April 2025
"Seasonal Changes"
Watch this video to get a picture of the themes for April. Use the link below after watching the Formation video.
Watch this video to get a picture of the themes for April. Use the link below after watching the Formation video.
Family Interaction Plan
You may use this four-week format or develop your family plan for this month. The Growing Families program is designed to use one or more days each week, but you can find your family rhythm. We’ve given you the approximate participation time to interact with the program each week.
Week 1 (April 1 – 5)
Total suggested time for content: (21 minutes)
You can choose how much time to spend in spiritual conversations.
- Watch the Intro video to find out the themes for the month (7 minutes)
- View the Bible Project video: (5 minutes)The New Humanity • The New Kind of Existence We’re Invited To (Spiritual Beings Series Episode 7)
- It tells the story of God renewing Heaven and Earth through Jesus so we can live forever with him.
- Watch God’s Story video and use your props in the gold bag (9 minutes)
- Watch the parent’s video with Dr. Russell Hall. Use the worksheet in your resource bag to review each of Dr. Hall’s videos. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss how each video has informed your parenting. (15 minutes)
Week 2 (April 6 – 12)
Total suggested time for content: (40 minutes)
You can choose how much time to spend in spiritual conversations.
- Read and discuss God’s Story activity ideas to introduce new conversations about the New Heaven and Earth. (variable time)
- Read the Lament Activity page and use the age-appropriate ideas with your children. You can find these pieces in the blue bag. (15 minutes)
- Begin reading The Biggest Story (one chapter a night), or read the toddler board book Holy Week for small children. (10 minutes)
Week 3 (April 13 – 20)
Total suggested time for content: (42 minutes)
You can choose how much time you want to spend in spiritual conversation this week.
- Use your Holy Week Liturgy and your story pieces to encourage family conversations about this special week. (5 – 10 minutes for each day)
- Teens and families watch the Art video and create your masterpieces (7 minutes)
- Toddlers and families review your God’s Story rhyme and watch the video. (5-10 minutes)
- Children of all ages, use the small box to go over the events of Holy Week (variable time)
Week 4 (April 20 – 27)
Total suggested time for content: enough time to bake – cool – icing – eat!
You can choose how much time you want to spend with these activities and in spiritual conversation this week.
- Use your ‘Party in a bag’ to help your family practice Celebration. Bake a cake or cupcakes to celebrate Easter or use it to celebrate another milestone in your family. (30 minutes)
- Your family may want to review each month’s God’s Story. Use your story props to tell the biblical narrative together. (variable time)
Family Interaction Plan
You may use this four-week format or develop your family plan for this month. The Growing Families program is designed to use one or more days each week, but you can find your family rhythm. We’ve given you the approximate participation time to interact with the program each week.
Week 1 (April 1 – 5)
Total suggested time for content: (21 minutes)
You can choose how much time to spend in spiritual conversations.
- Watch the Intro video to find out the themes for the month (7 minutes)
- View the Bible Project video: (5 minutes)The New Humanity • The New Kind of Existence We’re Invited To (Spiritual Beings Series Episode 7)
- It tells the story of God renewing Heaven and Earth through Jesus so we can live forever with him.
- Watch God’s Story video and use your props in the gold bag (9 minutes)
- Watch the parent’s video with Dr. Russell Hall. Use the worksheet in your resource bag to review each of Dr. Hall’s videos. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss how each video has informed your parenting. (15 minutes)
Week 2 (April 6 – 12)
Total suggested time for content: (40 minutes)
You can choose how much time to spend in spiritual conversations.
- Read and discuss God’s Story activity ideas to introduce new conversations about the New Heaven and Earth. (variable time)
- Read the Lament Activity page and use the age-appropriate ideas with your children. You can find these pieces in the blue bag. (15 minutes)
- Begin reading The Biggest Story (one chapter a night), or read the toddler board book Holy Week for small children. (10 minutes)
Week 3 (April 13 – 20)
Total suggested time for content: (42 minutes)
You can choose how much time you want to spend in spiritual conversation this week.
- Use your Holy Week Liturgy and your story pieces to encourage family conversations about this special week. (5 – 10 minutes for each day)
- Teens and families watch the Art video and create your masterpieces (7 minutes)
- Toddlers and families review your God’s Story rhyme and watch the video. (5-10 minutes)
- Children of all ages, use the small box to go over the events of Holy Week (variable time)
Week 4 (April 20 – 27)
Total suggested time for content: enough time to bake – cool – icing – eat!
You can choose how much time you want to spend with these activities and in spiritual conversation this week.
- Use your ‘Party in a bag’ to help your family practice Celebration. Bake a cake or cupcakes to celebrate Easter or use it to celebrate another milestone in your family. (30 minutes)
- Your family may want to review each month’s God’s Story. Use your story props to tell the biblical narrative together. (variable time)
TELLING GOD'S STORY
Watch the last part of God’s Story in the Bible. Spoiler alert – the story ends with a new beginning. Take out your gold bag of new story pieces, the backdrop of your home, and the family peg people you received in August.
For Teens
Watch the video about the New Creation and experiment using oil pastels on paper. Enjoy being creative as a family.
For Babies and Toddlers
Parents and Toddlers watch the video and practice God’s Story rhyme together.
VERSE OF THE MONTH
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Yet God has made everything beautiful in its own time.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4,11a
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Yet God has made everything beautiful in its own time.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4,11a
Parent Lesson
Dr. Russell Hall shares how raising children is a sanctification process for both parents and children. Watch the video and use the worksheet in your resource bag to review the important points from each of his videos.
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.
