Learn about this week's theme and hear the story from Mark 2:1-12. It's about friends bringing their friend on a mat to Jesus for healing, and it involves climbing a house and some rooftop bravery!
Cynthia introduces this week's worship set, complete with dance moves! We have all the songs for the week on our Worship Summit page. Click below to head on over and worship!
Kristi is a good friend of Pastor Lindsay! She lives in Pasadena now, but they met when they were both living in Thailand a long time ago. She has come to FBCP many times! Kristi loves movement and is here to help you be brave as you try some yoga moves. Have fun!
Make pipe cleaner people to help understand the emotions of the characters in any story and in the story of the two brothers. 🎒Some supplies for this activity are in your Camper Kit.
Use these paper roll people you design to make up little stories! These stories are different to the usual kind, because the characters have feelings just like in real life. Learn to understand and "see" how other people feel! 🎒Some supplies for this activity are in your Camper Kit.
Callie shows you how to write a note to spread some love and let others know you see them and care about them! 🎒Some supplies for this activity are in your Camper Kit.
We have more to show you! Think about someone you know who might need a spark of happiness in their lives because they are going through a hard time. Snail mail a hug to a neighbor, distant family member, or a friend from school. 🎒Some supplies for this activity are in your Camper Kit.
Materials:
Paper
Scissors
Crayons/Markers/etc.
String
Tape
Envelope (the one in your Camper Kit!)
Directions: Trace your right hand on a piece of paper, then trace your left hand on a piece of paper. Decorate your traced hands with coloring utensils. Cut out each hand. Cut a piece of string/yarn as long as you want the “hug” to be. Tape one end of the string/yarn to one hand cut-out. Repeat for the other. Write a small card telling the recipient they are receiving a “Kindness Hug.”
Make a heart envelope to send your letter or kindness in.
Supplies: large construction paper, scissors
Cut a heart shape out of paper. Fold the sides of the heart inwards. Now fold over the top of the heart to make the bottom of the envelope. The point at the bottom of the heart shape now becomes the top part of the envelope.
In our gathering today, we talked about different ways that people can be brave. In our story today, we heard about some brave people who helped a friend in need.
How might you be brave and compassionate in your community? Make up a story about your brave compassion. You can write your story down, write a play to perform, or draw your story like a comic strip. You could use a website to create a comic strip (like this one) or draw one on paper. 🎒Some supplies for this activity are in your Camper Kit.
Maybe you stand up for a friend who is being bullied.
Maybe you step back so someone smaller than you can have a turn.
Maybe you go without something you want so someone else can get something they need.
Imagine a story where your compassion makes you brave like the people in the Bible story!
Remember: stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Something difficult happens, and then people find a way to overcome the difficulty. That’s the most important part of making up a story. You can do it!
Gathering at a table for a meal is an important way we show up and can be brave as we share and listen to each other talk about our day and what is important to us. Create a centerpiece, a table decoration, for your next meal together that can stay there as a reminder of how God draws everyone together at the table.
Suggested Supplies:
A container like a mug or vase
Pipe cleaners, straws, construction paper, tissue paper
Bits of nature like sticks, flowers, leaves, rocks, dandelions
Candles
Before you begin, think about what kind of centerpiece you want to make. What kind of container do you want to use? What do you want to display in that container? Will you find things in your yard or home? Will you use craft materials to make things like flowers or little paper banners to go into the container?
Go collect your items and get creative putting together your family’s table centerpiece!
Play these with your family at dinner this week.
10 Things I Love About…
Take turns choosing a topic. Then go around the table and everyone names something they love about that topic. Examples include seasons, holidays, person, place, etc. As a family, try to come up with 10 things you love about whatever the topic is.
ABC’s of Gratitude
This is a fun game to start and continue throughout the week. Each family member shares what they are grateful for but in alphabetical order. For example, the first person might be thankful for apples, then the next person may be thankful for books, and so on until you go from A to Z.
More At-The-Table Resources
Parents, you might enjoy taking a look at The Family Dinner Project for more creative ideas about how to bring fun and meaningful conversation to the dinner table.
Gather around your table and enjoy these biscuits with your family, and save some to deliver to someone else as a way to share some love and compassion!
2 cups (240 gr) all-purpose flour
1 TBSP baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp kosher salt
6 TBSP (85 gr) cold unsalted butter (cut into small pieces) or lard/shortening/vegan substitute
1 cup (237 ml) buttermilk (see note for substitutions and nondairy option)
PREP: Preheat your oven to 450 F (230 C) and measure out all of your ingredients.
MIX DRY INGREDIENTS: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
CUT IN FAT: Add the cold butter pieces (or cold lard or shortening) into the dry ingredients and cut it into the flour, using a pastry cutter or a fork, until it resembles coarse meal.
MIX IN WET INGREDIENTS: Add the cold buttermilk into the bowl and stir with a spoon or a rubber spatula JUST until combined. This should only take a few turns. The dough will be pretty wet and sticky.
FOLD THE DOUGH: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter. With floured hands gently pat out (do not roll with a rolling pin) the dough out until it's about 1" thick. Fold the dough in half and turn it 90 degrees. Pat it out again and fold it again. Do this about 6 times. This process is creating layers which will create flaky biscuits (you can watch the video to see this process).
CUT OUT BISCUITS: Press the dough out to about 1" thick and use a round cutter to cut into rounds about 2 1/2" wide. Gently pat the scraps together to cut out the rest of your biscuits.
BAKE: Place the biscuits in a pan with high sides (or you can use a parchment lined baking sheet). Bake at 450 F (230 C) for 13-15 minutes until golden brown. Do not open the oven door for AT LEAST the first half of baking time. You want the steam to stay trapped in the oven to help with the rise.
SERVE: Brush biscuits with melted butter if desired.
STORE: Biscuits are best eaten fresh, but they can also be stored after completely cooled at room temperature and wrapped well. Alternatively, you can freeze the biscuits and refresh in a 325 F (162 C) oven until warmed through.
A note on buttermilk substitute: Buttermilk is acidic which adds a slightly tangy taste to these biscuits and also tenderizes and activates the baking soda, helping the biscuits to rise. If you do not have buttermilk on hand you can make a substitute using one of the options below.
Sour Cream or Plain Yogurt: Combine 3/4 cup sour cream or plain yogurt with 1/4 cup water and use in place of the buttermilk. This is the best option for buttermilk substitute.
Milk: Combine 1 TBSP lemon juice or white vinegar with enough milk to equal 1 cup. Let stand for 5 minutes before using. The higher the milk fat the better the substitute will be. 1% or skim milk is not ideal.
Vegan Buttermilk Recipe:
Pour 1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar into a measuring cup.
Fill the measuring cup with a safe-for-you non-dairy milk (soy milk, coconut milk) until you reach 1 cup.
Let sit for 10 minutes or until it curdles.
Use as a 1:1 replacement for buttermilk in your recipes.
In your Camper Kit, you will find five Daily Examen cards. Each card offers an opportunity to talk together about the day’s experiences and lessons. It helps us ask each other questions and remember to be thankful for the day. Have this Examen card with you when you’re sitting at the table for a meal or at bedtime. Take a few minutes to pause and share about your day. Begin by saying the opening line and the prayer. Then use the questions as a guide to reflect on the day. You can ask each other one question or all the questions. Taking time to remember what you felt and learned during the day helps deepen our compassion.
Happy Campers!