Service

FYI: The Church has come out with a new Gospel Art Book which sells for only $3.50 in comparison to the Gospel Art Picture Kit that is $30.  You can pick one up at a distribution center or order online.  It would be a great resource for your Family Home Evenings!

Family Home Evening Lesson
“Service”

Opening Song: "Give, Said the Little Stream" (Children's Songbook, 236) 

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Mommy

As you begin the lesson, “accidentally” spill some crayons, papers, or other materials onto the floor. Wait a moment before picking the items up to give the children a chance to help you. (If no children volunteer, ask the children to help.)

Thank the children for helping you and compliment them for taking an opportunity to serve. Explain that when we help others without asking for something in return, it is called service. Have the children repeat the word service with you.

Talk about ways that we serve every day (cooking food for others, helping to do chores, giving cookies to someone in need).  Point out specific ways that your children have served that day (helping to empty the dishwasher, getting a clean diaper for a baby sibling, throwing something away for you, etc).  You can also ask them to come up with ways that they have served or service they have seen Mommy or Daddy do, if they are old enough.

Show picture of Jesus Washing the Apostles' Feet (GAPK 226).  Point out that Jesus is serving the apostles by washing their dirty feet.  Even Jesus served.  He was a good example of service and He wants us to serve others.  Jesus gave Himself by serving others. He didn’t give gifts that cost money. He blessed the sick to get well, the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the sad to feel happy.

Suggested Activity:

Have children color a picture or card to send to a grandparent or someone who is sick or in need.  Explain that it is a service to send something nice to someone. 

Go on a walk in your neighborhood with a couple of trashbags and clean up the trash.  Explain that you are serving the earth by keeping it clean and you are serving those around you by making their surroundings beautiful.

For older children: Make three small paper hearts for each child. Tell the children that you want to start a “Service in Secret Club.” Encourage the children do secret acts of service for their family members, leaving a heart in each place they did an act of service. For example, they could make a brother or sister’s bed and leave a heart on the pillow. 

Closing Song: "I Feel my Savior's Love" (verse 4) (Children's Songbook, 74)

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat: Make cookies or a favorite treat (rice krispy treats are quick and easy) together and deliver one plate to the neighbors. You can ding dong ditch and show the kids how fun it is to do a secret service! 

Resurrection Eggs

Easter

Opening Song: Did Jesus Really live again? Children's Songbook #64

Opening Prayer: Mommy

Lesson: Daddy

Each year my girls love to do resurrection eggs some time during easter. The FHE leading up to Easter is a good time to get them to start thinking about the real meaning of Easter.

This year I bought a proper set of eggs from our local christian bookstore (No LDS bookstores in Australia :( but in previous years I have always made my own from things around the house to be put into plastic eggs


Here is an example of things you can put in the 12 eggs. You could make as little or as few eggs as you desire. This list comes from Rainbow Castle.org

Allow children to choose eggs one at a time to open. Talk about what is inside. The Empty egg should be kept for last.

1. (Bread) Matthew 26:26
While they were eating Jesus took a piece of bread,
gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples.
"Take and eat it," He said, "This is My body."

2. (Coins) Matthew 26: 14-15
Then one of the twelve disciples, named Judas Iscariot, went to
the chief priests and asked, "What will you give me if I betray
Jesus to you?" They counted out thirty silver coins and gave
them to him.

3. (Purple cloth, representing a purple robe) Mark 15:17
They put a purple robe on Jesus. . .

4. (Thorns) Matthew 27:29
Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on
His head, and put a stick on His right hand; then they knelt
before Him and made fun of Him. "Long live the King, of the
Jews!" they said.

5. (Scourge-a small piece of rope or thick string) Mark 15:15
Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for
them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed Him over to be
crucified.

6. (Cross) John 19: 17-18a
He went out, carrying His cross, and came to "The Place of the
Skull," as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called "Galgotha.") There
they crucified Him.

7. (Nails) John 20:25b
Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the scars of the nails in His
hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in His
side, I will not believe."

8. (Sign) Luke 23:38
Above Him were written these words: THIS IS THE KING OF
THE JEWS.

9. (Sponge) Matthew 27:48
One of them ran up at once, took a sponge, soaked it in cheap
wine, put it on the end of a stick, and tried to make Him drink it.

10. (Spear) John 19:34
One of the soldiers plunged his spear into Jesus' side, and at
once blood and water poured out.

11. (Rock) Matthew 27:59-60
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a new linen sheet, and
placed it in his own new tomb, which he had just recently dug
out of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the
entrance to the tomb and went away.

12. (Empty) Matthew 28:6
He is not here He has risen just as He said.


Other links to resurrection egg ideas online with different ideas of what to put in the eggs
Easy Fun School

Resurrection eggs scavenger hunt

Closing Song: "He died that we might live again Children's Songbook #65

Closing Prayer: Child

Treat Ideas:
Easter Basket Cupcakes

Chocolate Easter Nests