Week of September 20, 2020: An Alternative Economy (Ages 5-10)
- Faith To Go
- Sep 30, 2020
- 3 min read
Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar, and joined the each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go Podcast highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.
Activity Time: Work Together
Supplies: Paper, pencil or pen, scissors
Draw a square on a piece of paper. Have everyone cut it out. Now repeat the exercise but this time, sit two people side by side. One person can hold the scissors in their hand, the other person can hold the paper. Both people can only use those hands. Have them work together to cut out the square. Repeat the challenge until everyone has a turn.
Conversation for after the activity: Which way was easier to cut out the square? Why? Have you ever heard the expression, “trying to do something with one hand tied behind your back”? What do you think it means? Can we think of any real life situations that are similar to this exercise? What might make them easier?
Story Time: The Parable of the Vineyard Workers
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1. What does the word fair mean?
2. Can you tell me something that you think is unfair?
3. What does the word just mean?
4. Do you think it is better to be just or fair? Why?
5. Why do you think Jesus told this parable?
Dinner Time: People's Needs
Below is a prayer with which to start your meal and then discussion questions to explore this week’s topic with your family while you eat.
Prayer -
Almighty God, thinking about fairness can be hard. We can often feel like things aren’t fair, life isn’t fair. Help us to open our eyes to see that sometimes fairness is the most unfair thing of all. Help us to work for a world that is filled with justice and peace for all of your people. Amen.
Questions:
1. Let’s go around the table and name things that we need every day.
2. Did anyone say something that they needed which is something that you don’t think you need?
3. What other kinds of needs might people have?
4. How would you feel if you could only have the things that other people needed instead of what you need?
5. Can you think of a situation in the world where that is happening?
6. What might be a better solution?
Bedtime: Reflections for Children at the End of the Day
During your bedtime routine, invite your children into a time of reflection about their day, maybe by saying, "Did you know that God really wants to know what happened in your day today, and that God is always listening whenever you need to tell God something?" Then continue with these questions:
1) What are some things that happened today that you want to tell God about?
2) What is one happy thing that happened today? What is one sad thing that happened today?
3) Did you see God or feel God with you when those things were happening? Where did you see or feel God when those things happened today?
4) Read to your children this week’s scripture selection, then ask the questions that follows.
Matthew 201-16 (God’s Word, My Voice)
Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a man who owned a vineyard and found some people to work in the field for him. They agreed on their daily pay and they were sent to work. Three hours later the vineyard owner went and found more workers, and then again three hours after that, and at the end of the day he hired some, too. When evening came, they all lined up to get their pay. Those hired at the end of the day got a certain amount, then the ones who’d worked all day long came and saw that they got the same as those who worked only an hour. They were really angry. The owner said, “But you and I agreed on your pay, and you did the work I asked you to do. Can’t I pay people what I want to pay them? Do you hate me because I’m generous? Get used to it. The last will be first and the first will be last.”
Did the story remind you of anything that happened in your day today?
5) What are some things that you want to tell God that you are grateful for today?
Share some of your conversations in the comments below:
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