faithful families

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Faithful Families Resources April 26 2015

Under any system of society ... the family holds the future in its bosom.

~Charles Franklin Thwing

Family Closeness

Game:

Which of these stories is true?

Have each family member think of three stories. They could be personal stories, from the news, or even from something like a Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Two of the stories must be false and one must be true. Family members have to guess which one is the true story.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

The most wonderful thing about this planet is . . .
It is important to be honest because . . .
Some one who needs prayer/thoughts at the moment is . . .

Story

With your family read: John 15.1-8

Questions for Discussion:

What do you think Jesus is telling us in this passage?
What does it mean to be connected to Jesus?
What do the branches get from the vine?

Prayer and Celebration

The prayer Jesus taught is a great model for how we might pray and how we might teach our children to do so. Each week we will look at a line of the Lord’s prayer and discover what we can learn about prayer from it.

Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those who sin against us.

These lines of the Lord’s pray encourage us to reflect on where we have missed the mark in our relationship with God, with others, with ourselves and with creation. It also makes us question where we are not forgiving others.

Discuss with your family some of the ways that humans are sinful.

Discuss why forgiving others is important if we are to ask for forgiveness.

Take some time in silence to ask God for forgives for those things on our hearts and also to forgive others.

Service (starting in your home)

Question: how can I give power to the other? One answer: Encourage III.

Work with your child on an aspiration that is important to them. It may relate to school, music, sport or a hobby or other. A tremendous endorsement in personal power is the knowledge that a skill has been acquired, a measure of mastery has been gained. Sometimes we might be drawn to the child whose interests match our own – say I prefer rugby over soccer. It is vital to engage in the things that interest our children, more than ourselves. This is a long-term project. This is not something to tick off in 7 days time. Stay committed to the task. Remember the guiding question however: how do you give power to your child. This will ensure you are working for their goal and not your own.

Family Time

Bonus Family Activity

This week, create a Love Poster. On the top of the poster, write: "Love one another as I have loved you." Brainstorm practical ways family members can love each other the way Jesus loves your family. (Share bathroom time, take out the trash without being asked, say nice things to each other, etc.) Discuss the cost of each activity. (How will you have to change to live out what your family wrote down?) At the bottom of the poster, write the word "Sacrifice." Discuss the meaning of the word and how love demands sacrifice. End the discussion by reading John 15:9-14. Emphasize Jesus died for us because he loved us and was willing to sacrifice everything for us.

(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, April 20, 2015

Faithful Families Resources April 19 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 Closeness

Game:

Twenty Questions

Twenty questions is a great game to play at the dinner table and can be adjusted for all ages. The first person thinks of an object. This could be anything including animals, foods or even TV shows. Younger family members might need easier more concrete objects to guess. Family members ask questions of the first person and they must answer "yes" or "no". The aim of the game is to guess what object the first player is thinking about within twenty questions.

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: John 10.11-18

Questions for Discussion:

What does the shepherd do for the sheep?
How is the good shepherd different to the hired hand?
If Jesus is our good shepherd what does he do for us?
What does it mean to you for Jesus to be your shepherd?

Prayer and Celebration

Service (starting in your home)

Question: how can I give power to the other? One answer: Encourage.

Here are some ways to encourage.

Pay attention. Pay attention. Pay attention.

Acknowledge the things that are important to them.

Compliment them on the things they do, “well done . . .”

Say “thank you”.

Seek their advice/opinion/ideas on a matter.

Imitate them. Choose one of their habits / character traits and copy them.

Family Time

Bonus Family Activity

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)

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Faithful Families Resources April 5 2015

Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world.

~Susan Lieberman

Family Closeness

Game:

Snort

The aim of this game is not to laugh when someone is snorting in your face. The person going first, gets in front of whoever is on their left and snorts trying to make them laugh. When the person laughs they are out. But you only have 30 seconds to try and get the other person to laugh! To make the game different each time you can have family members do something other than snort, such as squeak, meow, moo, bark.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Being left out makes me feel . . .
The people who I see most often left out are . . . and this is because . . .
Helping people who are different be included is hard because . . .

Story

With your family read: John 20.19-31

Questions for Discussion:

Why do you think Jesus showed the disciples his hands and side?
Why do you think Thomas wouldn’t believe?
How do people come to believe in Jesus even if they haven’t “seen”?

Prayer and Celebration

Praying through the Lord’s Pray

Our Father in Heaven,

When we begin to pray we address God. There are many different ways we can do this. Jesus used a very intimate word “abba” which means father or dad. What do you use when you pray?

Spend some time with your children thinking about the different ways we can name God in prayer. What difference does it make calling God, father or creator or almighty God. Look online at some of the names for God in the Bible. Discuss with your family which ones you like the most and why. Use a different title for God when you pray at the dinner table this week.

Service

How can I give power to the other? Let this question send you on your quest to serve – the imitation of Jesus through action. The link between question and quest is helpful. Let a question guide your action.

Start in the home. Ask your children, what do they need? How can I give them power? (Asking the question itself gives power. Listen to them carefully. Respond thoughtfully, faithfully.) Ask the same question of your partner. If someone was to ask you the question, how would you respond? Let your answers to your questions guide your actions.

Bonus Family Activity

Bubble Catching Contest

Get a small bottle of bubbles for each member of the family. Let everyone blow bubbles until they fill the sky. Now let everyone try to catch them with the round part of the bubble blowing sticks.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Faithful Families Resources March 29 2015

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.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Faithful Families Resources March 22 2015

In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.

~Alex Haley

Family Closeness

Game:

Coin Wiggle

Family members lay flat on the floor on their back. A coin is balanced on the tip of their nose. The player must twitch their nose and move their lips but nothing else. Wiggling of the head or body is not permitted. The goal is to make the coin fall.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Are you more a hare or a tortoise?
What food would you be happy never to eat again?
Have you ever lost something? What was it?

Story

With your family read: Mark 11.1-11

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?

About the Bible Bit

Palm Sunday begins the last week of Jesus life. He is welcomed enthusiastically into Jerusalem like a king. However, it will be the same crowds shouting crucify him by the end of the week. How quickly people turn against him.

Prayer and Celebration

Try to connect what you do in worship on a Sunday with what you do to worship at home during the week. Here are some examples:

Regular attendance in worship might be linked with a regular pattern of prayer and worship at home. Praying with our children is a key way that we may be faithful with our family. (we regularly offer ways to pray with children in this email)

Break bread at home. Even if your children do not receive communion, break bread with them at home reminding them of the story of the last supper. Assure them that at home, when we break bread together it is different to church, but that we may break bread to remember Jesus. This may be linked with a meal time pattern of prayer.

“What prayer do we take to church today?” As a family, be conscious of the prayers and hopes you take to place before God in worship. Ask this question before you go to church.

Bonus Family Activity

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

(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 15, 2015

Faithful Families Resources March 15 2015

Home is the place where boys and girls first learn how to limit their wishes, abide by rules, and consider the rights and needs of others.

~Sidonie Gruenberg

Family Closeness

Game:

Piggy

A family member takes a turn rolling a die and may continue to do so for as long as they wish, adding up their score as they go along. The aim is to be the first to reach fifty. A player continues to throw the die and add their score until they choose to stop for that round or they throw a one on the die. If a player stops before they roll a one they get to keep their score and add it to the next round. A throw of one cancels their score for the round and ends their turn.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Would you prefer to be a fish or a bird?
What food would you be happy to eat every day?
What is something you like about your sister or brother? (or a best friend)

Story

With your family read: John 12.20-24

Questions for Discussion:

What do you think Jesus meant when he said it was time to be glorified?
What did Jesus say happens when a seed falls to the ground and dies?
What good things come from Jesus death and resurrection?

Prayer and Celebration

Prayers to use in Lent

These prayers may be used as part of a meal time pattern of prayer or
at other times.

Jesus our helper, our healer and friend,
As we journey through Lent, help us to
see you more clearly
love you more dearly
and follow you more nearly,
day by day. Amen.
~Taken from the Prayer of St Richard of Chichester

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.

Family Time

Crayon "Stained Glass" Cross

Cut out two identical cross shapes from wax paper. Scrape crayons with a blunt knife to create shavings of different colours. Spread the crayons on one of the pieces of waxed paper in the pattern you want. Place the second wax paper cross on top of the first with the shavings in between. Use a warm iron to press the two pieces of wax paper together. Hang them up to somewhere that all the family can see.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Faithful Families Resources March 8 2015

Bringing up a family should be an adventure, not an anxious discipline in which everybody is constantly graded for performance.

~Milton R. Saperstein

Family Closeness

Game:

Camouflage

Gather some ordinary objects such as a paper clip, a pencil, a coin, a comb or brush. Place them throughout the room, hidden but in plain sight. In other words, camouflaged. An example might be placing a blue comb leaning against a blue vase or a spoon next to a silver tray. Give family members a list of the items. They must not announce when they find an item but simply note where it is. The first player to see all the items and correctly reveal them wins. Another way to play is to choose one object and have a family member hide it and then the rest of the family must seek it out.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

Are you more like a desert or an ocean?
What is something you would find hard to live without?
Would you rather live in a place where it always rains or where it never rains?

Story

With your family read: John 3.14-21

Questions for Discussion:

Who is the Son of Man?
What do people receive by believing in him?
How much did God love the world? What did he give to show this love?

Prayer and Celebration

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.

(Whole People of God. 2001)

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.