faithful families

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Faithful Families Resources November 27 2016

Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27:14

We are now in the season of Advent, a time that is focussed on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ; we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart every day. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on earth. Over these four weeks the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.

Family Closeness

Game:

Everyone closes their eyes and must guess how long a minute is, by opening their eyes when they think a minute is up. Try playing this game using a piece of music. Did players guess a longer or shorter time for a minute? Another way to play is to get everyone to walk between two walls trying to move slowly or quickly enough that they will reach the wall just as a minute is up. If you reach the wall before time you are out.

(Inspired by Christine Gapes. New Games for Community)

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What do you hate waiting for?

When do you find waiting most difficult?

What do you do to make waiting easier?

What can’t you wait for?

Story

With your family read Matthew 3.1-12

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

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

Questions for Discussion:

What was the message John the Baptist had?
Why do you think John dressed and lived as he did?
What do you think it means to be baptised with the Holy Spirit and fire?

Prayer and Celebration

Advent Prayer Pattern

This pattern may be used this week to begin meal times or to begin a family sharing time.

It may begin by asking everyone to quieten down and to think about what it means to wait and to think of one word to describe that feeling. During the prayer the leader is going to say: “Waiting feels like…” and each person will be free to speak her word aloud. Parents might need to help little ones with a word that describes the feeling of waiting.

1. Music. Choose a piece of gentle music to listen to. Try some different pieces each time to try and find one that expresses a feeling of waiting.

2. Prayer: All of us wait. Each day brings its own dose of waiting. We wait in the dentist’s office, at sports practice, at school, for parents and children, for brothers and sisters. We wait for dinner to be ready, for the refund, for the letter from a friend. We wait to be big enough to ride the roller coaster, old enough to stay up late, secure enough to be on our own. Our waiting feels like…(give people a chance to voice their feeling) Advent calls us to celebrate waiting. Each time we wait, help us to remember how the world waited for a saviour. Help us to remember we are always waiting for your return. Help us find and recognise you in each other. As we wait. We are Advent people.

3. Lord, the N…family is waiting for you.

All: Come, Lord Jesus.

(Rituals and Icebreakers. Kathleen O’Connel Chesto.Ligouri)

Service

Now is a great time of year as we move towards Christmas to begin think about how you may serve those in need. Christmas can be a sad and lonely time of year for many people. How might your family serve Christ the King this Advent and Christmas, and make a different in people’s lives at the same time. Here are a few quick ideas.

Instead of or as well, buying gifts for each other buy an animal for a family overseas.

https://unwrapped.oxfam.org.au/

Serve in a homeless shelter or soup kitchen.

Family Time

Nativity Exploration

In this period as we move towards Christmas why not use art work to explore the story a Jesus birth. Apart from the many Christmas cards that you may receive the internet also provides a wealth of resources. If you go to http://www.textweek.com/art/nativity.htm you will find links to many depictions of the birth of Christ through the ages. Invite your family to choose their favourite picture and to describe what they like about it? Discuss the different pictures and what you find interesting in them. Get each member to draw their own nativity picture and explain it.

(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, November 20, 2016

Faithful Families Resources November 20 2016

God never made a promise that was too good to be true.

~Dwight L. Moody

This week we enter the season of Advent, a time that is focussed on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ, we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart every day. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on earth. Over the next four weeks the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.

In addition to the weekly resources have a look at the special Advent page for some ideas and resources on how to celebrate the season well in your home.

Family Closeness

Game:

Pay Off

This simplified version of pay off can be played with any number of family members. Everyone needs a red token or piece of paper and a black token or piece of paper. Family members will get points depending on what token they and others show. At the start you decide on how many rounds you will play. It should probably be at least five. Family members decide which token they will show but not let other family members know. On the count of three everyone will place their token on the table at the same time. Points are awarded in the following way:

If everyone puts down red – everyone loses two points.
If some family members put down red and some put down black – those who put down black get 2 points, those who put down red lose 2 points.
If everyone puts down black – everyone gets 2 points.

Only have discussions after every three rounds about what you put down or to make promises about what you will put down next go. This could be a good source of family discussion about promises and keeping them.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What are the biggest promises people make in their life?

Why are some promises hard to keep?

How do you feel if someone doesn’t keep their promise?

What do you think God has promised us?

Story

With your family read Matthew 24.36-44

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

http://www.sermons4kids.com/prepare_advent_A1.htm

Questions for Discussion:

What do you think this reading is about?

What does it mean to be ready?

How can we always be ready to meet Jesus?

Prayer and Celebration

This week take a look at the special Advent page to get some great ideas for celebrating this season. Most of the ideas will require some preparation.

Service

The Advent Conspiracy website provides a great way to think about Advent with the charge to : Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All. It encourages us to think about how we might reshape the time that leads to Christmas in a life giving and countercultural way.

http://www.adventconspiracy.org/

Family Time

Begin thinking about how you might do something really special together as a family for Christmas. How might you really spend quality time together, how might you truly give of yourselves to one another. Throughout this blog there are hundreds of ideas for spending time with your family. Find something special and enjoy the time.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Faithful Families Resources November 13 2016

Making the decision to have a child – it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.

~ Elizabeth Stone

Family Closeness

Game:

King of the Table

Everyone at the table gets an empty plastic cup and places it to the side of them – this is their throne. Screw up some pieces of soft paper into small balls that will fit inside the cups (cotton balls could also be used as an even gentler option). Make sure you have plenty - maybe ten each. On the count of three everyone begins throwing their paper trying to get it in each other’s cup. The cup can’t be defended. As soon as someones cup has paper in it they must turn it over. Whoever is the last to have their cup filled is the King or Queen of the Table.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What would be the best thing about being king or queen?
What would be the worth thing about being king or queen?
What would a good king or queen be like?
What would a terrible king or queen be like?

Story

This Sunday (coming) is celebrated by many churches as ‘Christ the King’. It is the last Sunday in the church’s year before the season of Advent, a special time of waiting and preparation for the birth of Christ and his return. Apart from the reading listed below, you might like to read some of the other passage where Jesus uses the image of a king in his parables. Try Matthew 22.1-4 and Luke 19.11-26

With your family read Luke 23.33-43

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

Questions for Discussion:

What does this reading have to do with Jesus being a king?
Why would Jesus let this happen to himself?
Why didn’t the people believe? Why do you think the criminal believed?
What kind of king is Jesus?

Prayer and Celebration

Praise to the King

In this week when we celebrate Christ the King focus on prayers of praise and adoration. Have your family think of all the wonderful things they would want to say about God and put these in a prayer. In 1st Chronicles 29:10-13 King David prays a prayer of praise to God.

“Praise be to You, O Lord,

God of our father Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power

and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is Yours.

Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom,

You are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from You;

You are the ruler of all things.

In Your hands are strength and power

to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give You thanks,

and praise Your glorious name.” (NIV)

Family Time

King or Queen for a Day

This might best be done in the holidays when there is some time to spend. Let each of your family members, including parents, be king or queen for the day. This might begin with a crowning in the morning along with breakfast in bed. The king or queen doesn’t have to do any chores on this particular day, the rest of the family look after them. Let the regent choose what games and activities the family might engage in for the day as well as what food they might eat. It is important that some family guidelines are set for this so that it remains a fun game and not something that might turn children into “bossy little emperors”. At the end of the day during dinner talk about the experience of being king or queen for the day. What was good about it, what wasn’t so great.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Faithful Families Resources November 6 2016

“Let your eyes light up when your children are around. Laugh more. Tell them how empty and quiet it is when they’re not there. Enjoy the things they bring to your life. Attend their activities, not as if they were compulsory for parents, but throw yourself into their lives”

~ Valeri Bell

Family Closeness

Game:

Write or print different phrases on small pieces of paper. Make enough for your whole family. Place them under each of your families plates. Make the phrases usable but strange. Eg: “I wish I was a mouse” or “Have you eaten centipede?” Before dinner get everyone to read the card under their plate to themselves, keeping it a secret from the rest of the family. Everyone has to use their phrase during dinner as naturally as they can in conversation. Potentiallt this could be a race in which whoever uses their phrase last loses. Or it can be a competition in which family members have to figure out when someone has used their assigned phrase.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What are the three most interesting things about you?
Name five reasons you’re glad to be alive.
If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
What’s your favorite song? Why?

Story

With your family read: Luke 21.5-19

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

Questions for Discussion:

This is a hard reading to hear. What do you think about it?
What is Jesus preparing his disciples for?
What is the reassurance Jesus gives at the end?

Prayer and Celebration

Thank you God for giving us food

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.

Family Activity

Butchers Paper Table Topic

Cover your dinner table top with butcher’s paper and bring out the crayons. Your family can draw and write and have discussion around the table while you are creating works of art.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Faithful Families Resources October 30 2016

The best inheritance a parent can give to his children is a few minutes of their time each day.

~ M. Grundler

Family Closeness

Game:

Tickle Tag

Sit comfortably with your feet outstretched. One foot is "home base" and may not be moved. The other foot is the "attacker" which may move in attempting to tickle the home base of the other person, before they tickle you.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

If you had to give up all your toys but one which one would you keep and why?
What is your favourite breakfast?
What is one thing that could be invented to make your life easier?

Story

With your family read: Luke 20.27-38

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

Questions for Discussion:

What do you think of the Sadducees story?
How did Jesus answer their question?
What do you think Jesus is saying about heaven and marriage?

Prayer and Celebration

Hand Prayer

There are many different ways that a hand can be used as a guide to prayer. Some methods have appeared on this blog at other times. Here is another way to use your hand to pray for specific things.

Thumb - those closest to you (family and friends)

Pointer - those who lead and guide you (teachers, pastors, police, coaches)

Middle - those in authority (city, nation and world leaders)

Ring - this weakest finger reminds us of those who are sick, lonely or sad

Pinky - this smallest finger reminds us to pray for ourselves last

Family Activity

Create Self-Portraits

You may have hundreds of photos of your family but drawing a self portrait adds a dimension that a photo doesn’t have. Sit down as a family to create your self portraits. Take your time and use nice paper the same size for everyone. You might like to put your pictures of the wall gallery style and you could even frame them using coloured card.

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, October 23, 2016

Faithful Families Resources October 23 2016

The Lord teach you all how precious Christ is, and what a mighty and complete work He hath done for our salvation.Then, I feel confident you will use every means to bring your children to Jesus, that they may live through Him. The Lord teach you all your need of the Holy Spirit, to renew, sanctify, and quicken your souls...

The Lord grant this, and then I have a good hope that youwill indeed train up your children well, — train well for this life, and train well for the life to come; train well for earth, and train well for heaven; train them for God, for Christ, and for eternity.

~J. C. Ryle

Family Closeness

Game:

Quack!
Everyone stands with their legs apart and their bodies hanging down with their hands holding their knees or ankles. While looking between your knees, walk backward. Every time you touch someone, backside to backside, make eye contact through your legs and loudly say "Quack!" Then move on till you bump someone else.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

What do you think will be different about your life by next year?
What is the best costume you have ever worn?
If you found a $100 what would you do with it?

Story

With your family read: Luke 19.1-10

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

Questions for Discussion:

Why do you think Zacchaeus was so eager to see Jesus?
Why did the people grumble when Jesus wanted to eat with him?
What do you think made Zacchaeus have a change of heart?

Prayer and Celebration

Paper Towel Prayer:

Take a roll of paper towels and spend some time putting a prayer concern on each sheet. Then reroll it.Every day tear off one sheet and offer prayers for that particular concern or person. Your family might like to write prayers around the edge of the paper towel.

Family Activity

Make Dinner Together

Once a week or as a one off involve your whole family in the dinner making process. Have different members set the table, help in the preparation and making of the meal as well as in cleaning up. Make it that everyone has to stay together until the whole thing is done. Afterwards you might like to play a family game together.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Faithful Families Resources October 16 2016

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. ~Deuteronomy 6.4-7

Family Closeness

Game:

Blind Draw

Everyone is given a sheet of paper and a pen. You have three minutes to draw a picture of something that everyone agrees to...but you must either close your eyes or be blindfolded or have the light turned out.

Sharing:

What is the hardest thing about being (your age) years old?
What is the best thing about being (your age) years old?
What things don’t boys understand about girls?
What things don’t girls understand about boys?

Story

With your family read: Luke 18.9-14

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

Questions for Discussion:

What was the difference between the two men?
Why did Jesus praise the tax collector?

Prayer and Celebration

Prayers of Confession

Prayers of confession are a normal part of a Christian’s prayer life. All of us, including children do things we wish we hadn’t, or don’t do the things we should. Confession, saying sorry and asking God for forgiveness is something that parents should model to children. There are various ways we might engage our children in prayers of confession.

Burning Prayers

Your family might like to individually write down things they would like to say sorry for. These prayers might then be placed in a bowl and burnt as a symbol of God’s forgiveness.

The following words might be used to help children have a language for this type of prayer:

I got really angry today. I think I know why, and I wish I wouldn’t. I feel so out of control. I feel disappointed. Jesus, I am sorry for any hurt I have caused today. Help me to be gentle. Help me to love more and more. Help me to love.

Help me to put aside the things that hurt others, you, and me. I am sorry for . . . . Grant your grace to me, that I might grow more into who I am, and who you call me to be.

Words from scripture might be used to help children see that God takes away our sins from us and forgives us.

These could include:

“If you sin, Jesus Christ always does the right thing, and he will speak to the Father for us. Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people.” (1 John 2:1–2, CEV)

“How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!” (Psalm 103:12, CEV)

Bonus Family Activity

Collage of Dreams

Use photos, words and pictures from old magazines, glue, sparkles etc to make a collage of the things your family would like to do with their life. This might begin by each member making a list of 10 or 100 things that they would like to do in their life…like skydive or write a book or learn to ride a bike. Alternatively the collage might be about things your family might like to do this year together. Put the collage up somewhere visible to remind you of your dreams and plans.