faithful families

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Faithful Families Resources August 9 2015

There is an interconnectedness among members that bonds the family, much like mountain climbers who rope themselves together when climbing a mountain, so that if someone should slip or need support, he's held up by the others until he regains his footing.

Phil McGraw, Family First

Family Closeness

Game:

...a few of my favourite things

Everyone at the dinner table says five of their favourite things. This could be a favourite colour, number, tv show, movies, animal, friend, toy, food, book. The following night you can test your memory and see if you can remember the 5 favourite things that all the family members told you the previous evening.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be? Why?
What is the bravest thing you have ever done?
Have you ever wanted to grow up faster? Why? What is good about the age you are now? What would be good about being older?

Story

With your family read John 6.51-58

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

Questions for Discussion:

What upset the people listening to Jesus?
What do we get from eating Jesus body and blood?

Prayer and Celebration

Intercessory Prayer

A useful image used for intercessory prayer is a stretcher. From Mark 2.3-12, some people lowered their paralytic friend through the roof into the presence of Jesus. This is a good image of the work of intercessory prayer. That is, don’t labour too hard with the words to use, simply do the hard work of placing or ‘lowering’ the person into the presence of Jesus.

Place on the stretcher, someone you know who needs help.

Silence

Lower on the stretcher someone who you can love better this week.

Silence

Put onto the stretcher a place that needs peace.

Silence

Put onto the stretcher one who needs healing.

Silence

Put on the stretcher a hope of yours for your life.

Silence

Lord in your mercy, receive our prayer.

Family Time

Family Time Line

To help your family think about good things God has given you, work together to make a family time line. Draw a line in the centre of a long sheet of paper. Choose a starting date to write at the left end of the line. Your time line may cover a week, a one month period, or the school holidays, or a year. To help family members think of time line events, ask questions such as: "What was something we did that we really enjoyed? How did someone help us in a special way? Who are some new friends our family made?"Display the time line on a wall or door. Allow younger children to enjoy drawing pictures to illustrate the time line. (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

Monday, August 3, 2015

Faithful Families Resources August 2 2015

For me, nothing has ever taken precedence over being a mother and having a family and a home.

Jessica Lange

Family Closeness

Game:

Tapping hands

Each person crosses their arms over those of the person next to them and places their hands on the table. One person starts by tapping once and others follow in order of hands in one direction. When someone else taps twice, the direction reverses. If you tap out of turn, the game starts over. How many times can you go around the table?

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

How many people from different countries do you know? When might it be difficult to be friendly to someone who is different from you?
What is the best thing that happened to you this week? What was the worst?
What unexpected thing happened to you this week?
What is something new you learnt today or this week?

Story

With your family read John 6.35,41-51

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

Questions for Discussion:

Why do you think people were upset that Jesus said he was the bread of life?
What does Jesus say will happen in we eat the living bread?
What does Jesus say is the bread that he gives? What do you think this means?

Prayer and Celebration

Actions for a variation of The Lords Prayer

Our Father in heaven, [finger pointing up]

You are a holy God. [open palm pointed high, head dipped reverently]

Come and rule our hearts.[open palm brought down to rest over heart]

Do what’s best on earth [finger pointing down]

as in heaven.[rotate arm to point finger upwards]

Please keep us alive with food.[hand as bowl,

other doing a scooping action to mouth]

keep us forgiven with you[closed hand warmly rotating over heart]

and forgiving with others.[same hand, finger pointing to all around in sweeping action]

Keep us holding your hand[one hand into the other hand]

and safe from all wickedness.

[two hands up, elbows straight and a firm shielding action]

You’re in charge![strong action, two hands pointing up]

You can do anything you want! [both palms open out, raised]

You are God, for ever and ever.

[hands get further apart like measuring something bigger and bigger]

Amen. [closed fist brought down on an open palm].

Service

Anglican Board of Mission – Australia

One mission organisation in Australia that does fantastic work is ABM-A. Their vision is: ABM wants to see people everywhere experience the wholeness of life God offers in Jesus Christ, and to this end support our Partners as they participate in God's mission.

Their website is worth checking out and in particular under their resources menu is a section called “watch” that has videos of some of the work they do. Some of these videos would be appropriate to show family members around the table.

http://www.abmission.org/

Family Time

No electricity night.

This is a great idea to help your family think about their dependence on electricity and also how they might be able to reduce their energy consumption to help the environment. It also might help you all to think about how many people live throughout the world.Have a night at home where you cannot use anything that requires electricity. This includes cooking the meal and lights and everything else.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Faithful Families Resources July 19 2015

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.

~Richard Bach

Family Closeness

Game:

Dark Dog

Everyone is given a blank piece of paper to draw on. Either blind fold everyone or get them to close their eyes. Then they must draw a dog on their paper. Once they have done this they must put a collar on the dog and a bone in front of him. Undo the blindfold and have a look at your drawings.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Finish these sentences:

If I had to be separated from my family for a long time, I would really miss . . .[whom or what?] because . . .
The most difficult pressure on young people is . . .
When I feel under pressure I . . .

Story

With your family read John 6.1-21

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at

http://www.sermons4kids.com/all_day_preaching_dinner_on_the_grounds.htm

Questions for Discussion:

Why do you think these stories are important?
Why did Jesus withdraw when they wanted to make him king?
What surprises you about these stories?

Prayer and Celebration

Teaspoon Prayers

One simple pattern for shaping prayer is to remember the three words – thank you, sorry and please. The first three letters of these are TSP which reminds us of a teaspoon. Teach this to your children so that they can remember a way of praying that includes these three things. Have a teaspoon on your dinner table to remind the family to pray for these three things before eating each night. You could even decorate the teaspoon in some special way so that it stands out and you don’t forget.

Service

Service Project for Families with Elementary Age Children

Have families cut out grocery coupons to give to a local foodbank

Make gift baskets for a nearby nursing home or assisted facility for older adults
Schedule a time for families to hold and rock babies in a hospital nursury
Be welcoming attendants as a family at a shelter or drop in centre.
Have families volunteer to stuff a church bulletin with a large mailing at your church.

Bonus Family Activity

Library

Take your family to the library and find some books on topics of interest to them. Try to find some books that the whole family might like to look at or share together. These could include books on art or puzzles or animals..

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Faithful Families Resources July 12 2015

As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live

~ John Paul II

Family Closeness

Game:

One Word

In this game the family must have a conversation with each other by speaking only one word messages back and forth. Some possible topics for discussion could include:

a favourite food.
a favourite sports team.
a fear.
a dream
a recent accomplishment.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Finish these sentences:

I would like to be more like ________ because . . .
Something I really like about myself is . . .
I have a dream: that . . .

Story

With your family read Mark 6.30-34

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

Questions for Discussion:

Where did Jesus want to take the disciples?
Why did he want to take them there?
What do you think this says about serving God and working?

Prayer and Celebration

Secret Hat Prayer

Put all your family members’ names in a hat. Each member of the family must draw out a name but not tell anyone. During the week encourage the member of your family to pray for that person each day. Get them to choose a time when they will do this. Help them to think about things they might pray for such as: health, work/school, growth, knowledge, faith, things they need help with or giving thanks for the person. Parents might need to remind children of the time they have chosen each day. This activity helps children to start thinking about praying for others when they are on their own.

Service

One of the profoundest ways that we might share our love of Christ and our love of life with others is not through words but through our loving actions. Here are some suggestions for your family to share with those who live around you.

Invite another family who you are friendly with to church followed by a BBQ.

Bake something for your neighbours – maybe biscuits or a cake. (Do you know your neighbours? Where I live I have had six sets of neighbours on one side in the space of five years.)

When you see people moving in why not invite them over for some food or take a cake or biscuits over to them or some cold drinks.

If you know of an elderly or chronically ill person who is having difficulty with their garden why not get your family to adopt them. That is, regularly as a family go and mow the grass, weed, clean up and maybe plant some flowers.

Bonus Family Activity

Kickball

Get the family outdoors this week with a game of kickball. Line up facing each other across the yard and kick the ball to each other. Trying kicking the ball as close to the person your trying to reach as possible. Relax, have fun and talk while you a kicking the ball.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Faithful Families Resources July 5 2015

A tree is known by its fruit

~ Proverb

Family Closeness

Game:

Egg Cracking Contest

Each family member holds an egg in their hand, small end up and challenge someone to crack their egg. The challenged player taps the egg of the challenger with their own egg. If the challenged cracks the egg of the challenger they win the challengers cracked egg. If their own is cracked they turn in over to the challenger. This continues until only one uncracked egg remains and the player is declared, “the great uncracked”. Needless to say, hard boiled eggs are used for this game.

(Taken from Games for all ages and how to use them – Wackerbarth and Graham)

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Finish these sentences:

If I could become a colour, I would be … because
I can help the environment by . . .
The best thing about a true friend is . . .

Story

With your family read Mark 6.17-29

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at http://www.sermons4kids.com/one-thing-leads-to-another.html

Questions for Discussion:

Why did Herod have John the Baptist arrested?
Why did Herod refuse to kill John? What changed his mind?
What are your thoughts about this story?

Prayer and Celebration

m & m prayers…

After dinner pass around a bowl of m & m’s. Everyone must take a handful but no one can eat any yet. For each different colour they get they need to pray for a different person or thing.

For every green M & M tell God something that you are thankful for.

For every red M & M pray for a member of your family by name

For every orange M & M pray for a teacher in your life

For every yellow M & M pray for one of your classmates or friends.

For every dark brown M & M pray for a leader in your life.

For every light brown M & M you chose, pray for Christians in other countries.

Service

Winter can be a very difficult time for people living on the streets. Find a charity in your area that takes donations of blankets or winter clothes. Donate items you no longer need or use, or go to the shop and buy some warm blankets to donate. Before donating ring the charity to ask what they could use.

Bonus Family Activity

Go to the theatre

Take your family to see a local play. Discover what performances are happening in your local theatre or even what school productions are happening. This doesn’t have to be an expensive outing.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

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.

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Faithful Families Resources June 7 2015

In time of test, family is best.

~Burmese Proverb

Family Closeness

Game:

What’s the object?

One family member writes the name of an object on a piece of paper and gives it to another family member. The person with the card then has to describe the object without actually saying its name. Other members of the family then have to guess what the object is. Other words that might be helpful in describing the object could also be written on the card to make it harder to describe. Pictionary cards could also be used for this game if your family is made up of two people.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Finish these sentences:

The best way to enjoy each new day is . . .
One way to stop bullying and mocking is . . .
Some thing which puzzles me is . . .

Story

With your family read Mark 4.26-34

(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at

http://www.sermons4kids.com/planting_seeds.htm

Questions for Discussion:

Why do you think Jesus told stories (parables) to explain God’s kingdom?
What do you think these two stories say about God’s kingdom?
Why is a seed a good picture for the kingdom of God?

Prayer and Celebration

Praying on the Spot

Sometimes we forget that prayer is a good response to the daily hassles of life. When your children come to you with a problem help them but also use it as an opportunity to pray for them and with them. There are many situations where inviting God into situation is a reminder for us to put our trust in our creator and redeemer. These might include a bad day at school, difficulty with someone at school or even boredom. There are so many opportunities throughout the day to pray.

Service

Referring again to the Go Volunteer website http://www.govolunteer.com.au

Here is what they say families can get out of volunteering:

Parents act as role models and can demonstrate helping others in need
An increased sense of worth and accomplishment from making a difference
A stronger sense of community and decrease in social isolation
Respect for different people and conditions
Relative or family members could benefit from the activity
Learn new skills or using existing skills
Volunteering is fun and something families can do together

On the site it says that projects for families can be searched for using the word “team”

Family Time

Camping at Home

Put up a small tent indoors or build one out of sheets and chairs and whatever else you have at hand. Cook your food on a BBQ and have hot chocolate and marshmallows. Tell stories and play board or card games just like you would if you were going camping.