Sunday Spirit June 17, 2018

Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future.

Faith is believing in ourselves, in God, and the teachings of Jesus.  Faith is needed to achieve all our hopes and dreams.

To help our children begin to think about their hopes and dreams, play the Dice Game!  Take turns rolling the die.  They must answer a question that corresponds to the number rolled.  The questions are as follows:
1.  What is one dream you have for yourself?
2.  Where would you most like to visit in the world?
3.  If you could only eat one food ever, what would you choose?
4.  Name one thing you really like about yourself.
5.  Name something that you do that brings you joy.
6.  What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God?

Talk about your children’s hopes and dreams for the future.  Maybe share some of your own.  Perhaps ones that you still hope for and ones that have been achieved.

Book Suggestion:  “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss

Sunday Spirit June 10, 2018

Everyone needs a friend. It is the second most basic relationship in life. Jesus said that the two most important commandments are to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself.  We often experience God’s love through the love of a friend.  The Book of Proverbs in the Bible tells us what makes a good friend and how to develop and maintain meaningful friendships.

One night around the dinner table, have each family member share something a friend did or said to them that week that was nice and made them feel good.  Talk about what each of you considers the number one quality in a good friend.

Book Suggestion:  “Help” by Holly Keller

Sunday Spirit June 3, 2018

What are some games that require another person to play?  Games that couldn’t be played without that other person?  Some examples are checkers, thumb wars, catch, and ping pong, just to name a few!

One of the most important relationships we will have in our lifetime will be the friends we make.

The following scripture represents what Friendship is all about.

From the Book of Ecclesiastes:  “Two are better than one. For if one falls, the other will lift her up. But woe to her who is alone when she falls and has not another to lift her up.”

What do you think this passage means? Can you name one friend who would be there to help you up?  What qualities does this friend have? What is most important to you in a Friendship?

A Friendship should make us feel good about ourselves. After spending time with a friend, analyze how you feel. You should have a smile on your face and feel good inside.

Sunday Spirit May 20, 2018

John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

When we are little we are loved and cared for 24 hours a day – to make sure we are safe, fed, and bathed. We get lots of hugs and kisses. Our parents shower us with love, guiding us, reading us stories, helping us to learn how to walk and talk. What happens when we get big? When we become more independent and our parents are not with us every minute of the day?  When we can feed ourselves, make our beds, tie our shoes, go to school and even drive a car?

Do our parents stop loving us just because we are big?  No.

And this is how God loves us too.  God loved us when we were small and God loves us when we are big.  Remind your children that God’s love never stops.

Sunday Spirit May 6, 2018

Luke 15:1-7
The Parable of The Lost Sheep

Read the story of The Lost Sheep.  What is Jesus trying to teach us?  Is this one sheep more important than the other 99?  Yes!  Why?  This one sheep is more because it is lost and the others are not.  God deeply loves and cares personally for us and will seek far and wide to bring us back home.  When the one who was lost returns, the Good Shepherd receives her back with joy.  There is comfort in knowing that God will not forget us, but will search for us until we find our way home.

See the attached fun, family project and create your own adorable sheep.  Maybe even give your sheep a name!

Cotton Ball Sheep Craft (1)

Sunday Spirit April 22, 2018

How should we treat our neighbors?  Should our neighbors be anyone we meet, even strangers on the street?  Jesus believed so.  He told us this truth through the Story of The Good Samaritan.  The story is about two enemies coming together and putting differences aside.  The Story of The Good Samaritan teaches us that God’s Kingdom is good and loving.  Does your child know The Story of The Good Samaritan?  Try reading the story below.  It is a play and done to rhyme.  Very clever!  Maybe the entire family can act it out!  Have fun.

Playscript GOOD SAMARITAN-1 (1)