Looking for faith and service ideas to do with your family? Try these!
This "Works of Mercy" document lists retirement centers and hospitals accepting cards for residents, patients and healthcare workers. So many people need encouragement and this is one way we can shine our light for others. Don't forget to make personal calls to grandparents and elderly neighbors as well!
Read the parable of the Mustard Seed. Maybe you and your family would like to plant some seeds of your own this week. They don't need to be mustard seeds. Try planting flowers or vegetables!
Making a prayer table? Print this Good Shepherd or Cross template. (There are 6 copies per page. Enough for the whole family!) You can use a toothpick to prick out the shape, color and then paste on a larger piece of construction paper to make a prayer card. Add a simple scripture passage like "The Lord is my Shepherd. I have everything I need." Older students might enjoy coloring these beautiful pages by Jen Norton, the artist who created the Mustard Seed canvas at the entrance of our atrium.
Prayer is talking to and listening to God. In order to listen, we must be silent. Read this lovely article from CGSUSA on the Gift of Silence and try this silence exercise with your young child.
Try your hand at making a prayer card. Click here for scripture ideas for 3-6 year olds, 6-9 years and 9-12 years. Level 2 and 3 children might also like to make a set of maxims for the home.
This is a great website if you want help drawing grapes and wheat.
Want to read the bible but not sure where to start? Print out a copy of these scripture charts that contain many of the bible readings we use in the atrium. This page will help you learn how to find readings in your bible.
Older children might want to plan a prayer service for the family. Click here to find an easy guide. This daily devotional for children is also available online for free.
Our CGSUSA website has a myriad of resources for families. You might start with the "Children" and "Parent Pages" links located on the green bars toward the bottom of the page.
Looking for a video about Easter. This is a good one. Don't forget to make Resurrection Rolls! The recipe is here. You might also enjoy this video for Divine Mercy Sunday. You can color this page or use this document to make a beaded chaplet (also makes sacrifice beads or a rosary chaplet). Remember Easter lasts for 50 days. Keep celebrating!
Did you know the church gets a new Easter (Paschal) candle every year? Imagine you were in charge of painting the new candle. What would it look like? Check out this page for inspiration.
Learn to draw a sheep for Good Shepherd Sunday by watching this video. Add words from Psalm 23 or John 10 and make a prayer card. Watch a short video on Psalm 23 here.
Create a Mary garden inside or outside your home for the month of May! This site has so many terrific craft ideas from terrariums to stepping stones. You could also have a May Crowning at home! Click here for ideas to make it happen.
Second graders waiting for their First Communion might enjoy this beautiful spiritual communion craft.The finished project can be seen here and the purchased download is available here. Send me pictures of your completed tabernacles!
Pray the Rosary as a family every evening. If this is new for your family, subscribe to one of the wonderful online rosaries like the School of Faith. Your children might like to follow along with a rosary coloring page that helps them keep track of each prayer. Print the "how to" pray the rosary page or the True Vine page as you remain with Jesus and Mary in prayer.You can also pray two decades of a simple rosary with me that includes a meditation on the Kingdom of God parables (video below). Then click here to join in on this Kingdom of God song.
This rosary craft would be easy to make for older kids. You'll need four popsicle sticks, fifteen pony beads, two pipe cleaners, four tacks and your favorite picture of Mary.
Plan a family movie night! Formed has terrific movies about the faith for both kids and adults and it's free compliments of Cure' parish. Click here to access.
Are your children asking more questions about mass now that they have a "front row seat"? They might be interested in watching this video about the vestments the priest wears.
Pentecost will be here on May 31st. Plan now to celebrate this birthday of the Church! Maybe your family will want to bake cupcakes, learn a new Holy Spirit prayer or even practice a few words in a new language. See this site for lots of fun ideas. You can also make a Pentecost windsock on this site or color a stained glass window here.