The
Family - “That dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in
our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to.”
-Dodie Smith
Family
Closeness
Game:
King
of the Table
Everyone at the table gets an empty plastic cup and places it to the side of them – this
is their throne. Screw up some pieces of soft paper into small balls that will
fit inside the cups (cotton balls could also be used as an even gentler
option). Make sure you have plenty - maybe ten each. On the count of three everyone begins
throwing their paper trying to get it in each other’s cup. The cup can’t be defended. As soon as someones cup has
paper in it they must turn it over. Whoever is
the last to have their cup filled is the King or Queen of the Table.
Sharing:
Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.
- What would be the best thing about being king or queen?
- What would be the worth thing about being king or queen?
- What would a good king or queen be like?
- What would a terrible king or queen be like?
Story
This Sunday is celebrated by
many churches as ‘Christ the King’. It is the last Sunday in the church’s year
before the season of Advent, a special time of waiting and preparation for the
birth of Christ and his return. Apart from the reading listed below, you might
like to read some of the other passage where Jesus uses the image of a king in
his parables. Try Matthew 22.1-4 and Luke 19.11-26
With
your family read John 18.33-37
(for
a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at http://www.sermons4kids.com/crown_him_king.htm
Questions
for Discussion:
- What do you think Jesus meant by “my kingdom is not of this world?”
- What did Jesus say people who “belong to the truth” do?
- What kind of king is Jesus?
Prayer
and Celebration
Praise to the King
In this week when
we celebrate Christ the King focus on prayers of praise and adoration. Have
your family think of all the wonderful things they would want to say about God
and put these in a prayer. In 1st Chronicles 29:10-13 King David prays a prayer
of praise to God.
“Praise be to You,
O Lord,
God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, O Lord, is
the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the
splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is Yours.
Yours, O Lord, is
the kingdom,
You are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor
come from You;
You are the ruler of all things.
In Your hands are
strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we
give You thanks,
and praise Your glorious name.” (NIV)
Family
Time
King or Queen for a Day
This might best be done in the holidays when there
is some time to spend. Let each of your family members, including parents, be
king or queen for the day. This might begin with a crowning in the morning
along with breakfast in bed. The king or queen doesn’t have to do any chores on
this particular day, the rest of the family look after them. Let the regent
choose what games and activities the family might engage in for the day as well
as what food they might eat. It is important that some family guidelines are
set for this so that it remains a fun game and not something that might turn
children into “bossy little emperors”. At the end of the day during dinner talk
about the experience of being king or queen for the day. What was good about
it, what wasn’t so great.
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