Using your Stepping Stones resources
Each year when you attend a stepping stones event you will receive a gift that can be used to enhance faith experiences at home
3 year old Prayer Pillows
Prayer pillows were passed out at our stepping stones event this past fall. If you were unable to attend and would like a prayer pillow, please contact Paul Goodman to arrange a meeting to talk about family prayer together and receive a pillow!
Bedtime Prayer: As you probably know, an important key in the life of your toddler is to establish a bedtime routine. Routines can take many forms...but it is important to establish something that will work for your family. Oftentimes the routine starts with a bath...getting p.j.s on...and reading stories. Our encouragement to you is to make BEDTIME PRAYER one of the last things you do with your children before they go to bed. If you have more than one child, establish a common space where this will take place. We suggest rotating between children's bedrooms...with all possible family members present.
Each year when you attend a stepping stones event you will receive a gift that can be used to enhance faith experiences at home
3 year old Prayer Pillows
Prayer pillows were passed out at our stepping stones event this past fall. If you were unable to attend and would like a prayer pillow, please contact Paul Goodman to arrange a meeting to talk about family prayer together and receive a pillow!
Bedtime Prayer: As you probably know, an important key in the life of your toddler is to establish a bedtime routine. Routines can take many forms...but it is important to establish something that will work for your family. Oftentimes the routine starts with a bath...getting p.j.s on...and reading stories. Our encouragement to you is to make BEDTIME PRAYER one of the last things you do with your children before they go to bed. If you have more than one child, establish a common space where this will take place. We suggest rotating between children's bedrooms...with all possible family members present.
5 simple bedtime prayer ideas
1) Popcorn prayer.
This works great if you have multiple children. Gather your children together on the floor. Start with a statement "Thank you God for________________" or "I'm sorry for __________________" or "Please look over ________________________" or "I'm worried about ________________________. when you get to the blank, everyone in the room jumps up and shouts out one word that answers the petition. Repeat several times with different prayer petitions.
2) Pray for highs and lows
Dr. Rich Melheim in his book, "Holding your Family Together" talks about the value of sharing Highs and Lows together. Click here for a video of Dr Rich talking about prayer. This is a simple process of going around the room and sharing the best and worst part of your day. Listen to what your kids say and then thank God for their highs and ask God for help dealing with their lows. For more information on the entire Faith 5 movement click here
3) Make a prayer Journal.
As part of the Stepping Stones event, we made a prayer journal that will help small children thing through different prayer petitions. If you have a prayer journal at home create new petitions each night. If you missed the event click here to download a blank copy of the journal!
4) Memorize a favorite prayer
Many families enjoy praying the Lord's Prayer together at bedtime! This is a great way to help your children connect with worship through learning the Lord's Prayer at an early age! There are lots of different options for prayers. Some were included in your child's prayer pillow. Click here to see a list of websites with other prayer options.
5) Simply Pray Together
This may go without saying...but the simplest way to do bedtime prayers is simply to pray together. Ask your kids to pray some nights...lead by example other nights. If you need more direction check out this great article about basic ways to pray
1) Popcorn prayer.
This works great if you have multiple children. Gather your children together on the floor. Start with a statement "Thank you God for________________" or "I'm sorry for __________________" or "Please look over ________________________" or "I'm worried about ________________________. when you get to the blank, everyone in the room jumps up and shouts out one word that answers the petition. Repeat several times with different prayer petitions.
2) Pray for highs and lows
Dr. Rich Melheim in his book, "Holding your Family Together" talks about the value of sharing Highs and Lows together. Click here for a video of Dr Rich talking about prayer. This is a simple process of going around the room and sharing the best and worst part of your day. Listen to what your kids say and then thank God for their highs and ask God for help dealing with their lows. For more information on the entire Faith 5 movement click here
3) Make a prayer Journal.
As part of the Stepping Stones event, we made a prayer journal that will help small children thing through different prayer petitions. If you have a prayer journal at home create new petitions each night. If you missed the event click here to download a blank copy of the journal!
4) Memorize a favorite prayer
Many families enjoy praying the Lord's Prayer together at bedtime! This is a great way to help your children connect with worship through learning the Lord's Prayer at an early age! There are lots of different options for prayers. Some were included in your child's prayer pillow. Click here to see a list of websites with other prayer options.
5) Simply Pray Together
This may go without saying...but the simplest way to do bedtime prayers is simply to pray together. Ask your kids to pray some nights...lead by example other nights. If you need more direction check out this great article about basic ways to pray
Pre-School Stepping Stones: Using your Spark Story Bible
Our new Wednesday Night program is going to utilize both the Spark Story Bible and the Spark NRSV Bible at home. Each week children will read out of these Bibles and some at home materials will be provided as well.
If you do not have a Spark Story Bible and you have a child who is age 4-9 please let us know and we will get you one, or plan on attending the Stepping Stones event on Tuesday, November 10.
Our new Wednesday Night program is going to utilize both the Spark Story Bible and the Spark NRSV Bible at home. Each week children will read out of these Bibles and some at home materials will be provided as well.
If you do not have a Spark Story Bible and you have a child who is age 4-9 please let us know and we will get you one, or plan on attending the Stepping Stones event on Tuesday, November 10.
Keys in Faith Formation
Vibrant Faith ministries defines several keys to successful faith formation in the home. All are easy to add to your routine and all will enhance your faith life! Click on the titles for a large list of ideas for families of all ages!
Vibrant Faith ministries defines several keys to successful faith formation in the home. All are easy to add to your routine and all will enhance your faith life! Click on the titles for a large list of ideas for families of all ages!
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. Click here for an idea of how to incorporate faith into chores!
2) Caring Conversations
Caring Conversations are all about connecting your everyday conversations and every day happenings back to God!
Sundae School: Here's a fun activity to think about self image using ice cream!
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?
Caramel Apples and the Bible: Here's a fun activity involving making caramel apples and connecting it to the Fruit of the Spirit!
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.
Here's an activity that's written for summer but will work great with winter too...the GREAT DRESSER CLEANOUT
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!
Here's a Falling Leaves Prayer
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. Click here for an idea of how to incorporate faith into chores!
2) Caring Conversations
Caring Conversations are all about connecting your everyday conversations and every day happenings back to God!
Sundae School: Here's a fun activity to think about self image using ice cream!
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?
Caramel Apples and the Bible: Here's a fun activity involving making caramel apples and connecting it to the Fruit of the Spirit!
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.
Here's an activity that's written for summer but will work great with winter too...the GREAT DRESSER CLEANOUT
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!
Here's a Falling Leaves Prayer
Faith 5: a simple five step routine that you can do
every night at home!
every night at home!
The Faith Five is a simple bedtime 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.
For more information about incorporating this into your daily routine check out the Faith Five Website!