Families
Families grow in faith best by growing together. While we deeply value our church school program, we also recognize that children and parents need to explore and practice faith together. So we offer programs designed to equip parents to be the leaders in their family’s spiritual formation.
Family Ministries
Parents' Night Out - TPC offers childcare while parents gather in a members' home for good food and fellowship.
Spiritual Practices for Families - Twice a year, TPC offers a small group specifically designed for parents to explore how to engage their children and youth in faith formation.
Intergenerational Garden - click here to explore more.
Intergenerational Festivals in Advent & Lent
Family Faith Practices
Welcome to TPC’s Monthly Family Spiritual Activity!
Explore TPC’s “Family Faith Formation” practices and activities that bring a family together spiritually, but in the convenience of your own home on your own schedule. Also, take time to explore programs at church for parents to learn and grow in prayer, Bible story reading, and creating a spiritual discipline within the home.
Kindness Can Be Taught – a great podcast for parents! Enjoy and learn.
September Activity - New Beginnings (click to view).
October Activity - Compassion - Secret Helpers Week
November Activity - Gratitude
January Activity - The Examen
January – Family Faith Practices: The Examen
This comes from Traci Smith’s book Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home
The Ignatian Examen is a way of praying that has been practiced for centuries. Ignatius, one of the early church patriarchs, proposed the Examen as a way of reflecting on one’s day and growing closer to God. This variation is modified for families as an activity that can be done in the car or at dinnertime. Instead of being done individually in silence, it is done out loud.
Designed for Ages 5+
Materials: None
Time Investment: 5-15 minutes
How To:
- Each family member takes turns answering the following three questions:
- What are a few memorable things that happened today?
- When was the time when you saw or felt close to God today, or saw Goad at work today?
- When was the time when you felt farthest from God today, or felt that you missed an opportunity to share God’s love?
- Questions are handled one at a time. As each family member shares, the other family members listen without comment or interruption.
Notes
- If a child responds with a shrug or, “I don’t know,” try a gentle prompt. “Anything that might have happened at school, or band practice?”
- If after prompting, a child still says, “No,” participation in the family Examen time should not be forced
- Families might choose to require that all members stay present at the table and listen respectfully, but those who do not wish to share aloud can be encouraged to think about their answers in silence.
- This exercise differs from other family discussions or reflection times in that it is not a “back and forth” type of conversation. Family members do not offer commentary or follow-up questions. Follow up can happen away from the table, if necessary.
Variations
- Alternate who shares on which days
- Some families may enjoy doing this practice every day, others might pick a specific day of the week to it, or to include it as a part of the special meal.
- Allow family members to hear the questions on a time and reflect on their own answers silently, or in a journal, rather than sharing them with the rest of the family.
Together We Serve Small Group || Our next service opportunity is helping with the Towson Y Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. If you’re interested in cheering runners/walkers, being a “course marshall”, set-up, clean-up (there are many jobs), please sign up on their site https://ymaryland.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/626 . Be sure to select the Towson Y as your location. Please contact Julie Kreif with questions: jkreif1@jhmi.edu
Lake Roland on November, 2019
….”Let the work of our hands and thoughts in our hearts help those in our world. Amen.”
Our activity is Family Dinner Prayer Cards. Thanks to Traci-Smith at www.traci-smith.com for this idea.
- Plan to do this family activity for the month of January.
- Cut out the cards and put them in a small stack next to the dinner table.
- Take turns choosing from the stack and offering a prayer at dinner – or whatever meal your family comes to the table most often.
- The prayers are simple and inclusive.
- If you’d like the cards to be sturdier, laminate or print on card stock.