Family with Teen(s)

Pray It!

Here is a little variation on a meal prayer:

Father of us all,
This meal is a sign of Your love for us:
Bless us and bless our food,
And help us to give you glory each day
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen!

So this is a cool idea for some different ways to do a meal prayer. Click Here!

Read It!

Eating Together Well
By Jolene Roehlkepartain via Vibrant Faith @Home

One of the most important rituals that families can do together on a regular basis is eat together. When families eat together, they get to know each other even more and show each other how much they care.

Activity Plan

Say this prayer aloud to begin.
1. God, thank you for this time together as a family. We appreciate everything you give us; our food, our home, and each other. Amen.
Begin to eat your meal. As you eat, explain that each family member will take a turn rolling the die. Depending on which number comes up on the die, that family member will talk about a memory or situation that corresponds with that number.
1. 1 = Name something you got excited about lately and why
2. 2 = Name something that bothered you—or upset you—lately and why
3. 3 = Name a favorite memory
4. 4 = Name someone you admire and why
5. 5 = Name a social concern (such as poverty, global warming, people being treated poorly, etc.) that you care about
6. 6 = Name something that you hope happens in the future and why
Play until each person has rolled the die at least three times. Encourage family members to ask further questions to deepen the conversation.
Discuss what other ways you can have meaningful conversations while you eat. Some families like to name their highs (good things) and lows (bad things). Others refer to them as roses (good things) and thorns (bad things). Often, the conversation can dry up quickly if you just ask a question that's too broad, such as, "What happened today." Work at asking more specific questions, such as, "What surprised you the most about something that happened today?" or "Who did you enjoy talking to the most today?"
Talk about when you can all get together again for a family meal. If you have one family member that is gone a lot (because of schedule conflicts with your mealtime), work to have meals together with the most family members present. Even if a meal ends up being one parent and one child, make it worthwhile by taking the time to eat and talk together.

Share It!

Family Bonds
By Rev. Lee Yates from Vibrant Faith

Being a part of any community changes a person. Families are special communities that come with their own blessings. There is also a cost to being part of a family. What does it mean to be part of your family?

Activity Plan

Open in prayer:
1. Loving God, help us claim the beauty of our family and speak honestly about the sacrifices we make to be part of each other's lives. Give us patient hearts and open ears. Amen.
Give each family member a piece of paper and a pen. Ask each person to write down the ups and the downs of belonging to your family—the benefits and challenges that come from being in your specific family. (For example: If a parent is a teacher, he or she can help with homework, but also knows everything going on at school because teachers talk to each other.) Reassure family members that there are no right or wrong answers.
Ask each family member to tell the benefits of being in your family. (Save the downside for later.)
Read aloud Genesis 22:1-14 from your Bible (or see the text below). Discuss the Bible story:
- How would you describe Abraham's relationship with Isaac?
- How do you feel about God's instructions to Abraham? Why do you think Abraham was willing to go along with the plan?
- Do you think God or Abraham would have let anything happen to Isaac? Why or why not?
- How do you think this event changed Abraham's relationship with Isaac? How do you think this event changed Isaac's relationship with God?
- How might the story change if a different person were telling it? (For example, how does it change if Isaac or Sarah is the storyteller?)
Comment that it would take something really bad to out-do what Isaac went through. Ask each family member to tell about the downsides or challenges of being in your family. Be patient and listen respectfully to each other. Give everyone a chance to speak their thoughts before any discussion.
Talk about the similarities and differences among the lists of family members. Remember, that just because something is difficult, it doesn't have to be bad and it doesn't have to be changed.
Read aloud Genesis 22:14 and say a prayer of thanks for the family God has provided you:
1. God, thank you for the people you have placed in our family. It is unique, and it is ours. While we may wish some things were different, there is something special about our family and we give thanks for the blessing that we are when we are together. Amen.
2. Genesis 22:1-14
  After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boywill go over there and worship and come again to you." 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.
3. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."

Do It!

Eating Together

Activity Plan

When you first sit down at the table, give each family member a piece of paper and a pen. Ask family members to write three questions they think would be good ones to ask their family.
Say this prayer aloud to begin your meal:
1. God, our Provider, thank you for this food and for the time to share this meal. Please guide our conversations as we prepare to eat this meal together. Amen.
As you eat your meal, take turns asking one another your prepared questions.
After each person has had a chance to ask all three of his or her questions, talk together about how these types of questions can help us get to know each other. Discuss:
- Which of our questions was the easiest to answer?
- Which ones were the hardest?
- What other questions would be good to ask during our meal?
Invite family members to express their ideas about how shared meals help build community and provide opportunities to grow as a family.
After your caring conversation, pray for your family that you may grow in trust and love of each other.