faithful families

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Faithful Families Resources April 3 2016

If we do not actively seek God early in the morning,

it will be very unlikely that we meet him later in the day.

~Anne van der Bijl

Family Closeness

Game:

Laugh Like

This is a pretty silly game but lots of fun. Everyone around the table has to laugh like another family member. For example: Everyone laugh like mum, everyone laugh like dad. This should be done in a spirit of fun and togetherness.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What is the most enjoyable thing our family has done together in the last three years?
Name two things we should do as a family on the weekend.

Story

With your family read: John 21.1-19

Questions for Discussion:

What do you like about this reading?
What do you think in unusual?
What do we learn about Jesus from this story?
Why do you think Jesus asked Peter if he loved him?

Prayer and Celebration

One morning wake up your children before sunrise and drive the whole family to a convenient scenic place and wait for the sun to rise. As the sun comes up encourage your family to think about the light that Christ brings into your lives. Name the many blessings that flow from God. Pray prayers of thanks to Jesus for the blessings he brings to your life. Read John 1.1-4

(Idea taken from Focus on the Family)

Lord our God,

on the first day of creation

you made the light that scatters the darkness.

Let Christ, the light of lights,

hidden from all eternity,

shine at last on your people

and free us from the darkness of sin.

Fill our lives with joy

as we go out to welcome your Son at his coming.

We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

http://www.churchofengland.org/

Family Activity

Having a family night is a fantastic and fun way to focus on your family growing together. What is a family night? It is simply putting aside one evening a week or a month or whatever regular interval suits you to do something together that everyone will enjoy.

Make sure the dates you pick are in your diaries and give them the first priority – try to plan well ahead. Give each member a turn to plan the program for the evening. Make it a rule that there is to be no complaining or fidgeting and that everyone is to cooperate and participate. This is especially important for the younger children whose self esteem may be damaged by older children's comments.

Don't forget to talk about the purpose of the family night. Two key purposes could be 1. To have fun together. (Family night should be the most anticipated night of the week) 2. To worship the Lord together. This is an opportunity for parents to model Christian devotion to their children. (The Big Book of Family Fun. Gwen Ellis.)

Here are some ideas for fun family nights. All of these take a little planning and resource gathering…but if your family has fun and grows together it will be well worth it.

Celebration Night

Throw a party for your family or for a particular special day. Decorate the room, eat special food, play some games and generally do what you do when you have a party.

Outing Night

Go on a special adventure with your family to somewhere different than the local shopping centre.

Project Night

Provide materials for the family to make a project – art, drama or anything that comes to mind. Making puppets is one idea.

(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

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Faithful Families Resources March 27 2016

Weekly Inspiration

A church that is serious about children is serious about educating adults

~ John Westerhoff

Video of the Week

Follow

"Throughout the course of his public ministry, Jesus knew both the adoration and desertion of the crowds.Today, just as 2,000 years ago, the gospel asks a question that demands an answer: Will we follow? This video illustrates this truth through the dynamic lens of a 21st-century social network. In the midst of the joy of Easter, it can be difficult to acknowledge doubt. But the redemptive story of Thomas declares that doubt has long been a part of Easter."

~ Yesheis.com

Family Closeness

Game:

Faith Walk

Blind fold your family and lead them through the house on a faith walk. Get them to feel different things around the house. Spin them around a few times to confuse them, then see if they can tell what room they are in. Ask them what they learnt about their home seeing with ‘different’ eyes. (That is their fingers).

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

If you could decorate our home, what would it look like?
Do you think it's important to get physical education in school? Why or why not?

Story

With your family read: John 20.19-31

Questions for Discussion:

Why did Jesus show the disciples his hands and side?
What do you think it means to “receive the Holy Spirit”
Why do you think Thomas doubted?
What changed Thomas’ mind?

Prayer and Celebration

O God,

your son made himself known to his disciples

in the breaking of bread:

open the eyes of our faith,

that we may see him in his redeeming work;

who is alive and reigns with you and Holy Spirit,

now and forever. Amen.

Family Activity

Tell your children every day how special they are, that you believe in them, that you love them. Write some letters to your children telling them what you think is special about them or encouraging them. Put the letters in a place they might find them or in their lunch box. At bedtime say a prayer out loud for your children. Pray that God might bless them, that they might feel special and loved, pray that they may become all God has made them to be. Make a pocket out of a paper bag, decorate it and stick it up in your child’s room. Put special messages and notes in it to tell your children you think they are special.

Doing these things might help your children see themselves in a new and special way. In seeing themselves as people who are loved, watch them grow into all that they might be.

(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, March 20, 2016

Faithful Families Resources March 20 2016

As we begin Holy Week we provide you with a slightly different format for faithful families.

Easter is a time to celebrate in a huge way the message of life resurrected, of new life, of Jesus setting us free. We encourage you to celebrate well, to use the resources available to make Easter day special and memorable. To use symbols wisely and to help your children understand why chocolate Easter eggs (egg: symbol of new life/half an Easter egg is like an empty tomb). More importantly we invite you to tell the story well. This email does not provide you with games or stories but with a way of telling the story well in your household leading into this most special of days.

Story

One of the ways we might be faithful with our family is by telling the story of Easter really well. This might include dressing up and acting out the story or using some props as symbols to recall different events, it might include music and action. You might like to set up some stations in your house on Friday or Saturday and make signs with the days of the week, leave the different symbols in the different locations.

Alternatively you might like to read the various portions of scripture that recount the last week of Jesus life leading up to Good Friday and East.

Here are some signposts for telling the story well in your household.

Day: Sunday before Easter

Jesus enters Jerusalem and people wave palm leaves to welcome him like a king.

Reading: Matthew 21.1-9

Symbol: Palm Leaves:

Question: What does it feel like when you are a winner or a champion? How do you think Jesus felt as he entered Jerusalem?

Day: Monday

Jesus turns the tables in the temple.

Reading: Matthew 21.12-17

Symbol: Whip made of cords.

Question: What things make you angry? Is it okay to be angry sometimes? Why was Jesus angry?

Day:Wednesday

Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins.

Reading: Mark 14.10-11.

Symbol: Bag of Coins.

Question: What does it feel like when your friends let you down? How do you think Jesus felt knowing Judas would betray him and his friends would run away from him.

Day: Maundy Thursday

Jesus shares a meal with friends, washes their feet.

Reading: John 13.1-10, Matthew 26.17-30

Symbol: Bowl and Towel. Bread and Wine.

Question: What is special about eating with friends? What does it mean to be a servant to your friends? Why do you think Jesus washed his disciples’ feet?

Day: Good Friday

Jesus dies on a cross.

Reading: Matthew 27.15-60

Symbol: Nails. Crown of Thorns. Cross. Hot Cross Buns.

Why is Friday called Good? (Reflect on childbirth…it is painful yet the result is wonderful)

Day: Saturday

We wait. Jesus is in the tomb.

Symbol: Question mark.

What happens next? When have you had to wait to see how something turned out? How do you think Jesus friends felt on Saturday?

Day: Sunday

Jesus is risen.

Reading: Mathew 28.1-10

Symbol: Easter egg. Broken in half looks like an empty tomb.

Question: What does Jesus risen mean to you?

We hope these resources are helpful. Have a wonderful Easter,

Faithful Families wishes you and your family a wonderful and inspirational Easter , celebrate well, tell the story well. Our prayer for you and your family is that the truth of the Resurrection might fill your lives with much joy.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Faithful Families Resources March 13 2016

Weekly Inspiration

To bring up a child in the way she should go, travel that way yourself once in a while.

~Josh Billings

Family Closeness

Game:

How’s Yours

One family member leaves the room and those left agree on an item for example: toothbrush. The guesser returns and asks each person "how's yours?". Each family member says a word or short phrase to answer the question. I say "Bristly" says one, "soggy" says another and "chewed." Says a third. The guesser shouts the answer as soon as she thinks of it and if she guesses on your word than you become the next guesser.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Who do you think I'd rather you be: a famous sportsperson, a mayor, a famous explorer, or a movie star? Why?
What would the ideal teacher be like?

Story

With your family read: Luke 18.28-40

Questions for Discussion:

What did Jesus ride into Jerusalem?
How did the people respond to Jesus? What did they shout?
What did people throw on the road in front of Jesus?
What kind of people get welcomed likes this today?

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.

Praise and Adore Jesus

This week 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 tea shirt. Remember that the people that 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.

Family Activity

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 Youtube video that will show you how to do it. There are many other websites online that will show you how to make them.

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Matthew 21.9

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Faithful Families Resources March 6 2016

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Family Closeness

Game:

Zip Bong

This game can be played around the dinner table. One family member begins the game by saying "zip". The starting family member sends the zip to someone by pointing with both hands. The person who recieved the zip then says "zip", and passes it one to someone else pointing with both hands. When the noise comes to any family member, he or she has the option of saying "bong" instead of "zip" which sends the noise back to the person it came from.

What makes the game interesting is that players are not allowwed to show their teeth at any point in the game (regardless of if the noise is at them or not). Players who show their teeth (or say "zip" or "bong" when it's not their turn) are eliminated from the game or must pay a penalty like singing a silly song.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What is the kindest thing you have ever done for someone?
How would you like someone to show kindness to you?
How might you as a family show love and kindness to one another?

Story

With your family read: John 12.1-8

Questions for Discussion:

How would you describe Mary’s actions toward Jesus?
What did Judas think of her actions?
What did Jesus think of her actions?
What do you think about this story?

Prayer and Celebration

Encourage your family to pray by using their imagination, picturing in their head the people or things they wish to pray for.

Picture in your mind something that happened this week that you want to say thank you for
Picture in your mind a person who is special to you that you wish to say thank you for
Picture in your mind all the beautiful things in creation that God made that you want to say thank you 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.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Faithful Families Resources February 28 2016

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:

My Grandmothers Trunk.

Someone starts by completing this sentence with an object that begins with the letter A, My grandmother keeps _____ in her trunk.” The next person completes the sentence repeating the A word and adding a word that starts with B. This continues around the circle, each person repeating what the others said and adding another with the next letter of the alphabet. (Youth Ministry Encyclopaedia. Lyman Coleman. JBCE)

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 need to ask God for this week?
If you could be any character from a book or TV who would you be? Why? What character on TV do you think you are most like? In what ways? What TV character do you think your family members are most like? Who is someone you admire in real life? What is it about them you like?

Story

With your family read: Luke 15.1-10

Questions for Discussion:

What does it feel like to be lost?
Who might be some people who are lost in our community?
What does the story say we should do when the lost are found?
What does it mean to be found by God?

Prayer and Celebration

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.

Jesus asks us to take up the cross and follow. We pray that as we
follow, we may become more:
      More loving
      More gentle
      More honest
      More generous
      More friendly
      More forgiving.
      More like what God made us to be.
Lord, as we follow, make us more like Jesus and so
Your kingdom come, your will be done
On earth as in heaven. Amen

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.

Family Time

Lenten Placemats

Draw a variety of Lenten symbols on sheets of purple construction paper. These symbols could include a palm branch, a cross, a candle, a crown of thorns, a dove, a bowl, the number 40, loaf and cup, nails, a rooster, a bag of coins. In the middle of the placemat write a Lenten prayer. Cover them with a clear covering such as “contact”. As you eat meals together during Lent, look at each symbol and discuss its meaning.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Faithful Families Resources February 21 2016

Children can withstand a lot of pressure and trial from the outside if the home inside is held steady by parents whose character is steady.

~ Stuart Briscoe

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.

What is something you like about your family?
What is something all families need?
What is something you would like to do as a family?

Story

With your family read: Luke 13.6-9

Questions for Discussion:

What do you think this parable is about?
What could the tree that produces no fruit be?
What does it mean to have a second chance?
Do you think the tree will produce fruit?
What would help the tree produce fruit?

Prayer and Celebration

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.

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

The Cross Shaped Window

You may be familiar with the segment on Play School where children are invited to travel through the square, circle, arched or diamond window. On the other side are some children doing something interesting. Using cardboard and some coloured cellophane make a cross shaped window. Tell your children that when we look through the cross shaped window we might see the kind of world God would like us to live in. Invite your children to draw some pictures to put behind the window. What might God’s kind of world look like? What would people be doing? How might they be treating one another? Find some pictures in magazines that show what the kingdom of God might be like. (Maybe pictures of people caring for one another, seeking peace, helping one another).