Faithful Families Resources December 27 2015

Weekly Inspiration

Resolution One: I will live for God.

Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.

~ Jonathan Edwards

Family Closeness

Game:

Mute Spelling

This game is suitable for al family members as long as they can spell. Each player begins with a score of "A". The first person is given a suitable word for them to spell but they can only say the consonants. Vowels must be spelled using the following hand actions.

    "A" - raise your right hand

    "E" - raise your left hand

    "I" - point to your eye

    "O" - point to your open mouth

    "U" - point to any other player.

For example, the word "APPLE" would begin with the player raising their right hand (A) then saying P-P-L before raising their left hand (E). The score of any player who makes a mistake goes from "A" to "E" and so on through the vowels (I, O, U) until they get out on their fifth mistake.

  

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family. 

• What was the hardest thing about this year?
• What is something that you achieved this year?
• What is something you want to give thanks for this last year?
• What are your hopes for next year?
• What do you hope to do, experience, discover or be next year? 

Story

With your family read Luke 2.41-52

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at

http://www.sermons4kids.com/losing-jesus.html

Questions for Discussion:

• How do you think Mary and Joseph felt when they couldn’t find Jesus?
• What surprises you about this story?
• What do you think Jesus words meant?

Prayer and Celebration

People like to celebrate New Year’s Day in many different ways. Some people like to stay up until the clock strikes midnight – others like to go to bed so they can be up fresh for the first day of the year. Whatever you like to do, may you be encouraged this New Years to think about how God might be honoured, remembered and shared in your family. Pray together, either at midnight or on getting up on the first of January. Give thanks for the year ahead. Ask God to guide you and your family in all you do…and dedicate yourselves to serving Christ in the year to come.

Service

As a family discuss how you might service your community and world in 2013. Talk about some of the things happening in the world you would like to change and decide how to make a difference. Make a commitment to give a certain amount of money to a charity or cause. Work out how your family might raise money or give time or talents to help a local charity.

Family Time

Big Dreams 2016

One day an expert was speaking to a group of students and on time management and he used this illustration. Firstly he took out a wide mouthed jar, then he produced about a dozen large rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.        

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes."

Then he said, "Really?"  He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel.  Then he dumped some gravel in and shook  the jar  causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he smiled and asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was onto him.  "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!"  he replied.  And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand.  He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.  Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!"  the class shouted.  Once again he said, "Good!"   Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim.  Then he looked up at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?" One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!"

"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point.  The truth this illustration teaches is this: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."

I wonder…what are the big rocks you wish to fit into your family life next year. Sit down with your family and dreams some dreams and make some plans for 2016. What things would you like to do? What places would you like to see? What habits would you like to make together?

(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 December 20 2015

I pray that all who read this blog may have a blessed and holy Christmas as we celebrate the coming of Christ our saviour into the world and human history. I hope these resources might help you to enjoy the time with your family and tell the story of Jesus birth really well.

Weekly Inspiration

The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation.

 ~ J.I. Packer

Family Closeness

Game:

Christmas Card Toss

Simple gather together a collection of old Christmas cards and carefully cut off the backs. Avoid glittery cards.

Now set up a "course" by placing a large box or bin on the floor and marking a place to stand some feet away from it, depending on the age of the children. If you are playing with mixed ages, older children should stand further away than younger children. Each family member takes turns tossing a stack of cards (like a frisbee) into the box. Count up and the family member with the most cards in the box wins.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family. 

• What is your favourite thing about Christmas?
• What does it mean to be thankful?
• What do you find special about the story of Jesus birth?
• What can we learn about God at Christmas?

Story

With your family read Luke 2.1-20

Questions for Discussion:

• How do you think Mary and Joseph felt about having a baby in a place where they didn't live?
• Why do you think the shepherds were the first to be told about Jesus birth?
• What effect did seeing the baby Jesus have on the shepherds?
• What amazes or intrigues you about this story?

Prayer and Celebration

Each day choose a Christmas card you received. Put it in a central location such as your dining room table. Pray for the people who sent the card.

Service

Make a special Christmas recipe to share with your neighbours. Include a card with pictures that tell about Jesus birth. (One easy recipe is for Rocky Road. Ingredients. 375g chocolate, 100g mini marshmallows, 200g red & green glace cherries chopped. Slowly melt the choc. in the microwave on medium stirring every minute. Mix in mallows and cherries. Pour onto a paper lined baking tray. Refrigerate until firm.)

Family Time

Story of St Nicholas

With your family discover the real story of Santa Claus – or St Nicholas. Think about his story and let it transform the way you do Christmas. Below are some links to websites with information about St Nicholas.

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/

http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/fatherchristmas.shtml

Christmas is also a great time to read Christmas stories. This blog provides some ideas for great Christmas books.

http://storypath.upsem.edu/

Merry Christmas and God Bless

Stephen 

(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 December 13 2015

We are now in the season of Advent, a time that is focussed on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ, we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart everyday. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on earth. Over the these  four weeks the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.

In addition to the weekly resources have a look at the special Advent  page for some ideas and resources on how to celebrate the season well in your home.

Weekly Inspiration

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable Gift— indescribable, inestimable, incomparable inexpressible - precious beyond words.

~Lois Lebar

Family Closeness

Game:

Pass the Parcel

This old game still get played at parties but could be a fun game to play at home around the table. It would also be a great way to unveil a gift for your family. Put something nice in the middle for the whole family – like a family move pass or a note saying you are all going to your favourite restaurant. Wrap it up. Now put multiple layers of wrapping on with small prizes in between such as chocolate bars or sweets.   Blind fold a family member. Their job is to say when to stop passing the parcel. Pass the parcel and when it is stopped someone gets to take off a layer. You might even like to play music or sing a song while the parcel is passed around.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family. 

• What is the best gift you have ever received?
• What is the best gift you have ever given?
• What is the most precious gift in the world?

Story

With your family read Luke 1.39-56

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at

http://www.sermons4kids.com/gift-of-love.html

Questions for Discussion:

• How did Elisabeth know Mary’s baby was special?
• What do you find interesting about Mary’s words?
• What does Mary say God will do?

Prayer and Celebration

A prayer for candle lighting during Advent:

O God,

as light comes from this candle,

may the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us,

warming our hearts and

brightening our way.

May Christ our Savior bring life

into the darkness of this world,

and to us, as we wait for his coming.

http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/adv.html

Family Time

Song Stories

A great way to explore the story of Christmas would be to listen to some Christmas Carols or hymns with your family. One option would be to listen and sing together and just enjoy the music and your family. Alternatively, listen very carefully to the words and to the feel of the song. Discuss what this particular carol is saying about the birth of Jesus. Are there any words or phrases that children don’t understand? Discuss what these might mean.

(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 December 6 2015

We are now in the season of Advent, a time that is focussed on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ, we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart everyday. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on earth. Over the these  four weeks the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.

In addition to the weekly resources have a look at the special Advent  page for some ideas and resources on how to celebrate the season well in your home.

Weekly Inspiration

The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.

~ Teresa Of Avila

Family Closeness

Game:

Alphabet Car Game

Since the theme this week is journey here is a game you can play next time you are in the car. It is a simple game that requires players to find all the letters of the alphabet in order, on car number plates. A letter on a number plate can only be claimed by one player, the first to call it out. Multiple letters on the one number plate can be claimed and by different players. For example if the number plate was ABE - someone could claim the AB and someone else the E. Whoever gets to Z first is the winner. Find some more travel games for the car at the bottom of the blog. 

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family. 

• What are the best and worst things about long journeys?
• What is your favourite thing to do on a journey?
• Where is your favourite place to journey to? 

Story:

 With your family read Luke 3.10-18

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at

http://www.sermons4kids.com/joy-of-christmas.html

Questions for Discussion:

• What did John the Baptist tell people they must do to turn back to God?
• Who did the people think John the Baptist was?
• What did John say about the one who was to come? 

Prayer and Celebration

A prayer for Advent

We thank you, Lord God, for the prophets and leaders who looked forward to the coming of Jesus the Saviour.

We thank you for those who prepared the way for him, like John the Baptist.

We thank you for the angels you sent with the message about Jesus.

and we thank you for Mary, who believed the message and was willing to do your will.

We thank you most of all for Jesus, who was born to save us.

In this Advent time, when we get ready for Christmas, help us to hear your message, to be excited that you want to be with us, and help us to an tto be part of your plan for this world you care so much about.

Amen.

http://www.lunt.org.uk/resources/pages/liturgy/prayers_school.htm

  

Service

Here are some more Advent Service Ideas

• Get a group together to sing at a nursing home.
• Go through your cupboard and give some clothes to a charity.
• Encourage your children to think of what toys they have that are still in good condition that they might give to a charity.
• With your family choose a way to give a gift to a needy family. This may be best done through a registered charity or church. If you can make food donations take your children shopping to buy the food so they can actually see what it is they are giving. Some charities have schemes where people give gift-wrapped presents for children from needy families. 

Family Time

Are trips in the car a nightmare? Why not turn them into a family adventure. Here are a few ideas.

Semi Search

All you need is a sheet of paper to keep score, one person to be scorekeeper and a writing utensil. Each player chooses a colour. Each player's name and chosen colour is then written down on the score card by the score keeper, who will announce when there is a winner. Each player announces each semitrailer on the road that is his chosen colour. One mark, or point, is given for each semi the person identifies as his colour. The game can be played until one person reaches a certain number of points. Most people play Semi Search until one person reaches 50 points, but a longer game can be played for older children.

Guess Mobile

Name someone as guess master. This person is the one who poses a guessing challenge for other family members. He or she could ask passengers to guess the colour of the next passing car, or how long before you get to the next town. 

Car Scavenger Hunt

Give your children a pack of index cards and get them to write or draw pictures of fity things they might see on a long road trip. Keep the cards for scavenger hunts when players vie to match what they see with the cards.

Find more family car games at:

http://family.go.com/travel/article-ff-263046-car-games---our-best-backseat-distractions-t/

(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 November 29 2015

We are now in the season of Advent, a time that is focussed on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ; we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart every day. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on earth. Over these four weeks the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.

In addition to the weekly resources have a look at the special Advent  page for some ideas and resources on how to celebrate the season well in your home.

Weekly Inspiration

Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be. 

~ John Ortberg

Family Closeness

Game:

Everyone closes their eyes and must guess how long a minute is, by opening their eyes when they think a minute is up. Try playing this game using a piece of music. Did players guess a longer or shorter time for a minute? Another way to play is to get everyone to walk between two walls trying to move slowly or quickly enough that they will reach the wall just as a minute is up. If you reach the wall before time you are out.

(Inspired by Christine Gapes. New Games for Community)

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• What do you hate waiting for?
• When do you find waiting most difficult?
• What do you do to make waiting easier?
• What can’t you wait for?

Story 

With your family read Luke 3.1-6

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at

http://www.sermons4kids.com/fanfare-for-a-king.html

Questions for Discussion:

• How do we prepare for important guests in your house?
• How might we prepare for Christmas?
• How might we prepare for Jesus to change our lives? 

Prayer and Celebration

Advent Prayer Pattern

This pattern may be used this week to begin meal times or to begin a family sharing time.

It may begin by asking everyone to quieten down and to think about what it means to wait and to think of one word to describe that feeling. During the prayer the leader is going to say: “Waiting feels like…” and each person will be free to speak her word aloud. Parents might need to help little ones with a word that describes the feeling of waiting.

1.        Music. Choose a piece of gentle music to listen to. Try some different pieces each time to try and find one that expresses a feeling of waiting.

2.        Prayer: All of us wait. Each day brings its own dose of waiting. We wait in the dentist’s office, at sports practice, at school, for parents and children, for brothers and sisters. We wait for dinner to be ready, for the refund, for the letter from a friend. We wait to be big enough to ride the roller coaster, old enough to stay up late, secure enough to be on our own. Our waiting feels like…(give people a chance to voice their feeling) Advent calls us to celebrate waiting. Each time we wait, help us to remember how the world waited for a saviour. Help us to remember we are always waiting for your return. Help us find and recognise you in each other. As we wait. We are Advent people.

3.        Lord, the N…family is waiting for you.

All: Come, Lord Jesus.

(Rituals and Icebreakers. Kathleen O’Connel Chesto.Ligouri)

Service

Now is a great time of year as we move towards Christmas to begin think about how you may serve those in need. Christmas can be a sad and lonely time of year for many people. How might your family serve Christ the King this Advent and Christmas, and make a different in people’s lives at the same time. Here are a few quick ideas.

• Instead of or as well, buying gifts for each other buy an animal for a family overseas from an organisation like: Oxfam 
• Serve in a homeless shelter or soup kitchen.

 Family Time

Nativity Exploration

 In this period as we move towards Christmas why not use art work to explore the story a Jesus birth. Apart from the many Christmas cards that you may receive the internet also provides a wealth of resources. If you go to http://www.textweek.com/art/nativity.htm you will find links to many depictions of the birth of Christ through the ages. Invite your family to choose their favourite picture and to describe what they like about it? Discuss the different pictures and what you find interesting in them. Get each member to draw their own nativity picture and explain it.

(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 November 22 2015

At the end of this week we enter the season of Advent, a time that is focussed on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ, we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart every day. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on earth. Over the next four weeks the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.

In addition to the weekly resources have a look at the special Advent  page (over at top right) for some ideas and resources on how to celebrate the season well in your home.

Weekly Inspiration

Let God's promises shine on your problems. 

~Corrie Ten Boom

Family Closeness

Game:

Pay Off

This simplified version of pay off can be played with any number of family members. Everyone needs a red token or piece of paper and a black token or piece of paper. Family members will get points depending on what token they and others show. At the start you decide on how many rounds you will play. It should probably be at least five. Family members decide which token they will show but not let other family members know. On the count of three everyone will place their token on the table at the same time. Points are awarded in the following way:

• If everyone puts down red – everyone loses two points.
• If some family members put down red and some put down black – those who put down black get 2 points, those who put down red lose 2 points.
• If everyone puts down black – everyone gets 2 points.

Only have discussions after every three rounds about what you put down or to make promises about what you will put down next go. This could be a good source of family discussion about promises and keeping them.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family. 

• What are the biggest promises people make in their life?
• Why are some promises hard to keep?
• How do you feel if someone doesn’t keep their promise?
• What do you think God has promised us? 

Story

With your family read Luke 21.25-31

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

Questions for Discussion:

• What do you think this reading is about?
• What might it mean for the kingdom of God to come near?
• What signs do you see that seasons are changing? 

Prayer and Celebration

This week take a look at the special Advent page to get some great ideas for celebrating this season. Most of the ideas will require some preparation.

Service

The AdventConspiracy website provides a great way to think about Advent with the charge to : Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All. It encourages us to think about how we might reshape the time that leads to Christmas in a life giving and countercultural way.

http://www.adventconspiracy.org/

Family Time

Begin thinking about how you might do something really special together as a family for Christmas. How might you really spend quality time together, how might you truly give of yourselves to one another. Throughout this blog there are hundreds of ideas for spending time with your family. Find something special and enjoy the time.

(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