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: Keep It Up
Supplies: balloon
Inflate the balloon and challenge each family member to see how many times they can hit it into the air without it falling to the ground. Then pair up and try again. Then work all together to try to keep the balloon in the air. Set a few challenges for the group to do. Close with these questions: What parts of the challenges were hard for you? What parts were easy? Is it easier to keep the balloon up by yourself or with others?
Story Time: Jesus in the Temple
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think Jesus was like as a child?
2. How do you think Mary and Joseph felt when they couldn’t find him?
3. How would your parents feel if they couldn’t find you?
4. Why do you think Jesus said he was in his “Father’s house”?
5. Why do you think there aren’t more stories of Jesus in a child in the bible?
Dinner Time: Falling and Getting Up
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 -
Dear God, Please help us to be patient. Help us to remember that it took time for Jesus to grow up, and we need time too. Remind us to be good listeners to our family, our friends, and especially to You, God. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
Questions:
1. In this week’s story we hear about things falling and rising. Can you think of things that fall and rise?
2. Can you think of a time you fell?
3. Can you think of a time you made a mistake that made you feel like you let someone down? Is that another way to fall?
4. How did you rise back up from that mistake? Did someone help you?
5. Do you think that you can rise without falling?
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.
Luke 2:22-40
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."
And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
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: