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: Praying with Song
Supplies: Listen to this song on YouTube, “Don’t be afraid” from Sing the World by John Bell and Allison Adam or download the music from Itunes.
Sing it over the course of the week with your family as a reminder that God is always with us, even when we are afraid. This makes a wonderful bedtime practice, and one that can offer comfort for many years.
Story Time: Peter Walks On Water
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1. What kinds of things are scary for you?
2. Who helps you when you are scared?
3. Why do you think Peter was scared?
4. Who helped Peter?
Dinner Time: Having Courage
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, This week we heard the story of you walking on water out to the boat that had the disciples. We saw Peter be brave and step out of the boat, and you helped him when it became too scary. Remind us that you are always there to walk with us, catch us, support us,and to care for us. Help us to talk to you about all of the things that are scary and hard for us and to lay those troubles at Your feet. Amen
Questions:
1. What does it mean to have courage?
2. What kinds of things do courageous people do?
3. Who is someone in the Bible who has courage?
4. Who is someone in our family that has courage?
5. What is something you could do that would take courage?
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 14:22-33 (God’s Word, My Voice)
Jesus got rid of the crowds and made the disciples get into a boat and go to the other side of the lake. When he was finally alone, he went up the mountain to pray. He was still there when it got dark. By this time, a storm had come up on the lake and the boat the disciples were in was being battered by the waves. Early in the morning, Jesus came walking on the sea toward the boat. They thought they were seeing a ghost and they were all screaming in fear. Jesus yelled to them, “ It’s just me. Don’t be afraid.” Peter said, “If it’s you, make me walk on water toward you.” Jesus said, “Okay. come.” Peter got out of the boat, and started walking on the water toward Jesus. He noticed how strong the wind was and got scared and began to sink. “Jesus, save me,” Peter said. Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him. “Peter, why did you doubt you could do it? Have you so little faith in me?” The two of them got in the boat with the rest of the disciples and the wind stopped right away. Everyone in the boat worshiped Jesus, saying, “You really are the Son of God, aren’t you?”
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: