Faithful Families Resources November 2 2014

Let no Christian parents fall into the delusion that Sunday School is intended to ease them of their personal duties. The first and most natural condition of things is for Christian parents to train up their own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. ~Katherine Walden

Family Closeness

Game:

If I went to mars...

This game can be played with a range of starting statements such as:

If I went to Mars I would take...

I went to the shop and I bought...

I went on holidays and I took...

The first player makes up something that they took or bought and says for example:

If I went to Mars I would take a green apple.

The next person make something up and adds it to the previous persons, for example.

If I went to Mars I would take a green apple and a hat.

Each successive person adds another thing to the list while reciting all the objects previously named. When using this with your family see how many time you can go around the table before someone makes a mistake. How many objects can your family remember?

Sharing:

These questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about your family. The key is to listen!! A simple pattern to use might be:

• What is the best thing and the worst thing that happened to you this week.
• What is something that you might say thank you to God for this week? (One for the adults particularly to share: Where have you been aware of God’s presence in your life this week. What “God moments” happened to you this week?)
• What is one thing you think you are good at? Tell the members of your family something you think they are good at.

Story

With your family read: Matthew 25.1-13

Questions for Discussion:

• This is a parable about being ready to meet Jesus.
• What made five of the bridesmaids wise?
• Who do you think the bridegroom is in the story?
• The job of the bridesmaids was to meet the groom. Why were five not ready?
• How can we always be ready for Jesus?

 Prayer and Celebration

This week learn a new prayer off by heart, together. Write or find a prayer that you can use with your family every night at mealtimes and family sharing times. The prayer does not have to be complicated, but simple enough for everyone to remember. It might include some lines of thanks or praise or asking. Here is on prayer you might learn together.

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for all the benefits you have won for us, for all the pains and insults you have borne for us.  Most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. 

St Richard of Chichester [1197-1253]

Bonus Family Activity

Show and Tell Night

Get each of your family members to share something. It could be a picture they like, a hobby or interest, something they have learned, ma joke or story, something they have made or made up, a game, something they found in the back yard.

(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