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: Lent Desert Box (Week 2)
Supplies: shell, feather (this activity utilizes the desert box that we created in week one of Lent. If you did not have the opportunity to create the box, you can find the instructions for making it HERE.)
Night one: Place the shell in the desert box and fill with a little bit of water. Ask these questions, “What could drink out of this tiny shell? What is it like in the desert? How do you think you would feel if you found water?”
Night two: Place the feather in the desert box. Ask these questions, “What kind of bird could have this kind of feather? Why do birds need feathers? Do you remember what kind of bird came down when Jesus was baptized?”
Night three: Ask this question, “The Holy Spirit is sometimes described as a bird, as wind, as a flame. Why do you think it is described that way?”
Night four: Ask this question, “In this week’s story we hear about Jesus being led by the Spirit into the desert. What form can you imagine the Spirit took?”
Night five: Ask this question, “What do you think it means to be born of water and the Spirit?”
Nights six and seven: Move the Jesus rock, colorful side down, and the feather in the box each evening before dinner. Rotate which family member gets to do it.
Story Time: Nicodemus Reborn
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever heard me tell the story of your birth? (tell it now)
2. What is your favorite part of that story?
3. Have you ever heard me tell the story of your baptism? (tell it now)
4. What is your favorite part of that story?
5. Why do you think Nicodemus was so happy to talk to Jesus?
Dinner Time: Something New
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. Thank you for people who are brave enough to ask hard questions and listen for the answers. Help us to be brave too. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Questions:
1. Is it exciting when you learn something new?
2. Who teaches you things?
3. Do you ever have to ask questions when you are learning?
4. Do you think that is true for grownups too?
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.
John 3:1-17 (God’s Word, My Voice)
One of the Jewish leaders named Nicodemus came to Jesus after dark. Nicodemus said, “Jesus, we know you are a teacher from God, because of the amazing things we’ve seen you do -- no one could do those things unless they’d been in God’s presence.”
Jesus said, “I’m telling you that being in God’s presence isn’t even possible without being born from above.”
Nicodemus asked Jesus, “How is somebody going to do that? What am I supposed to crawl back into my mother and be born again?”
Jesus replied, “No, I’m talking about being born with water and the Spirit. What do you think about that? The wind is free, and goes wherever it wants to go. Just like the Spirit.”
Nicodemus said, “I still don’t get it.”
“How can you be a leader of your people and still not get it?” Jesus said, “These are heavenly things I’m talking about. Here’s the most important thing you need to know -- God loved everything and everyone in the world so much that he gave up his Son for them, and everyone who believes in God’s Son will live with God in their hearts forever. God didn’t send his Son to make us all look ridiculous. God didn’t send his Son to tell us we were going to hell, but to save us from ourselves for God.”
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: