At Home Activities
Do you have a family routine that connects faith and life aside from coming to church weekly? This may be your last chance! According to the recently published Study of Youth and Religion several factors that get in the way are, " After age 12, the role of parents recedes, and the influence of peers, the media, music and social media take over. and Cultural messages that encourage parents to turn their children over to "experts." In the case of faith formation, many parents consider that to be the responsibility of clergy, Sunday schools and youth groups" (to read the entire article click here)
Middle School is probably the last opportunity you have to establish a new family routine that involves communication, prayer, bible reading and more. This page includes many ways to do this successfully!
Middle School is probably the last opportunity you have to establish a new family routine that involves communication, prayer, bible reading and more. This page includes many ways to do this successfully!
Faith 5 (Start Here!)
In his book, "Holding Your Family Together," Dr. Rich Melheim proposes an easy five step routine that you can still do with your middle school students. Dr. Rich suggests doing this at bedtime...but if bedtime doesn't work for you, consider doing this in the car on the way home from school...or on the way to Soccer Practice. Take what could easily be considered screen time/quiet time and turn it into Holy Time!
The Faith Five is a simple routine that incorporates
1) Share: Share your highs and lows
2) Read: Read a bible story together
3) Talk: Talk about the Bible Story
4) Pray Pray together
5) Bless Do a simple blessing with your family.
Consider how doors open with your child when you ask "What was the best part of your day...and what was the worst part of your day" instead of "How was your day" What could have easily been a one word answer ("good"...or "Muffled grunt") Turns into a conversation about the highs and lows of our day.
Maybe you don't have a Bible in the car...but maybe you can connect those highs and lows to what Pastor talked about on Sunday...
You can even pray together in the car (Don't shut your eyes if you are driving!)
Think this is a terrible idea? Try it for four weeks...what could it hurt? Our guess is it will forever change the way you interact with your youth!
The Faith Five is a simple routine that incorporates
1) Share: Share your highs and lows
2) Read: Read a bible story together
3) Talk: Talk about the Bible Story
4) Pray Pray together
5) Bless Do a simple blessing with your family.
Consider how doors open with your child when you ask "What was the best part of your day...and what was the worst part of your day" instead of "How was your day" What could have easily been a one word answer ("good"...or "Muffled grunt") Turns into a conversation about the highs and lows of our day.
Maybe you don't have a Bible in the car...but maybe you can connect those highs and lows to what Pastor talked about on Sunday...
You can even pray together in the car (Don't shut your eyes if you are driving!)
Think this is a terrible idea? Try it for four weeks...what could it hurt? Our guess is it will forever change the way you interact with your youth!
Using your Stepping Stones Gifts
Sixth Grade: Middle School Survival Manual
During our sixth grade event in September we handed out copies of "The Middle School Survival Manual" (If you didn't get one our office has a few extra copies...or you can click the link and order one) and encouraged families to create a goal for the next year. This could be anything from going to church more...finding time to go over highs and lows...reading the Bible together...it had to be faith related. How's that going? Ok...let's be honest..you forgot about it...and most likely that book that your kids were so excited to get is probably wedged under the couch (At least it's keeping you from sitting on a wobbly couch!) Here's the thing...dig that book back out...have a family meeting...and set a goal. Why not start with trying the Faith 5 for 4 weeks? That's an easy goal to set...and complete! Take it a step further Friends Chapter 6 of the Middle School Survival Manual is all about Friendships. Read this chapter together and talk to your kids about how they are relating to other kids at their school. Encourage your youth to think about the people who they spend the most time with. Are these people good friends? How can you return the favor and be a good friend in return? Check the In Person Opportunities and consider inviting a new friend to a church event! |
Seventh Grade: NRSV Lutheran Study Bible
EVERY YOUTH IN 7th GRADE AND OLDER SHOULD HAVE ONE OF THESE. If you for some reason did not receive a Lutheran Study Bible click here to contact Paul Goodman and get one! How do you use this together as a family? First off...DON'T TRY TO DO THIS EVERY DAY. PICK 3 nights a week...put them on everyone's calendar...spend 15 minutes tops doing this. You can make time for it! And honestly, this time together, while potentially a struggle at first can shift into a meaningful experience for all involved. Step one: Find a time and place to read the bible together. While you probably have a routine of reading the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve you may not even know where to start on a regular Tuesday night! Here's Three Ideas 1) Re-visit the text from Sunday Morning. 2) Read the stories that youth are studying in Confirmation. 3) Pick up a devotional booklet at church...we have several available on the welcome center. These have small devotional readings, along with a biblical text suggestion. Step 2: Read the text together. Do not try to read LONG passages...rather focus on a small amount. use the above resources for ideas. Step 3: Pass the reading around. If you have a family with teens and small children, consider switching between NRSV Bible and a Story Bible on different nights. Have youth read the stories to their younger siblings. Step 4: Talk about the passage. Consider what happened in the story...and what it means. If you are reading the current confirmation lesson consider answering some of the forum questions as a family. |
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Vibrant Faith at Home: Keys to Faith Formation
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1) Rituals and Traditions:
This is all about blending faith into your daily routines...by creating a ritual or tradition that points us back to faith. These can include praying together at meal time, blessings before leaving the house or at the end of the day, and more!
Preschool is a great time to start instilling chores into your routine.
Caring Conversations are all about connecting your everyday conversations and every day happenings back to God!
3) Bible Stories
This is the practice of including Bible Stories at bedtime or at story time! If you aren't reading to your child you should start today! and what better place to start than with Bible Stories?
4) Family Service
This is the simply working together with your family to serve others. At Hope we have a great program called S.A.l.T. that provides families with ways to serve together.
5) Prayer
Praying together as a family is a key in all families! There are many ways and opportunities to pray together as a family. This is as simple as praying before meal times and before bed! There are many other ways that you can incorporate family prayer into your daily lives!
This is all about blending faith into your daily routines...by creating a ritual or tradition that points us back to faith. These can include praying together at meal time, blessings before leaving the house or at the end of the day, and more!
Preschool is a great time to start instilling chores into your routine.
Caring Conversations are all about connecting your everyday conversations and every day happenings back to God!
3) Bible Stories
This is the practice of including Bible Stories at bedtime or at story time! If you aren't reading to your child you should start today! and what better place to start than with Bible Stories?
4) Family Service
This is the simply working together with your family to serve others. At Hope we have a great program called S.A.l.T. that provides families with ways to serve together.
5) Prayer
Praying together as a family is a key in all families! There are many ways and opportunities to pray together as a family. This is as simple as praying before meal times and before bed! There are many other ways that you can incorporate family prayer into your daily lives!