Creation Care - Holy at Home - Summer 2023

CREATION

CREATION CARE MINISTRIES HOLYATHOME

FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP

Prayer begins at home

It might seem like a thing of a bygone era in our time of constant busyness, but we make it a point as a family to eat as many meals during the day together -- at the very least we do dinner as a family During dinner, our (now) five year old will say her favorite version of grace before we eat.

Her current favorite is:

God is great

God is good

Let us thank Him for our food

By His hand we all are blessed

Thank you Lord for daily bread

Grace before meals is one of the easiest ways to start a cycle of prayer with your family

When the girls were super little, my husband would sing them compline as they were going to sleep, and occasionally they still request it -- even though they're big ol' toddlers now

We've also found a number of books of prayers targeted at toddlers and preschoolers that they've enjoyed I've added a few to the next page if you ' re looking for a place to start

Why is starting prayer young so important?

Just as we hope that our kids will be successful academically(Who doesn't sing the ABCs to their toddlers?) we want to make sure they are spiritually minded as well This means creating a culture of prayer as a family We thank God for our blessings We pray for one another We rest in our prayers as we talk to the Lord about our problems. We want our children to grow up knowing they can tell God anything, they can always have a lifeline to Jesus, and no matter what they are loved

How to start a culture of prayer in your home

Prayer with your children

Whether before meals or before bed, or just in the car, pray with and for your children so they get used to the language of prayer Encourage them to add their own prayers, as well

Read the Bible with your children

Get them used to hearing the Bible and the stories. Talk to them about what things mean Invest in a children's devotional and a children's Bible so they may be able to learn to read from it

Create a rhythm of Prayer

Make it a habit to pray together at meals and at bedtime Let the children choose how and what to pray and choose books that encourage them to explore prayer.

BOOKS ABOUT PRAYER FOR LITTLE EARS

CREATION

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the

And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth ” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind And God saw that it was good And there was evening and there was morning, the third day

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth ” And it was so And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night— and the stars And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness And God saw that it was good And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens ” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind And God saw that it was good And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth ” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds— livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

CREATION

Let's Talk About It

Why did the people not believe the disciples? What did Peter do in response?

What do you think people were hearing, seeing, smelling during this?

Who is the Holy Spirit?

Where do you see the Holy Spirit acting here?

How do you think you would have reacted to the sound of a rushing wind and the tongues of fire?

What did the Holy Spirit do?

What would you pray that the Holy Spirit give you the courage to do?

How does God's Spirit work within us today?

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

g g g trees, no animals, and no land. But then, God spoke and said, "Let there be light!" And just like that, a bright light appeared. God saw that the light was good, so he separated it from the darkness, and he called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day of creation!

On the second day, God made the sky, which was a beautiful shade of blue. He separated the waters above from the waters below, and he created clouds to float in the sky. This made the world a very colorful and lovely place.

On the third day, God made the land and the seas. He formed mountains and valleys, and

the oceans and rivers flowed around them. He also created all the plants and trees. They were all different shapes, sizes, and colors, and they covered the land in a beautiful green blanket. On the fourth day, God created the sun, moon, and stars. The sun was so bright that it made the daytime warm and bright. The moon was silver and shone at night, and the stars were little twinkling lights that filled the sky. God made them all to light up the world and help everything grow.

On the fifth day, God created all the creatures that live in the water and the sky. He made fish, dolphins, whales, and all sorts of sea creatures. He also made birds of every kind, who could fly high in the sky.

On the sixth day, God created all the land animals. He made the furry bears, the mighty lions, and the enormous elephants. He also created humans, who were different from all the other animals. Humans were created to love and care for the world and all its creatures.

On the seventh day, God rested. He looked at everything he had made and saw that it was all very good. So he blessed the seventh day and made it a special day of rest

And that's how God created the world He spoke everything into existence, and it was all filled with beauty and wonder

ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING

All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voices let us sing: Alleluia, alleluia! Bright burning sun wiht golden beams, pales silver moon that gently gleams,

Refrain

O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Great rushing wings and breezes soft, you clouds that ride the heavens aloft. O praise him, Alleluia! Fair rising mourn, with praise rejoice, stars nightly shining, find a voice

Refrain

Great swift flowing water, pure and clear, make music for your Lord to hear Alleluia, alleluia! Fire so intense and fiercely bright, you give to us both warmth and light

Refrain

Dear Mother Earth, you day by day, unfold your blessings on our way O praise him, Alleluia! All flowers and fruits that in you grow, let them his glory also show:

Refrain

All you with mercy in your heart, forgiving others like your part O sing now; Alleluia! All you that pain and sorrow bear, praise God, and cast on him your care:

Refrain

And even you, most gentle death, waiting to hush our final breath, O praise him, Alleluia! You lead back home the child of God, for Chris our Lord that way has trod:

Refrain

Let all things theri creator bless, and worship him to humbleness, O praise him, Alleluia! Praise God the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, Three in One:

Refrain

SoundTrack

White Water - Dustin Tebbutt

Land of the Living - Roo Panes

The Mountain Song - Tophouse

Changes - Langhorne Slim

Lost - Jack and White

The Open Road - Hollow Coves

imagination - Citizens

Canyon - Ellie Holcomb

CREATION CARE ACTIVITIES

Egg Carton Bird Seed

Have extra egg cartons laying around? Let's recycle them to feed the birds

Decorate your egg carton with paint or markers and ask a grown up to put holes into the middle parts of the carton to hang Double knot to make sure they stay and fill with your choice of bird seed

Note some birds like different seeds - try picking ones for migratory birds this time of year:

Nature Imprints

Ingredients:

2 cups of flour

1 cup salt

1 cup water Mix together until it resembles playdoh

Head outside to gather

some fun nature pieces to imprint -- acorns, leaves, sticks -- and imprint or roll on to make different designs

Bake at 250F for about a half hour to set -times may vary, but should be dried and hard when finished

Dandy-lion

Grab a piece of card board to start making your favorite animal We love the idea of making a dandelion lion, but any animal will work

Once you have the animal drawn onto the cardboard, put small holes around where you'd like the flowers to go Head outside to pick some wildflowers to adorn your new creation Other ideas: butterflies, flower vases, dinosaurs -- sky's the limit

SEED BOMBS

From: HowWePlayAndLearn com

Ingredients:

Colored paper -- blue, white, and green

Packets of widlflower seeds (try to get native seeds if possible)

Water Bowls Blender

Tear up the pieces of paper and put them in 3 different bowls according to color. Cover with water and leave to soak for about a half hour.

Ask a grown up to help you with the blender. Put the pieces of soaked paper in the blender until it is wet pulp. Return to its bowl

Grab your wildflower seeds and combine with the blue paper pulp. Mix in.

To form the seed bombs, take a bit of blue and wildflower mixture, add some green and white to make small earths. The balls should be about the size of a large marble.

Plant about 1 inch deep in a sunny spot and watch them grow.

GET OUTSIDE BINGO

Q.

QWhat do we learn about God as creator from the revelation to Israel?

God the Father

What does this mean about our place in the universe?

We learn that there is one God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen

Q

What does this mean?

This means that the universe is good, that it is the work of a single loving God who creates, sustains, and directs it

It means that the world belongs to its creator; and that we are called to enjoy it and to care for it in accordance with God's purposes

What does this mean about human life?

How was this revelation handed down to us?

It means that all people are worthy of respect and honor, because all are created in the image of God, and all can respond to the love of God

This revelation was handed down to us through a community created by a covenant with God

RAINBOW POPSICLES

Ingredients:

10 strawberry halves

2 kiwis

1 cup mango and/or pineapple

1 cup blueberries

Set up the popsicle mold

Blend strawberries first Carefully spoon some in each popsicle mold and leave a little for more blending. Wash out blender.

Blend mango and/or pineapple and spoon mango into molds about an inch

Blend kiwis and spoon kiwi into molds about an inch Blend blueberries and spoon blueberry molds about an inch.

6 7 8.

Blend strawberries or another fruit to fill mold to top if needed

Cover molds and add sticks

Freeze at least 6 hours or overnight

Note: If you want clearly defined lines, you can freeze between each fruit batch - but make sure to put sticks in with first fruit.