LifelongFaith Associates
The Families at the Center of Faith Formation website is designed as a demonstration of an online platform for congregational family faith formation - focused on families with children. It is designed as a network of faith formation with a diversity of ​content (programs, activities, and resources), a variety of media (print, audio, video, apps, and more), and multiple environments for engagement (independent, mentored, family, small group, large group, church-wide, community-wide).

This website is developed around the eight strategies for family faith formation from the Families at the Center of Faith Formation book from LifelongFaith Associates: 1) Discovering God in Everyday Life, 2) Forming Faith at Home through the Life Cycle, 3) Forming Faith through Milestones, 4) Celebrating Seasonal Events through the Year, 5) Encountering God in the Bible through the Year, 
​6) Connecting Families Intergenerationally, 7) Developing a Strong Family Life, and 8) Empowering Parents and Grandparents. 

Family Life

Each month we will explore, experience, and practice an important family asset that can enrich your family relationships and build a stronger family. 
  1. January: The Family Meal
  2. February: Forgiveness 
  3. March: Managing Household Life 
  4. April: Celebrating Rituals and Milestones

Join us for our MONTHLY FAMILY GATHERINGS on the first Sunday of each month after Sunday worship. This will be a time to explore and experience the monthly theme and learn how to practice it at home. 

Use the resource that accompanies each month's theme for PRACTICE @HOME. Each resource includes stories, Biblical reflections, and family activities. 

Parents

"Just for Parents" offers a variety of ways for you to enhance and enrich your knowledge and skills for parenting children and teens. All of these programs, activities, and resources are developed around research-tested ways to help your children and teens grow in healthy and positive ways by 1) expressing care, 2) challenging them to growth, 3) providing them with support, 4) involving them in decision-making, and 5) expanding their possibilities for the future. 
  1. Participate in the "First Wednesdays" Webinar Series - without leaving your home!
  2. Use a variety of activities to build positive relationships at home. 
  3. Learn more about your children and teenager. 
  4. Participate in a Small Group Study with the best selling book The Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler
  5. Watch the the video: "Parenting for the Long Haul" and download the "9 Parenting Strategies" guide. 
  6. Strengthen family relationships with stories.
  7. ​Discover parenting resources. 

God in Daily Life 

​How can we discover God and the sacred in the rhythms and practices of everyday life? God is truly present to us each day, and this presence is discovered in the fabric of our lives - our experiences, our relationships, and more. We are all spiritual beings. We can discover the spiritual in our everyday lives, and recognize, understand, and respond to God’s presence in each day. Here are four daily practices to help you discover God:
  1. Finding God in your day through the daily Examen.
  2. Helping children find God through bedtime reflection. 
  3. Discovering the sacred each day through the FAITH5. 
  4. Finding God through photos. 

Faith @ Home 

Faith @ Home provides a variety of activities to help your family grow in faith at home - all of which can be easily integrated into family life. You pick the time 
​
Reading the Bible
  • A 12-week Summer Bible Reading Plan for Children
  • An Old Testament Bible heroes 5-minute devotional
Learning the Christian Tradition
  • Ten Commandments Magnet
  • Church Scavenger Hunt
  • I L-O-V-E G-O-D
  • Stand Up for Others
Praying
  • Meal Prayers for All Occasions 
​Serving Others
  • Assemble Promise Kits for Refugees ​
  • Participate in a "Serve the Community" Day
  • Collect Food for the Hungry

Milestones

Celebrate meaningful, memorial moments in your family's life with these ritual celebrations of milestones. 
  1. Baptism Anniversary
  2. Starting School
  3. Getting Ready to Worship
  4. Birthday Celebrations

Seasons

The seasons of the year offers a variety of opportunities for families to celebrate, learn, and have fun together. We have selected one family activity for each month of the year, reflecting the calendar seasons and the church year seasons. 
  1. January: Martin Luther King Jr.
  2. February: Ash Wednesday
  3. March: The Real St. Patrick
  4. April: Easter and New Life
  5. May: Mother's Day
  6. June: Vacation Travel 
  7. July: Independence Day
  8. August: Back to School 
  9. ​September: Fall Harvest 
  10. October: A Helping Halloween
  11. November: Thanksgiving
  12. December: Christmas is Coming!

Bible & Worship

Bring the message and experience of Sunday worship into your home. Try one or more of the following activities to learn more about the Sunday Scripture readings and to find ways to apply God's message to your lives.
  1. Review this Sunday's Worship service.  
  2. Watch a video reflection on the Sunday reading in story and music. 
  3. Use "Taking Faith Home" for your daily devotion, Bible reading, and family conversation.
  4. Use "Sunday Connection" to connect Sunday worship with daily life, and engage children in creative activities. 
  5. Read the daily Scripture readings & watch a video reflection

Faith @ Church

Participate with all generations in the events and experiences of the faith community and connect your experiences at church with your faith at  home.
  1. Worshipping Together on Sunday
  2. Celebrating the Church Year Feasts & Seasons
  3. Engaging in Service to the Community & World
  4. Gathering for Social Events 
  5. Celebrating Rituals & Sacraments
  6. Gathering with All Ages for Learning