Faithful Families Resources July 29 2012

Weekly Inspiration

A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian... and most of all, his family ought to know.

~Dwight L. Moody

Family Closeness

Game:

First and Last

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 previous word. In this case t – so they might say turnip. Keep going until someone can’t think of anything to say.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Finish these sentences:

• What is something that you are looking forward to?
• What are you thankful for right now?
• What is your earliest memory?

Story:

With your family read John 6.24-35

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at http://www.sermons4kids.com/looking_for_a_sign.htm

Questions for Discussion:

• What reason did Jesus give for why the people followed him? What do you think he meant?
• What did Jesus say was the work of God?
• What did Jesus say was the bread of heaven?
• How do you think you eat this bread?

Prayer and Celebration

Prayer Chains

Cut up strips of paper approximately 4cm wide by 8cm long. Give one to everyone to write a prayer on for the day. Take one of the prayer papers and staple the two ends together so it forms a chain link. Do the same with the other prayers so they form a chain of paper prayers. See here http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Paper-Chain for more detail. Each day you can add more links to your chain until it stretches across your whole house and reminds you that each little bit of pray each day adds up.

  

Service

Service Project for Families with Teenagers

• Coach a sports team for young children
• Speak out about social issues in your community
• Use more indepth skills to create items for people in need

Family Time

Bonus Family Activity

Paper Mache

Gather up your old newspaper, and a tray of water. Make a frame of chicken wire or some other type of framework and see what you can create. Add some paint to your creation when it dries.

(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 July 22 2012

Weekly Inspiration

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.

~Richard Bach

Family Closeness

Game:

Dark Dog

Everyone is given a blank piece of paper to draw on. Either blind fold everyone or get them to close their eyes. Then they must draw a dog on their paper. Once they have done this they must put a collar on the dog and a bone in front of him. Undo the blindfold and have a look at your drawings.

Sharing

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Finish these sentences:

• If I had to be separated from my family for a long time, I would really miss . . .[whom or what?] because . . .
• The most difficult pressure on young people is . . .
• When I feel under pressure I  . . .

Story

With your family read John 6.1-21

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at http://www.sermons4kids.com/all_day_preaching_dinner_on_the_grounds.htm

Questions for Discussion:

• Why do you think these stories are important?
• Why did Jesus withdraw when they wanted to make him king?
• What surprises you about these stories?

Prayer and Celebration

Teaspoon Prayers

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.

Service

Service Project for Families with Primary Age Children

• Have families cut out grocery coupons to give to a local foodbank
• Make gift baskets for a nearby nursing home or assisted facility for older adults
• Schedule a time for families to hold and rock babies in a hospital nursury
• Be welcoming attendants as a family at a shelter or drop in centre.
• Have families volunteer to stuff a church bulletin with a large mailing at your church.

 Family Time

Bonus Family Activity

Library

Take your family to the library and find some books on topics of interest to them. Try to find some books that the whole family might like to look at or share together. These could include books on art or puzzles or animals.

.(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 July 15 2012

Weekly Inspiration

As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live

~ John Paul II

Family Closeness

Game:

One Word

In this game the family must have a conversation with each other by speaking only one word messages back and forth. Some possible topics for discussion could include:

• a favourite food. 
• a favourite sports team. 
• a fear. 
• a dream
• a recent accomplishment. 

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Finish these sentences:

• I would like to be more like ________ because . . .
• Something I really like about myself is . . .
• I have a dream: that . . .

Story

With your family read Mark 6.30-34

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at http://www.sermons4kids.com/getting_away.htm

Questions for Discussion:

• Where did Jesus want to take the disciples?
• Why did he want to take them there?
• What do you think this says about serving God and working?
• How do you like to renew your energy?

Prayer and Celebration

Secret Hat Prayer

Put all your family members’ names in a hat. Each member of the family must draw out a name but not tell anyone. During the week encourage the member of your family to pray for that person each day. Get them to choose a time when they will do this. Help them to think about things they might pray for such as: health, work/school, growth, knowledge, faith, things they need help with or giving thanks for the person. Parents might need to remind children of the time they have chosen each day. This activity helps children to start thinking about praying for others when they are on their own.

Service

One of the profoundest ways that we might share our love of Christ and our love of life with others is not through words but through our loving actions. Here are some suggestions for your family to share with those who live around you.

Invite another family who you are friendly with to church followed by a BBQ.

Bake something for your neighbours – maybe biscuits or a cake. (Do you know your neighbours? Where I live I have had six sets of neighbours on one side in the space of five years.)

When you see people moving in why not invite them over for some food or take a cake or biscuits over to them or some cold drinks.

If you know of an elderly or chronically ill person who is having difficulty with their garden why not get your family to adopt them. That is, regularly as a family go and mow the grass, weed, clean up and maybe plant some flowers.

Family Time

Bonus Family Activity

Kickball

Get the family outdoors this week with a game of kickball. Line up facing each other across the yard and kick the ball to each other. Trying kicking the ball as close to the person your trying to reach as possible. Re


(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 July 8 2012

Weekly Inspiration

A tree is known by its fruit
~ Proverb

Family Closeness

Game:

Egg Cracking Contest

Each family member holds an egg in their hand, small end up and challenge someone to crack their egg. The challenged player taps the egg of the challenger with their own egg. If the challenged cracks the egg of the challenger they win the challengers cracked egg. If their own is cracked they turn in over to the challenger. This continues until only one uncracked egg remains and the player is declared, “the great uncracked”. Needless to say, hard boiled eggs are used for this game.

(Taken from Games for all ages and how to use them – Wackerbarth and Graham)

  

Sharing

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Finish these sentences:

• If I could become a colour, I would be … because
• I can help the environment by  . . .
• The best thing about a true friend is . . .

Story

With your family read Mark 6.17-29

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at http://www.sermons4kids.com/one-thing-leads-to-another.html

Questions for Discussion:

• Why did Herod have John the Baptist arrested?
• Why did Herod refuse to kill John? What changed his mind?
• What are your thoughts about this story?

Prayer and Celebration

 m & m prayers…

 After dinner pass around a bowl of m & m’s. Everyone must take a handful but no one can eat any yet. For each different colour they get they need to pray for a different person or thing.

For every green M & M  tell God something that you are thankful for.

For every red M & M pray for a member of your family by name

For every orange M & M  pray for a teacher in your life

For every yellow M & M  pray for one of your classmates or friends.

For every dark brown M & M pray for a leader in your life.

For every light brown M & M you chose, pray for Christians in other countries.

Service

Winter can be a very difficult time for people living on the streets. Find a charity in your area that takes donations of blankets or winter clothes. Donate items you no longer need or use, or go to the shop and buy some warm blankets to donate. Before donating ring the charity to ask what they could use.

Family Time

Bonus Family Activity

Go to the theatre

Take your family to see a local play. Discover what performances are happening in your local theatre or even what school productions are happening. This doesn’t have to be an expensive outing.

(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 July 1 2012

Weekly Inspiration

Perhaps the greatest social service that can be rendered by anybody to the country and to mankind is to bring up a family.
~ George Bernard Shaw

Family Closeness

Game:

Unlimited Object

Take an ordinary every day object, like a spoon or a hat or a pot. Take turns at imagining what else that object could be and acting it out with your family. For example a spoon might become a hat on your head, or a bicycle that you ride around the living room or a pen that you write with. You are only limited by the unlimitedness of your imagination.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Finish these sentences:

• I think people say “I don’t care” because
• The biggest differences between someone in their 80’s and me is . .

 Story:

With your family read Mark 6.1-13

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at http://www.sermons4kids.com/prophet-without-honor.html

Questions for Discussion:

• What did the people who heard Jesus think about his teaching?
• Why do you think they were upset and offended?
• Why do you think Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs?
• Why do you think he told them to take so little with them?

Prayer and Celebration

A prayer to share with your family: 

God made us a family.
            We need one another.
            We love one another.
            We forgive one another.
            We work together.
            We play together.
            We worship together.
            Together we use God's word.
            Together we grow in Christ.
            Together we love all people.
            Together we serve our God.
            Together we hope for heaven.
            These are our hopes and ideals.
            Help us to attain them,
            O God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Taken from "Favorite Catholic Prayers" Prayer Book

http://www.catholicsupply.com/existing/prfamily.html

Family Time

Bonus Family Activity

Compliment Board

Buy a cheap, small white board and  a non-permanent marker. Anyone can write on it about anyone in the family. When anyone does something that deserves a compliment it can be written on the board. Once a week take the board down at the dinner table, read all the compliments and clean or for the week to come. Encourage your family to be generous with compliments through the week.

(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