Family Faith Companion

January – February 2015 Schedule: The Story of Esther

Posted on January 8, 2015January 6, 2015 by Carol Hulbert

Happy New Year! We start off the New Year with a Rotation on the Old Testament story of Esther.

The Old Testament book of Esther is a story of one woman who changed the course of history for the Jewish people. It’s a story with all the ingredients of a Disney fairy tale (or maybe a soap opera, depending on how many details you reveal in the telling). There’s a beautiful heroine, a villain, and surprising plot twists. It is a good story for family read aloud over several nights (if you paraphrase a bit for the younger set). Come join us for our story!

For Saturdays at the Green Wood location, here is the schedule…

Date	Workshop or Activity
1/10	Art Workshop
1/17	Games Workshop
1/24	Cooking Workshop
1/31	Worship with your family.
2/7	To be announced.

And on Sundays, at the downtown location.

Date	Our workshops for 1st through 5th graders…
	Art	Cooking	Video	Bible Skills & Games
	Room 212	Social Hall	Room 215	Room 211
1/11	2nd & 5th grade	3rd grade	1st grade	4th grade
1/18	1st grade	4th grade	3rd grade	2nd & 5th grade
1/25	3rd grade	2nd & 5th grade	4th grade	1st grade
2/1	Enjoy worship and Communion with your family. The sermon is on how to begin again: A new direction!
2/8	4th grade	1st grade	2nd & 5th grade	3rd grade

And here’s what the 6th graders will be doing this month…
(They’ll always be in the Pine Room!)

1/11	1/18	1/25	2/1
Special cooking project	Cooking Workshop	Games Workshop	Worship with your family

What’s happening in each workshop?

Art Workshop: Learn about how prayer ties to the story of Esther. Second through fifth graders will create prayer boxes in the shape of a pyramid out of marbleized paper and make marbleized paper for the next class to use. 1^st grade will decorate a prayer box with a magnetized lid.
Video Workshop: Watch portions of the Veggie Tales video, Esther: The Girl Who Became Queen.
Cooking Workshop: Make Hamantaschen (cookies) & learn about the Jewish festival of Purim.
Games Workshop: Learn story details & story sequence by playing a game of Hangman. (Which is very appropriate for this story!)

On Saturday nights and on Sunday mornings at FUMC our Cool Disciples experience Rotation Model Christian education, as they learn about Bible stories and concepts through kid-friendly multimedia workshops. If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI.

Photo credits: Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Scroll of the Book of Esther by Chefallen, who licensed this photo on Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons License.

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Today is the day

Posted on January 6, 2015January 6, 2017 by Carol Hulbert

Today is the day to proclaim Epiphany! (Even though it was commemorated in church last Sunday, today, January 6th, is the officially marked day.) You may finally move your magi nativity pieces into their final resting spot — assuming that they’ve been traveling over your tablelands until now.

Three wise men approach a nativity scene

Epiphany serves as a reminder that God has come among us as a human being – God with us as Jesus. Celebrations of Epiphany traditionally are tied to the arrival of the wise men to worship Jesus.

These magi have always fascinated me. Their courage! Their fortitude! They likely traveled a thousand miles from their home in Persia or Arabia, all the way to Bethlehem — guided by an unusual star in the sky.

They followed this star, not knowing where they would end up.

Can we do that?

Start off on a journey not knowing where we are headed?

Graphic says - The wise step out in faith

How about your family’s faith journey?
Or even your own personal walk with God?

Do you know where your journey will take you?
Do you know what you will find along the way?

Will you step out in faith… to grow your faith?

Your family is depending on you to take the lead.

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Photo credits:
Photos are from my archives. I created the starry sky graphic from various Public Domain clip art.

My New Year’s resolutions. And yours?

Posted on December 31, 2014March 20, 2015 by Carol Hulbert

The crazy season of rushing is over. {Take a deep breath.}
Now we turn our thoughts toward the new year.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be different in the coming year.

I want to pay more attention.

It goes like this:

Big Horn Sheep at the Grand Canyon

Take something dramatic like the Grand Canyon. With no effort it registers off-the-charts: instantly recognized beauty.

Yet I easily miss the small details, which might seem like minutiae, but when exposed are equally awe-inspiring.

Details such as the fact that the Grand Canyon was formed by water and wind…

slowly… imperceptibly…

eroding the rock.

“Gentle waters flow over rocks With a lack of attention I miss seeing the clout of one simple gust of breeze…

of just one drop of water…

whittling away…

drip by slow drip.

I need to pay attention and focus to the level of a single water drop.

To slow down.
To always be noticing…often and regularly…

My life intertwined with the presence of God.

A collage of nature scenes

What about your New Year’s resolutions? Join me in being more intentionally aware of God with us?

Happy New Year!
— Carol

Photo credits:
The Grand Canyon, by Marcin Wichary who licensed this photo on Flickr via a Creative Commons License.
Other photos from my archives with thanks to Tracy K. for the lower center shot of kids at the lake!

Jesus’ birth had lots of drama

Posted on December 28, 2014January 6, 2015 by Carol Hulbert

Traditional Sunday school class almost never included acting out skits. (I know. I taught for 10 years using that “old” way.) There just wasn’t enough time to squeeze in a play amongst everything else going on — the story, an art project, a game, and a snack! (Besides, a teacher just couldn’t accumulate enough bathrobes.)

Rotation.org logo That’s what makes the Workshop Rotation Model of teaching Sunday school, unique: We devote an entire class to using various dramatic methods. The goal is not a polished production, but a fun way to learn a Bible story.

We’ve got a closet full of costumes. (We even have a cow costume!) We’ve got a stage with velvet curtains. We recruit gregarious workshop leaders (and Shepherds!) who like teaching through drama. (And who don’t mind dressing up in silly costumes and playing a few parts now and then.)

Does it work? You be the judge. Gather the family around and view the skits created in our Drama Workshop, taped during our recent Rotation on the story of the birth of Jesus.

The 2nd grade:

Can’t see the 2nd grade video? View it here on YouTube.

The 3rd grade:

Can’t see the 3rd grade video? View it here on YouTube.

The 4th grade:

Can’t see the 4th grade video? View it here on YouTube.

The 1st and the 5th graders:

Can’t see the 1st and 5th grade video? View it here on YouTube.

And our 6th graders performed for our younger kids (3 year olds through K’s)…

Can’t see this video? View it here on YouTube.

I’ll bet this prompts the kids to get out their bathrobes and a flashlight and some sunglasses!

Photo credits:
Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Dramatic videos produced as a part of our current Rotation at FUMC in Ann Arbor, MI.

A Christmas Blessing for you

Posted on December 23, 2014August 29, 2015 by Carol Hulbert

{Be sure to bestow this blessing on others.}

May you have a child-like faith.

children at the Christmas eve church service
Bowled over with the wonder of it all!

Always looking for what comes next.

May you be open to explore God among us.

Peanut crèche

Perhaps Immanuel is experienced in memories — provoked by a long-ago-made ornament.

Or noticed in nature’s ornamented arrangements…

Iced over American Cranberry Bush Viburnum

May you be awed by God’s redeeming love.

a sunset on a lake creates a cross in the water

May you have a blessed Christmas!

–Love, Carol

Photo credits:
Cross in a sunset by Rich Herrmann, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.
Other photos from my archives.

God’s purpose? To be with us.

Posted on December 11, 2014November 26, 2020 by Carol Hulbert

You can do this: Dig deeper into the Christmas story.

Ask questions at your family dinner table.

Ask the question most frequently asked by young children: Why?

I remember telling my kids when they were very young, a simple explanation for why we celebrate Christmas:

It’s Jesus’ birthday.

Birthdays are easy for kids to understand. On your child’s birthday, do they enjoy hearing the story about the day they were born? (Or perhaps the day they were adopted?) It follows that on Jesus’ birthday we tell over and over, the account of his arrival.

We typically hear the story from Luke – a trek to Bethlehem, rooms at capacity, a babe born amongst beasts, topped off with sojourning, wonder-struck shepherds. It always amazes me: Jesus’ first bed was an animal feeding trough, and second-string sheep-tenders were Jesus’ inaugural guests. Everyone had been on the lookout for a majestic monarch, yet God slipped into our world as a defenseless little baby.

Why did the story happen this way?

What were God’s intentions? When we dig deeper, and read in Matthew, we reveal God’s purpose:

She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:22-23)

Immanuel, means in Hebrew: “with us is God.” Ah! A glimpse at God’s motive.

Jesus was sent to be God with us!

Ready for some family discussion surrounding Immanuel / God-with-us?

Start off reading together Matthew 1:18-24.

A long time ago, God quietly came to earth via his son Jesus. Most people in those days didn’t recognize Jesus as their long-waited-for Savior. What about these days, do you suppose people recognize God-with-us today?

What are some ways that God makes his presence known to us?
a magnifying glass
What can make it hard to “see” God?

How can we help others to notice God with us?

Back in Bible times it seemed that God was more overt in his communication with people. For instance, in our current Rotation on Jesus’ birth story, there are lots of “angels of the Lord.” One named Gabriel, visited Mary, whereas Joseph had two angelic visits in his dreams. And the shepherds… they got a sky-full!

Angels made by the younger kids at church

What evidence of God have you seen lately?

What about that bird perched just so, on the snow-covered branch…

Cardinal in snowy tree To me nature-happenings are a sort of message from God. He says, “Slow down. Take notice. Isn’t what I’ve created intricate and amazing? I created you too. Oh, what a beautiful job I did! Do you see that little bird? The one perched outside your window? I care about him. I care about you!”

God is with us.
In what ways will you look for his presence?

Photo credits…
Photos are from my archives. Copyright Carol Hulbert.

How to find time for God in the midst of Advent chaos?

Posted on December 4, 2014November 26, 2020 by Carol Hulbert

Are you feeling it yet? The rat-race turmoil leaning towards a muddled mess?

A dance of light rays

It must be Advent. (Or it could be in the midst of the chaos of any season.)

How can we find time for peace?
How can we find time for God?

Pastor Nancy Lynn at FUMC in Ann Arbor, MI had some ideas in a recent sermon.

Let’s review Nancy’s ideas. (And is it okay if I build on them?)

Go out and notice something in nature.
(Even if it’s just a bunch of rocks.) Set a recurring timer (to go off when it will be okay to be interrupted). When it rings, go for a daily walk. Find a truly beautiful nature-made article. Allow yourself to fill with awe. Yes! God made this!
Take time for prayer.
(Be like Jesus?) How about a different way of praying? Breath prayer: This sort of prayer brings yourself to a quiet rest. Start by relaxing—take a couple of deep breaths. Then, focusing on your breath, silently recite a word (or words) over and over.
Try the Aramaic word (Jesus spoke Aramaic) that means “Come Lord” – Maranatha. Break it into four syllables:
Breath In: Ma
Breath Out: Ra
Breath In: Na
Breath Out: Tha
When your mind drifts, bring yourself gently back.
Change your prevailing viewpoint. Give yourself compassion and change your self-talk!
Practice grace and forgiveness… towards yourself! Rather than piling up accusations against yourself (I should have… I am such an idiot… Why didn’t I… ) Try loading your brain with positive, helpful thoughts. Phrases like:

Sometimes I make mistakes. I can learn from them.
Most decisions in life involve tradeoffs.
I chose not to buy the most expensive gift.

This change can take some brain-training. Keep at it!

Make a point to be spontaneously kind. Print a calendar page for December. Each day write something you’ve done to be helpful.

Want a different idea to promote a randomly caring attitude? Try “RACK” (Random Acts of Christmas Kindness).

May one of these activities help you to find peace (and God with you) in this busy season!

Photo credits…
Chaos by kevin dooley, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0). Rest of photos from my archives. (I made the RACK’ed figure.)

Here comes Advent!

Posted on November 26, 2014November 26, 2020 by Carol Hulbert

Advent 2020 is coming!

Are you ready? Have you planned activities to engage your family in the season of waiting for Christmas?

Why Advent? The word “Advent” comes from Latin; it means “coming” or “arrival.” Advent signals that Christmas is coming; the day when we celebrate that God arrived on earth as baby Jesus. Advent gives us time to prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming. We get to focus our hearts and minds and actions, on the amazing story of God with us!

What can we do during Advent? Try some of these activities:

Bring out the Advent wreath. Remember when we in non-COVID times we’d spruce up our wreaths at church? Not happening this year! Bring it out of storage anyhow! It will work just as well. Replace the candles. Don’t worry about what color they are! Things are different this year!

Light those Advent candles. Starting on the first Sunday of Advent, and why not everyday, light the appropriate number of candles (one for each week of Advent) during your family dinner. Can’t all be there for dinner? How about over breakfast or over an after-school or bedtime snack? Or just use it as an excuse to gather together for shared family time. (Even if it’s only for 5 minutes!)

Use your Advent wreath as a way to spark faith conversation.
Print a copy of an Advent Wreath discussion guide.

Go on a photo hunt!
Join in on the fun of Picture Advent. On the first day of Advent 2020 photograph something that says “Open.” On Monday look for “Presence,” etc. See the list of various photo ops for 2020. share your photos on the church Facebook page.

Use an Advent Calendar. There are all sorts of these to be found, though they typically count the days in December (as opposed to the weeks of Advent).

Use your Nativity set as an Advent Calendar – set up a path of numbered “stepping stones” (cut from paper?) Have Mary and Joseph slowly make their way to the stable scene.

An Advent paper chain OR, have your kids assemble a paper chain with 24 links. Print out this list of Bible verses and glue one verse to each link. Every day in December snip a link and read the Bible together.

OR, Use my favorite Bible storybook – The Jesus Storybook Bible. Read one story each day. (They all tie to Jesus; even the Old Testament.) Download a PDF of this reading plan. A sample of which is shown below. (There are multiple other, not-so-fancy versions out on the internet. Do a search.)

A page from the Advent Calendar based on The Jesus Storybook Bible

grass grows in a cup Plant Straw for the Manger. Fill a cup with potting soil. Place it on a sunward windowsill. Have a container of seeds close by – use grass seed or “cat grass” or wheat berries. Every time someone does something nice for someone, they get to plant a seed. Watch it grow (water regularly) and on December 24th mow it down to fill the manger in your crèche scene.

Use unexpected moments to focus on Advent themes. Find yourself stuck in traffic or in the slow lane at the store? Transform your marking-time-moment into an example of how the Israelites waited for the arrival of the Savior – for hundreds of years! What are other daily instances that remind you of peace, light, grace, joy, hope, love…?

You've been RACK'ed - Random Acts of Christmas Kindness
Check this list of other Advent ideas…
including Random Acts of Christmas Kindness! A fun way to put the focus on being kind to others.

What Advent activities are being arranged in your household?

Photo credits…
Grass in a cup by Shardayyy Photography, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0).
The page from The Jesus Storybook Bible Advent calendar created under fair usage. (I’m linking to their product at no benefit to myself. And you’ll for sure want one. Did I mention that it’s my favorite?)
Other photos, copyright, from my archives.