Family Blessings
Blessings are prayers that are given and received throughout the Bible. We bless one another with love and affection. We ask for God’s blessings of care, wisdom, and hope for the future. Use the blessing here as a family this week. Notice how you bless one another with your words and actions.
Bless our hands as we work together.
Bless our hearts as we love each other.
Bless our feet as we go into the world.
Bless our family, friends, and home.
Praying with Children
Build a Prayer Place
Today, your child learned that Abram built altars with stones to worship and talk with God. One way we teach our children to connect and listen to God is to pray with them. With your child, design and create a place to pray and take time to listen to God together. Use stones and battery-operated candles to make your prayer place special. Place comfortable seating in the area to create an inviting family prayer space.
Listening Prayers
Pray through listening. Part of praying is listening to God. Each time you pray this prayer you can add quiet time for listening.
Take three slow, deep breaths, exhale slowly, and then open your eyes. Pray with motions:
God, help me to listen to you (cup hands by one or both ears) . . .
in the wind (swish hands back and forth like the wind),
in the rain (move fingers downward as if raining),
in the morning sunshine (stretch as if waking up),
and in the evening moonlight (fold hands together and place head on hands as if sleeping). Amen.
Sticker Prayers
Pray for your family. Write Family on a piece of paper. Over a series of days you can add to your prayer paper, or you can do this full prayer all at once.
Add heart stickers (or draw hearts) and pray for parents or guardians.
God, help my mom and/or dad this week. They need help with _____________. Help our families grow strong and love each other. Amen.
Add star stickers (or draw stars) for grandparents, aunts, uncles and/or cousins in the family.
God, help my grandparents this week. (pause) Help my aunts and/or uncles this week. (pause) Help my cousins this week. (pause) Help our families grow strong and love each other. Amen.
Add smiley face stickers (or draw smiley faces) for each child in the family.
God, help my brothers and/or sisters this week. They need help with _____________. Help our families grow strong and love each other. Amen.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt together to look for God and things God made in our world. Use the list below or write your own. Take pictures of items or collect them—it’s all up to you.
- Something red
- Something oran
ge - Something that begins with g
- Something that begins with t
- Something that smells good
- A leaf
- An insect (take a picture)
- A spider web (take a picture)
