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: Guiding Stars
Supplies: Yellow construction paper or card stock, scissors, glitter, glue, stickers, yarn and other decorative items
On the construction paper trace stars. Each family member can make one, or they can make several. Have a conversation about the wise men following a star to find Jesus and what it means to have a guiding star in your life. What word could you put on your star to guide you during the season of Epiphany? Write the word on the star(s), and then decorate them. Hang the stars where you will see them for the season of Epiphany.
Story Time: The Fourth Wise Man
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1. What gifts did the real wise men bring?
2. Do you know what those are?
3. This video was a little silly, but it had a good message at the end. What did you think about it?
4. Do you think Jesus wants fancy gifts from us?
5. What kinds of things can we give Jesus everyday?
Dinner Time: Describing Jesus
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, Thank you for this food which we are about to receive. It is a gift that comes from the Earth and the people who made it for us. This week we are especially thinking about gifts that we can give to Jesus. Help us to use our words and our actions to show Jesus how much we love Him. Amen
Questions:
1. What are some words you use to describe a king?
2. What are some words you would use to describe Jesus?
3. Are there words that are the same in those lists? Are there words that are different?
4. Why do you think Jesus was different than a regular king?
5. What are some ways we could be more like Jesus?
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 2:1-12 (God’s Word, My Voice)
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem to ask, “What’s this about a child born king of the Jews? We saw a star in the sky that led us here, and we’ve come to honor him.”
King Herod, who was very insecure and a little crazy, said, “King? What king?” Herod was scared that another king was out there. So he called all the priests and smart people together and asked them where this king of the Jews was supposed to be born according to the books.
They looked and found out that he was supposed to be born in Bethlehem. So he told the wise men to go to Bethlehem and made up a story about how he wanted to go and honor this newborn king as well. He actually wanted to destroy him.
The wise men set out for Bethlehem. The star in the sky stopped over the spot where Jesus lived. The wise men were thrilled! When they went inside, they found Jesus and Mary and they got down on their knees to worship him. they opened their packages full of treasures and gave him gifts of incense and gold. They had a dream that told them not to go back to Herod, so instead of going back through Jerusalem, they found another road and went home.
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: