Family Resources
Seasonal Resources
Celebrating All Souls and All Saints with Pixar - Click here to learn how you can use the Pixar movies, "Up" and "Coco" to initiate discussion about All Saints and All Souls Days.

Advent
Here are some family Advent Resources. Click on each link for more information.
Advent
Here are some family Advent Resources. Click on each link for more information.

Advent Discussion List - During our intergenerational discussion on November 26, 2023, we generated this list of ideas.
Advent Guide - Scripture, Activities, and Prayer for each Sunday in Advent published by Cokesbury
Advent Celebration Ideas for Families - This booklet has ideas for Advent Activities as well as short ceremonies for the Advent Wreath.
Advent Calendars - This folder has many Advent Calendar ideas
Advent Wreath - prayers and collects for your advent wreath
5 Rituals for Christmas Eve - this is a link to an article from Building Faith, a ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary
Jesse Tree - Jesse Tree is a way of preparing for Advent by journeying through the stories on Jesus’s family tree. Each day of Advent, read a Bible story about someone on Jesus’s family tree and hang an ornament symbolizing the story on your Jesse Tree. As you decorate your tree, you’ll see how God prepared for Jesus to be born through many generations.
Lent
Here are some family Lenten resources. Click on each link for more information
Alary, Laura. Make Room, A child’s Guide to Easter and Lent. The is a great book that helps families look at Lent as a time to Make Time, Make Space, and Make Room. The book is readily available online and in bookstores.
Family Devotions for Lent – Each daily devotion includes scripture, prayer, and a question to discuss as a family. While there is a devotion for each day during Lent, it could certainly be used weekly, or as often as your family likes. The Ash Wednesday devotion and following 3 days are a great way to get started.
Lenten Cross – this is similar to an Advent Wreath. There is a short, family friendly meditation for each Sunday in Lent. This could also be used in conjunction with the Daily Devotions. If you want to make a Lenten cross and need purple candles, please let Marion know – she has extras from Advent.
Observing Lent at Home Activity Book – This activity book offers ideas for families to celebrate Lent at home. It begins with Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, then it has weekly ideas for each of the Sundays in Lent. This is a large file, so it takes quite a while to load.
Making pretzels –this link offers and explanation of why we make pretzels in Lent as well as 2 different recipes: https://www.rca.org/resources/family-activity-lent-making-pretzels-0
Here is an article with clever ideas for unplugging during Lent
Lenten Calendar - This is a printable calendar with boxes for each of the 40 days in Lent. Each day has one suggested activity. Activities include prayer, scripture reading, acts of kindness and more. This is intended for families to do together.
Advent Guide - Scripture, Activities, and Prayer for each Sunday in Advent published by Cokesbury
Advent Celebration Ideas for Families - This booklet has ideas for Advent Activities as well as short ceremonies for the Advent Wreath.
Advent Calendars - This folder has many Advent Calendar ideas
Advent Wreath - prayers and collects for your advent wreath
5 Rituals for Christmas Eve - this is a link to an article from Building Faith, a ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary
Jesse Tree - Jesse Tree is a way of preparing for Advent by journeying through the stories on Jesus’s family tree. Each day of Advent, read a Bible story about someone on Jesus’s family tree and hang an ornament symbolizing the story on your Jesse Tree. As you decorate your tree, you’ll see how God prepared for Jesus to be born through many generations.
Lent
Here are some family Lenten resources. Click on each link for more information
Alary, Laura. Make Room, A child’s Guide to Easter and Lent. The is a great book that helps families look at Lent as a time to Make Time, Make Space, and Make Room. The book is readily available online and in bookstores.
Family Devotions for Lent – Each daily devotion includes scripture, prayer, and a question to discuss as a family. While there is a devotion for each day during Lent, it could certainly be used weekly, or as often as your family likes. The Ash Wednesday devotion and following 3 days are a great way to get started.
Lenten Cross – this is similar to an Advent Wreath. There is a short, family friendly meditation for each Sunday in Lent. This could also be used in conjunction with the Daily Devotions. If you want to make a Lenten cross and need purple candles, please let Marion know – she has extras from Advent.
Observing Lent at Home Activity Book – This activity book offers ideas for families to celebrate Lent at home. It begins with Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, then it has weekly ideas for each of the Sundays in Lent. This is a large file, so it takes quite a while to load.
Making pretzels –this link offers and explanation of why we make pretzels in Lent as well as 2 different recipes: https://www.rca.org/resources/family-activity-lent-making-pretzels-0
Here is an article with clever ideas for unplugging during Lent
Lenten Calendar - This is a printable calendar with boxes for each of the 40 days in Lent. Each day has one suggested activity. Activities include prayer, scripture reading, acts of kindness and more. This is intended for families to do together.
Blessing for Parents:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for my parents. I love them both and I am glad that they are my parents. I am glad that I am their child, too. Thank You that they take care of me, and please bless them every day.
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for my parents. I love them both and I am glad that they are my parents. I am glad that I am their child, too. Thank You that they take care of me, and please bless them every day.
Books For Parents
Sticky Faith by Kara Powell
Seamless Faith by Traci Smith
Welcome to the Book of Common Prayer by Vicki K. Black
Seamless Faith by Traci Smith
Welcome to the Book of Common Prayer by Vicki K. Black
Books For Kids
There are far too many good children’s books to list, but here are a few of my favorites. All of these should be available on Amazon
When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner
Let Us Pray, A Little Kid’s Guide to the Eucharist by Jennie Turrell
Me and God, A Book of Prayer Partners by Deb Lund
The Clown of God, an old story told and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Let There Be Light by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
In God’s Name by Phoebe Stone
The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt and Tim Jonke (Illustrator)
When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner
Let Us Pray, A Little Kid’s Guide to the Eucharist by Jennie Turrell
Me and God, A Book of Prayer Partners by Deb Lund
The Clown of God, an old story told and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Let There Be Light by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
In God’s Name by Phoebe Stone
The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt and Tim Jonke (Illustrator)
Suggested Authors
Most, if not all, of these books are available on Amazon.
Anne Kitch: The Rev. Canon Anne Kitch is canon for formation of Christian faith in the Diocese of Bethlehem. She has many books for children and families, including the Anglican Family Prayer Book and several activity books about our Anglican traditions: Advent, Lent, What We Do in Church, Baptism and more.
Max Lucado: is a preacher with a storyteller's gift — a pastor's heart and a poet's pen. Max's message is simple: God loves you; let him. Max serves the people of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. He has an abundance of children (and adult) books with faith themes. I especially like his book You Are Special.
Sybil MacBeth: is the author of Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God (2007) and Praying in Color Kids’ Edition (2009). Praying in Color uses doodling and coloring as a way to get still and listen to God. She also has other books and online resources.
Anne Kitch: The Rev. Canon Anne Kitch is canon for formation of Christian faith in the Diocese of Bethlehem. She has many books for children and families, including the Anglican Family Prayer Book and several activity books about our Anglican traditions: Advent, Lent, What We Do in Church, Baptism and more.
Max Lucado: is a preacher with a storyteller's gift — a pastor's heart and a poet's pen. Max's message is simple: God loves you; let him. Max serves the people of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. He has an abundance of children (and adult) books with faith themes. I especially like his book You Are Special.
Sybil MacBeth: is the author of Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God (2007) and Praying in Color Kids’ Edition (2009). Praying in Color uses doodling and coloring as a way to get still and listen to God. She also has other books and online resources.
Online
These websites offer wonderful ideas for building faith in our homes and our relationships, specifically with our children. You can subscribe to receive regular emails, or you can just explore their websites for useful ideas.
Click Here Building Faith - Christian formation inspiration from the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at Virginia Theological Seminary. The Home Practices section of their website offers great ideas for bringing faith into your home. Each month they add something new, and you can subscribe to receive updates.
Click Here Connected Families - Jim and Lynne Jackson bring uncommon grace and truth to those parents longing for more than simple answers and quick fixes
Click Here Building Faith - Christian formation inspiration from the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at Virginia Theological Seminary. The Home Practices section of their website offers great ideas for bringing faith into your home. Each month they add something new, and you can subscribe to receive updates.
Click Here Connected Families - Jim and Lynne Jackson bring uncommon grace and truth to those parents longing for more than simple answers and quick fixes