faithful families

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Faithful Families Resources July 27 2014

The family is, so to speak, the domestic Church. In it parents should, by their word and example, be the first preachers of the faith to their children. ~ Vatican II: Constitution on the Church

Family Closeness

Game:

Balloon Bounce

This is a simple game that everyone can play. Simply blow up a balloon and see how long you can keep it up in the air. To make it more challenging make everyone stay on their knees or on their backsides, or make it that you have to hit the balloon into everyroom in the house.

Sharing:

Family Fill-Ins

With your family complete as many of these statements as you can:

We are a family who

likes…

learns…

cares for…

helps…

would never…

would rather…

loves to…

will someday…

(Adventures for Growing Families. Wes & Sheryl Haystead)

Story

With your family read Mathew 14.13-21

Questions for Discussion:

How many loaves and fishes did the disciples have?
What did Jesus do before he broke the loaves of bread? How might you give thanks for what God gives you?
What do you think this miraculous story tells us about Jesus? Why do you think Jesus performed this miracle?

Prayer and Celebration

Weaving Prayer into Daily Life

Prayer and worship are not just activities, they are a whole of life response and orientation to God. There are many ways that we might encourage our families to weave prayer, thankfulness and worship into our daily patterns. One of the easiest ways to do this is to connect it to the activities that we have to do everyday, such as brushing our teeth or hair, going to the fridge for food, feeding our pets or leaving the house for work or school. Think of one of your daily routines that you would like to connect prayer to such as brushing your teeth. Attach a sticky not or label to your toothbrush with a word that will remind you to prayer for a specific thing. The same thing can be done with out routines. Make sure it is something that will catch your attention. When you see it, don’t stop the activity but pray in the midst of it ask God for help of give thanks for what God has given you, pray for a family member or someone in the world in need.

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

Crazy shopping night

This is a strange idea but good for teaching your children about the use of money. Go to a shopping centre on a relatively quiet night and provide your children with a small amount of money, maybe four dollars. Their goal is to see how much they can buy using that amount

of money.

(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, July 20, 2014

Faithful Families Resources July 20 2014

Australian research reveals that over 70% of Anglican & Protestant believers became Christians before age 20 (39% before age 10 and 34% between 10-19)

NCLS Occasional Paper 5 - Social Influences on Faith Development

Family Closeness

Game:

Metal Detector

One person leaves the room. While they are away someone else chooses an object to hide and hides it somewhere in the room. When the person returns they must find the hidden thing without knowing what it is. The person who hid the object makes a "beep-beep" sound like a metal detector, slower when the person moves away from the object and faster as she moves closer. (Ideas Number 13-12. Group Specialities)

Sharing:

Self Description

Choose one word that starts with each letter of your name that describes you. For example if your name is Joe you might choose jolly, optimistic and exhausted. Parents might need to help younger ones with possible words.

Story

With your family read Mathew 13.31-33

Questions for Discussion:

Why do you think Jesus told stories like these to explain what the kingdom of God is like?
People can plant seeds, but can we make them grow? Why not? Can we encourage them to grow?
What might it mean for the kingdom of God to be planted like a seed in us?
What happens to dough when yeast is mixed through it? How might the Kingdom of God be like yeast in us?

Prayer and Celebration

Passing of the Cross

At the dinner table a holding cross is passed from member to member. Whoever 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 parents 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

Project Ideas

Collect toys for young children who are either hospitalised in foster care or in a crisis nursery
Ask families to make may baskets and fill the baskets with candy and small toys
Invite families to sort through their childrn's outgrown shoes and clothes
Have families with young children draw pictures and make greeting cards for people in your congregations who are sick

Bonus Family Activity

If your children’s grandparents or uncles or aunties live some way away (or even if they don’t) get them to record a story about their childhood on a tape recorder or to write it down, and post it to you. Your family can then listen to the story during family sharing time. Your children might like to record one of their own stories to post back to their grandparents.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Faithful Families Resources June 22 2014

Some of the most important conversations I've ever had occurred at my family's dinner table.

~ Bob Ehrlich

Family Closeness

Game:

First and Last

Pick a category of things. It might be places, or vegetable or movies. Whatever you can come up with. Someone starts by saying something in that category, for example in the vegetable category you might say carrot. The next person has to say something starting with the last letter of the word already. In this case t – so they might say turnip. Keep going until someone can’t think of anything to say.

Sharing:

These questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about your family. The key is to listen.

Do you think it's important to get physical education in school? Why or why not?
Why do you, or don't you, like violent movies?
What do you think are the characteristics that make a good parent?

Story

With your family read Matthew 10.40-42

Questions for Discussion:

What do you think it means to welcome someone?
How has your family welcomed someone?
What little things can we do to show hospitality to others?

Prayer and Celebration

Prayer Calendar

At the start of each month take a blank calendar and write a prayer concern for each day. You might like to start with world problems and through the week move more closely to issues in your own community. Use the calendar each night at dinner time.

Service

Some useful information and ideas from the Raising Children Network about getting teenagers involved in service.

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/community_activity_teenagers.html/context/1089

Family Time

Make a board game

Create your own board game. Use a large piece of white cardboard to draw the game. Create your own rules. You might like to start by thinking about some of the board games you like and how they work.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Faithful Families Resources June 15 2014

Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book. ~ Cicero

Family Closeness

Game:

The Theme Song Game

One person hums the tune to a favourite TV show or song and everyone else has to guess what it is. Whoever guesses gets to go next.

Sharing:

These questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about your family. The key is to listen.

What are some of our family’s traditions?
What are some good ways to overcome feeling sad?
What would you do to make the world a better place?

Story

With your family read Matthew 10.29-32

Questions for Discussion:

How do you feel that God knows everything about you?
What things do you worry about?
How do you remind yourself that God cares for you?

Prayer and Celebration

Body Prayers

As you pray for each of these things put your hands over these parts of the body. Alternatively you could make a sign of the cross on them.

On the ears (that I might listen for God’s voice and hear God’s Word)

On the eyes (that I might see God’s glory in all of life)

On the lips (that I might say the name of Christ and speak of God to others)

On the heart (that I might remember that I am loved by God and belong to Him)

On the hands (that I might show God to others through my work and deeds)

On the feet (that I might follow Christ and walk in His way)

Service

Big Hearted Families

Big Hearted Families is a website that provides ideas and resources for families to engage in service activities together. They have some great worksheets for helping your family think about how they might get started: http://www.bigheartedfamilies.org/

Family Time

Obstacle course

Create an obstacle course in your backyard. Use things like hula hoops, skipping ropes and boxes. Compete with each other for best time. Encourage each family member to reconfigure the course. This is great fun and a fantastic way to provide exercise for the whole family

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Faithful Families Resources June 8 2014

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. Mother Teresa

Family Closeness

Game:

Face Pass

Sit so you can all see each other. Make a strange or funny face and turn to a member of your family. The person you turned to carefully copies your face, then slowly changes his or her expression to make a new face which s/he passes on to someone else.

Sharing:

These questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about your family. The key is to listen!!

Have you ever been given a job you didn’t want to do? Why didn’t you want to do it? Did you do it?
Have you ever been afraid of something you were asked to do? What was it? Did you do it?
Share the best and worst thing that happened to you this week.

Story

With your family read Acts 2.1-21: Pentecost

With your family read Mathew 28.16-20

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

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

Questions for Discussion:

What did the disciples do when they saw Jesus on the mountain?
Did all of them have faith?
What did Jesus tell the disciples to go and do?
Why do you think Jesus told them he would be with them till the end of the age?

Prayer and Celebration

One way of praying is through song. You may be familiar with the song that goes:

Thank you God for giving us food.

Thank you God for giving us food

Right where we are.

(If you type the first line in to youtube you can hear people singing it)

Sing around your table and let members of your family substitute the word food for anything they would like to say thank you for.

Service

Random Acts of Kindness

Children learn from the example of their parents. They will imitate what they see you do. As a parent how do you demonstrate service and kindness in your daily life.

The other day I came across the random acts of kindness foundation. On one of their pages they have 350 kindness ideas.

They include:

donate a book
offer a handyman a drink
bake a meal for someone
write a positive note to someone

All of these are small things, but small thing make a difference.

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-ideas

Family Time

Opera, Drama

With your family make up an opera or a drama revolving around your family and the things that happen in it. What are some of the daily events that occur? What are some of the funny or interesting habits of your family members.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Faithful Families Resources June 1 2014

Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them. ~Lady Bird Johnson

50 days after Easter, at Pentecost, the Christian Church is born. A wonderful gift is given from God, for it is the day when the disciples are given the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament wind and fire were seen as signs to show that God was present. If you read the story in the book of Acts it talks about the Holy Spirit coming as ‘wind’ and ‘fire’. At Pentecost the gift of the Spirit filled the disciples with the energy and power to speak so that people from many nations could understand them. It was an event that changed the world. Before the Holy Spirit came to rest on the disciples, they were confused and fearful. They longed for the good old days when all they had to do was follow Jesus' lead. We too are invited to receive this wonderful gift which empowers us to use the gifts we are given from God and to grow in the fruits of the Spirit that make us more Christlike.

Pentecost is a special time, and special times need special attention. Here are some resources to help you be faithful with your family this Pentecost.

Family Closeness

Game:

The Glad Game

Played with a touch of a Monty Python, comparisons are made to current situations and those that could be far worse. It can be a lot of fun, and whilst it can at first appear flippant and playful, it can deliberately move people and a family into more genuine attitudes of gratefulness. It can be played not just in one family session, but at any time atall, especially say the moment some one is caught complaining!

`I'd like a new pair of runners, but I am glad I have feet.' [What's that phrase: I complained that I didn't have new shoes, until I met someone who didn't have any feet.']
`I wish we had a swimming pool, but I'm glad our neighbours let us use theirs.'
`I don't like broccoli, but I'm glad I Mum cooks dinner and not me.'
`I wish I could have a remote control car, but I am glad I have a bike that I can ride all by myself.'
`I don't want to go to bed now, but I am glad I have a bed to go to and a home to live in.'. . . .

Sharing:

These questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about your family. The key is to listen!!

What is the most exciting gift you have ever been given?
What made it so great?
What is the most exciting gift you have ever given? Why was it so great?
What is something that you are good at? How do you use it to serve others?
What godly characteristics do you find in yourself and in your family: Kindness, gentleness, compassion, patience, hospitality, humour, generosity, mercy, justice, faithfulness, self-control, loyalty, love, trustworthiness, truth telling, straight talking honesty, . . . . . .
Have you ever felt God’s presence in a special way? What happened? How did you feel?
Who is someone you know who seems to be filled with Spirit? What are they like?

Story

With your family read Acts 2.1-21: Pentecost

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

Questions for Discussion:

How did the Holy Spirit come upon the disciples? What happened?
How do you think you would have felt if you had been there?
What strange and special thing happened to the disciples because of the Holy Spirit?
What was the purpose of the disciples ability to speak many languages?

A man returned to his home and played back his telephone answering machine to discover that his message to callers had not registered beyond his initial "Hello." Transcribed, the tape of the exchange between machine and one caller ran as follows:

"Hello." "Hello. Hello. . . hello!" (click.)

"Hello." "Hello, hello. . . hello, hello!" (click.)

"Hello." "Hello, hello. . . You see, operator, he says 'Hello,' but he won't say anything else."

"I'm sorry, sir. We can only connect you with your party. We cannot make him talk to you."

~Donny Silverman

Prayer and Celebration

This is a day to celebrate and thank the Holy Spirit for all our unique and wonderful gifts.

We each have the character of God growing in us, the fruits of the Spirit, that enable us to minister in every part of our lives.

Read some of the characteristics of God that grow in us and spend time reflecting on how the Holy Spirit might be growing these in you?

Kindness, gentleness, compassion, patience, hospitality, humour, generosity, mercy, justice, faithfulness, self-control, loyalty, love, trustworthiness, truth telling, straight talking honesty.

Which of these Godly characteristics do you see growing in your own life? Which one of these characteristics do you most need? Which one would help you the most in the way you serve God and others?

Pray today that God’s Holy Spirit might fill you that the fruit of the Spirit might grow in you. Ask God how you might serve in the world, ask God to help you to grow in the power of the Spirit.

Service

Volunteering with Children

By Kelly Palmatier, CompassionateKids.com

Volunteering with children is a great way to help them learn about giving back. Children learn valuable skills while "on the job." Homeschooled students, who may have more time available for volunteering, could also enjoy the additional socialization opportunities presented through volunteering. Another benefit of volunteering is children learn about the concerns of the organization and what need it fills in the community. Consequently, the children also have an opportunity to remember what they have to be thankful for.

See the rest of this article on children and volunteering at:

http://www.compassionatekids.com/volunteering.shtml

Family Time

Draw Attention to Yourself

Using any available materials, make large red or orange Pentecost symbols (paper tongues of fire, kites or windsocks, decorated balloons or pinwheels) to be displayed outdoors. On each symbol write three gifts of the Spirit you have been given to serve God.
Make a collage of warm colours to remind your family of the story of Pentecost.
Make up a dance using coloured streamers to portray the wind, fire and excitement of the disciples when they received the Holy Spirit.
Make up a list of words to describe 'fire' and 'wind', and then use them to write a poem.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Faithful Families Resources May 25 2014

The soul is healed by being with children.(Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

This week, prior to Pentecost, we remember and celebrate the ascension of Jesus. This is a really great time to reflect on what it means to have Jesus authority on earth delegated to us. As disciples we are the hands and feet of Jesus in the kingdom. If we are serious about being faithful with our family, then role modelling this will be a priority. Your children will discover who they are and whose they are by looking at the everyday things you do. Christianity is a faith which is mediated through everyday things, such as bread, wine, water, light and through the everyday activities of serving, growing, sharing and celebrating.

I wonder what your children might learn about being a disciples from watching you? How do you take seriously the call of Jesus to be a witness; to proclaim repentance and forgiveness, to go and make disciples?

Here are some resources, that you might be faithful with your family. We cannot make our children have faith, we can only be faithful with them.

Family Closeness

Game:

Using the alphabet letters, choose words that start with that letter, like the list given below, and act it out. Allow them to make up more as you go to add to the choices.

A = alligator (alligator crawl), around, airplane scale
B = bounce, bend, bear walk
C = cat arch, catch, crawl, crab walk
D = lame dog, dance, duck walk, dribble
E = elephant walk, egg roll
F = freeze, fall, frown, frog jump
G = giggle, gallop, giant steps
H = hop, hiccup, headstand
I = inchworm
J = jump, juggle
K = kick
L = log roll, leap
M = march, mop, mule kick
N = nod, neck rolls
O = Octopus (2 players stand back-to-back and walk sideways, waving their arms and legs), on, off, over
P = point, paint, pose
Q = quiver, quiet
R = run, rake, roll
S = skip, sit, sweep, smile, seal crawl, stretch
T = tiptoe, throw, tripod, tuck, type
U = upside down, under
V = vault (leap frog), vacuum
W = walk, wiggle, wink
X = flex, wax, mix
Y = yawn, yell
Z = zigzag, zip, zzzzzzzzzz

(GameCentralStation.com)

Sharing:

Have you ever been asked to do something and then had the person who asked you to do the job hang around and watch you the whole time.
Have you ever had someone ask you to do a job and then before you could do it they went ahead and did it anyway. How did you feel?
Would you rather never play or never win?
Would you rather be able to fly or breathe under water?
What things do you volunteer to do that helps others?
What might you volunteer to do this week to help others?

Story

With your family read Acts 1.6-11: Jesus Ascends

Questions for Discussion:

What did Jesus says the disciples would receive when the Holy Spirit came?
What job where the disciples given by Jesus?
Why do you think the disciples stood looking for so long after Jesus ascended?
How do you think the disciples felt about Jesus leaving them?

The King’s Banquet

There was once king who invited his subjects to a royal banquet. The king told each guest to bring a flask of wine, explaining that all the flasks would be poured into one large wine vat, from which the banquets beverages would be drawn. One of the king’s subjects thought, “What will my small flask of wine mean? Instead of bringing wine, I will bring a flask of water. When my flask of water is added to all the wine, it will blend right in, and no one will know the difference.?” On the night of the banquet, all the king’s subjects assembled around the food-laden tables. The king welcomed his guests, and then summoned his servants to serve the wine from the one large vat. The glasses were all filled – with water. For every one of the king’s subjects had brought water, not wine, reasoning that one little flask of water would blend right in with all the wine, and no one would know the difference.

At the ascension, the message Jesus gave us was: “its over to you guys now.” Jesus has placed into our hands the responsibility of working in the kingdom of God. We are now expected to be active participants in growing and building the kingdom. Of course the promised helper, the Holy Spirit is with us with gifts and power for the job. We however have been handed the authority to do the work of Jesus on earth.

Prayer and Celebration

Balloon Prayers

A really great way to pray with your family this week might be to use some balloons. Get enough balloons for a week or a couple of days. Write or draw your prayers on pieces of paper and place them in balloons, blow the balloons up and tie them somewhere in your house. Each day might have different themes: I thank God for things he has done for me. I thank God for things he has made. I ask God for help for others. I ask God for help for myself. I say sorry to God.

Service

Here are some service ideas that are focused on older people in your community:

Adopt a grandfriend and regularly visit them with your family.
Have your children make a penfriend in a nursing home.
Find activities your family might be able to do in a nursing home such as an arts project.
If you have a friendly pet such as a dog or cat see if you can take it to a local nursing home or home of an elderly person.

Family Time

Paper Doll Activities

For each family member draw an outline of a person on a separate large piece of paper. (If you have large enough paper, lie down on it and trace around your body.)Each person adds drawings, words and/or magazine pictures to tell about him or herself. As family members work, comment, "As a child of God, you are special! The drawings, words, pictures on your outline show some of the ways God has made you special."