1. Weekly Celebration and Activity

March 3, 2019: "Bearing Good Fruit" - Luke 6:39-45

Symbol of the Week

Please a bowl of fruit on the table as your centerpiece. Read the last portion of today’s Gospel reading from Luke 6:43-45. Talk about what it would like being good fruit, for example loving others, being kind, telling the truth. Let the bowl of fruit be a reminder that we are called to be God's good fruit. 
The Gospel Reading Luke 6:39-45: www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030319.cfm

Take a few moments as a parent to reflect on the Gospel of Jesus calling the disciples: www.americanbible.org/resources/lectio-divina 

Read the Gospel together: Luke 6:39-45
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Do a coloring page together. 
luke_6-44_coloring_page.pdf
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February 3, 2019: "Love Never Fails" - 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

This week make a centerpiece on your table with hearts and open your bible to 1 Corinthians 13:4-13. 
Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 13:4-13:  www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020319.cfm

Read from Paul's Letter together: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13
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Do a coloring page together. Select one or more of the coloring pages from the "Eleven Best Valentine's Day Coloring Pages": www.jellytelly.com/blog/eleven-best-valentines-coloring-pages.

Children's Storybook

Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess 
by Lisa Marsoli and Disney (Written for ages 2-6)

When Sofia becomes a Princess, she learns that she’ll have to dance at the Royal Ball being thrown in her honor. Sofia works hard to learn how to dance the waltz for the ball, but her new siblings and other classmates at Royal Prep are not so excited about her being a new princess. They decide to play tricks on Sofia to make sure she realizes who’s more important and that she doesn’t belong in the palace. Eventually, Sofia’s kind hearted spirit, and a little help from Cinderella, help the others to see that their behavior isn’t nice, helpful, or even loving toward their new sister and friend. At this point in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he’s taking a stance on the behavior of the church’s inability to offer a love that looks anything remotely like Christ. Paul reminds the church that love is the way in which God intends us to practice all of our spiritual gifts, and that the action of love can help the church to realize that there are far more important things than being right, or powerful, or the honored one. Love seeks not it’s own good, but the good of the one who is loved. Sofia’s friends were seeking to hurt her and in doing so they were not showing her a love that seeks to care for her. Paul reminds us that love lasts forever, when all else – palaces, royal balls, gowns, and even titles – fades away.
​(From http://storypath.upsem.edu) 

"Love One Another" - Song and Video

Valentine's Family Activity

Make easy, handmade valentines with pictures and messages that tell people how much you care about them.

Materials Needed
Bible, copies of the "People Around You" worksheet (one per person), pens or pencils, washable markers or crayons, copies of the heart image (see below), (several per person), 8 ½- x 11-inch paper (in white, pink, or red), envelopes, first-class stamps, addresses

Activity Plan
  1. Say this prayer aloud to begin: God, help us to show our love to the people around us. Amen.
  2. Read Paul's Letter together: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13
  3. Give each person a copy of the "People Around You" (attached below) and pen or pencil. Read through the handout together. Have each person identify the name of someone who fits each category. (You can also name more than one for each category.) Help young children who cannot write yet.
  4. Have each person circle three to five names from the "People Around You" worksheet.
  5. Using the heart image (attached below), print one for each person on on 8 ½- by 11-inch paper in white, pink, or red.
  6. Have each person write a short thinking-of-you prayer (or draw a picture) on each heart using washable markers or crayons. For example, someone might write, "I love you and I pray for you" or "You are the best!" Then have the person sign his or her name at the bottom of the heart.
  7. Find the address for each person you created a Valentine for. Write the address on an envelope. Fold up the heart that you created for the person to fit inside the envelope. Then place a first-class stamp on the envelope, and mail them to be received by Valentine's Day.
  8. Give each person another heart. Have each person write the names of the people he or she made Valentine Prayers for. Then have that person write his or her name at the top of the sheet. Keep the Valentines with people's name on it at your table. When you have a meal, say a prayer for the people listed on the Valentine heart.
valentine_prayers_-_people_around_you.pdf
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heart_image.pdf
File Size: 15 kb
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Spiritual Valentine Bouquet

On Valentine's Day, a holiday known for a booming flower business, teach the value and benefit of praying for those you love by making a "spiritual bouquet." Craft a bouquet of flowers, filled with petals of prayer intentions and prayers of thanksgiving for parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, and friends.

For instructions on how to create your "Spiritual Valentine Bouquet" go to: Vibrant Faith at Home. 

February 10, 2019: Call of the Disciples - Luke 5:1-11

Symbol of the Week

Cut small fish shapes cut out of paper for the children to color. Place these fish shapes in a clear glass bowl on the center of the table. Read the Gospel story together once or twice during the week. Talk about how Jesus calls us to follow him today. 
The Gospel Reading Luke 5:1-11: www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021019.cfm

Take a few moments as a parent to reflect on the Gospel of Jesus calling the disciples: www.americanbible.org/resources/lectio-divina 

For background on Luke's Gospel, watch the video of Luke 3 - 9. Focus on Luke 5 which is around 2 minutes into the video: Gospel of Luke Video

Read the Gospel together: Luke 5:1-11
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Do a coloring page together of Jesus calling the disciples. 
call_of_the_disciples.pdf
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The Call of the Disciples

Children's Storybook

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to be Who You Are 
by Maria Dismondy (Written for ages 4-11)

Likely after a long night of work, the fishermen were washing their nets and preparing to return to their homes when Jesus comes along and asks Simon to take him out in his boat. Jesus tells Simon to put his net back out into the water, and Simon hesitates for he’d already tried to catch fish all night long and caught nothing. But Simon does as Jesus says, trusting that Jesus has good reason behind his request. Then, to Simon’s surprise, his nets fill up with fish, so much so that other fisherman have to come back out to the water with their boats to help them. Simon’s trust in Jesus paid off! Sometimes it takes courage to trust in who or what you believe is right. Lucy had to lean into the courage to trust in what she knows is right when Ralph was in need of help. Helping Ralph was a difficult choice to make as Ralph had not been very nice to Lucy in the past because of her unusual food preferences. Despite how Ralph had treated her, Lucy trusted what she knew to be true: treat others as you want to be treated. Trusting in Jesus and his teachings can be difficult sometimes, but if we have the courage to do so, we might just receive a net full of blessings. (From: ​http://storypath.upsem.edu) 

February 17, 2019: The Beatitudes - Luke 6:17, 20-26

Symbol of the Week​

Create a  "What Makes Us Happy" family placemat for the table. ​

Read the Gospel from Luke 6:20-26 together. Jesus is teaching us that happiness does mean having money, being successful, or having many possessions. Have each family member to name the things that really make them happy. Give thanks to God for these blessings. 
The Gospel Reading Luke 6:17, 20-26: www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021019.cfm

Read a short commentary on the Gospel: Sunday Connection.

For background on Luke's Gospel, watch the video of Luke 3 - 9. Focus on Luke 6 which is around 3:30 minutes into the video: Gospel of Luke Video

Take a few moments as a parent to reflect on the Jesus' Sermon the Plain: www.americanbible.org/resources/lectio-divina 
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Read the Gospel together: Luke 6:20-26
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Do a coloring page together of Jesus teaching. ​
Jesus Teaching.jpg
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Children's Storybook

Amazing Grace 
by Mary Hoffman (Written for ages 4-8)

​In Mary Hoffman’s Amazing Grace, young Grace loves stories, and often acts them out, giving herself the most exciting parts. When Grace learns of her class’s production of Peter Pan, she immediately dreams of taking on the lead role. But her classmates don’t think she is right for the part because she is a girl and because she is black. Grace tells her family about her classmates’ comments. Her mother and grandmother encourage her and take her to a performance by a ballet dancer from Trinidad. When the time comes for auditions, Grace shines and leaves behind the hurt she experienced a few days earlier. Sometimes through life’s tough experiences, we grow and we learn, and we may even experience God’s blessings. In Jesus’ words to his disciples, he pronounces blessings upon those who are experiencing tough things, such as poverty or grief. Even in the midst of such tough times, Jesus sees the potential for blessings and for positive experiences that counteract the tough ones. Even through her tough experiences, Grace grew and shined. How have you experienced blessings in times that were tough when you wouldn’t expect it? How did you learn and grow?
(http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-february-17-2019)

February 24, 2019: "Love Your Enemies" - Luke 6:27-38

During the Week

Dedicate each day this week to one of the teachings in Luke 6:27-38. 
  1. Monday: ​​Love your enemies
  2. Tuesday: Do good to those who hate you
  3. Wednesday: Pray for those who are mean to you
  4. Thursday: Do to others as you would have them do to you
  5. Friday: Love and do good to all without expecting anything in return
The Gospel Reading Luke 6:27-38: www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021019.cfm

Read a short commentary on the Gospel: Sunday Connection.

For background on Luke's Gospel, watch the video of Luke 3 - 9. Focus on Luke 6 which is around 3:30 minutes into the video: Gospel of Luke Video

Take a few moments as a parent to reflect on the Jesus' Sermon the Plain: www.americanbible.org/resources/lectio-divina 
​
Read the Gospel together: Luke 6:27-38

Video:"Love Your Enemies"

Watch the video together as a family. Allow your children to tell you what the video is about, how they felt about the video. Ask them what they thought about the person throwing stuff. Ask them what they thought about the person building the bridge. What do they think the video means? 

Then read Luke 6:27-38 (the passage is long so you might just share key verses) and talk about what Jesus is teaching us and how we can live his teachings each day. 

Children's Storybook

Rufus and His Angry Tail
​by Elias Carr (Written for ages 3-6)

When people mistreat us it’s so easy to become angry and stay angry. Sometimes we don’t even realize that we’re becoming angry until we mistreat the person who’s wronged us. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain we hear that we’re to love our enemies and do good to those who don’t treat us well. That’s some hard stuff Jesus is telling us! In the story of Rufus and His Angry Tail, Rufus quickly becomes agitated by Ava and her mud pies.  Ava doesn’t mean to upset Rufus although it happens. Ava continues to get into Rufus’ space and Rufus becomes more and more upset. When Ava pushes him too far, Rufus escapes to collect himself and says a prayer about feeling angry. Upon his return to Ava, they apologize and forgive one another, returning to their friendly relationship. This book does a wonderful job of teaching young readers how to recognize symptoms of anger as well as encouraging us to turn to prayer/God during times of mistreatment, frustration, hurt, and fury. 
​(http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-february-24-2019/)

2. Reflecting on the Day
Begin a tradition of guiding your children to reflect on their day using these questions. Find a good time toward the end of the day, such as dinner time, story time, or bedtime.
  1. Ask them what made them happy over the past day.
  2. Ask them what made them sad over the past day.
  3. Ask them what they look forward to tomorrow.
  4. Remind them to thank God for what made them happy, ask for God’s help when they are sad, and pray for God’s presence in the coming day. 

3. Praying through the Day
Use these simple prayers to begin a daily routine of prayer with your children. Check-out the suggestions and article below to assist you in praying with your children. 

Sign of the Cross
Begin all prayer with the Sign of the Cross: In the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayer in the Morning
Oh Loving God I give you this day
All that I do and say.
I give you my love with Jesus your Son.
Today I will try to love everyone. Amen

Prayer at Meal Times
Begin meals with a short thanksgiving prayer. Here are two blessings that you can use. 

Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your goodness through Christ our Lord. 

Bless our home. Bless this food. Feed our spirits with the bread of life, and help us to know your peace at this table, then as we work and play and sleep.

​Prayer at Bedtime
Use bedtime to begin a daily prayer and blessing ritual. There is no age too young for a blessing. Begin to bless your children at bedtime for the very first day of life!

Say to you child, Mommy or Daddy is going to say a night time blessing now. Place your hand on the child's head and shoulder and say a short blessing. Use one of the examples or create your own.
  1. (Child's name), may God bless you and keep you. May God be kind and gracious to you. May God give you peace tonight and every night. Amen.
  2. (Child's name), may the pace of God, which is bigger than anything we understand, fill your heart and your mind, and may you know God's love always. Amen. 
  3. (Child's name), may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace, not only tonight, but tomorrow and the next day and all the days of your life. Amen.  

Additional Prayers

For Parents: Teaching Toddlers & Preschoolers to Pray
  1. Demonstrate for them how easy it is to talk to God – When a child of any age hears their parents talking to the God they believe in for themselves, it is already instilled in the child that simple talking is how we pray.
  2. Encourage your toddlers to pray with you – Our three year old loves to pray at our meals and bedtime. We haven't always understood the words, but we loved the demonstration of growing faith of the God we serve.  Just the other day, as we finished up praying together at bed time, he said to me for the first time, “Mommy, I want to see Jesus.”  My heart skipped a beat because he wants the relationship to be face to face now.
  3. Introduce the stages of prayers – Thankful for things from the food we eat, the gifts we have and the gorgeous day.  You know when you toddler or preschool has this one covered, because they want to thank God for everything and I do mean everything!  Teach them to pray for healing by praying over their hurts, pain and sicknesses. Teach them to pray for forgiveness, by helping them to pray when they have sinned.  Teach them to pray for others by sharing prayer request with them and praying together.
When your day has prayer throughout it and it includes your children at their earliest age, this alone will be the tools needed to teach your toddlers and preschoolers to pray on their own.
(From: www.joyinthehome.com/how-to-teach-toddlers-and-preschoolers-to-pray)

Check out the article: Creating A Rhythm of Prayer in the Life of a Preschooler at orangeblogs.org/firstlook/creating-a-rhythm-of-prayer-in-the-life-of-a-preschooler. 

4. Learning our Faith
Here are a variety of learning activities that will help your children grow closer to God throughout the month. When you have 10 or 15 minutes experience one of these activities. 
​

I L-O-V-E G-O-D

​Parents introduce their toddlers to a world filled with letters, numbers, and other foundational education tools. Use the flashcards below to engage your child and family in learning the foundational language of faith.

  1. Read this prayer to and with your child to begin.
    God, I love you. Thanks for your love. In Jesus' name, Amen.
  2. Color the cards with your child. You can choose to do one card a day or a lot of them at once depending on your child's cognitive ability and age.
  3. Take time to look at the letters of each card and read the words out loud as you color together.
  4. Once the cards are printed and ready there are many ways to use them as introductory methods to faith-filled words.
           - Review these cards at the same time as other learning occurs.
                           Spell it out on a white erase board
                           Draw it in sidewalk chalk
                           Put it on the refrigerator
                           Talk about the word at dinner
           - Take one each day and look at it at bedtime or mealtime. (You could use the same one for several days.)
           - Find a scripture or story that uses some of the words and read it with older children.
           - Make another set of cards and play a matching game.

​(By Olivia Bryan Updegrove)
i_l-o-v-e_g-o-d_-_toddler_faith_sight_words_1.pdf
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Purchase a Storybook Bible for Your Children

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​
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