Young Family
Pray It!
Decorate a box for your Thanksgiving table (or any day, really) and fill it with messages of gratitude to be read aloud as you gather for your holiday meal.
Activity Plan
From Vibrant Faith.
Activity Plan
- On Thanksgiving Day or several days before, decorate a shoebox as simply or as elaborately as you like. (If your box has a lid, wrap it separately so it is easy to put on and take off.) Print "Gratitude Box" on the side of the box.
- Place the box in a high traffic area of your home, such as on the kitchen counter or the coffee table in the family room. Put a stack of 3" x 5" slips of paper next to it, along with colored pencils, crayons, or markers. Ask each family member to take a moment before Thanksgiving dinner and write down things they are thankful for, one thing per slip of paper. (For example: school, apples, Grandma, my job, warm house, books, Jesus.) Pair older children or adults with young children to write down the things they dictate. Children may want to illustrate their slips.
- Younger children could be taken on a gratitude walk to find things that are beautiful or call our attention to praise God and be thankful. (choose a small size!) These can also go in the box to be shared at prayer.
- Have family members place their completed slips of paper in the Gratitude Box.
- When you sit down for your Thanksgiving meal, bring the box to the table. Have family members take turns pulling out a blessing slip and reading it aloud. Continue until all the slips/items have been viewed. Point out that each of these blessings is a gift from God.
- While counting these blessings, you will no doubt be reminded of many more, making the list even longer as you praise and thank God for the biggest gifts (each other) and the smallest (such as a favorite toy).
- After this "reading of the blessings," pray aloud:
- O God, we praise you, we bless you, we thank you for this day and the opportunity to be gathered together. Thank you for each blessing in our Gratitude Box and for your overflowing generosity. Please bless our loved ones who are not with us today and care for everyone who is sick or feeling lonely. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
From Vibrant Faith.
Read It!
The movie Heaven is For Real addresses in a gentle way the topic of death and what happens when we die. Check out this website on the Catholic publishing site for RCL Benziger. You will find reviews of movies that you might be considering and a review of Heaven is For Real in the archives. There is also a study guide available if you should decide to view this movie as a family.
Thanksgiving Scripture Passages
Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Ephesians 5:20
Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Ephesians 1:16
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Psalm 100:1-5
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Thanksgiving Scripture Passages
Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Ephesians 5:20
Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Ephesians 1:16
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Psalm 100:1-5
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Share It!
How is the conversation at your family table? During the holidays we share some very important mealtimes. Begin now to cultivate some meaningful conversation with those you love the most . . . your family! Here are a few questions to get you started:
From Loyola.com
The Loss of a Pet, by Amber Espinoza of Vibrant Faith
If you're feeling sad because your pet has died, these activities can help. These activities can be adjusted to help with the loss of a human loved one as well.
Activity Plan
- What was the most exciting moment or event in your life to this point?
- If you could change one thing about the way your favorite holiday is celebrates what would you change?
- Kids: What aspect of being an adult are you looking forward to the most? Adults: What aspect of being a kid do you miss the most?
- If you had to describe your personality in terms of a farm animal, which one would you be?
- When you consider our amazing earth, in what particular aspect of it do you find it easiest to "see" God?
From Loyola.com
The Loss of a Pet, by Amber Espinoza of Vibrant Faith
If you're feeling sad because your pet has died, these activities can help. These activities can be adjusted to help with the loss of a human loved one as well.
Activity Plan
- It's normal to feel very sad when a pet dies. A young woman wrote a letter when her pet died. She created this touching tribute to the pets in our lives (see below)
- God loves us so much that God feels sad when we are sad, and longs to comfort us. Read this Bible verse and talk with a grown-up or a good friend.
- "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
- How do you feel about the loss of your pet?
- What will you miss most?
- God promises to be with us, and to help ease our heavy hearts. Tell about a time when God's love helped you in a sad time.
- Hold a memorial service for your pet.
- Set up a place for the service. You could go to the burial site, one of your pet's favorite outdoor spaces, or set up a place in your home with a picture and your pet's special objects.
- Gather your family and play a special song or read a poem, or write your own. Find some touching poems, see below.
- Have each person share some special memories of your pet, or create a video of your pet's most memorable moments.
- Close with Prayer
- Thank you God for our pet, __________. Please comfort us in this sad time, and help us to comfort one another.
- Here are some great ways to honor the memory of your pet:
- Make a memory book of photos and stories.
- Choose a special frame for a favorite picture of your pet.
- Make a donation to humane society, or sign up to volunteer at one..
- Give an animal to a family in need, see Heifer International for ways to help.
Do It!
Get started on a prayerful Advent! Here are links for Week One and Week Two that will make preparing for Christmas a holy and meaningful time. Weeks three and four will be posted in the December section of our website.
From Vibrant Faith
From Vibrant Faith
The First Sunday of Advent is on Nov. 30. Here is an Advent Traditions Countdown to help you pray the days of Advent in joyful hope.