Family Faith Seeds: And it was Very Good, Week of January 3rd, 2021

I hope you find this to be a great faith activity for the whole family of all ages. This week’s theme focuses Dwight’s sermon from the January 3rd service.

Scripture: From Desmond Tutu's, Children of God Storybook Bible

Questions and Family Wonderings Based on the Scripture Above

• What was there in the beginning?
• What happened on the first day?
• What happened on the second day?
• What happened on the third day?
• What happened on the fourth day?
• What happened on the fifth day?
• What happened on the sixth day?
• What happened on the seventh day?
• That seems like a lot to happen each day huh.  Do you think that the days were the same kind of days like how we think of them?  24 hours?
• What did God create humans, based on the scripture?
• What does taking care of the earth and enjoying it mean to you?

Thoughts from the Director of Faith Formation

In Dwight’s sermon, he identifies this first creation story as an origin story.  I would agree.  I have also been known to identify it in the literary genre of myth.  Babylonian myth, to be precise.  Some folks, scholars, conjecture that much of the book of Genesis originate in Babylonian myth.  I love myths!  There is a lot to learn from myths.  And myths can re-frame our understanding of what a truth can be.  

For me, myths aren’t factual truth, but something else.  They are truth, in effect that they help us gain insight.  This is why I ask the question about time above.  Rather than think of each day in this creation story like days on a calendar, another way we could think about time here is by event.  Each day is marked by an event, since there was barely a day and night to record calendar days by yet.  If day and night were just created, then the calendar was still something to be figured out much later.

But, I’m getting way off topic!  I love the Tutu translation of this story because of how it relates our purpose.  Our purpose is to enjoy the earth and take care of it.  One of the ways I enjoy the earth is noticing her in as many ways as I can.  I try to take time to see the earth in small ways:  a sunset, the ways the leaves change during seasons, how beautiful the earth becomes when the snow is falling, or the bounty of her beautiful lakes, of which we have many here in Minnesota.  When I lived in California, I would go backpacking in mountainous terrain, and take in the beauty of the earth in higher altitudes like Yosemite.  When I would go backpacking, I had nothing to do BUT enjoy the earth and take care of her.  I would notice everything around me while backpacking because there were absolutely no distractions. I wonder how you enjoy the earth.  Are the ways you enjoy the earth also taking care of it, too?  

Activity: Creation Mirror

• You may have heard of mirroring exercises, where you have a partner and you both do the same movements, taking the lead from one another, with one person begin the leader and the other following.  It’s a great way to learn about, and to get in touch with the other person.
• For our Creation Mirror exercise, each member of the family who is participating is invited to find something in nature to observe and then mirror.  It’s that simple!!  Through doing this, we can learn about creation, and get more in touch with it. 
• After you’ve all done your mirroring exercise, you are encouraged to talk about your experience with each other. 

Family Faith Seeds: Fourth Sunday of Advent Week of December 20th, 2020

 I hope you find this to be a great faith activity for the whole family of all ages. This week’s theme, and the next few weeks themes during Advent will be based on the Lukan Advent stories.

Scripture-- Luke 2: 1-20,The Birth of Jesus

Questions and Family Wonderings Based on Above Readings

• Why did Mary and Joseph have to travel to Bethlehem?
• Why do you think people were terrified by the angel?
• How is it possible that the angel knew that this tiny baby, Jesus, is going to be a great leader, healer, and friend?

Home Participation in the Manger/Creche Scene

Since we can’t all be in the sanctuary together each week to see the different creche figures up close, you are invited to have your own manger/creche with the figures at home.  Each week, we’ll ask I wonder questions, and place figures in the creche/manger.  You are invited to do this at home, too.

This Sunday, only the manger is in the creche.  We will be adding the animals and the shepherd and wonder, “I wonder if the merchants could feel in the air around the stable, how special that place was."

Home Participation in Lighting Advent Candles

First, if you don’t have an Advent wreath, that’s OK.  Just candles will do.  And, if you would like to make an Advent Wreath, here are the instructions to make the one we usually make during Advent Now.

You may wish to light these, with the ritual, every evening of Advent and let them stay lit a spell…

• You are invited to start by singing this song.  We’ll sing it in worship too.

• Next, the candle lighting liturgy.  The words are from I Will Light Candles this 
• Week 1, Nov. 29 and through the week: I will Light Candles this Christmas, “Candles of joy despite all the sadness, candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Adding on for Week 2, Dec. 6 and through the week: “Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Adding on for Week 3, Dec. 13 and through the week: “Candles of courage for fears ever present,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”     
• Adding on for Week 4, Dec. 20: “Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”     
• Also adding on for Week 4, Dec. 21 and through the week: “Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Also adding on for Week 4, Dec. 24: “Candles of love to inspire all my living,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”  
• And, end your candle lighting ritual with singing Holy Darkness again.

A Family Manger Creation Activity

You may already have a nativity scene that is set up for all to view at the beginning of Advent.  And that is wonderful!  Nativity sets are so beautiful and make a lovely addition to setting the holiday ambience in many homes.  You are invited to create a different nativity set, if you would like, to participate in the weekly Time with Children, that is accompanied by the I wonder question of the week.

This one is a printable nativity scene that you can put on your refrigerator.  The cool thing about this nativity scene is that you can color it yourself however you would like.  I plan on changing the words a bit that are inside the angel. You could even add your own pieces to it. You can have a place on the fridge for the characters to be until it is their turn to be part of the manger scene each week!  I plan on printing this one out and doing this at home.  If this one doesn’t suit you and your family, there are several others from this great website that you might like better.

Family Faith Seeds: Third Sunday of Advent Week of December 13th, 2020

I hope you find this to be a great faith activity for the whole family of all ages. This week’s theme, and the next few weeks themes during Advent will be based on the Lukan Advent stories.

Scripture-- Luke 1: 39-55, Mary Visits Elizabeth

Questions and Family Wonderings Based on Above Readings

• Why did Mary go to visit Elizabeth?
• Mary talks a lot about feeling blessed. Can you think of a time you could feel God's blessings in your life?
• How does this story pertain to your life? In other words, can you think of ways that perhaps God uses you in the world, or could use you in the world?

Home Participation in the Manger/Creche Scene

Since we can’t all be in the sanctuary together each week to see the different creche figures up close, you are invited to have your own manger/creche with the figures at home.  Each week, we’ll ask I wonder questions, and place figures in the creche/manger.  You are invited to do this at home, too.

This Sunday, only the manger is in the creche.  We will be adding the animals and the shepherd and wonder, “I wonder if the merchants could feel in the air around the stable, how special that place was."

Home Participation in Lighting Advent Candles

First, if you don’t have an Advent wreath, that’s OK.  Just candles will do.  And, if you would like to make an Advent Wreath, here are the instructions to make the one we usually make during Advent Now.

You may wish to light these, with the ritual, every evening of Advent and let them stay lit a spell…

• You are invited to start by singing this song.  We’ll sing it in worship too.

• Next, the candle lighting liturgy.  The words are from I Will Light Candles this 
• Week 1, Nov. 29 and through the week: I will Light Candles this Christmas, “Candles of joy despite all the sadness, candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Adding on for Week 2, Dec. 6 and through the week: “Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Adding on for Week 3, Dec. 13 and through the week: “Candles of courage for fears ever present,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”     
• Adding on for Week 4, Dec. 20: “Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”     
• Also adding on for Week 4, Dec. 21 and through the week: “Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Also adding on for Week 4, Dec. 24: “Candles of love to inspire all my living,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”  
• And, end your candle lighting ritual with singing Holy Darkness again.

A Family Manger Creation Activity

You may already have a nativity scene that is set up for all to view at the beginning of Advent.  And that is wonderful!  Nativity sets are so beautiful and make a lovely addition to setting the holiday ambience in many homes.  You are invited to create a different nativity set, if you would like, to participate in the weekly Time with Children, that is accompanied by the I wonder question of the week.

This one is a printable nativity scene that you can put on your refrigerator.  The cool thing about this nativity scene is that you can color it yourself however you would like.  I plan on changing the words a bit that are inside the angel. You could even add your own pieces to it. You can have a place on the fridge for the characters to be until it is their turn to be part of the manger scene each week!  I plan on printing this one out and doing this at home.  If this one doesn’t suit you and your family, there are several others from this great website that you might like better.

 

Family Faith Seeds: Second Sunday of Advent Week of December 6th, 2020

I hope you find this to be a great faith activity for the whole family of all ages. This week’s theme, and the next few weeks themes during Advent will be based on the Lukan Advent stories.

Scripture

Luke 1: The Birth of Jesus Foretold

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”[b] 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”[c] 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[d] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Questions and Family Wonderings Based on Above Readings

• What do you think the angel Gabriel looks like?

• Have you ever seen an angel?

• I wonder what Mary thought as she was greeted by an angel.

• Do you think Mary wondered we she was chosen for this?  How would you feel if you                were chosen to do something really big and important?

Home Participation in the Manger/Creche Scene

Since we can’t all be in the sanctuary together each week to see the different creche figures up close, you are invited to have your own manger/creche with the figures at home.  Each week, we’ll ask I wonder questions, and place figures in the creche/manger.  You are invited to do this at home, too.

This Sunday, only the manger is in the creche.  We will be adding the animals and the shepherd and wonder, “I wonder what the animals dreamt about under the stars while they were at the stable?”

Home Participation in Lighting Advent Candles

First, if you don’t have an Advent wreath, that’s OK.  Just candles will do.  And, if you would like to make an Advent Wreath, here are the instructions to make the one we usually make during Advent Now.

You may wish to light these, with the ritual, every evening of Advent and let them stay lit a spell…

• You are invited to start by singing this song.  We’ll sing it in worship too.

• Next, the candle lighting liturgy.  The words are from I Will Light Candles this 
• Week 1, Nov. 29 and through the week: I will Light Candles this Christmas, “Candles of joy despite all the sadness, candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Adding on for Week 2, Dec. 6 and through the week: “Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Adding on for Week 3, Dec. 13 and through the week: “Candles of courage for fears ever present,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”     
• Adding on for Week 4, Dec. 20: “Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”     
• Also adding on for Week 4, Dec. 21 and through the week: “Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Also adding on for Week 4, Dec. 24: “Candles of love to inspire all my living,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”  
• And, end your candle lighting ritual with singing Holy Darkness again.

A Family Manger Creation Activity

You may already have a nativity scene that is set up for all to view at the beginning of Advent.  And that is wonderful!  Nativity sets are so beautiful and make a lovely addition to setting the holiday ambience in many homes.  You are invited to create a different nativity set, if you would like, to participate in the weekly Time with Children, that is accompanied by the I wonder question of the week.

This one is a printable nativity scene that you can put on your refrigerator.  The cool thing about this nativity scene is that you can color it yourself however you would like.  I plan on changing the words a bit that are inside the angel. You could even add your own pieces to it. You can have a place on the fridge for the characters to be until it is their turn to be part of the manger scene each week!  I plan on printing this one out and doing this at home.  If this one doesn’t suit you and your family, there are several others from this great website that you might like better.