faithful families

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Faithful Families Resources February 14 2016

Children desperately need to know - and to hear in ways they understand and remember - that they're loved and valued by mom and dad

~ Paul Smally

Family Closeness

Game:

Red Light, Green Light

This is the table version of Red Light, Green Light. Place an object in the middle of the table where everyone can reach it. If you have a big table you might need to place something just within arm’s reach of each family member. One family member stands up and says “green light”. All other family members must start slowly walking two fingers towards from the edge of the table to the object. One finger must be touching the table at all times. When the standing family members turns and says “red light” everyone must stop moving their hands. If anyone is seen moving they must go back to the edge of the table with their fingers. The goal is to touch the object before you are caught.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What is something you would find hard to go without for a month?
What is something you wish you could give up for a month?
What are three things that are unnecessary in your life?

Story

With your family read: Luke 13.31-35

Questions for Discussion:

What do you think of Jesus response to the order to move on?
How does this reading feel to you? Is it easy to understand or difficult?
What does it means to “come in the name of the Lord”

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.

As we journey with Jesus to Easter, let his teachings be in our heads and our thinking, our feet and our walking, our hands and our serving, our hearts and our loving:

Blessed are the poor in spirit

response: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn:

response: For they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek:

response: For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger

and thirst for what is right:

response: For they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful:

response: For mercy shall be shown to them.

Blessed are the pure in heart:

response: For they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers:

response: For they shall be called the children of God.

Service

Have a look at the video on the LifeVestInside.com website. Show it to your children and ask them what it means to them? Discuss ways you might show kindness to the people around you each day during Lent.

Family Time

Rainbow Wall

This Lent begins with the story of the flood. The rainbow is an enduring symbol of God’s promise. Why not make the rainbow your symol for Lent, remembering the promise of God. Create a rainbow on a wall at home adding a new colour each week.

Week 1:Purple remember God forgiveness

Week 2:Blue remember God healing love

Week 3: Green remember Gods creation

Week 4:Yellow remember Gods promises

Week 5:Orange remember Gods presence in time of temptation.

Week 6:Red remember God son Jesus, died on cross rose again

(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

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Faithful Families Resources February 7 2016

Some people are born into wonderful families. Others have to find or create them. Being a member of a family is a priceless membership that we pay nothing for but love.

~ Jim Stovall

Family Closeness

Game:

Toilet Paper Facts

Pass a toilet roll around your family and invite them to break off as many pieces as they like. Once everyone has done this, each person counts the number of squares that they have and then must tell the rest of the family that number of things about themselves. For example, if someone has three squares, they share three things about themselves. It might be something they like or something about school or work. They should be things that the rest of the family may not know.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What is something you like about yourself?
What is something you are good at?
What is something you wish you could do?

Story

With your family read: Luke 4.1-13

Questions for Discussion:

What do you think it would be like not eating for forty days?
How do you think Jesus would have felt at the end?
What did the Devil tempt Jesus with?
How did Jesus respond to the Devil’s temptations?

Prayer and Celebration

Wednesday 10^th February is Ash Wednesday, the day marking the beginning 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.

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…

Service

This Lent why not give something up and donate the money you save to charity.

Family Time

Promise Banner

Each week of Lent create a panel each with a different picture for a wall hanging. This could be done simply on pieces of A4 paper with coloured images or more spectacularly using 50cm square calico, connect each panel together with string so they hang. Each panel will reflect a different story from the Lenten season.

Week 1: Genesis 9.18-17: Picture: Rainbow

Week 2. Genesis 17.1-7,15-16 Picture: Footprints

Week 3. Exodus 20.1-17 Picture: Stone Tablets

Week 4. Numbers 21.4-9 Picture:Snake on a Stick

Week 5. Jeremiah 31.31-34 Picture: Heart

Week 6. Mark 11:7-10. Picture: Palms.

(Seasons of the Spirit 2002)

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Faithful Families Resources January 31 2016

Weekly Inspiration

What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow.

~Martin Luther

Family Closeness

Game:

Pass the Orange

This simple game can’t be played sitting down. Everyone will need to stand up in a line. The first person takes an orange (any other reasonably sized piece of fruit could be used) and holds it between their chin and chest. This piece of fruit then needs to be passed down the line of family members from neck to neck. No hands are allowed.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What activity brings you the greatest joy?
What activity gives you a sense of purpose and excitement?

Story

With your family read: Luke 5.1-11

Questions for Discussion:

Why didn't Simon want to put the nets down as Jesus instructed?
What was Simon’s response to Jesus when the nets filled with fish?
What do you think we learn about Jesus from this passage?
What do you think it means to catch people?

Prayer and Celebration

Drawn Prayers

Give each family member a piece of paper and some pens or pencils for drawing. Either in silence or with some quiet music on, invite your family to draw on the paper, the people and things they want to pray for. This could include drawing the outcome that you might desire for particular situations. As your family draws encourage them to do so in silence so they may listen to what God has to say to them. At the end of the allocated time encourage everyone to share what they have drawn and what they are praying for.

Service

Family volunteering allows parents, children and other family members to spend time together while contributing to the community and causes they care about. It’s a great way for families to enjoy quality time with each other and introduce family members to the benefits of volunteering. Family volunteering can be a practical way to express values to children and young people.

Volunteering provides parents and other family members the opportunity to be a positive role model by demonstrating how to be involved with the community, and how to make a difference and enjoy it. People who volunteer when they are young are more likely to continue to volunteer throughout their adult life.

Volunteering in your family group can also improve communication among family members, strengthen family bonds and be a lot of fun.

(excerpt from Family Volunteering: Information for Families)

Family Time

In Steve Biddulph’s book Raising Girls he cites the work of Peter Benson who “discovered that children and young teenagers almost always have something inside them – an interest, enthusiasm, talent or concern – which if it is supported gives them incredible joy, motivation and direction.” He calls this thing their spark. This week ask your children the question in the sharing section above and explore with them what their spark might be. How might you as a parent support your child in engaging in that activity? Benson claims that there are three things a child needs for their spark to burn brightly. Firstly an adult in the family must support them, secondly someone in wider community must encourage and help them and third their needs to be the opportunity to encourage and engage the spark.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Faithful Families Resources January 24 2016

Weekly Inspiration

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

~1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NIV84)

Family Closeness

Game

Question web

You will need a ball of wool for this game. Make sure there is nothing on your table that could be knocked over. Whoever starts must hold onto the end of the wool and throw the ball to someone around the table. They then ask a question for that person to answer. Some suggestions are listed below. Once the question is answered they hold onto the string and throw to someone else around the table and asks them a question. See how many time you can go around your table before your web is tricky to hold.

If you had a time machine that would work only once, what point in the
future or in history would you visit?
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
If your house was burning down, what three objects would you try and save?
If you could talk to any one person now living, who would it be and why?
If you HAD to give up one of your senses (hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling,
tasting) which would it be and why?
If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Do you have a pet? If not, what sort of pet would you like?
Name a gift you will never forget?
Name one thing you really like about yourself.
What's your favourite thing to do in the summer?

Idea and questions by Grahame Knox www.insight.typepad.co.uk

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.
What makes you angry?
What do you do when you are angry?
How do you stop yourself from doing the wrong thing when you are angry?

Story

With your family read: Luke 4.21-30

Questions for Discussion:

How did the people respond to Jesus at first?
How did they feel after he had finished speaking?
What made them angry?

Prayer and Celebration

Balloon Prayer

There are two ways you might use this idea to pray. Both involve writing words in permanent marker on a balloon. The first way involves your family writing one or two words naming the things or people they wish to pray for at different places over the balloon. When you have finished doing this toss the balloon around the dinner table. The words that your hands touch or a near to when you catch the balloon are the things that person must pray about. The second way uses the same method but instead of things to pray for write down different types of prayer like: praise, thanksgiving, asking, confession, waiting. Whatever your hands land on that is the type of prayer your family must do – this probably works best if everyone takes turns at each individual type of prayer.

Service

As a family or in your church think about how you might bless the lives of those who live around you. Reflect on those people in your local area, who may be your neighbours or go to church with you, who serve in the community. Examples might be teachers or police officers, charity or emergency workers. Think of ways that you might let them know they are valued. This could include small things like making a thank you card together as a family or making a biscuit or cake for them to take to work to share. How often do we stop to thank those who look after us every day, who take risks for us or do jobs that really aren’t that pleasant? Acting in this way builds habits of thankfulness and empathy in ourselves and our children.

Family Time

Geocaching can be a great family activity that will take you to places you have never seen while solving puzzles at the same time. It is almost like a giant game of hide and seek. If you have never heard of it before check out: Geocaching.com

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Faithful Families Resources January 17 2016

Weekly Inspiration

The same Jesus who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future.

~Adrian Rogers

Family Closeness

Game:

Read my lips

Family members have to say something, at least a sentence, without moving their lips. The rest of the family has to guess what they are saying. Pick up a random book at the reading age of your family and read a sentence from it.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What about you does only your family know?
Are there things about you only your friends know?
What does it mean to know someone?

Story

With your family read: Luke 4.14-21

Questions for Discussion:

Why do you think it means to “be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit”?
What did the people in Galilee think of Jesus?
What things did Jesus say God had sent him to do?
How does your family do these things as part of God’s mission?

Prayer and Celebration

Pat-C-Ana

There are many ways and patterns of prayer. Praying with Pat-C-ana is just one [pronounced Patsyanna]. It was originally written by Rev Richard Browning for use by children at church and school. The prayer below can be used as a way of remembering and teaching which finger represents which type of prayers.

From the thumb to little finger
we pray with PAT-C-ANA:

Praise and adoration -

Thank you, thank you.

Confession saying sorry:

its forgiveness that we need.

Asking 'n asking: for others then for me.

From the thumb to little finger

we pray to God the Father.

The prayers below help to unpack the type of prayer to use with each finger or can be used

Praying with PAT-C-ANA

Thumb: Praise and adoration

Awesome Lord and Father, the earth is yours and all that is in it. You are our God and we are your people;

Index finger: Thanksgiving

Thank you for life and love, for a home to live and a family to love.

Middle finger: Confession

Forgive us when we hurt others, and when we offend you.

Help us to love like you love us.

Ring finger: Asking for others

We pray for…

my family and friends and those that I love.

Little finger: Asking for me

And lastly for me, I place myself into your loving care.

Amen.

Service

This week encourage your family members to serve each other. Get them to think of one nice and helpful thing they could do for the parents or siblings. Here are some ideas:

Make someone’s bed for them
Do someone else’s chore
Pick up someone else’s mess
Clean up the dog or cat waste.

Family Time

Bible Story Theme Night

Think of a bible story - like Noah’s Ark or the Feeding of the Five Thousand.

Think of how you might have a family fun night focused on the theme of the story. This might include: Themed food, games, music, decorations, the telling of the story with costumes. Let your imagination run wild.

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.