Faithful Families Resources January 10 2016

Weekly Inspiration

If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.

~Francis of Assisi

Family Closeness

Game:

No Yes or No

This is a simple but fun game that can be played around the dinner table. One person is up and must answer questions from the rest of the family without saying the words “yes” or “no”. It is the task of everyone else to get them to say these words. Questions can be asked by anyone in random order or a particular family member may be given the chance to try and trick the one who is up.

Sharing

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• What are some ways to show hospitality to others?
• How can you show someone you care about them?
• How would you like your family to show care for you?

Story

With your family read: John 2.1-11

 Questions for Discussion:

• Why do you think Jesus mother told him there was no wine?
• What do you think of Jesus response to his mother?
• What do you think of Jesus making wine at a wedding as his first miracle?
• What do you think this story tells us about Jesus and about God? 

Prayer and Celebration

Squeezy Prayer

One way to pray is to use "squeezy" prayers. Everyone holds hands in a circle. An adult will begin the prayer. When they have finished they  squeeze the person's hand next to them to show it is their turn. They may pray out loud, or silently, or may squeeze on to the next person.  When the squeeze has reached the starting person they may say another closing prayer or just: Amen.

Here are suggestions for ways of using the squeezy prayer:

• Using a squeezy prayer ask God for something that is needed in the world…like peace or understanding or for help in a particular problem in the world.
• Using a squeezy prayer say thank you for a good friend or friends. Say them by name and even say something you like about them.
• Using a squeezy prayer say thank you for something that you are good at. 

Service

Clean up a park or your neighbourhood

One simple way of serving your local community is to spend some time picking up rubbish in a local park or in your neighbourhood. This is a wonderful way to teach children about Christian stewardship of the earth. Have a conversation about how as followers of Jesus we  are to live as Jesus kingdom has come and this means being part of the restoration of the earth. You might also like to talk about how we should do good even when it cannot be seen by others.

In some places it may not be safe for children or adults to collect rubbish because of needles or other dangerous items. An assessment of this needs to be made in your area and appropriate safety precautions (gloves etc) employed or the decision to do something else.

Family Time

Build a Fort Night

With your family make a fort in your house big enough for your whole family to sit in. This can be done by hanging and draping blankets and  sheets over chairs and dining room tables and whatever else is around. Try to build the biggest fort you can. Eat dinner in it together and play some games. Read Psalm 46.1-3 together and have a discussion about what it means for God to be your fortress and shelter.

(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