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

Holy Ghost

Most of the ideas here came from this lesson posted on ldsfamilyfun.com visit there for more indepth view.

Family Home Evening Lesson
Feeling the Holy Ghost

Opening Song: "I know my Father Lives" Children's Songbook #5

Opening Prayer: Daddy

Lesson: Mommy

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 130:22
The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us

softly sing

Listen to the Still Small Voice,
Listen, Listen.
When you have to make a choice,
He will guide you, always.

Ask Children if they know what song this is? Who is it about?

The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead, a personage of spirit, knows all things, and is known by many names. The Holy Ghost has a variety of roles including witnessing of the Father and His Son, revealing the truth, cleansing sins, and giving us comfort and peace.


Activity:
Light activity found at Family Home Evening Blog
Inside a room, turn out all the lights. Find a single lamp to turn on and talk about how the light gives off warmth, helps us to see and provides a beacon in the darkness. This is what the Holy Ghost can do for us.

Blanket idea from ldsfamilyfun.com
Visual aid - a favourite Blankie of the children's or family's.
Sometimes children have a favorite blanket that they like to have with them when they are in a strange place, or when they feel scared. Like this special blanket, the Holy Ghost can be a comforter to us so we never need to be alone. (John 14:16)


Closing Song: “The Still Small Voice" Childrens Songbook #106

Closing Prayer: Mommy

Treat:

White foods - Marshmallows, mints, candy wrapped up with a message about the Holy Ghost

Some treats presented in a box - This is a gift.. just as the Holy Ghost is a gift to us.

I Can Learn to Listen and Obey---(reposted from 4/16/2007)

I am sorry that I am reposting an old lesson today, but my daughter really needs this lesson again and since I really need to give this lesson tonight I figured that I would just repost for those who hadn't seen it yet. Thanks-Natalie

Family Home Evening Lesson
I Can Learn to Listen and Obey

Opening Song: “Listen, Listen” (Children’s Song Book # 107)

Opening Prayer: Daddy

Lesson: Mommy

I Can Learn to Listen and Obey

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Story: Use the story of the “2000 Young Warriors” or your gospel art kit picture 313 and read the story on the back.

Activity: Play a game that requires the children to listen and obey directions from the leader like “Simon Says”, or sing “Do as I’m Doing” (Children’s Song Book # 278) or some other following game. Discuss the difference between following these kinds of directions and following the directions of your parents, prophets or leaders.

Closing Song: “Quickly I’ll Obey” (Children’s Song Book # 197)

Closing Prayer: Mommy

Treat: Wacky Cake
Given by: Mom

Sift together in a 9x13 baking pan:
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
4 Tbs. cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Make three holes in the dry ingredient mixture and add:
1st hole- ¾ cup oil
2nd hole- 2 Tbs. vinegar
3rd hole- 2 tsp. vanilla

Pour 2 cups cold water over the whole thing and mix well with a fork until well mixed.

Bake at 350º for 40 minutes.

Showing Love

Family Home Evening Lesson
“Showing Love”

Opening Song: "A Happy Family" (Children's Songbook, 198a) 

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Daddy

With Valentines Day coming this weekend, another lesson on Love couldn't hurt! Most of this lesson comes from the "I Will Love Others" and "I Will Love my Family" lessons in the new "Behold your Little Ones Manual."  It is a GREAT resource!

Display a picture of the good Samaritan. You can use GAPK #218. Open the Bible and tell the children that you are going to share a story Jesus told about loving others. Using simple language, tell the story of the good Samaritan. Below is an example:

• One day there was a man who was lying on the ground (point to the injured man in the picture). He was hurt. Two men walked by. They saw him, but they did not help. A third man came (point to the good Samaritan in the picture). He saw the man lying on the ground, and he helped him. He showed love.

Sing or say the words to “Jesus Said Love Everyone” (Children’s Songbook, 61) and do the actions below. Invite the children to join you.

Jesus said love everyone; (spread arms out wide) 
Treat them kindly too.
When your heart is filled with love, (put hand over heart) 
Others will love you. (hug self) 

Gather each child's favorite stuffed animal, doll or toy.  Ask each child to give their toy a hug and a kiss.  Ask each child to tell the toy that they love it.  Smile at the toy and offer to share a pretend toy with it.  Explain that these are ways that we show love.  Next have children show love to someone in the room.  Explain that it is ok to hug and kiss our family members, but with friends we should just hug (we have issues with kissing friends...).

Print and cut out these family figures and place them in a container. Have child pull one figure out of the container and identify what member of the family the figure is.  Suggest a way they can show love for that family member (by picking up toys, sharing, smiling, and so on). Invite them to pretend to do the action. Repeat this activity with each family figure.

Add new words to the song “Fun to Do” (Children’s Songbook, 253) to teach the children some ways they can show love for their families. For example, say to the children, “Let’s show how we can love Sister.” Sing “Sharing a toy is fun to do” and do simple actions. Other words you can use are, “Picking up toys is fun to do,” “Cleaning the room is fun to do,” “Giving a smile is fun to do,” “Helping my dad is fun to do,” and so on.

Suggested Activity:

Help children make paper hearts.  You can just cut them out of construction paper and help them decorate the hearts. When the hearts are done, read the following examples (or create some of your own), and ask, “Does this show love?” After each example, have the children hold up their paper hearts and say, “Love.”

When you help clean up.
When you say “please” and “thank you.”
When you share your toy.
When you help someone who is hurt.

You can also make extra hearts and throughout the week you can award a child with a heart when you see them showing love. You can tape them on the fridge to display.

Color this picture from lds.org.

You can also make these Valentine Finger Puppets.

Closing Song: "Love One Another" (Children's Songbook, 136)

Closing Prayer: Mommy

Treat: 

Raspberry Hearts from Family Fun

or Conversation Hearts!

Love

Family Home Evening Lesson
“Love”

Opening Song: "Love One Another" (Children's SongBook #136)

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Mommy

With Valentines Day around the corner, now is the perfect time to be talking about Love

Cut out a large red heart and stick to floor. Have each family member stand on heart one at a time. Have the other family members say what they love about the person on the heart.

How can we have better love at home?

Jesus said we must love everyone. How can we love everyone?

In the week leading up to Valentines Day what can we do for others to show that we love them? (Make a list of things you may do as a family to show love to others)

Suggested Activity:
I love these Lollipop heart flowers from FamilyFun.com. You could make a bunch to give to neighbours, friends, family.

Make an extended family Photo Heart Garland at Sycamore Stirrings, to hang around your home

Paper Heart Animals found at The Crafty Crow

Closing Song: " Jesus said Love Everyone" (Children's SongBook # 61)

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat:

Healthy Hearts made from watermelon and oranges
Sweet Heart Rice Krispy Treats

How to Show Reverence

Family Home Evening Lesson
“How to Show Reverence”

Opening Song: “Father, I Will Reverent Be” Children's Songbook #29

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Mommy

How to Show Reverence:

Ask your children what Reverence is. Explain that reverence is being still and quiet to show Heavenly Father that we love him.

Print this picture of body parts. Ask children how we can use each body part to show reverence.
Have children demonstrate. (Example: feet- "do we stomp our feet?"[stomp,stomp] "or do we walk quietly?" [step quietly or tip toe]. mouth- "do we talk loudly?" [use loud voice] "or do we talk quietly?" [whisper]. eyes & ears- "do we look all around the room when we are praying?" [exaggerate looking everywhere] "or do we close our eyes and listen with our ears during prayer?". arms- "do we clap our hands and touch other people with our hands?" [make busy hands] or "do we fold our arms when are walking and sitting?"[fold arms])

Practicing Reverence: Have children line up and practice quietly walking around the house with folded arms. Have them think of ways they can show reverence for the church, such as putting litter in trash (have trash on floor for them to practice), opening and shutting classroom doors quietly, whispering in the chapel when they need to talk, walking (not running). Have them practice sitting down quietly and raising their hands. Also have children practice thinking of Jesus for 30 seconds or longer (depending on age)-- it might help to show them a picture of Him.

Show picture of mouse: I had a small copy that I cut out for each of my kids. [This was my 4 year old's FAVORITE part of the lesson- she carried her mouse all over the place afterward.]
“What If … ?,” by DaLee C. James, Friend, Sep 1996, 22

If a mouse would ride to church
In your pocket on this day,
What might he tell his family
That he heard you do or say?
Would he tell them you were reverent,
And you listened to your teacher?
Or would he say he’d never seen
Such a noisy creature?
Would he tell them how he loved the songs
You sang so sweet and clear?
Or would he groan from all the talking
That entered in his ear?
Could he take a little snooze
As you walked nice and tall?
Or would he scream with panic
As you galloped down the hall?
Would the little mouse get seasick
From the tipping of your chair?
Or would he feel safe and cozy
As you quietly sat there?
Would the chapel be a reverent place?
The sacrament the same?
Now tell me, would the little mouse
Be really glad he came?
If a mouse would ride to church
In your pocket on this day,
What might he tell his family
That he heard you do or say?

We also have the book "I'm Reverent When..." by Amy Mullins. This would be good to read through with the kids for this lesson as well.

Suggested Activity:
Make this EASY mouse Finger puppet. Or print a picture of a mouse for them to put in their pockets (or tape to their dress) for church next Sunday.

Print this picture about reverent hands and have children cut out the pictures and make a little reverence booklet, gluing the pictures onto strips of paper that you staple together.

Make a Reverence Crown. Use this crown in the future by giving it to children who are being especially reverent during family prayer, scripture study or FHE.

Closing Song: “Reverently, Quietly” Children's Songbook #26

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat:
Strawberry Mice

1. Take large strawberries and cut them in half. Put it on the plate the flat side down.

2. Take mini chocolate chip for little eyes and nose and glue it to the strawberry using a little bit of icing.

3. For ears you can use slivered almonds.

4. Red licorice lace works perfect for the tail.