Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar, and joined the each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go Podcast highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.
Activity Time: Children of the World
Supplies: paper, colored pencils, computer, and parent to navigate the computer
Take the peace of paper and fold it in half, then fold it in half the other direction. This should give you four squares that are the same size. Decide as a family a culture or country you want to know more about. In the first box draw a picture of food that is popular with children in that country.
In the second box, draw a picture of what type of games or activities those children like to do. In the third box, draw a picture of what a child from that country might look like (including if they have traditional clothes they wear). In the fourth box write how you say, “Will you be my friend?” in the language of their country. (you can use Google translate for this.
Try to do one country every day, and from different continents. Questions for the end of the week: What things did you notice you had in common with children from other countries? What things did they do that were different that you thought were cool? Does it make the world feel smaller or bigger to learn about children in other countries? What would you want them to know about you?
Story Time: Include
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1. How did Elmo feel at the beginning of this video?
2. Do you think the sheep meant to hurt his feelings?
3. How did Elmo feel after he was invited to dance with the sheep?
4. How does it make you feel when people play with you?
5. How does it make you feel when people don’t play with you?
Dinner Time: Fixing Problems
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 -
Jesus, to be chosen, to be wanted, to know that I have someone to whom I belong is so comforting to me today. Help me to include others in my conversations, my work and my play. Help me to notice those who don’t feel wanted and invite them into my circle and my heart. Support me as I remember that we belong to each other just as we belong to you. Amen.
(Christ Church Day School Belonging Prayer)
Questions:
1. Can you think of a problem?
2. How could we fix it?
3. Do you need someone’s help to fix it?
4. If that person said no, how could you ask again to get their help?
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.
Matthew 15:21-28 (God’s Word, My Voice)
Jesus walked to a place called Tyre and Sidon. A woman who was not a believer ran toward him and shouted, “Show me some mercy, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
Jesus kept on walking without even looking at her or answering her. His disciples asked him to send her away because she was bugging them. Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to God’s people of Israel, not people in Canaan.” That didn’t discourage her. She knelt at Jesus’ feet saying, “Please, Lord, help me. I really need your help.”
Jesus said, “Do you think it’s fair to take food meant for the children and give it to the dogs?”
The woman said, “I get that, Lord. But the dogs have to eat too. And they will eat the crumbs that fall from the table if they have to.”
Jesus was shocked by how strong she was and how much she kept pushing him to help her daughter. He said, “Woman, your faith is incredible! Your prayer will be answered as you wish.” And her daughter was healed that very moment.
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: