Young Family
Pray It!
The Examen
From the book Sleeping With Bread, by Dennis Linn, Sheila Fabricant-Linn, and Matthew Linn.
During the bombing raids of World War 11, thousands of children were orphaned and left to starve. The fortunate ones were rescued and placed in refugee camps where they received food and good care. But many of these children who had lost so much could not sleep at night. They feared waking up to find themselves once again homeless and without food. Nothing seemed to reassure them. Finally, someone hit upon the idea of giving each child a piece of bread to hold at bedtime. Holding their bread, these children could finally sleep in peace. All through the night the bread reminded them, "Today I ate and I will eat again tomorrow."
Just as these children "sleep with bread", the practice of the examen can do the same for us. . Follow these simple steps:
At the end of each day gather as a family around the table or maybe beside your child's bed. Light a candle, become aware of God's loving presence, and take about five minutes of quiet to ask each other the following questions:
The examen makes us aware of moments that at first we might easily pass by as insignificant. But by repeating this practice every night, we can begin to see a pattern, and help each other to see patterns of happiness/sadness. These patterns can point the way to how God wants to give us more life!
From the book Sleeping With Bread, by Dennis Linn, Sheila Fabricant-Linn, and Matthew Linn.
During the bombing raids of World War 11, thousands of children were orphaned and left to starve. The fortunate ones were rescued and placed in refugee camps where they received food and good care. But many of these children who had lost so much could not sleep at night. They feared waking up to find themselves once again homeless and without food. Nothing seemed to reassure them. Finally, someone hit upon the idea of giving each child a piece of bread to hold at bedtime. Holding their bread, these children could finally sleep in peace. All through the night the bread reminded them, "Today I ate and I will eat again tomorrow."
Just as these children "sleep with bread", the practice of the examen can do the same for us. . Follow these simple steps:
At the end of each day gather as a family around the table or maybe beside your child's bed. Light a candle, become aware of God's loving presence, and take about five minutes of quiet to ask each other the following questions:
- What moment am I most grateful for today? (happiest, most alive?)
- What moment am I least grateful for today? (saddest, most draining?)
- What needs to be celebrated?
The examen makes us aware of moments that at first we might easily pass by as insignificant. But by repeating this practice every night, we can begin to see a pattern, and help each other to see patterns of happiness/sadness. These patterns can point the way to how God wants to give us more life!
Read It!
From Hot Spot to Holy Spot will inspire you to make drive time a holy time!
Share It!
By Ruth Hanley from Vibrant Faith at Home
Observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service—held on the third Monday of January—with your family. Warm the hearts and feet of people seeking help from emergency shelters with socks and personal hygiene supplies.
Check out the Catholic Charities website for needed items. The Des Moines Catholic Worker House also also has needs that you might be able to help with. Many of the homeless men and women come there for meals, warmth and supplies.
Top Donation Needs:
Travel size toothpaste
Cleaning buckets
St. Joseph Emergency Family Shelter
- Contact Celeste/Dixie at 515-282-1235
Diapers
(size 3, 4, 5, 6, and pull ups)
St. Mary Family Center
- Contact Brooke at 515-262-7290
Tennis shoes and winter boots (sizes 5-8 for adults and sizes 2-6 for children
Refugee Resettlement
- Contact Sinishaw 515-393-5231
Activity Plan
Observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service—held on the third Monday of January—with your family. Warm the hearts and feet of people seeking help from emergency shelters with socks and personal hygiene supplies.
Check out the Catholic Charities website for needed items. The Des Moines Catholic Worker House also also has needs that you might be able to help with. Many of the homeless men and women come there for meals, warmth and supplies.
Top Donation Needs:
Travel size toothpaste
Cleaning buckets
St. Joseph Emergency Family Shelter
- Contact Celeste/Dixie at 515-282-1235
Diapers
(size 3, 4, 5, 6, and pull ups)
St. Mary Family Center
- Contact Brooke at 515-262-7290
Tennis shoes and winter boots (sizes 5-8 for adults and sizes 2-6 for children
Refugee Resettlement
- Contact Sinishaw 515-393-5231
Activity Plan
- Say this prayer aloud to begin.
- Dear God, you love each person in our family. Help us to work together and show your love to others. Amen.
- Have a family member read aloud Luke 12:6-7 from your Bible or the following text:
- Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
- Affirm that each person is important to God and that your family can help to care for God's people who are facing a challenging time.
- Report on your conversation with the church or community organization you will be helping. Tell what items are needed by the people served by this group. If you have not gathered these items ahead of time, brainstorm ways to get them: Will you buy them at a store? Will you ask other family members or neighbors to provide some of the items? Will you look in your own cupboards for the items?
- Once you have the items, talk with family members about why these things are important to people living in shelters. Assemble the items in gallon zip-seal bags according to the wishes of the church or organization that will receive them—putting all like items together in separate bags or putting one of each item in a bag to make a personal comfort kit.
- Deliver the supplies to the church or community organization. Encourage your child(ren) to ask any questions they have.
- Back at home, invite family members to tell what they liked about this project. Discuss how serving others helps you to learn more about being God's people. Explain that you will not know who receives the supplies you gathered, but you can pray for these people. Pray aloud:
- Lord, please be with all the people who receive the supplies we gathered. Hold them close and help them to feel safe and warm this winter. Help them to find good things in this wonderful world that you have created. Amen.
- Variation: If you are making personal comfort kits, help your child(ren) draw pictures of God's creation and insert one picture in each kit. On each picture, you may want to write a Bible verse (such as Psalm 121:7-8 or Psalm 46:1) or other message (such as "God bless you" or "With prayers for your safety, shelter, and warmth").
Do It!
Family New Years Resolutions
Now is the time to look at your prayer life as a family and make any commitments to change. Begin your family session by setting an atmosphere for prayer and heartfelt conversation. Set up a prayer space with a prayer mat, candle, bible, and any other symbol that might call you to a reflective attitude. Invite everyone to get quiet. First to be quiet on the outside, keeping hands and feet still, and getting into a comfortable position. Now to get quiet on the inside, letting our thoughts settle into NOW and not thinking of what comes next. Read the two scripture passages that follow.
Jeremiah 29:11-12 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 Then the Lord answered me and said: write the vision; make it plain on tablets . . . For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.
2. In response to the second reading, write the vision, make it plain on tablets! Use a nice paper that you can display or roll up like a scroll after you have written your resolutions. Consider what you can reasonably accomplish in the way of praying together.
3. Consider what each individual might include as their personal prayer practice. See the Examen in the section on prayer above.
4. Everyone should sign your document and resolve to uphold the family commitment to prayer. Place your resolutions on the refrigerator, bulletin board, etc. or in your family prayer space so you can all be reminded of your commitment.
Now is the time to look at your prayer life as a family and make any commitments to change. Begin your family session by setting an atmosphere for prayer and heartfelt conversation. Set up a prayer space with a prayer mat, candle, bible, and any other symbol that might call you to a reflective attitude. Invite everyone to get quiet. First to be quiet on the outside, keeping hands and feet still, and getting into a comfortable position. Now to get quiet on the inside, letting our thoughts settle into NOW and not thinking of what comes next. Read the two scripture passages that follow.
Jeremiah 29:11-12 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 Then the Lord answered me and said: write the vision; make it plain on tablets . . . For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.
- In response to the first reading, talk about when you come to God in prayer. What does your family prayer life look like? Here are a few questions to ask yourselves:
- Do we pray before and/or after meals?
- Do we pray before we leave for our day's work?
- Do we pray before bed?
- Do we pray when we need forgiveness from each other and from God?
- Do we pray when someone is sick or hurting and in need of our support?
2. In response to the second reading, write the vision, make it plain on tablets! Use a nice paper that you can display or roll up like a scroll after you have written your resolutions. Consider what you can reasonably accomplish in the way of praying together.
3. Consider what each individual might include as their personal prayer practice. See the Examen in the section on prayer above.
4. Everyone should sign your document and resolve to uphold the family commitment to prayer. Place your resolutions on the refrigerator, bulletin board, etc. or in your family prayer space so you can all be reminded of your commitment.
