The Parent Weekly for November 28th (Remember & Celebrate)
What we learned today
Big Idea: Remember & Celebrate: God Made Me
The Israelites gathered together several times a year for a festival to remember and celebrate God.
Where we’re headed next time
Big Idea: God keeps his promise
Luke 1v26–56; Matthew 1v18–25. Mary received the news that she was going to have a baby whom she was to name Jesus, the promised Savior. At the time she received this news, Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph. God told Joseph in a dream about the baby Jesus. He is the fulfillment of the promise God had made long ago to redeem mankind.
God has given parents the privilege of being the primary spiritual nurturers of their children’s faith.
The Parent Weekly is designed to reinforce that truth by allowing your family to have time in God’s Word before your child attends church each week. It will provide you with ways to introduce The Big God Story and have age-appropriate conversations with your little one as you prepare her for what she will be experiencing in church for the next four weeks.
Research has shown that children between the ages of two and four learn best through repetition. Because of this, we will spend two weeks on the same part of The Big God Story and the Big Idea.
Each week you will receive a new Blessing. A blessing is a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement and guidance. While giving the blessing, you may desire to lay hands on your child as you speak the Scripture or pray a prayer over him.
Hamilton the Hedgehog will play a role in your child’s experience in church each week—be sure to ask about him. He loves to Dig into God’s Word. The passage of Scripture provided will assist you as you reinforce the Big Idea. Did You Know? has fun facts about this part of The Big God Story for you to share with your child. And Connect as a Family is simply a conversation starter to assist you as you spiritually parent.
Dig into God’s Word
Read Genesis 1v26–31. After reading, remind your child that God created the world and everything in it.
Connect as a family
One way children learn the faithfulness of God is through their parents. When we keep our promises and follow through with what we say, little ones are able to see how God keeps His promises.
Was Mary happy or sad when the angel told her she was going to have a baby? Mary was troubled when she saw the angel and heard his message, but full of joy when she understood.
Blessing
Blessings are often used in the Bible. A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words to encourage and guide.
Open a Bible and read Luke 1v46–47: “Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.’”
