Faith To Go Podcast: Trusting Signs
Hosted each week by the Faith Formation team at St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego, David Tremaine, Maya Little-Sana and Jackie Pippin, the Faith To Go Podcast highlight themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your conversations throughout the week.
Activity Time: Signs
Supplies: Printer or markers, and paper
Recreate signs that your children see on their way to school/day care of somewhere they go regularly. Ask them if they know what any of these signs mean.
Help them to create more signs that they see regularly in their life.
Story Time: Gospel Reading and Reflection
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) I wonder what the 'shema' is.
2) I wonder who says the 'shema' a lot.
3) I wonder what 'shema' means.
4) I wonder what you are supposed to pay attention to.
5) I wonder how paying attention helps you look for God's signs.
Dinner Time: Signs
Below is a prayer with which to start your meal and then discussion questions to explore this week’s topic with your family while you eat.
Prayer- The days are getting longer.
Keep your Spirit in my heart and mind
during this growing season.
Be with me as I finish the school year,
participate in summer activities,
enjoy the gift of summer turning into fall.
Help me recognize your works in all that I do
at work,
at rest,
and at play,
So that I can give thanks for all you provide,
even without my even asking.
Amen.
Questions:
I wonder if you ever seen signs as you walk or drive somewhere.
I wonder if it is hard to understand some signs.
I wonder if God has ever given you a sign.
I wonder what you look for in signs from God.
I wonder if you sometimes miss God’s sign.
I wonder how you can ask someone for help understanding these signs.
Bedtime: Reflections for Children at the End of the Day
During your bedtime routine, invite your children into a time of reflection about their day, maybe by saying, "Did you know that God really wants to know what happened in your day today, and that God is always listening whenever you need to tell God something?" Then continue with these questions:
1) What are some things that happened today that you want to tell God about?
2) What is one happy thing that happened today? What is one sad thing that happened today?
3) Did you see God or feel God with you when those things were happening? Where did you see or feel God when those things happened today?
4) Read to your children this week’s scripture selection, then ask the questions that follows.
John 6:24-35
After Jesus had fed the give thousand people, the crowds looked around to find Jesus and his disciples. They found them on the other side of the sea. Jesus said to them. “You are looking for me because I filled your hungry bellies, not because you believe. Isn’t that right? Look for the food that is eternal, which the Son of Man will give you. He’s got God the Father’s seal of approval. Don’t just settle for food that grows stale after a day.”
They asked him how they could perform God’s work. Jesus told them, “The work of God you should do, is to believe in the one that God sent.”
“What sign will you give us that you are the one? Why should we believe you?” they said. “God gave our ancestors in the wilderness bread from heaven to eat. What will you give us?”
Jesus said, “God is the one who gives you bread from heaven and it gives life to all the world.”
They said, “That’s the kind of bread we always want! Please, sir, give us this bread.”
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life that God gives to you. If you follow me, your heart will never be hungry. If you believe in me, you will never be thirsty.”
Did the story remind you of anything that happened in your day today?
5) What are some things that you want to tell God that you are grateful for today?
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: