The Family Zone
Lectionary-Based Playlist /Issue 42/January 17, 2021
When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
READ!
SUNDAY READINGS: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011721.cfm
Family Stories:
- "I Pray the Rosary" by Margaret Rose Scarfi
- "Catholic Prayer Book for Children" by Julianne M. Will
- "When I Pray for You" by Matthew Paul Turner
Parent Article:
- 10 Pointers for Prayer from the USCCB
https://catholiccurrent.org/living-the-faith/10-pointers-for-prayer/ - "A How-to-Pray Primer for Parents and Families" by Sr. Janet Schaeffler
https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechesis/catechetical-sunday/prayer/family-resources-sr-janet-schaeffler-op
For Teens:
- "Come Pray: A Teen Guide to Prayer" from LifeTeen
- "My Encounter: How I Met Jesus in Prayer" By Chika Anyanwu
Write!
- Write your own book of Prayers! Ask your family members if they have additions they want to make to your book! Who or what are you praying for?
- Do you know your traditional prayers such as the Hail Mary, Our Father and Glory Be? Write them out and test yourself!
- Praying is having a conversation with God. Think about God as your friend. Write a journal entry entitled: What I Want God to Know About Me. Once you are done, use that as a basis to start conversational prayer time with God!
LISTEN!
- Let Us Pray is a podcast of the prayers of the Church, taken directly from the television recordings of Bishop Robert Reed. https://player.fm/series/let-us-pray
- Enjoy some quiet time with the prayerful song below:
PRAY!
- Prayer can be very effective when we take the time to stop and really concentrate on what we are praying for! Use this daily prayer challenge below as a way to pause https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/family/holidays-and-special-occasions/other-special-occasions/30-days-of-pausing-in-the-new-year/
- Check out these creative ways to pray with kids: https://www.illustratedministry.com/2017/ways-to-pray-with-kids/
- Invite more prayer into your daily family life. Try a simple nighttime blessing with a sign of the cross on each child's forehead, light a candle before the big exam or musical performance, include sharing prayer at grace; look for small ways to help your child feel God's presence
WATCH!
Play!
- Create a Lego Prayer Station! Designate a space for the Prayer Legos and create a key for your family members to follow (for example, when you are praying for one specific person, use a yellow lego. If you are praying for a group of people, use 4 blue legos) Check out some more Lego prayer ideas here: https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/flame-creative-childrens-ministry-6383175/more-praying-with-lego-lego-prayer-station-4329316318
If it is hard to quiet your child to pray, you may want to try some active strategies:
- https://www.thykingdomcome.global/resources/prayer-games
- https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/prayer/arts-and-faith/visual-arts/praying-with-paintbrushes/
- https://ministryspark.com/creative-ideas-teaching-kids-prayer/
Make praying a delicious game: https://outuponthewaters.com/the-skittles-prayer-other-candy-prayers-for-kids/
Create!
- Create a Prayer Mailbox! If you want to divide the mailbox into different parts, you can create dividers for each different type of prayer! Encourage family members to add their prayer intentions each day!
- Use the PDF template from Mother's Niche, found below, to pray; it is a helpful organizer for kids
- Make a prayer jar out of a mason jar to create a space for gathering intentions in your home!
- Set up a prayer corner with a cross, a candle, and some sacramentals such as a rosary
Wonder!
How can I be God's servant? Do you think it's more than just listening to God? What kind of things do you think God's servants do?
If we can listen to God, are there other voices we might be tempted to listen to? Who should we NOT listen to?
WORD OF THE WEEK!
From the Catechism: Contemplative prayer is silence, the "symbol of the world to come" or "silent love." Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love.
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Debtor in PossessionEmail: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210