Faithful Family Resources September 28 2014

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.

I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I’d do more hugging and less tugging.

~ Diane Loomans  ‘If I had my child to raise over again.”

Family Closeness

Game:

Paper Strips

Give everyone in your family a sheet of newspaper and tell them to  tear it into as long a strip as possible. For a greater challenge turn off the lights

Sharing:

• Have you ever worn something in public that embarrassed your parents?
• What was it?
• Where was it?
• What did your parents do or say?
• What happened?

 Story

With your family read: Matthew 21.33-42

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

 Questions for Discussion:

• Which character is like God in this parable? Which character is like Jesus? Which character is like people?
• Did the tenants have any right to the vineyard?
• Why did they attack the slaves and the son?
• What is Jesus trying to teach us with this parable?

Prayer and Celebration

Passing of the Cross

Use a small wooden cross or even a metal one on a chain. In a circle the cross is taken up. Who ever 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. 

Prompts may be given by the someone as the cross is passed.

 Eg. See…a friend in need, a hurt that needs healing…etc.

Pray one sentence…prompt:  thank you God for

Bonus Family Activity

Fast Progressive Dinner

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.    

(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

Faithful Families Resources September 21 2014

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.

~Rabindranath Tagore

Family Closeness

Game:

The other chocolate game

You will need as many different type 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 persons 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 roll 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 members 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.

Sharing:

• Who put your parents in charge of you?
• Why is it important for children to list to their parents?
• When do you think you parents stop having responsibility for you?
• What do you think it is like being a parent?

 Story

With your family read: Matthew 21.23-32

 Questions for Discussion:

• Who gave Jesus permission to do all the things he did?
• 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?
• Why did the Pharisees and other people find it hard to believe in Jesus?
• Why do people find it hard to follow Jesus today?

 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.

Bonus Family Activity

15 Minute Activity Pick

Make a commitment to spend at least 15 minutes a day doing an activity of your children’s choice.

(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

Faithful Families Resources September 15 2014

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

Family Closeness

Game:

Concentration

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 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. (Youth Ministry Encyclopedia. Lyman Coleman)

Sharing:

What character from a book or television are you most like? How are you like them?

If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?

Who is someone who has made a difference in your life?

Story

With your family read: Matthew 20.1-16

 Questions for Discussion:

• Why were the people who worked all day upset?
• Do you think what the landowner did was fair? Why or why not?
• If in this parable the landowner represents God, what do we learn about God?
• God’s grace means everyone is loved, forgiven and accepted no matter what they have done? What do you think about this?
• What do you think about the statement: God gives us what we need, not what we deserve?

Prayer and Celebration

Prayer Placemats

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.

Bonus Family Activity

Crowd Squeezer

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.

Step 2: If the group succeeds, fold the blanket in half and try again.

Step 3: Continue in this way to see how small an area you can all squeeze.                                                                                                                      

(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

Faithful Families Resources September 7 2014

Parents shouldn't give up doing what is best for their children even when their children are ungrateful. ~Martin Luther

  

Family Closeness

Game:

Stopwatch Games

With a stopwatch and a bit of imagination, your family can clock hours of crazy contests.

• How long does it take to blow a perfect bubble after you put a new piece of gum in your mouth?
• How long can you chew your food for before it disappears?
• How many times can you click in a minute?
• How long does it take to run around the house?
•  How many baskets can you shoot in 2 minutes?

Sharing:

• If you were told tomorrow that you were going to jail forever how would it change the way you act or live?
• If you were told tomorrow that you were adopted how would it change the way you act or the way you live?
• If you were told today that you are a special child of God how would it change the way you act or live?

 Story

With your family read: Matthew 18.21-35

 Questions for Discussion:

• Is forgiving someone seventy times a lot?
• Do you think Jesus really meant we should keep count?
• Who do you think the king might be in this story?
• Who do you think the first slave might be?
• Knowing God forgives us, why do we often find it hard to forgive?

Prayer and Celebration

Gratitude Board

On the fridge or at your table keep a small white board 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 one a more regular basis as the focus for family prayers.

Bonus Family Activity

Follow the Leader

Depending on the age of your children play a game of follow the leader. The leader goes around the house doing a variety of things. Eg. 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.

(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