Ark of the Covenant Craft

Since some of our Sunday School classes talked about the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle today, I came home to search for a fun craft activity to do during the week to extend the learning. Here's the link to what I found: a shoebox Ark to be made by little hands!

This link also details how to make your own 10 Commandments (which we refer to as the 10 Best Ways to Live since we use the Godly Play curriculum at church)!

Need a refresher on the Bible story yourself? Check out this great sermon I found from Rev. Stephen Edmund at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in McLean, VA.

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Teaching Character

Sometimes, when I talk to parents about why they bring their kids to church, they tell me they are searching for a "moral compass." They mean that they want to help their kids to find direction in a sometimes directionless world- they want to instill in their children a guide, a path, a purpose outside of mainstream America. I think that's a powerful and lofty goal, and I applaud these parents for trying to find what's right in the world, and for helping their children to find it too.

But once the choice is made to help children find this "compass," there comes a much more difficult dilemma: how on earth do we teach our kids to be good?! How can we teach them character? The terms themselves are so ambiguous- certainly what exemplifies "good character" to one just may not cut the mustard with another, and what is at least good enough to one may be completely unacceptable to still others. How is one to navigate through the confusion to bring clarity and purpose to a young mind?

Of course, the best way to teach our children is to set good examples in ourselves. After all, isn't that how Jesus taught his disciples? It's never easy to be a role model, as we who are parents can attest, but I think it brings about a mutlally beneficial relationship for both parent and child. While the child is learning to mimick the good behavior of his parent, the parent is constantly practicing restraint and learning to walk in love for the benefit of another. It's a beautifully symbiotic relationship from with both parties stand to benefit.

Is it hard? Yes. Particularly when no has has brushed their teeth, the baby has pulled her diaper off, your purse just fell of the counter and spilled to the floor knocking your full coffee cup along with it, and you're already late for church. (Not that this very scenerio happened to me this morning...) Still, with all the frustration and difficulty that comes along with parenting, isn't it worth the reward when you see your child do something well? Something you've been quietly teaching and modeling for her? Something that shows God's light inside him, clear as day?

I believe that it is, indeed, worth the challenge. We become the best people we can be by modeling our behavior after those whom we love and trust. For our children, they model us. For ourselves, we model Christ. In the end, we create a "moral compass" almost by default because when we seek to align our daily lives with our spiritual purpose, our true potential is realized. 

Still wondering where to start? Here are a couple helpful links with lessons, printables, games, etc. to help your children identify, evaluate and practice good character in their lives. Enjoy!

Five J's Bible Curriculum link includes 12 traits to study and learn, with accompanying activities.

Parenting Methods has a great Fruits of the Spirit lesson with printable rewards chart, based on Galatians 5:22 which can help you to both enumerate, and to recognize/reward positive character building in your child's life.


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Do we have to teach prayer?

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For adults, prayer is sometimes taken for granted. Yes really- sometimes we take for granted that we know what to do when we make mistakes and need forgiveness, when we are fearful and don't know which way to go, when we are hurting and need comfort. We become silent, shut out the world for a few moments and visit the inner peace that God has bestowed upon each of us.


But is this knowledge innate? Are we born knowing how to seek this solace and ask for God's peace? I don't claim to know the answer to that question, but what I have found, in my own experience, to be true is that children benefit from some guidance when it comes to prayer. I believe that children in some ways are closest to God thanks to their innocence and naivete, but I don't forget that part of my job as a parent is to prepare my children for adulthood, even now when they are still children.

To me, instruction on how God wants us to pray, and how we can use prayer to gain access to our inner connection with God and His will, is a valuable tool for children to have as they seek to know God throughout their lives. As Episcopalians we are called to use Scripture, tradition, and our own reason and insight to live godly lives. What kind of parent would I be if I didn't help to prepare my children for that journey by teaching them how to pray for strength, mercy, grace, and guidance?

So, when I find resources which lend themselves to teaching children about the art of prayer, I get excited about it and want to share!  I found a great free printable resource over at Homeschool Creations today. While the pack isn't specifically Episcopal, I really liked the author's presentation. Here's the link: http://homeschoolcreations.com/PrayerforaChild.html

Good luck!