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: Prayer Rocks
Supplies: a selection of rocks, acrylic paints, paint brushes
Give every member of the family a couple of rocks. Sit and talk about things you would like to see more of in the world. Paint those words or pictures that symbolize the words on the rocks, “Peace” “Justice” “Kindness” “Equality”. Then talk about how prayer can change people's hearts. On the opposite side of the rocks paint, “Pray for…” Once the rocks are dry, take a walk as a family and hide the rocks where other people might find them. Share your prayer rocks with the world!
Story Time: What is the Trinity?
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1. What did you notice about the video that was funny?
2. What does it mean to be prepared?
3. Was the person who gave the book report prepared? Why or why not?
4. Was the person that was listening to the story a good listener? why or why not?
5. The video was funny, but how do you think it could have gone better?
Dinner Time: Practicing Peace
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 -
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (prayer of St. Francis, BCP)
Questions:
1. What is your favorite instrument?
2. What do you think it means to be an instrument of peace?
3. How could we be an instrument of God’s peace?
4. What do you think about the words that are paired in each line of tonight’s prayer?
5. How would you describe the order of each line? Do you think that is important?
6. Can you think of another line that could be added to this prayer? Where there is ________(name something hard in the world), _____________.(name something to put in its place)
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 9:35-10:8 (God’s Word, My Voice)
Jesus went all over the place proclaiming God’s Good News and curing sick people. When he saw the crowds of people, his heart went out to them, because they were anxious and helpless, like sheep who have no shepherd to guide them. “So much work to do, so few workers. Let’s ask God for more helpers.”
Jesus sent out his twelve disciples with the power to cure sick people and cast out demons. Here are the names of his disciples: Simon Peter and his brother Andrew; James and John, sons of Zebedee; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Mattew the tax collector; James and Thaddaeus; Simon and Judas, the one who betrayed him.
Jesus sent them out with these marching orders: “First, go to your own people. As yougo, tell people the Good News about the kingdom of heaven being near. Cure sick people. Raise dead people. Make the lepers whole again. Cast out demons. Give much, as you have been given much.”
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: