Winter Family Faith Formation – Jan 15
Join us each week as well follow and celebrate the life of Jesus!
Pick from watching our Welcome Videos, Worship Together, Reading the Bible, Talk About It, Family Activities, Pray Together and Bless Each Other – or do them all!
Welcome Video
Worship Together
Share in some faith practices of worship together!
Shine a Light: Light a family member’s baptismal candle or light any candle in remembrance of you baptisms.
Sing Together: I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
Offering: What would you like to give as an offering to today?
Pray together: Give thanks for three things and/or recite the Lord’s Prayer together
Read the Bible Together
Read this week’s God’s Great Story in the children’s Bible for you child’s age.
Spark Story Bible – Jesus’ Baptism
Matthew 3:1-17
Talk About It!
Have fun asking question for all your family members!
Do you like water? What things is water good for? Can you think of a Bible story about water?
Today’s Bible story has water but in an unusual way. When you think of baptism, what do you think of? A water bowl in front of church, a pastor lightly sprinkle water, lighting a candle? Now when you read about Jesus’ baptism, does it look anything like that? Nope! He got baptized in a river, with minnows swimming around His feet. It’s quite the picture to imagine! And the story gets more amazing when hear God saying “this is My Son, with whom I am well pleased.” That’s right, that little baby born in the manger, now grown up, is God’s very own son. So from now until Easter, we will be celebrating stories of how Jesus share God’s love and majesty. It should be a fun journey!
Digging Deeper (great topics for Upper Elementary): In our reading today, John the Baptist says “the kingdom of heaven has come near.” What do you think he meant? Can you think of any of Jesus’ teachings that helps us feel the kingdom of heaven is here? Fast forward about 2000 years and think of Martin Luther King Jr, how did he preach for the the our world to be like the kingdom of heaven?
Family Activity
Pick activities to do together! Supplies are provided in our Monthly At-Home Kits you picked up at our drive thru events or ask to have delivered to your home.
Activity 1: Act Out the Baptism Story – Make a river scene with a towel and stuffies or toys you’d imagine be at the riverside. Then use dolls or stuffies to play the parts. Have fun imagining what the voice of God sounds like.
Activity 2: Remember Your Baptisms – Look at pictures and mementos from your family members’ baptism. Talk about how special the day was. Talk about ways your family and church has lived out their baptismal promises.
Pray Together
“Dear God, we thank you for all the ways you show your love for us. Thank you for the symbol of water at our baptisms. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
Bless Each Other
At the end of your time, give each other a special blessing to remember one of God’s promises.
Dab you finger in water and draw a cross on each others’ foreheads, saying “you are a child of God!”