Faithful Families Resources June 14 2015

The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family.  

~Lee Iacocca

Family Closeness

Game:

Food, Friends and Fireworks

This game has three motions which are:

Food - rub your belly and say "mmmmm"

Friends - hold out both arms wide and say "heeeeyyyy"

Fireworks- clap both hands over your head and then say "shhhhhhhh" as you slowly lower your arms to your sides.

                                                

Family members close their eyes. On the count of three they must open their eyes and try to match one of the three motions with everyone else at the table. There is to be no talking or planning and everyone at the table must do the same thing.

Count to three and say "Go!"

If everyone matches yell out "Yes!" and pump your fist in the air.

If you do not match say "D'Oh" and lightly bump yourself on the head.

See how many turns it takes to get it right.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Finish these sentences:

• I am grateful to my parents for . .  .
• My mum/dad is/are proud of me when . . .
• One way to try to help at home is. . .

Story

With your family read Mark 4.35-41

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at http://www.sermons4kids.com/peace-be-still.html

Questions for Discussion:

• Why were the disciples scared?
• What does this reading teach us about Jesus?
• What do you think the disciples thought about Jesus after this event?
• How can we trust Jesus despite the storms around us?

Prayer and Celebration

Stillness

In the past I have taught my daughters about stillness. I did this in a pretty simple way by getting the family to stop , close their eyes and count twenty breaths before we eat dinner. Being still in the presence of God can be powerful for people who are used to twenty four seven connectivity. Often we forget to connect with God. Instead of counting breathes you could just time a minute but the act of counting breaths can provide children with something to focus on while they are learning to be still.

Service

Start a mini project with your family to discover the local charities or service organisations in your neighbourhood or local area. Find out what they do, who they help and how people can contribute to them in terms of service or goods.

Encourage your family to go without a particular treat for a week or a month. Save the money you would have spent and donate it to a charity that you have discovered.

With your family donate some things you no longer need to a local charity such as LifeLine or Salvation Army. Encourage your children to think about what toys or clothes they no longer use that they might give away. Talk to them about how some children have no toys.

Family Time

Captured Sounds

Use a recording device (iphone or other) to capture sounds from around the house. Play them back for your family to hear and see how many of the sounds your family can guess correctly.

(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