A child is not a vase to be filled, but a
fire to be lit.
François Rabelais
Family
Closeness
Game:
Blobtionary
Just like pictionary
only using play doh. This can be played with two or more. Write twenty words
down on a piece of paper and put them in a hat. The difficulty of the word will
depend on the ages playing. One person picks out the word and has to make the
‘it’ using the play doh. The other person has to guess what word is being made.
No speaking or gesturing to give hints is allowed. Words could include: Dog,
Girl, Elephant, happy. Use your imagination. If four or more are playing then
two teams can race to make the one word.
Sharing:
These
questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about
your family. The key is to listen!!
Which are you like…why or how.
This one helps older children use
their imaginationn:
- a couch or a rocking chair
- green or yellow
- pizza or icecream
- Saturday or Wednesday
- an onion or an apple
Story
With your family
read Matthew 21.1-11: Jesus enters Jerusalem
(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look
at http://www.sermons4kids.com/cheers2jeers.html
Questions for Discussion:
- What did Jesus ride on into the city?
- What was the name of the city Jesus rode into?
- What did the people put on the ground in front of Jesus?
- Why do you think they did this?
Discuss with
your family what was interesting about the story or what made you think. What
did the story tell us about Jesus? Try using some “I wonders” that emerge from
the story. (I wonder how
Jesus felt? I wonder what was going on in this story?)
Once upon a time, two
weevils travelled from the farm to the big city to seek their fortune. Upon
arriving, the first weevil got a job in the movies. As time went by, he moved
to bigger and better movies until he became internationally renowned as a great
movie star. The other weevil, however, was unable to find any employment and,
as time passed, he faded into total obscurity. That was fifty years ago.
But today, do you suppose anyone remembers that weevil who was once a great
movie star? No! But we do remember the other one-the one who was a failure-for,
even today, we refer to him as "the lesser of two weevils."
Prayer
and Celebration
This week focus on prayers of praise and adoration. Think about
the adoration Jesus was given as he entered Jerusalem. Sing a song of praise together at the dinner
table. Find something to wave in the air while you are singing. It could be a
palm branch or something you find close at hand like a tea towel or tea shirt.
Remember that the people that waved palm branches at Jesus found whatever was
at hand. Name all the things that are great about Jesus and why you think he is
special.
Service
Throughout any
year there are many days that are dedicated to different charities or issues in
society. There are websites like the following http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/calendar/
that list these days that are occurring in your state, region or
country. This can be used as a tool to broaden the horizon of your children
about the many needs in the world and the ways people seek to address them.
- Look up what is happening in any particular week.
- Explore the organisation that is sponsoring it or the issue behind it.
- Pray as a family for the needs highlighted by the day or week, being celebrated and for the organisations working in the area.
- Consider attending events or running your own to support a particular need.
- Think about ways you might contribute or donate to make a difference.
Family
Time
Palm
Crosses
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.
(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison and; Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.)
Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning
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