October: HOPE
What or who gives you hope?
Can you think of anyone who might need hope right now?
What could you do to help their hope to grow?
Watch
Pre-K - Grade 5
Grade 6-8
Wonder
Parable of the Mustard Seed
Hope is like a very small seed, like a mustard seed. It can start out very small but as we trust in God's goodness and grace, our hope grows, and on days when we are low in hope, we can still feel safe, like the birds, and live in God's hope.
Explore
Learn what these People of God were able to do when they placed their hope in God:
Children of God Storybook Bible
Noah (p. 16), Samuel & David (p. 40,42)
Jesus Storybook Bible:
Noah (p. 38), Samuel & David (p. 117)
Good News Bible or the Message
Noah (Genesis 6 - 9), Samuel (1 Samuel 3), David (1 Samuel 16)
Pray
Use the EXAMEN prayer to reflect on your hopes.
It has 5 steps, so you might like to count them on your fingers:
1. GIVE THANKS for something that was good today
2. ASK FOR HELP with something you have lost hope for
3. REFLECT on your day and think about the things that made you feel hopeful and the things that felt unhopeful
4. SAY SORRY for the times you gave up hope, or took away someone else’s hope
5. DECIDE how you will keep hold of hope tomorrow
Do: Cross of Hope
The people of El Salvador and Honduras are known for painting on crosses colorful images of life that give them hope in their everyday lives—sun, land, village, family, home, animals...
-
Draw a large cross on a piece of paper.
-
Then draw pictures or name some of the things or people that give you hope that the future will be better.
-
Maybe take a walk and take pictures to stick on your cross, too!