Weekly Inspiration
In every conceivable manner, the family
is link to our past, bridge to our future.
~Alex Haley
Family Closeness
Game:
Coin Wiggle
Family members lay flat on the floor on their back. A coin is balanced on
the tip of their nose. The player must twitch their nose and move their lips
but nothing else. Wiggling of the head or body is not permitted. The goal is to
make the coin fall.
Sharing:
Questions for stimulating
discussion in your family.
- Are you more a hare or a tortoise?
- What food would you be happy never to eat again?
- Have you ever lost something? What was it?
With your family read: Mark 11.1-11
Questions
for Discussion:
- What did Jesus ride into Jerusalem?
- How did the people respond to Jesus? What did they shout?
- What did people throw on the road in front of Jesus?
- What kind of people get welcomed likes this today?
Palm Sunday
begins the last week of Jesus life. He is welcomed enthusiastically into
Jerusalem like a king. However, it will be the same crowds shouting crucify him
by the end of the week. How quickly people turn against him.
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.
Matthew 6.1-4 Giving to those in need
Matthew 6.5-15 The
Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6.19-34 Treasures
in Heaven
Matthew 7.1-6 Judging others
Matthew 7.12-20 The
Golden Rule
Prayer and Celebration
Try to connect what you do in worship on a Sunday
with what you do to worship at home during the week. Here are some examples:
Regular attendance in worship might be linked with a
regular pattern of prayer and worship at home. Praying with our children is a
key way that we may be faithful with our family. (we regularly offer ways to
pray with children in this email)
Break bread at home. Even if your children do not
receive communion, break bread with them at home reminding them of the story of
the last supper. Assure them that at home, when we break bread together it is
different to church, but that we may break bread to remember Jesus. This may be
linked with a meal time pattern of prayer.
“What prayer
do we take to church today?” As a
family, be conscious of the prayers and hopes you take to place before God in
worship. Ask this question before you go to church.
Family
Time
Bonus Family Activity
Many churches
celebrate the coming Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) as Palm Sunday. On this
day we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey and people placing
branches on the ground before him. This week why not make your own palm crosses
at home as a way of helping your children remember the story.
Below is a
link to a youtube video that will show you how to do it. There are many other
websites online that will show you how to make them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcmeCOf-b4k
“Hosanna to
the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna
in the highest heaven!”
Matthew 21.9
(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
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