Faithful Families Resources February 26 2012

Weekly Inspiration

“Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice”

~Anon

Family Closeness

Game:

Finger grab

A simple but fun game to play in pairs or more. Face your partner and both perform the following actions on the count. (It is better if someone else counts out loud for you)

1. Place your left hand out flat with the palm up.
2. Point the index finger of your right hand out, sticking in the air.
3. Place your index finger of your right hand, pointing down, into the palm of your partners left hand.
4. As you try to pull your finger up and away the other person has to try and grab it, while at the same time they are pulling their finger out of your palm and trying to grab your finger.

Sharing:

• Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.
• Are you more like a cat or a dog? Why?
• What do you think the best thing about being an adult or child is?
• Would you rather never play or never win?

Story

With your family read: Mark 8.27-30

Questions for Discussion:

• What two questions does Jesus ask his disciples in this reading?
• Why do you think he asked this?
• What answer does Peter give for himself? What does Jesus say to him?
• Why do you think Jesus told Peter not to tell anyone?

About the Bible Bit

Jesus and his disciples are in a place where many different Gods are worshiped both local and of Greek origins. It is amongst this that Jesus asks his disciples who they think he is and Peter answers that he is the Messiah, God’s Son. He recognises that he is the one the Jewish people have been waiting for.

Journey through the Bible

Journey through the Bible will provide five readings each week you can use in order to get a good overview of the full sweep of the story of God and His people. There are a variety of ways you might use these readings. As a parent you might read them to get a better understanding of how the divine drama unfolds. You could read them to your children and discuss them. Some are longer than others and might need to be broken up. It is important that you read them first as some readings you may feel need to be read in a children’s version of the Bible.

Isaiah 51                                  The Lord’s comfort for Zion

Isaiah 52                                  The Lord’s coming salvation

Isaiah 53.1-12                         The suffering servant

Jeremiah 1                               Jeremiah’s Call

Jeremiah 2.1-3.5                      Jeremiah’s message

Prayer and Celebration

We are in the season on Lent, the forty days preceding Easter Day. This is traditionally a time of repentance (saying sorry and turning from sin). The resources for prayer and celebration for the next five weeks will focus on ways your family might “celebrate” well this season.Lent is a good time to focus on God’s care and provision and on our dependence on him, but also on saying sorry

Lent is a season of remembering to say sorry to God for missing the mark. While Lent is a time of repentance and penitence it does not have to be a morbid time as we also look forward to the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter. Why not use some symbols to help your family get a feel for the Season of Lent. Some of the following things could be used during your family prayer time or mealtime ritual to mark the season.

Smell:              Rosemary.

Taste:               Salt.

Colour:            Purple.

Feel:                Hessian

Sound:             “I’m sorry”

This is a possible prayer to use during this season at the meal table or other times.

God calls us to say sorry for wrong doing.

God calls us to remember that he made us.

God calls us to remember his promises.

God calls us to live a new way,

not by might,

not by power,

but by faith…

How will we live by faith:

The cross?
We will take it.

The bread?
We will break it.

The pain?
We will bear it.

The joy?
We will share it.

The Gospel?
We will live it.

The love?
We will give it.

The light?
We will cherish it.

Family Time

Rainbow Wall

This Lent begins with the story of the flood. The rainbow is an enduring symbol of God’s promise. Why not make the rainbow your symbol  for Lent, remembering the promise of God. Create a rainbow on a wall at home adding a new colour each week.

Week 1:           Purple - remember God forgiveness

Week 2:           Blue - remember God healing love

Week 3.           Green - remember Gods creation

Week 4.           Yellow - remember Gods promises

Week 5            Orange - remember Gods presence in time of temptation.

Week 6.           Red - remember God son Jesus, died on cross rose again

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

Faithful Families Resources February 19 2012

Weekly Inspiration

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

~Elbert Hubbard

Family Closeness

Game:

Ibble Dibble

You need a felt pen for this game. Everyone gets a number but they don’t have to start at one or be in order.  Someone starts by saying: "Ibble Dibble n umber  # (their number) with no ibble dibbles calling ibble dibble number (choose another persons number) with no ibble dibbles." Then that person must respond and choose another person by saying “ibble dibble number # (whatever number they are) with no ibble dibbles calling ibble dibble number (choose) with no ibble dibbles. If a person makes a mistake then they receive an ibble dibble (a spot mark on their cheek) That person then carries on with “Ibble dibble number # with one ibble dibble calling ibble dibble number # with no ibble dibbles or however many they have)

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• Are you more like an apple or an orange? Why?
• What is your favourite thing to think about?
• Would you rather not be able to laugh or not be able to cry?

Story

With your family read: Mark 1.9-15

Questions for Discussion:

• Who saw the heavens open and the Spirit descend like a dove?
• How do you think Jesus felt when he heard what God said to him?
• What did Jesus say when he came out of the wilderness?
• What words would you like your parents to say to you?

 About the Bible Bit

What a wonderful affirmation for Jesus to hear his Father say these words to him after his baptism. As soon as Jesus is baptised he is driven by the Holy Spirit to be tested and tempted. In this difficult time, in a difficult place he must rely fully on his Father. When Jesus comes out of the wilderness he begins to preach the good news of God.

Journey through the Bible

Journey through the Bible will provide five readings each week you can use in order to get a good overview of the full sweep of the story of God and His people. There are a variety of ways you might use these readings. As a parent you might read them to get a better understanding of how the divine drama unfolds. You could read them to your children and discuss them. Some are longer than others and might need to be broken up. It is important that you read them first as some readings you may feel need to be read in a children’s version of the Bible.

Psalm 23.1-6                           The Lord is my shepherd

Psalm 51.1-19                         Have mercy on me

Psalm 103.1-22                       Praise the Lord

Proverbs 1.1-4.27                    God’s wisdom

Proverbs 16.1-18.24                Proverbs of Solomon

Prayer and Celebration

Lenten Seasonings

Wednesday 22^nd  March is Ash Wednesday, the day marking the beginning of Lent, the forty days preceding Easter Day. This is traditionally a time of repentance (saying sorry and turning from sin). The resources for prayer and celebration for the next six weeks will focus on ways your family might “celebrate” well this season. Lent is a good time to focus on God’s care and provision and on our dependence on him, but also on saying sorry.

Pat-C-Ana

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

From the thumb to little finger

we pray with PAT-C-ANA:

Praise and adoration -

Thank you, thank you.

Confession saying sorry:

its forgiveness that we need.

Asking 'n asking: for others then for me.

From the thumb to little finger

we pray to God the Father.

        

 The prayers below help to unpack the type of prayer to use with each finger or can be used on their own.

 

Praying with PAT-C-ANA

Thumb: Praise and adoration

• Awesome Lord and Father, the earth is yours and all that is in it. You are our God and we are your people;

Index finger: Thanksgiving

• Thank you for life and love, for a home to live and a family to love.

Middle finger:  Confession

• Forgive us when we hurt others, and when we offend you. Help us to love like you love us.

Ring finger:  Asking for others

• We pray for…my family and friends and those that I love.

 Little finger: Asking for me

• And lastly for me, I place myself into your loving care.Amen.

Family Time Extra

Promise Banner

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

Week 1:           Genesis 9.18-17: Picture: Rainbow

Week 2.           Genesis 17.1-7,15-16 Picture: Footprints

Week 3.           Exodus 20.1-17 Picture: Stone Tablets

Week 4.           Numbers 21.4-9 Picture: Snake on a Stick

Week 5.           Jeremiah 31.31-34 Picture: Heart

Week 6.           Marl 11:7-10. Picture: Palms.

(Seasons of the Spirit 2002) 

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

Faithful Families Resources February 12 2012

Weekly Inspiration

“There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained”

 ~Winston Churchill

Family Closeness

Game:

Sound Effects Machine

This game can be played individually or with the whole family working together. The aim of the game is for certain sound effects to be produced using only your voice or your body (clapping, stomping, clicking). You can come up with your own sound effects but here are some examples:

• a football game
• the rain on a tin roof
• a percussion band
• angry wasps
• a rainforest

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• Are you more like a candle or a flashlight? Why?
• What is something you have learnt from a friend?
• Would you rather have a house with no roof or no walls?

Story

With your family read: Mark 2.1-12

Questions for Discussion:

• When the people carrying the paralysed man couldn't get to Jesus what did they do?
• Why were the scribes angry at Jesus?
• What did Jesus say he had authority over?
• What would you be willing to do to help a friend in need?

About the Bible Bit

This is a wonderful story about determination and faith. The people who carried the paralysed man dug through what was probably sticks and mud to get to Jesus. Imagine what it would have been like inside the house being covered with dirt as the roof was ripped up. Jesus is so impressed with their faith he tells the man his sins are forgiven. This upset the scribes as they knew only God can forgive sins. Jesus knows what its going through their minds and hearts and so he heals the man to show he has the power and authority to forgive sins. This helps us to understand that Jesus was God’s son.

Journey through the Bible

Journey through the Bible will provide five readings each week you can use in order to get a good overview of the full sweep of the story of God and His people. There are a variety of ways you might use these readings. As a parent you might read them to get a better understanding of how the divine drama unfolds. You could read them to your children and discuss them. Some are longer than others and might need to be broken up. It is important that you read them first as some readings you may feel need to be read in a children’s version of the Bible.

1 Kings 3.1-15                        Solomon’s pray for wisdom

1 Kings 3.16-28                      Solomon’s wisdom

1 Kings 8.1-21                        Solomon’s temple

I Kings 9.1-19                         The Lord appears to Solomon

2 Kings 25.1-21                      The fall of Judah

Prayer and Celebration

12 Types of Prayer

In his book ‘The hour that changes the world’, Dick Eastman outlines twelve different types of prayer . In this miniseries explore the many different types of prayer with your children.

Contemplation

This type of prayer revolves around thinking and reflecting deeply either on a piece of scripture or on something to do with God. With children this might mean taking a particular story or passage of scripture and encouraging them to think for a moment on a theme coming from the passage, such as God’s love for us or the wonder of creation. There are many short stories written on different themes that might help children think more deeply about scripture and these can be helpful in developing the prayer of contemplation.

Family Time

Build a Fort Night

With your family make a fort in your house big enough for your whole family to sit in. This can be done by hanging and draping blankets and  sheets over chairs and dining room tables and whatever else is around. Try to build the biggest fort you can. Eat dinner in it together and play some games. Read Psalm 46.1-3 together and have a discussion about what it means for God to be your fortress and shelter.

Faithful Families Resources February 5 2012

Weekly Inspiration

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family”

 Anthony Brandt

Family Closeness

Game:

Draw your family

Everyone will need a piece of paper and a pencil for this game, as well as a bit of scrap paper for people’s names. Write everyones name down on a piece of scrap and put them in a hat. Family members pull a name out of the hat, other than their own. Each person must draw a picture of the family member they pulled out of the hat. At the end place all the pictures face down in the middle of the table and turn them over one by one. Family members must guess who has been drawn.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• Are you more like water or earth? Why?
• What do you like the most about your family?
• Would you rather live in a home without electricity or without running water?

Story

With your family read: Mark 1.40-45

Questions for Discussion:

• Why do you think Jesus told the leper not to tell anyone what he did?
• Why do you think Jesus touched the leper?
• Why did the leper tell everyone when he was healed?
• Have you ever had something happen to you that you just had to tell other people about?

About the Bible Bit

Lepers were not supposed to come near to people in case they spread their disease or made others unclean. Being unclean meant you couldn’t go to the temple to worship God. This leper comes right up to Jesus with his request. Jesus could have just spoken and the man would be healed, but he touches him  in an act of compassion and love. Jesus tells the man not to tell anyone, but he just can’t help himself and this leads to Jesus needing to stay away from towns lest he be mobbed.

Journey through the Bible

Journey through the Bible will provide five readings each week you can use in order to get a good overview of the full sweep of the story of God and His people. There are a variety of ways you might use these readings. As a parent you might read them to get a better understanding of how the divine drama unfolds. You could read them to your children and discuss them. Some are longer than others and might need to be broken up. It is important that you read them first as some readings you may feel need to be read in a children’s version of the Bible.

1 Samuel 23                            Saul pursues David

1 Samuel 24                            David spares Saul’s life

2 Samuel 5.1-25                      David becomes king of Israel

2 Samuel 7.1-29                      The Lord’s Covenant with David

1 Kings 2.1-12                                    Solomon becomes king.

Prayer and Celebration

12 Types of Prayer

In his book ‘The hour that changes the world’, Dick Eastman outlines twelve different types of prayer . In this miniseries explore the many different types of prayer with your children.

Listening

This is a time of stillness and an opportunity to listen to what God might have to say to you. Unless we encourage children to be still and alert to the possibility that God may speak to them they may miss his words to them. The simplest way to do this is to encourage your whole family to have a few minutes of silence, maybe with closed eyes. Pray beforehand that God might speak to members of your family. Take the time to share if you felt God speak to you in this time. Remind your children that God may not speak to them in that moment but if they are open to him speaking they may hear him speak in their heart at another time of day. Children will often ask about hearing a audible voice. Explain to them that it is much more common for people to hear God speaking within themselves. It is also important for all of us to make sure what we hear God say to us is in line with scripture and the counsel of wise Christians.

Service

There are many ways to entrench patterns of compassion, thoughtfulness and care for others into our family life.  Our children should have significant memories of kindness and generous acts of faithful serving.  These should be spontaneous as well as constructed events. Examples of this include:

Connecting with a local service [aged care home meals on wheels, service for disabled, animal welfare league, local conservation group, rural fire brigade, S.E.S. etc etc], volunteering as a family.Adopting a special person in the community or neighbourhood and engaging in regular patterns of care. 

One organisation that helps people and families connect with others in the community is FSG. Their  community connectors and host family programs are particularly good in this area – check out their web page http://www.fsg.org.au/pages/volunteers.php

Family Time Extra

Paper Doll Activities

For each family member draw an outline of a person on a separate  large piece of paper. (If you have large enough paper, lie down on it  and trace around your body.)Each person adds drawings, words and/or  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."

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