A child is not a vase to be filled, but a fire to be lit.
François Rabelais
Family Closeness
Game:
Blobtionary
Just like pictionary only using play doh. This can be played with two or more. Write twenty words down on a piece of paper and put them in a hat. The difficulty of the word will depend on the ages playing. One person picks out the word and has to make the ‘it’ using the play doh. The other person has to guess what word is being made. No speaking or gesturing to give hints is allowed. Words could include: Dog, Girl, Elephant, happy. Use your imagination. If four or more are playing then two teams can race to make the one word.
Sharing:
These questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about your family. The key is to listen!!
Which are you like…and why or how?
This one helps older children use their imagination:
- a couch or a rocking chair
- green or yellow
- pizza or icecream
- Saturday or Wednesday
- an onion or an apple
Story
With your family read Matthew 21.1-11: Jesus enters Jerusalem
(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at http://www.sermons4kids.com/cheers2jeers.html
Questions for Discussion:
- What did Jesus ride on into the city?
- What was the name of the city Jesus rode into?
- What did the people put on the ground in front of Jesus?
- Why do you think they did this?
Discuss with your family what was interesting about the story or what made you think. What did the story tell us about Jesus? Try using some “I wonders” that emerge from the story. (I wonder how Jesus felt? I wonder what was going on in this story?)
Once upon a time, two weevils travelled from the farm to the big city to seek their fortune. Upon arriving, the first weevil got a job in the movies. As time went by, he moved to bigger and better movies until he became internationally renowned as a great movie star. The other weevil, however, was unable to find any employment and, as time passed, he faded into total obscurity. That was fifty years ago. But today, do you suppose anyone remembers that weevil who was once a great movie star? No! But we do remember the other one - the one who was a failure - for, even today, we refer to him as "the lesser of two weevils."
Prayer and Celebration
This week, we focus on prayers of praise and adoration. Think about the adoration Jesus was given as he entered Jerusalem. Sing a song of praise together at the dinner table. Find something to wave in the air while you are singing. It could be a palm branch or something you find close at hand like a tea towel or t-shirt. Remember that the people who waved palm branches at Jesus found whatever was at hand. Name all the things that are great about Jesus and why you think he is special.
Service
Throughout any year there are many days that are dedicated to different charities or issues in society. There are websites like http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/calendar/ that list these days that are occurring in your state, region or country. This can be used as a tool to broaden the horizon of your children about the many needs in the world and the ways people seek to address them.
- Look up what is happening in any particular week.
- Explore the organisation that is sponsoring it or the issue behind it.
- Pray as a family for the needs highlighted by the day or week, being celebrated and for the organisations working in the area.
- Consider attending events or running your own to support a particular need.
- Think about ways you might contribute or donate to make a difference.
Family Time
Palm Crosses
Many churches celebrate the coming Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) as Palm Sunday. On this day we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey and people placing branches on the ground before him. This week, why not make your own palm crosses at home as a way of helping your children remember the story.
Below is a link to a YouTube video that will show you how to do it. There are many other websites online that will show you how to make them.
(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
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