Saturday, June 30, 2012

Faith Connections 1::Foundations of Prayer


Scripture Reading

Read 1 Peter 4:11 from a favorite family Bible
Read aloud this version from The Message:

Conversation Starters

   How do you normally feel when you serve or give to someone? Cheerful? Grumpy? Selfish? Selfless?
   Do you feel differently afterward?
   Does God care more about what you do or the attitude you have when you do it?
   How can prayer help us when we serve or give to others?
   How do you pray to God? 
   Why does the Bible tell us to pray?

Activities

Getting Started: 
Prayer Cards
Cut bookmark size pieces of paper from card stock. Work together to write family prayers on each of the blank cards. Put them in a glass jar, decorated recycled can (make sure there are no sharp edges) or plastic container. Place it in a central location in your house. During key times, like before dinner or bed, invite a family member to pick a prayer from the jar to pray with the family. 

On the go:
Prayer Rocks
Whether you are camping in the woods, visiting the beach, or on a family road trip have each member of your family find a rock on the trip to be their prayer rock. You can leave the rock as is or paint it when you get home. The prayer rock goes on your pillow during the day, as a reminder to pray before bed. During the night you can put in on the night stand, in a shoe, or on the bathroom sick as a reminder to pray when you wake up. 

Digging deeper:
Family Prayer Journal
Get a photo book, a binder or a notebook. Decorate the cover to create a family prayer journal. Throughout the summer write, draw or take pictures of things your family prayed about. Keep record of how you saw God work through those prayer. Before school begins in the fall take out your prayer journal and celebrate how you saw God work in and through you this summer!

More Resources

Order the book that is filled with different ideas of how your family can pray together:
“Creative Family Prayer Times: 52 Fun Ways to Pray Together” by Mike Nappa and Amy Nappa

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