Resources for Families
Below are the weekly Shine at Home conversation starters and activities for enhancing faith formation at home. These faith-building ideas for families are ready to be shared via email, on a social media platform such as Facebook, or in a weekly bulletin or newsletter. Each week’s suggestions coordinate with the Shine curriculum that children and junior youth use during Christian education time.
Add this explanation the first week you send out or post the announcements:
Today we are beginning a weekly announcement for families of children and junior youth. Each Sunday you will find faith nurture ideas that coordinate with the weekly session plans from the Shine curriculum your child’s group uses. The Bible story can be read from The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible, which is available for purchase from www.ShineCurriculum.com/Shop. Or simply read it from a translation of your choice. Each week includes the prayer practice that your child(ren) was introduced to during Sunday school. Continue that practice each day.
Announcements for Winter 2025–26
These faith-building ideas for families are ready to be shared via email, on a social media platform such as Facebook, or in a weekly bulletin or newsletter. Each week’s suggestions coordinate with the Shine curriculum that children and junior youth use during Christian education time. Announcements for this quarter run from Sunday, November 30, through February 22. Modify the dates as needed to match your church’s schedule. Click for the Word document with the Winter 2025–26 Shine at Home Announcements.
Session 1
November 30, 2025
Here Is Your God!
Read pages 112–113 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Isaiah 40:1–11. Share about things and people that bring you comfort when you are sad or not feeling well.
Pray a prayer of praise to God for the HOPE that Jesus brings to the world. Take turns sharing something you are hoping for this Christmas.
Retell the Bible story using sand or soil. Build up mountains and valleys, then smooth them over with your hand to create a path for God!
Session 2
December 7, 2025
Joseph’s Dream
Read pages 168–169 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Matthew 1:18–25. Talk about dreams that you have had. Why do you think God communicated with Joseph in a dream?
Pray prayers of praise to God for the PEACE that Jesus brings to the world. Brainstorm ways that you can show peace to people you meet this week at school, at church, or in your neighborhood.
Read Who Is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate and Ashley Wolff or find a read aloud on YouTube.
Session 3
December 14, 2025
Mary Shares Her Joy
Read pages 164–165 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Luke 1:26–56. Mary shared her joy with her cousin, Elizabeth. If you had exciting news, who would be the first person you would want to share it with?
Pray prayers of praise to God for the JOY that Jesus brings to the world. Every day have family members take a photo of something that brings them joy. At the end of the week, look at all the photos and sing “Joy to the World.”
Gather items to take to a food bank. Remember Mary’s words, “God has filled the hungry with good things.”
Session 4
December 21, 2025
Jesus Is Born
Read pages 170–173 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Luke 2:1–20. The angels sang about peace on earth. Draw or paint pictures of what that might look like.
Pray prayers of praise to God for the LOVE that Jesus brings to the world. Every day have family members take a photo of someone or something they love. At the end of the week, look back at the photos and sing “Away in a Manger.”
Create a treasure box using a small tissue box or something similar. Mary treasured the words of the shepherds. What are you treasuring this Christmas season? Have family members write or draw pictures of what they treasure and put them in the box. Pack it up with your decorations and be prepared to look back at your treasures next year.
Session 5
December 28, 2025
Magi Come to Worship
Read pages 176–177 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Matthew 2:1–12. Go out and look at the stars. Imagine traveling at night following a star.
Pray prayers of praise for God’s gift of Jesus. At the end of your prayer each evening, turn on your outside lights or light a candle and put it near a window as a sign of welcome for visitors to your home.
Sing the carol “We Three Kings.” Many versions of the song can be found on YouTube.
Session 6
January 4, 2026
Jesus’ Ministry Begins
Read pages 188–189 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Matthew 4:17–25. Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow him. What do you think it means to follow Jesus?
Pray a “help me” prayer this week. Express your needs to God each day, then be still and listen to God.
Play a fishing game. Cut fish shapes out of construction paper. Put a paper clip on the nose of each fish. Use magnets tied onto strings to “fish” for them.
Session 7
January 11, 2026
Sermon on the Mount
Read page 191 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Matthew 5:1–16. Tell each other which beatitude is your favorite and why.
Pray a “help me” prayer this week. Express your needs to God each day, then be still and listen to God.
Eat a snack of popcorn; first without salt, then add salt. Talk about the difference in taste. Sit quietly in a dark room, then light a candle. What difference does the light make? Talk about how Jesus’ followers are like salt and light.
Session 8
January 18, 2026
Two Builders
Read page 209 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Matthew 7:24–29. Talk about how knowing Jesus’ teachings can help in difficult times.
Pray a “help my family” prayer this week. Pray for each person who lives in your household.
Gather some stones and sand. Build a structure with blocks on the sand and another on the stones. Wonder together about why the stones might make a stronger foundation for your building than the sand.
Session 9
January 25, 2026
Mustard Seed and Yeast
Read pages 212–215 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Matthew 13:31–35. Bake some bread together this week using yeast and watch it rise.
Pray a “help my family” prayer this week, focusing on your extended family. Choose a different person to pray for every day.
Plant a seed in a pot and watch it grow. Look for signs that the kingdom of God is growing in your church or community.
Session 10
February 1, 2026
Hidden Treasure
Read pages 216–217 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Matthew 13:44–48. What kind of treasure do you think Jesus is talking about?
Pray for someone that you “treasure.” Perhaps it is a grandparent or special friend or teacher. Give thanks and ask God to bless this person with good health and happiness.
Sing or listen to the song, “Seek Ye First” by Karen Lafferty. Create your own story or drawing about what the kingdom of God is like.
Session 11
February 8, 2026
Treasure in Heaven
Read pages 244–245 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Matthew 19:16–30. I wonder why Jesus asked the man to give up everything he owned.
Pray “help others” prayers this week, focusing on the needs of people in your community. Write each name or need on a sticky note and place the notes on your refrigerator as a reminder.
Play a “Would You Rather” game. Ask questions like “Would you rather eat ice cream or play games?” Talk about which choices are easier or harder to make.
Session 12
February 15, 2026
In the Vineyard
Read pages 246–247 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Matthew 20:1–16. Why do you suppose the landowner was so generous? Which workers did not like the landowner’s generosity? Why?
Pray “help others” prayers, focusing on the needs of people around the world that grow and harvest our food. Write the name of each group of people on a sticky note and add it to those on your refrigerator as a reminder.
Make a grapevine using art supplies you have at home. One option is to paint leaves and press the painted side onto paper to make a print. Draw vines from leaf to leaf and paint grape clusters growing from the vines.
Session 13
February 22, 2026
Sheep and Goats
Read pages 248–249 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Matthew 25:31–45. Which act of service would be easiest for you to do?
Pray “help others” prayers, focusing on the needs of people Jesus named in this story—people who are hungry, thirsty, sick, in prison, or a stranger. Ask God to show you ways that you can care for people in need.
Make food to share with a neighbor or donate food to a local food pantry.
Announcements for Spring 2026
These faith-building ideas for families are ready to be shared via email, on a social media platform such as Facebook, or in a weekly bulletin or newsletter. Each week’s suggestions coordinate with the Shine curriculum that children and junior youth use during Christian education time. Announcements for this quarter run from Sunday, March 1 through May 24. Modify the dates as needed to match your church’s schedule. Click for the Word document with the Spring 2026 Shine at Home Announcements.
Session 1
March 1, 2026
Wedding at Cana
Read page 192 in The Peace Table or John 2:1–11. What surprises you about this story?
Pray prayers of praise. Fill up a cup of water for each person in the family. Take a drink of water for each thing you praise God for.
Retell the Bible story without using any words. Use props you have around the house, such as a pitcher of water and glass containers to pour the water into. Add red food coloring to the containers before pouring the water for a fun surprise.
Session 2
March 8, 2026
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
Read page 196 in The Peace Table or John 4:4–42. Jews and Samaritans avoided each other. What can help enemies become friends?
Pray prayers of praise. Pour cups of water into a bucket or large container for each thing you praise God for. Then pour the life-giving water onto indoor or outdoor plants.
Write a list of things you know about Jesus, just like the woman told Jesus things she knew about him.
Session 3
March 15, 2026
Jesus Raises Lazarus
Read page 250 in The Peace Table or John 11:1–44. What can you do for a friend who is feeling sad?
Pray prayers of praise. After each person names something they praise God for, everyone else can respond by clapping and saying, “Praise God!”
Retell the Bible story using people figures, strips of paper or cloth to make roads, and a small box to be a tomb.
Session 4
March 22, 2026
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
Read page 270 in The Peace Table or John 13:1–15. I wonder how I would have responded if Jesus tried to wash my feet.
Pray prayers of lament. These are prayers said during times of trouble or sadness. What makes you feel sad today? Bring those concerns to God.
Follow Jesus’ example by washing each other’s feet or hands!
Session 5
March 29, 2026
Jesus’ Arrest and Death
Read page 277 and page 279 in The Peace Table or John 18:1–19:42. How does this story make you feel? What questions do you have?
Pray prayers of lament. These are prayers said during times of trouble or sadness. Pray for people who are suffering.
Learn about the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus went to pray. Search for videos and information online.
Session 6
April 5, 2026
Jesus Appears to Mary
Read page 282 in The Peace Table or John 20:1–18. I wonder why Mary did not recognize Jesus at first.
Pray a feelings prayer that shows the movement from sadness to joy in this story. Crouch down and name things that bring you pain and sadness. Then rise up and express joy for all that is good in your life.
Draw a resurrection picture. Include symbols of new life, such as butterflies, baby birds, flowers, and budding trees.
Session 7
April 12, 2026
Walking with Jesus
Read page 284 in The Peace Table or Luke 24:13–35. I wonder what prevented the disciples from recognizing Jesus.
Pray a feelings prayer that shows the movement from sadness to joy. Crouch down and name things that bring you pain and sadness. Then rise up and express joy for all that is good in your life.
Eat a snack of unleavened bread such as a flour tortilla or lavash. As you eat, talk about what it would be like to eat a meal with Jesus.
Session 8
April 19, 2026
Breakfast on the Beach
Read page 288 in The Peace Table or John 21:1–14. If you could have breakfast with Jesus, what would you talk about?
Pray prayers of lament. These are prayers said during times of trouble or sadness. Pray for people who are going through a hard time at work, school, or home.
Eat a fish-shaped snack! Use a fish cookie cutter or knife to cut sandwiches into fish shapes. Or count out 153 fish-shaped crackers and divide them among your family members. That’s how many fish the disciples caught!
Session 9
April 26, 2026
Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done
Read page 290 and page 292 in The Peace Table or Acts 1:1–26. I wonder how Jesus’ friends and family shared God’s love.
Pray the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–10) from your preferred translation or from CEB as follows: “Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven.”
Trace your hand onto paper and cut out the handprint. Write or draw ideas for how you could help share God’s love with a friend, family member, or neighbor.
Session 10
May 3, 2026
On Earth as It Is in Heaven
Read page 304 in The Peace Table or Acts 9:36–43. How did Tabitha care for her friends? How do you show love to your friends?
Pray the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–10) from your preferred translation or from NRSVue as follows: “Our Father in heaven, may your name be revered as holy. May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Read The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau or watch it on YouTube.
Session 11
May 10, 2026
Give Us Our Daily Bread
Read page 298 in The Peace Table or Acts 6:1–7. How can churches help people who are hungry?
Pray Matthew 6:11: “Give us the bread we need for today” (CEB) or “Give us today our daily bread” (NRSVue). Say it each time you eat something today.
Retell the story using kitchen utensils and food that can be easily counted and divided fairly among the family members.
Session 12
May 17, 2026
Forgive Us as We Forgive
Read page 324 in The Peace Table or Colossians 3:10–17. Talk about a time you forgave someone or were forgiven.
Pray Matthew 6:12 of the Lord’s Prayer from your preferred translation or from CEB as follows: “Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us.”
Read The Forgiveness Garden by Lauren Thompson or watch it on YouTube.
Session 13
May 24, 2026
Yours Is the Kingdom, Power, and Glory
Read page 303 in The Peace Table or Revelation 1:4–5a; 5:11–13; 7:9–17. I wonder what hard things the people in the crowd had gone through.
Pray the entire Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13), and end with “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Draw large palm branches on green paper. Cut them out and wave them as you say “Praise, glory, honor, and power to Jesus, the Lamb of God!”
