November 2024
“Building a trellis for our growing garden”
Week 1
Start a conversation about habits. Ask your children to help you evaluate your family’s habits. What things do you do every day, weekly, monthly, yearly? When does your family find time in your schedule to love God, yourself, others, and creation? Can you think of examples in each of these four areas? For families with younger children, you can ask questions like, “Our family loves God. How can we show that we love him?” Write your answers down in a journal with the date in case you want to retake this inventory and compare responses later in your family life.
Week 2
(this is a 3-day task)
- Each family member will fill out the Time Trellis coloring activity. Parents may have to help younger children. At least once a day look at your Trellis and if you did something connected to loving God, others, self, or creation, color in a leaf on the corresponding vine. The seed packets are only suggestions. You may have others.
- Look at each other’s worksheets after 3 days and discuss what you find. Which area of love is your family excelling in and which needs some attention? A great resource on this topic is, You Are What You Love, by James K. A. Smith. (currently 99 cents on Audible Books)
Week 3
- If you haven’t watched the Intro video on the Website, stop and view it. Decide which practices you want to become habits, for example, dinner together, praying before bedtime, attend church weekly. Then put them in your Rule of Life. You don’t have to use the suggestions from your coloring activity sheet. Your family can choose as many habits as you like but be practical and gentle with your expectations. Write your ideas on paper and discuss the family habits you want to start with this season.
- When you are ready, use your black marker to write the habits on a paper leaf. Mark each leaf with either daily, weekly, or yearly, and attach each one to the trellis using glue dots. Attach your family name to the trellis too.
Week 4
- Take a picture of your Family Trellis aka Rule of Life. Email us at growing.families@asburyseminary.edu with a picture of it when you have completed it. We will keep the picture as a reminder of your family’s decision to follow a Rule of Life.
- Keep your extra leaves. You may rethink your Rule and change your habits to work with your new schedules.
Week 1
Start a conversation about habits. Ask your children to help you evaluate your family’s habits. What things do you do every day, weekly, monthly, yearly? When does your family find time in your schedule to love God, yourself, others, and creation? Can you think of examples in each of these four areas? For families with younger children, you can ask questions like, “Our family loves God. How can we show that we love him?” Write your answers down in a journal with the date in case you want to retake this inventory and compare responses later in your family life.
Week 2
(this is a 3-day task)
- Each family member will fill out the Time Trellis coloring activity. Parents may have to help younger children. At least once a day look at your Trellis and if you did something connected to loving God, others, self, or creation, color in a leaf on the corresponding vine. The seed packets are only suggestions. You may have others.
- Look at each other’s worksheets after 3 days and discuss what you find. Which area of love is your family excelling in and which needs some attention? A great resource on this topic is, You Are What You Love, by James K. A. Smith. (currently 99 cents on Audible Books)
Week 3
- If you haven’t watched the Intro video on the Website, stop and view it. Decide which practices you want to become habits, for example, dinner together, praying before bedtime, attend church weekly. Then put them in your Rule of Life. You don’t have to use the suggestions from your coloring activity sheet. Your family can choose as many habits as you like but be practical and gentle with your expectations. Write your ideas on paper and discuss the family habits you want to start with this season.
- When you are ready, use your black marker to write the habits on a paper leaf. Mark each leaf with either daily, weekly, or yearly, and attach each one to the trellis using glue dots. Attach your family name to the trellis too.
Week 4
- Take a picture of your Family Trellis aka Rule of Life. Email us at growing.families@asburyseminary.edu with a picture of it when you have completed it. We will keep the picture as a reminder of your family’s decision to follow a Rule of Life.
- Keep your extra leaves. You may rethink your Rule and change your habits to work with your new schedules.
Telling God's Story
Week 1- 4
- Watch the video together and look for the many times God kept his promises to his people.
- Try to retell the story using the props from the gold bag. You can use the props while watching the video too.
For Toddlers
"Card Game"
For families with young children and toddlers: after you watch the story, watch the Toddler video to learn the rhyme. Flash cards are in your activity bag.
For families with young children and toddlers: after you watch the story, watch the Toddler video to learn the rhyme. Flash cards are in your activity bag.
For Teens
"Painting Activity"
For families with teens: You have another video to watch and create an art response together. Art supplies are in your activity bag.
For families with teens: You have another video to watch and create an art response together. Art supplies are in your activity bag.
VERSE OF THE MONTH
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17
Parenting Lesson
"Effective Communication For Your Family"
Watch the video with Dr. Steve Stratton about Communication. Read and respond to the handout on Communication.
Watch the video with Dr. Steve Stratton about Communication. Read and respond to the handout on Communication.
Next
Steps
Use your checklist inside your monthly bag to help you keep track of what you have completed.
Mark your calendar for the next family meeting with your cohort! You can find more information about the meeting schedule on the Community page.
Use your checklist inside your monthly bag to help you keep track of what you have completed.
Mark your calendar for the next family meeting with your cohort! You can find more information about the meeting schedule on the Community page.
