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: Time, Talent & Treasure
Supplies: one notecard or piece of paper per person with the words TIME, TALENT, and TREASURE written on them, and writing utensils
Say, “Being generous helps not just the person we give to, but us too. When we give to others, we feel happy! This week we are going to practice generosity as a family. You have lots you can give.
You can give of your TIME, helping someone with a chore or playing a game with a sibling that they really want to play. You can give of your TALENT, helping with reading or homework, or making a card for someone. You can give of your TREASURE by sharing part of your allowance with someone it would benefit. I’ll help you figure out the last one!
Then at the end of the week, we will look through our cards together and talk about how each experience felt for us and the person we shared it with.”
Story Time: Generosity
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1. How much money was the girl given for Christmas?
2. What did she choose to do with it?
3. What would you do if you had $100 to make someone’s life better?
4. How would you describe generosity?
5. What is something good you did today?
Dinner Time: What Belongs to God?
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 Lord, Teach us to be generous. Help us to give freely of our time, talents and friendship without worrying about what we will get in return. Remind us that all gifts come from heaven and the best gift of all is being able to serve someone in need. Help us to love each other, and in those moments when we don’t think we have enough for everyone, let us know that we can always look to You for more. Amen
(Christ Church Day School Chapel - Generosity Prayer)
Questions:
1. When Jesus answered the question in this week’s story, he said, “So give to the emperor the things that are his. Give to God the things that belong to God.” What do you think that means?
2. What kinds of things belong to you?
3. What things do you think belong to God?
4. How do you give God those things?
5. What parts of you do you give to God?
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 22:15-22 (God’s Word, My Voice)
The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus into saying something they didn’t like. They sent some of their people to follow him. “Teacher,” they said, “We know you are a sincere follower of God. Tell us this, then: is it against God’s law to pay taxes to the emperor of Rome?” Jesus knew they were out to get him. He said, “Why are you setting me up, you hypocrites?” They gave him a coin that he asked to see. He showed it to them and said, “Whose head is this on the coin, and what is his title?” They answered, “It’s the emperor’s head on that coin.” So Jesus said, “So give to the emperor the things that are his. Give to God the things that belong to God.”
Wow -- I guess he told us, didn’t he?” They were amazed and had nothing to say after that, and they left 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: