Sharing the Faith:  Roots and Wings

      School will soon be out, Dad’s day is coming, and summer vacations are on the horizon.  Lay a strong foundation for the summer by continuing to let your faith in Christ guide your conversations, thoughts and deeds:

• June 14 is Flag Day.  Take a walk around your community and count the number of flags.  Talk about what the flag symbolizes and why it is important to our country.  What are some symbols of our faith in Christ that are important to us?  Think about the importance and meaning of such symbols as candles, shells, salt, bread, wine, water, dove, flames, boats, lambs, grapes, wind, and butterflies.  What other symbols can you think of?

• Plan a “guy’s day” for Dad, doing activities that Dad especially enjoys.  Go fishing or on a hike, enjoy a day of golf or a bike ride, go to a ball game or Dad’s favorite restaurant.  Take a trip to a train museum, the airport to watch planes land and take off, or go to a movie of his choice.

• Celebrate the longest day of the year (June 21^st – the First Day of Summer) with a picnic.  Lie in the grass and watch the clouds.  What kind of animals and shapes can you find?  Play croquet.  Roast hotdogs or mountain pies over a campfire; cook up some smores!  Stay out until sunset and enjoy some stargazing.  Which constellations can you see?  Read Psalm 8 or Psalm 104; consider the magnitude of God’s creation and how precious humans are even though we are so small compared to the vastness of the universe.  Consider how God has created you special and unique.

• Remember to celebrate the anniversary of your child’s baptism.  Consider a small gift, such as a book (go to www.VaSynodRoots.org for some recommendations), lighting the child’s baptismal candle and singing a favorite song.  Some choices might be ‘Borning Cry’; Cradling Children in His Arm’; ‘On Eagles’ Wings’, or ‘You are Mine’(all are in the ELW).  Look at pictures from the baptism and share how you felt on that day and why it is so important.  Mark the cross of Christ on your child every day to remind them that they belong to God and God will always be with them.

• Consider a new table grace for the new season.  Here are some suggestions:

 For food in a world where many walk in hunger,
For friends in a world where many walk alone,
For faith in a world where many walk in fear,
We give you thanks, O Lord.  Amen.

- or -

God, we thank you for this food,
For rest and home and all things good.
For wind and rain and sun above,
But most of all for those we love.  Amen.

         - or -

                We thank thee, God, for milk and bread
                And all our daily food;
                These gifts remind us day by day,
                Our Father, thou art good.

 ·         Share your summer with an elderly person, someone who is shut-in or visit someone at a nursing home.  Bring a deck of cards, a puzzle, or a coloring book to enjoy with them.  Read them a story, or let them tell you stories of the ‘good ol’ days’.  Play checkers, sings a song together, or go for a leisurely walk with them!

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