Faithful Families Resources March 9 2014

A mother, father and their seven year old daughter were seated in a restaurant. The waitress first took the order from the adults, and then, she turned to the little girl. “What will you have?” she asked. The little girl looked timidly at her parents and then said to the waitress, “I’ll have a hot dog on a bun.” “No hot dog,” said her mother. “She’ll have a nice piece of roasted chicken.” “With mashed potatoes and vegetables,” added her father. The waitress kept looking straight at the little girl and she asked, “Would you like tomato sauce or mustard on your hot dog?” “Mustard, please,” replied the little girl. “Coming right up,” said the waitress, as she headed to the kitchen. The family sat in stunned silence. Finally the little girl looked at her parents and said, ‘You know what? She thinks that I am real!”

Family Closeness

Game

Emotions

Everyone shuts their eyes and someone calls out an emotion (joy, sorrow, happiness). Everyone tries to portray this emotion through facial expression. When the caller says open, everyone must open their eyes to see each other’s expression.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• Have you ever found yourself in a big mess as a result of telling a lie?
• Who did you lie to?
•  What mess did it create?
• What did you do? Is it now resolved? How?
• What would you do differently next time?

(Have You Ever…Les Christie. Zondervan)

Story

With your family read: John 3.1-17  Nicodemus Visits Jesus

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

 Questions for Discussion:

• Why do you think Nicodemus might have visited Jesus at night?
• What do you think Jesus meant by being born anew or born from above?
• What might is it mean to be changed into a child of God?
• When you are in trouble do prefer someone to help you or tell you what you have done wrong?

Prayer and Celebration

We are now in the season of Lent, the forty days preceding Easter Day. This is traditionally a time of repentance (saying sorry and turning from sin). The resources for prayer and celebration for the next six weeks will focus on ways your family might “celebrate” well this season. Lent is a good time to focus on God’s care and provision and on our dependence on him, but also on saying sorry.

Why do we have “seasons” of the church year? In a wonderful way they help us to tell more fully the story of faith, the story of Jesus. During Advent we are alerted to the coming of Christ, not only as a baby 2000 years ago, but also of his return. In Epiphany we become aware of the presence of God in our world and the mission of Christ to proclaim the redeeming kingdom of God. This season, Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, forty days before Easter focuses on repentance, turning from sin, turning from self worship, remembering that God is our creator. Lent also focuses on the covenant or promises God has made with his people through the ages and now.

Often in Lent people give up something they enjoy like chocolate or coffee or ice-cream or TV, this is a form of fasting to help us remember our ultimate dependence on God. Sometimes people take something up like the reading of scripture more intently or more regular visits to church.

Lent is a season of remembering to say sorry to God for missing the mark. While Lent is a time of repentance and penitence it does not have to be a morbid time as we also look forward to the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter. Why not use some symbols to help your family get a feel for the Season of Lent. Some of the following things could be used during your family prayer time or mealtime ritual to mark the season.

Smell:  Rosemary.

Taste:   Salt.

Colour:Purple.

Feel:     Hessian

Sound: “I’m sorry”

This is a possible prayer to use during this season at the meal table or other times.

God calls us to say sorry for wrong doing.

God calls us to remember that he made us.

God calls us to remember his promises.

God calls us to live a new way,

not by might,

not by power,

but by faith…

 The Anglican Board of Mission has a fantastic app out that has a prayer, reflection and activity for every day of Lent. Links to download it can be found here:

http://www.abmission.org/lent

 Service

There are many ways to entrench patterns of compassion, thoughtfulness and care for others into our family life.  Our children should have significant memories of kindness and generous acts of faithful serving.  These should be spontaneous as well as constructed events. Examples of this include:

Connecting with a local service [aged care home meals on wheels, service for disabled, animal welfare league, local conservation group, rural fire brigade, S.E.S. etc etc], volunteering as a family.

Family Time

Candlelight Talk

Turn off all the lights and sit with your family. Discuss what it might be like living in the dark. What might some of the problems be? Light a candle and talk about how one of the names for God is light. Ask, “What difference does lighting this candle make to our room?” Talk about the difference knowing God makes in your life. (Adventures for Growing Families. Wes & Sheryl Haystead)

(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 March 2 2014

Appreciate every moment with your children.   Don't wish their childhood away.

One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car you drove, or what kind of house you lived in, or how many books you wrote, or what your clothes looked like.

But the world may be a little better because you were important in the life of a child.

Anon

Family Closeness

Game:

Alliteration

Pick a letter at random. Go around your family taking turns to say a different word beginning with that letter. Go around as many times as you can. Stop only when a word is repeated or you can’t think of any more. (New Games for Community - C Gapes)

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• What is the best thing and the worst thing that happened to you this week.
• What is something that you might say thank you to God for this week
• What is one thing you think you are good at? 
• Tell the members of your family something you think they are good at.

Story

With your family read: Matthew 4.1-11

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

Questions for Discussion:

• What things tempt you the most? When is it hard to resist temptation?
• What were the three things that the Devil wanted to tempt Jesus with?
• How did Jesus respond to each temptation?
• What can this teach us about how to respond when we are tempted?

Prayer and Celebration

We are now entering the Season of Lent, the forty days preceding Easter Day. This is traditionally a time of repentance (saying sorry and turning from sin). The resources for prayer and celebration for the next six weeks will focus on ways your family might “celebrate” well this season. Lent is a good time to focus on God’s care and provision and on our dependence on him, but also on saying sorry.

Why do we have “seasons” of the church year? In a wonderful way they help us to tell more fully the story of faith, the story of Jesus. During Advent we are alerted to the coming of Christ, not only as a baby 2000 years ago, but also of his return. In Epiphany we become aware of the presence of God in our world and the mission of Christ to proclaim the redeeming kingdom of God. This season, Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, forty days before Easter focuses on repentance, turning from sin, turning from self worship, remembering that God is our creator. Lent also focuses on the covenant or promises God has made with his people through the ages and now.

Lenten Thanksgiving Bowl

This week place a bowl in the middle of your table. Place some blank strips of paper and a pen next to it. Each night spend some time writing things you would like to say thank you to God for. Place them in the bowl. Smaller children might like to draw pictures.

Prayers to use in Lent

Dear God,

thank you that your love

is deeper than the ocean

and bigger than the sky.

No matter what we do,

you still love us

and welcome us home.

Amen.

Dear God

Help us when we hurt.

Help us to know what to do.

Help us forgive.

Amen.

App for Lent

The Anglican Board of Mission has a fantastic app out that has a prayer, reflection and activity for every day of Lent. Links to download it can be found here:

http://www.abmission.org/lent

 Service

Anglican Board of Mission – Australia

One mission organisation in Australia that does fantastic work is ABM-A. Their vision is: ABM believes in a world where all people enjoy God's promise of love, hope and justice.Their website is worth checking out. In particular look in their resources menu under Lent. http://www.abmission.org

ABM-A has a Lenten Appeal every year.  This year they are supporting three differentr programs in Australia and overseas.

http://www.abmission.org/_appeals/

Family Time

Use an old newspapers to make costumes for your family. Have a fashion parade and take some photos. Make “formal dress” and wear them to the table for a special dinner.

[Having trouble playing?  When Jesus said we must change and become like children, he could have meant many things.  One of them surely is about playing.  Play is a serious way of being together and learning together.  This is the principle activity through which children learn and grow.  A corollary to that is laughter.  The God who brings laughter [see Sarah’s words in Genesis 21.6] speaks through Jesus and tells us to change and . . . play like children? So let go, have fun, and live life with enthusiasm](Living faithfully, simply)

(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 February 23 2014

No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure."

~ Emma Goldman

Family Closeness

Game:

Five House

One family member makes a list of five things to be found in your house. For example: something fluffy, something you can balance on your head, something that makes a sound, something hard, something blue, something used for cleaning. The rest of the family must then go and find five things that match the list. The first person back whose collection matches the list according to the list maker wins.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• If I could become a colour, I would be … because
• Something I’d like to do in the future is . . .
• Of my five senses, the one I would most hate to lose is . . . because  . . .

 Story

With your family read: Matthew 17.1-9

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

 Questions for Discussion:

• Why do you think Jesus was changed on the mountain top?
• What do you think of the disciples reaction?
• What does this story tell us about Jesus?

 Prayer and Celebration

Praying in the car

Driving children to schools can be stressful but it could also be an opportunity to stop and pray and bring a moment of peace before a hectic day. Encourage your  children to name some of the things they will do or confront in the day and pray for them.

Family Time

Family Walk

Going for a walk with your family is not only a great way to get exercise but provides an ideal opportunity to talk and enjoy one another’s company. 

(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 February 16 2014

Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Family Closeness

Game:

Tower of Flour

Fill a desert bowl with flour. Place a plate on top of it and then carefully turn them over together. Lift the bowl up and you should have pile of flower the shape of the bowl. Put a jelly baby or other lolly on top of the flour. Family members take turns to cut a slice from the mound with a butter knife, without disturbing the jelly baby. The one who makes the flour collapse has to pick up the sweet from the plate in their mouth.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family:

If you could create a perfect room for yourself, what kind of room would it be? (Bedroom, Dining Room, Bathroom, Study, Play room) What would it look like inside? What things would you have inside it? Describe what you would like to do in this room? Encourage your family to use their imagination to describe it in as much detail as possible.(Icebreakers and Heartwarmers. Steve Sheely)

Story

With your family read: Matthew 5.38-48

 Questions for Discussion:

• Is what Jesus asking for in this passage easy or hard?
• What makes it hard?
• Why do you think he taught these things?
• What might it mean to love your enemies?

Prayer and Celebration

This week learn a new prayer off by heart, together. Write or find a prayer that you can use with your family every night at mealtimes and family sharing times. The prayer does not have to be complicated, but simple enough for everyone to remember. It might include some lines of thanks or praise or asking. Here is on prayer you might learn together.

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for all the benefits you have won for us, for all the pains and insults you have borne for us.  Most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. 

St Richard of Chichester [1197-1253]

Family Time

Show and Tell Night

Get each of your family members to share something. It could be a picture they like, a hobby or interest, something they have learned, ma joke or story, something they have made or made up, a game, something they found in the back yard. 

(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 February 9 2014

Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.

 ~Dr Haim Ginott

Family Closeness

Game:

Paper Strips

Give everyone in your family a sheet of newspaper and tell them to  tear it into as long a strip as possible. For a greater challenge turn off the lights

Sharing

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• Have you ever worn something in public that embarrassed your parents?
• What was it?
• Where was it?
• What did your parents do or say?
• What happened?

 Story

With your family read: Psalm 119.1-9

 Questions for Discussion:

• What do you think of this Psalm?
• What does it mean to be blameless?
• How can we walk in the law of the Lord?

Prayer and Celebration

Passing of the Cross

Use a small wooden cross or even a metal one on a chain. In a circle the cross is taken up. Who ever holds the cross is the person who prays.  This prayer begins with one person who either says a prayer out loud or silently says or imagines a prayer. The cross is passed when the person who holds it is finished.  Each person takes their turn. 

Prompts may be given by the someone as the cross is passed.

 Eg. See…a friend in need, a hurt that needs healing…etc.

Pray one sentence…prompt:  thank you God for

 Service

Throughout any year there are many days that are dedicated to different charities or issues in society. There are websites like the following 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

Fast Progressive Dinner

As a fun different meal idea take your family on a fast food progressive dinner. Start at one fast food place for entrée…maybe fries, move to another for main course and then on to another for dessert. To make it even more unusual don't decide where you will go..put the names of all the fast food places you know into a hat and draw them out as you go along.

(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 February 2 2014

I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.

~Louisa May Alcott

Family Closeness

Game:

Blow Wind Blow

Everyone sits around the table. Select one family member to start off without a seat. You want once less seat like in musical chairs. The standing family member begins by calling out "Blow wind blow". The rest of the family responds "blow what?" Then the standing family members say some kind of statement like "everyone wearing red" or "everyone not wearing shoes". All the family members that fit into that category must get up and switch chairs with another family member. This allows a chance for the person standing to steal a chair also. Once everyone has finished switching as quickly as possible, there will be one family member left stuck in the middle….and you can start all over again.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• What is your idea of an ideal day?
• If you were invisible where would you go and what would you do?
• What do you worry about the most?

Story:

With your family read: Matthew 5.13-20

Questions for Discussion:

• What do we use salt for?
• What do you think Jesus meant when he called his followers salt?
• What might it mean to be a light for other people?
• How can you let your light shine more brightly?

Prayer and Celebration

Praying ACTS

Often children get into the habit of always praying thank you prayers or always praying asking prayers. One way to help them broaden their idea of prayer is to teach them this simple way of remembering some different types of prayer.

A – adoration : Prayers telling God how wonderful He is.

C – confession : Prayers saying sorry for the wrong we have done.

T – thanksgiving : Prayers thanking God for all He has done.

S – supplication: Prayers asking God for the things we and others need.

On different days of the week you might like to get your family to talk about and pray each of the different types of prayers. Alternatively you could write the four letters on pieces of paper and pick them out of a hat to determine which one you will use. When it come to confession prayers help your children think not just about their own personal sin but the things we as a people have failed to do – like care for the environment or the needy.

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 & Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning

Faithful Families Resources January 5 2014

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Family Closeness

Game:

Free Scrabble

This game uses the scrabble pieces but not the board. Everyone starts with seven tiles. It is played like Scrabble but players put words directly on the table. The first person to run out of tiles yells “pick two” and everyone takes two more tiles. During the game, you can rearrange the tiles laid out but you can’t remove any. Playing continues until someone uses up all their tiles and there are no more remaining in the pile.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• What would you like your friends to say about you?
• What would you like your parents to say to you?
• What is the most encouraging thing anyone has ever said to you?

Story

With your family read: Matthew 3.13.17

 Questions for Discussion:

• Why do you think Jesus wanted to be baptised?
• How did John the Baptists feel about baptising Jesus?
• What happened when Jesus came out of the water?
• How do you think this would have made Jesus feel?

Prayer and Celebration

Squeezy Prayer

The squeezy prayer is one of the easiest ways to pray in a group. Everyone holds hands in a circle. An adult will begin the prayer. When they have finished they  squeeze the persons hand next to them to show it is there 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. A gift God has given you.

Service

There are many ways to entrench patterns of compassion, thoughtfulness and care for others into our family life.  Our children should have significant memories of kindness and generous acts of faithful serving.  These should be spontaneous as well as constructed events. Examples of this include: Connecting with a local service [aged care home meals on wheels, service for disabled, animal welfare league, local conservation group, rural fire brigade, S.E.S. etc etc], volunteering as a family. Adopting a special person in the community or neighbourhood and engaging in regular patterns of care.

Family Time

Learn something from your children. It could be anything like getting a lesson about the instrument they learn at school, playing a computer game they are good at, some skill they know. Become your child’s student for a while and discover what they can teach you.

(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