Monthly Touchstones

Choose any of the 8 monthly topics. Work on the topic for a month (4-5 weeks in a row). Sign up for a Sunday to celebrate in worship when you have completed your month. Only Christmas and Easter are tied to a particular time of year, and even that can be flexible.


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  • Communion

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  • Easter

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  • Christmas

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Faith 5

Difficulty Level: Easy

Time Commitment: Minimum 3x/week for 4 weeks (Dinner and Bedtime are the easiest!)
Number of Adults Needed: One

 

  1. Sharing Highs and Lows can be hard for kids and sometimes frustrating for parents, as kids may not be able to understand the things adults experience (bills, health issues, work relationships...). It can take some time to learn to speak the same language, as well as to get to some of the “deeper” conversations.  A high for a child could be anywhere from liking what they had for lunch to being proud of themselves for doing a good deed. While a low may be that they had too much homework, or that they are sad that not all people get along.  Regardless, listen to your kids and be honest with your responses.  They can handle it!
  2. Read a variety of bible stories or verses in the bible & devotionals. If you know a story that relates to their highs/lows, that’s a bonus!! Some examples are: Daniel and the Lion, Raising of Jairus’ Daughter, David and Goliath, Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors, etc… 
  3. Talk about the verse/Bible story and see if you can relate it to your highs and lows.  If not, that’s okay, but always ask kids what their “take-aways” are from the reading.  
  4. Pray with one another.  If you have a go-to prayer you practice regularly, use that.  If not, pray for one another’s highs and lows, loved ones, or even their toys and games - it’s not what the prayer is about, it’s that you are praying!
  5. Bless one another - there are a few ways to do this, and it really is a matter of preference.
  • A parent uses their thumb or index finger to draw a cross on the child’s forehead and say, “Jesus loves you, and I love you.”  The child then does the same for the parent.  
  • Same as above, only trace a heart instead of the cross.
  • Same as above, but replace the name Jesus with God.
  • Rather than draw the cross or heart, hold hands and recite the blessing to one another.
  • Choose your own blessing and faith gesture - see which one works best for your family.  You may do one blessing with one of your kids, and a different one with another child.  Let them choose! 

Faith Five Bonus Activities: 

  1. Write a letter to your pastor, or call them to talk about the Bible stories you like, ask questions, or just to say hi! They would also love to pray with you. 
  2. Follow along with weekly worship and read the bible story/verses from the service as part of your F5.  
  3. Copy each F5 symbol onto an index card. Have each family member draw a card to determine who will start that step. Alternately, color 5 popsicle sticks to match the color of the symbols. 
  4. Use Faith 5 as an outline for your pen pal correspondence, or just focus on one each time your write:
  • Share your highs and lows for the week
  • Talk about a story/verse you like
  • Encourage your pen pal to read it
  • Let your pal know what you have been praying about and/or ask them to pray for someone or something that means a lot to you.
  • Write your blessing for your pal as a way to close your letter.

Baptism

Difficulty Level: Easy

Time Commitment: 30 min to 1 hr.

Number of Adults Needed: At least One


Teaching kids about Baptism can be fun! Most kids are baptised as babies, but not all. Some people are baptised more than once. Some people celebrate baptism like another birthday, while others rarely think of it. Everyone’s story is different, so let your kids tell their story through an “All About My Baptism” poster.


Similar to the “All About Me” posters kids do in elementary school, this poster is meant to be decorated and displayed in your child’s bedroom, where they can look at it often. Learn the blessing printed on the poster by reading it aloud together each night (Faith 5 blessing???). Read the poster with your child often, and they will eventually be able to tell their Baptism story on their own.


Don’t have a poster? No problem! Help your kids learn the following: 

  • Their baptismal date
  • Church where they were baptized
  • Names of Godparents/Sponsors
  • Picture of their baptism
  • Learn the following blessing by heart, “your first & middle name, child of God, you’ve been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked by the cross of Christ forever. Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”   

Baptism Bonus Activities: 

  1. Ask your parents, siblings, friends to share their Baptism story. 
  2. Tell your pen pal your Baptism story and ask them to share yours. 
  3. Light your Baptism candle on your Baptism anniversary. 
  4. Call/Visit/Write to your Godparents to ask them their memories of your Baptism day. 
  5. Read the Baptism order of service in your Bible. 
  6. Do a scavenger hunt in your Bible to find verses about Baptism.