a hope of yours for your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Lord in your mercy, receive our prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">At the moment we are confronted in the news with images of people struggling in Syrian refugee camps. Considering the luxury that so many of us live in, I want to encourage you to dig deep to help those who are not in a position to help themselves. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in a situation like that. There is nothing more I can say on this except we who have resources need to use our abundance in whatever way we can to help. There are many charity organisations out there taking donations for this crisis so let's do what we can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bonus Family Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><tt style="line-height: 19.5px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Family Time Line</span></b></tt></i></div>
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<tt style="line-height: 19.5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">To help your family think about the good things God has given you, work together to make a family time line. Draw a line in the centre of a long sheet of paper. Choose a starting date to write at the left end of the line. Your time line may cover a week, a one month period, or the school holidays, or a year. To help family members think of time line events, ask questions such as: "What was something we did that we really enjoyed? How did someone help us in a special way? Who are some new friends our family made?" Display the time line on a wall or door. Allow younger children to enjoy drawing pictures to illustrate the time line. (From <i>Adventures for Growing Families, </i>by Wes & Sheryl Haystead.)</span></tt></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-3317253717488512082017-08-14T14:12:00.004+10:002017-08-14T14:12:59.314+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 20 August 2017 (11th Sunday after Pentecost)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxE5U_qQVqw/U-a4kY4FdGI/AAAAAAAAAk4/NJjigk1zrSw/s1600/MP900422532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxE5U_qQVqw/U-a4kY4FdGI/AAAAAAAAAk4/NJjigk1zrSw/s1600/MP900422532.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you haven't time to respond to a tug at your pants leg, your schedule is too crowded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">~Robert Brault</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><tt><b><span style="line-height: 14.95px;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tapping hands</span></i></span></b></tt><tt><span style="line-height: 14.95px;"><o:p></o:p></span></tt></span></div>
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<tt><span style="line-height: 14.95px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Each person crosses their arms over those of the person next to them and places their hands on the table. One person starts by tapping once and others follow in order of hands in one direction. When someone else taps twice, the direction reverses. If you tap out of turn, the game starts over. How many times can you go around the table?<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></tt></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Would you rather…</i></b> </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">How many people from different countries do you know? When might it be difficult to be friendly to someone who is different from you?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is the best thing that happened to you this week? What was the worst?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What unexpected thing happened to you this week?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is something new you learnt today or this week?<b style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Story</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">With your family read<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><span lang="EN-US">Mathew 15.21-28</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US">:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[This can be a hard or confusing reading to hear. Jesus seems not only to ignore this woman from a different religion who needs his help but says some seemingly negative or antagonistic things to her. Is it possible Jesus knew how deep her faith was, that she would not be discouraged, and desired her to demonstrate this? In the end Jesus points out how great her faith is and gives her what she wants. It is interesting that so many of the religious leaders rejected Jesus but this foreign woman believes.]</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Why do you think Jesus ignored the woman at first?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What was Jesus saying about why he shouldn’t help her?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Why do you think Jesus thought the woman’s faith was so great?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">When have you shown persistence and perseverance in your faith life?</span><b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b></span></li>
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<b><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Actions for a variation of The Lords Prayer</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our Father in heaven, [finger pointing up]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You are a holy God. [open palm pointed high, head dipped reverently]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Come and rule our hearts. [open palm brought down to rest over heart]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do what’s best on earth [finger pointing down]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">as in heaven. [rotate arm to point finger upwards]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please keep us alive with food. [hand as bowl, other doing a scooping action to mouth]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">keep us forgiven with you [closed hand warmly rotating over heart]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and forgiving with others. [same hand, finger pointing to all around in sweeping action]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Keep us holding your hand [one hand into the other hand]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and safe from all wickedness. [two hands up, elbows straight and a firm shielding action]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; text-indent: -180pt;">You’re in charge! </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; text-indent: -180pt;">[</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; text-indent: -180pt;">strong action, two hands pointing up]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can do anything you want! [both palms open out, raised]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You are God, for ever and ever. [hands get further apart like measuring something bigger and bigger]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Amen. [closed fist brought down on an open palm].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; line-height: 24px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Anglican Board of Mission – Australia</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One mission organisation in Australia that does fantastic work is ABM-A. Their vision is: <span class="apple-style-span">ABM wants to see people everywhere experience the wholeness of life God offers in Jesus Christ, and to this end support our Partners as they participate in God's mission. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Their website is worth checking out and in particular under their resources menu is a section called “watch” that has videos of some of the work they do. Some of these videos would be appropriate to show family members around the table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.abmission.org/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.abmission.org/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bonus Family Activity<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Camp Out Night</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><tt><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you own a tent, pitch it in the backyard one night and take the family out there to sleep. Do some fun things like story telling and board games. Do all the things you would do camping out.</span></span></tt></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-48903408295370417102017-06-19T10:36:00.000+10:002017-06-19T10:36:16.309+10:00We'll be taking a short mid-Winter break...But will be back soon with more Family-friendly resources!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-43880261047118480472017-06-15T10:29:00.000+10:002017-06-15T10:29:25.912+10:00Faithful Families Resources for June 18 2017<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5uW9H2Mjqlc/U6X8hRx8I0I/AAAAAAAAAjo/50Bm3RsVqH0/s1600/MP900422193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5uW9H2Mjqlc/U6X8hRx8I0I/AAAAAAAAAjo/50Bm3RsVqH0/s1600/MP900422193.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Some of the most important conversations I've ever had occurred at my family's dinner table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">~ Bob Ehrlich<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">First and Last<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Pick a category of things. It might be places, or vegetable or movies - whatever you can come up with. Someone starts by saying something in that category. For example, in the vegetable category, you might say 'carrot'. The next person has to say something starting with the last letter of the word already. In this case, 't' – so they might say 'turnip'. Keep going until someone can’t think of anything to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">These questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about your family. The key is to listen.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Do you think it's important to get physical education in school? Why or why not?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why do you, or don't you, like violent movies?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think are the characteristics that make a good parent?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Story</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Matthew 10.40-42</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think it means to welcome someone?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How has your family welcomed someone?</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What little things can we do to show hospitality to others?</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 27px;">Prayer and Celebration</span></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Prayer Calendar</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">At the start of each month take a blank calendar and write a prayer concern for each day. You might like to start with world problems and through the week move more closely to issues in your own community. Use the calendar each night at dinner time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Service</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Some useful information and ideas from the Raising Children Network about getting teenagers involved in service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/community_activity_teenagers.html/context/1089">http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/community_activity_teenagers.html/context/1089</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 22.275px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Family Time</span></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Make a board game<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Create your own board game. Use a large piece of white cardboard to draw the game. Create your own rules. You might like to start by thinking about some of the board games you like and how they work.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-17814763459983639072017-05-29T11:41:00.000+10:002017-05-29T11:41:11.851+10:00Faithful Families Resources for Pentecost 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8BW65XhRzk4/U4j5GQ5-zPI/AAAAAAAAAi8/DZQE0vorADQ/s1600/MP900448748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8BW65XhRzk4/U4j5GQ5-zPI/AAAAAAAAAi8/DZQE0vorADQ/s1600/MP900448748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them. (</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Lady Bird Johnson)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">50 days after Easter, at Pentecost, the Christian Church is born. A wonderful gift is given from God, for it is the day when the disciples are given the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, wind and fire were seen as signs to show that God was present. If you read the story in the book of Acts, it talks about the Holy Spirit coming as ‘wind’ and ‘fire.’ At Pentecost, the gift of the Spirit filled the disciples with the energy and power to speak so that people from many nations could understand them. It was an event that changed the world. Before the Holy Spirit came to rest on the disciples, they were confused and fearful. They longed for the good old days when all they had to do was follow Jesus' lead. We too are invited to receive this wonderful gift which empowers us to use the gifts we are given from God and to grow in the fruits of the Spirit that make us more Christlike.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Pentecost is a special time, and special times need special attention. Here are some resources to help you be faithful with your family this Pentecost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>The Glad Game</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<tt style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 24px;">Played with a touch of a Monty Python, comparisons are made to current situations and those that could be far worse. It can be a lot of fun, and whilst it can at first appear flippant and playful, it can deliberately move people and a family into more genuine attitudes of gratefulness. It can be played not just in one family session, but at any time at </span></tt><tt style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 24px;">all, especially say the moment someone is caught complaining!</span></tt></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">`I'd like a new pair of runners, but I am glad I have feet.' [What's that phrase?: 'I complained that I didn't have new shoes, until I met someone who didn't have any feet.']</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">`I wish we had a swimming pool, but I'm glad our neighbours let us use theirs.'</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">`I don't like broccoli, but I'm glad Mum and Dad cook dinner and not me.'</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">`I wish I could have a remote control car, but I am glad I have a bike that I can ride all by myself.'</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">`I don't want to go to bed now, but I am glad I have a bed to go to and a home to live in.'. . . .</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">These questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about your family. The key is to listen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is the most exciting gift you have ever been given?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What made it so great?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is the most exciting gift you have ever given? Why was it so great?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What is something that you are good at? How do you use it to serve others?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What godly characteristics do you find in yourself and in your family: Kindness, gentleness, compassion, patience, hospitality, humour, generosity, mercy, justice, faithfulness, self-control, loyalty, love, trustworthiness, truth telling, straight talking honesty, . . . .</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">. .</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Have you ever felt God’s presence in a special way? What happened? How did you feel?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Who is someone you know who seems to be filled with the Spirit? What are they like?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Story</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Acts 2.1-21</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">: Pentecost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">http://<a href="http://www.sermons4kids.com/filled_with_the_holy_spirit.htm">www.sermons4kids.com/filled_with_the_holy_spirit.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How did the Holy Spirit come upon the disciples? What happened?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How do you think you would have felt if you had been there?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What strange and special thing happened to the disciples because of the Holy Spirit?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What was the purpose of the disciples' ability to speak many languages?</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">A man returned to his home and played back his telephone answering machine to discover that his message to callers had not registered beyond his initial "Hello." Transcribed, the tape of the exchange between machine and one caller ran as follows:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">"Hello." "Hello. Hello. . . hello!" (click.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">"Hello." "Hello, hello. . . hello, hello!" (click.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">"Hello." "Hello, hello. . . You see, operator, he says 'Hello,' but he won't say anything else."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">"I'm sorry, sir. We can only connect you with your party. We cannot make him talk to you."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Donny Silverman)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This is a day to celebrate and thank the Holy Spirit for all our unique and wonderful gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We each have the character of God growing in us, the fruits of the Spirit, that enable us to minister in every part of our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Read some of the characteristics of God that grow in us and spend time reflecting on how the Holy Spirit might be growing these in you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kindness, gentleness, compassion, patience, hospitality, humour, generosity, mercy, justice, faithfulness, self-control, loyalty, love, trustworthiness, truth telling, straight talking honesty.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Which of these Godly characteristics do you see growing in your own life? Which one of these characteristics do you most need? Which one would help you the most in the way you serve God and others?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pray today that God’s Holy Spirit might fill you: that the fruit of the Spirit might grow in you. Ask God how you might serve in the world, and ask God to help you to grow in the power of the Spirit.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Volunteering with Children<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">By Kelly Palmatier, CompassionateKids.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Volunteering with children is a great way to help them learn about giving back. Children learn valuable skills while "on the job." Homeschooled students, who may have more time available for volunteering, could also enjoy the additional socialization opportunities presented through volunteering. Another benefit of volunteering is children learn about the concerns of the organization and what need it fills in the community. Consequently, the children also have an opportunity to remember what they have to be thankful for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">See the rest of this article on children and volunteering at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.compassionatekids.com/volunteering.shtml">http://www.compassionatekids.com/volunteering.shtml</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Family Time<o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Draw Attention to Yourself</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Using any available materials, make large red or orange Pentecost symbols (paper tongues of fire, kites or windsocks, decorated balloons or pinwheels) to be displayed outdoors. On each symbol, write three gifts of the Spirit you have been given to serve God. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Make a collage of warm colours to remind your family of the story of Pentecost.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Make up a dance using coloured streamers to portray the wind, fire and excitement of the disciples when they received the Holy Spirit.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Make up a list of words to describe 'fire' and 'wind', and then use them to write a poem</span></li>
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For more resources, visit <a href="http://www.aycf.org.au/">www.aycf.org.au</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-21763234313234481202017-05-23T11:32:00.000+10:002017-05-23T11:32:06.169+10:00Faithful Families Resources for Seventh Sunday of Easter 2017 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1m1JSziyQA/U4BWEXAbM3I/AAAAAAAAAio/HWyqx_SIm64/s1600/MP900401084+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1m1JSziyQA/U4BWEXAbM3I/AAAAAAAAAio/HWyqx_SIm64/s1600/MP900401084+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The soul is healed by being with children.(</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Fyodor Dostoyevsky)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This week, prior to Pentecost, we remember and celebrate the ascension of Jesus. This is a really great time to reflect on what it means to have Jesus' authority on Earth delegated to us. As disciples of all ages, we are the hands and feet of Jesus in the kingdom. If we are serious about being faithful with our family, then role-modelling this will be a priority. Your children will discover who they are and whose they are by looking at the everyday things you do. Christianity is a faith which is mediated through everyday things, such as bread, wine, water, light and through the everyday activities of serving, growing, sharing and celebrating.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I wonder what your children might learn about being disciples from watching you? How do you take seriously the call of Jesus to be a witness; to proclaim repentance and forgiveness, to go and make disciples?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here are some resources, that you might be faithful with your family. We cannot make our children have faith, we can only be faithful with them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family Closeness</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Using the alphabet letters, choose words that start with that letter, like the list given below, and act it out. Allow them to make up more as you go to add to the choices.<br /><br />A = alligator (alligator crawl), around, airplane scale<br />B = bounce, bend, bear walk<br />C = cat arch, catch, crawl, crab walk<br />D = lame dog, dance, duck walk, dribble<br />E = elephant walk, egg roll<br />F = freeze, fall, frown, frog jump<br />G = giggle, gallop, giant steps<br />H = hop, hiccup, headstand<br />I = inchworm<br />J = jump, juggle<br />K = kick<br />L = log roll, leap<br />M = march, mop, mule kick<br />N = nod, neck rolls<br />O = Octopus (2 players stand back-to-back and walk sideways, waving their arms and legs), on, off, over<br />P = point, paint, pose<br />Q = quiver, quiet<br />R = run, rake, roll<br />S = skip, sit, sweep, smile, seal crawl, stretch<br />T = tiptoe, throw, tripod, tuck, type<br />U = upside down, under<br />V = vault (leap frog), vacuum<br />W = walk, wiggle, wink<br />X = flex, wax, mix<br />Y = yawn, yell<br />Z = zigzag, zip, zzzzzzzzzz<o:p></o:p></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(GameCentralStation.com)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have you ever been asked to do something and then had the person who asked you to do the job hang around and watch you the whole time?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have you ever had someone ask you to do a job and then before you could do it they went ahead and did it anyway? How did you feel?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Would you rather never play or never win?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Would you rather be able to fly or breathe under water?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What things do you volunteer to do that help others?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What might you volunteer to do this week to help others?</span></span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Story</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Acts 1.6-11</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">: Jesus Ascends<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Questions for Discussion:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What did Jesus says the disciples would receive when the Holy Spirit came?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What job were the disciples given by Jesus?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Why do you think the disciples stood looking for so long after Jesus ascended?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How do you think the disciples felt about Jesus leaving them?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>The King’s Banquet</i></span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">There was once a king who invited his subjects to a royal banquet. The king told each guest to bring a flask of wine, explaining that all the flasks would be poured into one large wine vat, from which the banquet's beverages would be drawn. One of the king’s subjects thought, “What will my small flask of wine mean? Instead of bringing wine, I will bring a flask of water. When my flask of water is added to all the wine, it will blend right in, and no one will know the difference.” On the night of the banquet, all the king’s subjects assembled around the food-laden tables. The king welcomed his guests, and then summoned his servants to serve the wine from the one large vat. The glasses were all filled – with water. For every one of the king’s subjects had brought water, not wine, reasoning that one little flask of water would blend right in with all the wine, and no one would know the difference.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the ascension, the message Jesus gave us was (in today's language): “It's over to you guys now.” Jesus has placed into our hands the responsibility of working in the kingdom of God. We are now expected to be active participants in growing and building the kingdom. Of course the promised helper, the Holy Spirit is with us with gifts and power for the job. We however have been handed the authority to do the work of Jesus on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer and Celebration</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Balloon Prayers</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A really great way to pray with your family this week might be to use some balloons. Get enough balloons for a week or a couple of days. Write or draw your prayers on pieces of paper and place them in balloons, blow the balloons up and tie them somewhere in your house. Each day might have different themes: I thank God for things he has done for me. I thank God for things he has made. I ask God for help for others. I ask God for help for myself. I say sorry to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Here are some service ideas that are focused on older people in your community:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Adopt a grandfriend and regularly visit them with your family.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have your children make a penfriend in a nursing home.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Find activities your family might be able to do in a nursing home such as an arts project.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you have a friendly pet such as a dog or cat, see if you can take it to a local nursing home or home of an elderly person.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Family Time</span></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Paper Doll Activities</span></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">For each family member, draw an outline of a person on a separate large piece of paper. (If you have a large enough paper, lie down on it and trace around your body.) Each person adds drawings, words and/or </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">magazine pictures to tell about him or herself. As family members work, comment, "As a child of God, you are special! The drawings, words, pictures on your outline show some of the ways God has made you special."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">For more resources, visit <a href="http://www.aycf.org.au/">www.aycf.org.au</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887537875332138444.post-27206433008316485262017-05-16T12:00:00.000+10:002017-05-15T11:23:16.265+10:00Faithful Families Resources for 21 May 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-yQNtfHi44/U3k3u1DfHKI/AAAAAAAAAiY/P4o5-FI9xT4/s1600/ring+of+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-yQNtfHi44/U3k3u1DfHKI/AAAAAAAAAiY/P4o5-FI9xT4/s1600/ring+of+love.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">There's nothing that can help you understand your beliefs more than trying to explain them to an inquisitive child. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Frank A. Clark</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Family Closeness</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Game:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I’m thinking of an animal<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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'I'm Thinking of an Animal' is similar to the game Twenty Questions, except all the questions and clues pertain to a living creature. One player thinks of an animal, and the other tries to guess which animal it is by asking no more than ten "yes" or "no" questions. If you guess correctly in ten questions or fewer, you get to think of the next animal. If not, the first player divulges the answer and then thinks of another animal. No one really wins, and the game is over when you don't want to play anymore. If you're playing with your child, you may not want to put a limit on the number of questions s/he can ask. Instead, think of it as a way to teach him/her about an interesting subject. Also, when choosing an animal, consider the age of the child. An older player may know all there is to know about easy-to-guess animals, such as cats and dogs, and may need the challenge of harder choices, for instance egrets and yaks. But most 3- and 4-year-olds will recognize only the most basic creatures, such as lions, tigers, and bears.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sharing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Has telling the truth ever got you in big trouble? What happened? Would you do the same again?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Have you ever told the truth and had no one believe you?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Have you ever told a lie and been found out? What happened?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">Have you ever felt that telling the truth was the wrong thing to do?</span></li>
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<b style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Story:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With your family read </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">John 14.15-21</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">: Loving Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.sermons4kids.com/comforter.htm">http://www.sermons4kids.com/comforter.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Questions for Discussion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #010000; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What do you think are the commandments of Jesus?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #010000; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How does loving Jesus make following His commandments easier?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #010000; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">What rules do you find difficult to keep?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #010000; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">These words of Jesus were meant to comfort his disciples by letting them know that the Holy Spirit would be with them. How do you feel knowing Jesus is still here for us?</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small boy into bed. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">S</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">he was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">you sleep with me tonight?" </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't, dear," she said. "I have</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> to sleep in Daddy's room." </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice: "The big sissy."</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Prayer and Celebration<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Pat-C-Ana</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">There are many ways and patterns of prayer. Praying with Pat-C-ana is just one [pronounced Patsyanna]. It was originally written by the Rev 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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///D:/CAC%20Spiritualhand.htm"></a>From the thumb to little finger<o:p></o:p></div>
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we pray with PAT-C-ANA:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-style: normal;">Praise and adoration -<o:p></o:p></span></address>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-style: normal;">Thank you, thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></address>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-style: normal;">Confession saying sorry:<o:p></o:p></span></address>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-style: normal;"> its forgiveness that we need.<o:p></o:p></span></address>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-style: normal;">Asking 'n asking: for others then for me.<o:p></o:p></span></address>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-style: normal;">From the thumb to little finger<o:p></o:p></span></address>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-style: normal;">we pray to God the Father.<o:p></o:p></span></address>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-style: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></span></address>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-style: normal;">The prayers below help to unpack the type of prayer to use with each finger:<o:p></o:p></span></address>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-style: normal;"> </span></address>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Praying with PAT-C-ANA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Thumb: Praise and adoration<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Awesome Lord and Father, the earth is yours and all that is in it. You are our God and we are your people;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Index finger: Thanksgiving<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Thank you for life and love, for a home to live in and a family to love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Middle finger: Confession<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Forgive us when we hurt others, and when we offend you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Help us to love like you love us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Ring finger: Asking for others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We pray for…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">my family and friends and those that I love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Little finger: Asking for me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">And lastly for me, I place myself into your loving care.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Service<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This week encourage your family members to serve each other. Get them to think of one nice and helpful thing they could do for the parents or siblings. Here are some ideas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Make someone’s bed for them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Do someone else’s chore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Pick up someone else’s mess<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Clean up the dog or cat waste.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tt><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Family Time<o:p></o:p></span></b></tt></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Bible Story Theme Night</span></i></b></div>
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<tt style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Think of a Bible story - like Noah’s Ark or the Feeding of the Five Thousand. </span></tt><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">Think of how you might have a family fun night focused on the theme of the story. This might include: Themed food, games, music, decorations, the telling of the story with costumes. Let your imagination run wild.</span></div>
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For more resources, visit <a href="http://www.aycf.org.au/">www.aycf.org.au</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0