Finding Joy

Monday Evening - December 15, 2025

Dan takes a tumble while walking downtown. But with the help of some kind neighbors, it turns into an opportunity for joy.

Discussion Question(s)

• Who are the people in your life who bring you joy?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for the people who bring us joy. We thank you for the people who know just how to make us feel special and loved. Give us a good night’s sleep tonight so we can wake up rested and refr...

Duration: 00:04:53

Intro to Joy

Monday Morning - December 15, 2025

The theme for the third week of Advent is joy. We begin by exploring how even mistakes can turn into sources of joy.

Discussion Question(s)

• Do you have any holiday traditions, favorite recipes, or special activities?

• What’s a story from your family when things went wrong but now you laugh about it?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for stories that make us laugh. Laughing is a great way to experience joy, and laughing together as a fami...

Duration: 00:05:42

Letting the Icing Dry

Friday Evening, December 12, 2025

Letting the icing dry on a gingerbread house helps lock it in, Similarly, we reflect on our week to help lock in all the good stuff from the week.

Discussion Question(s)

• What was something good that happened to you this week and why was it good?

• What was something good that you helped to make happen for someone else and why was that good?

• What’s one word that describes this week, and what’s one word you hope describes...

Duration: 00:05:20

Gingerbread House Day

Friday Morning, December 12, 2025

Today we celebrate Gingerbread House Day! We learn that when we work together, our impact can be bigger.

Discussion Question(s)

• What’s something good that you’d love to see happen, not just in your family, but in your community?

Listener Mail

• Hazel - Lake Mary, Florida

• Ben - Orlando, Florida

• Kaylor - Chesterfield, Virginia

• William - Orlando, Florida

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for this week. We thank you that peace...

Duration: 00:07:39

You Are Grace Harbor

Thursday Evening, December 11, 2025

Lighthouses help ships by showing them the way around danger and to safety. We have the opportunity to be lighthouses and safe harbors for the people in our lives.

Discussion Question(s)

• Who could we be a safe harbor for?

• Do you know of any friends or neighbors or people in your community that would be encouraged knowing that you’re there for them?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for this day and for all of your blessi...

Duration: 00:05:21

Becoming a Harbor for Others

Thursday Morning, December 11, 2025

Grace Harbor got its start as a Trading Post set up by a sailor named John and his wife, Grace. Their welcome and care for the ships and crews passing through defined this as a place of refuge and safety.

Discussion Question(s)

• What could your family do to be more like a harbor for each other?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for this day, and we thank you for our family. We thank you for the ways we...

Duration: 00:04:53

We All Need Harbors

Wednesday Evening, December 10, 2025

Even the strongest ships need the safety of a harbor at times. It is not a sign that the boat is weak but that the captain is wise.

Discussion Question(s)

• What are some times when we might need our safe places?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for this wonderful day and for all of your blessings. We thank you that no matter what’s going on in our life, you love us and are always watching over us. We p...

Duration: 00:05:11

What Is a Harbor?

Wednesday Morning, December 10, 2025

We learn that a harbor is any place that keeps us safe when life gets stormy. We also begin to learn a little bot about the history of Grace Harbor.

Discussion Question(s)

• What are your safe places?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for this new day, and we thank you for all of the harbors in our lives. We thank you that there are people and places that make us feel safe and loved. When life starts to ge...

Duration: 00:05:20

Dear God, Thank You

Tuesday Evening, December 9, 2025

Dan celebrated Gratituesday by going to the coffee shop on Main Street and thanking Bobby the Barista for being such a good friend. We also introduce a practice known as “breath prayers.”

Discussion Question(s)

• Who would you like to recognize for Gratituesday and how can you show them your gratitude?

Prayer

Today’s prayer is a “breath prayer,” where you pray a word or phrase as you inhale and another word or phrase as you exhale.

Inhale: Dear God

...

Duration: 00:04:54

Gratituesday

Tuesday Morning, December 9, 2025

Today, we celebrate National Christmas Card Day. We also introduce a special holiday Dan’s family celebrates every week called Gratituesday!

Discussion Question(s)

• If you could send a Christmas card to anyone, who would it be?

Prayer

Dear God, we want to say ‘Happy Gratituesday’ to you first. All of the good things in our lives are gifts from you. As we share our gratitude with others, may it be a way of showing your love to others as well. Amen.

Episod...

Duration: 00:06:01

The Peace of Advent

Monday Evening, December 8, 2025

Jesus is sometimes called the Prince of Peace. It means he uses all his power to help create peace - to make good things happen and help fix what's broken.

Discussion Question(s)

• Is there something happening right now where you think, 'this situation could really use some peace - some good things to happen'?

Prayer

Dear, God. We thank you for this day and for all of your blessings. We thank you for the ways we were able to he...

Duration: 00:05:02

Joy and Happiness

Tuesday Morning - December 16, 2025

Happiness and joy can be similar, but they are not the same thing. Joy is deeper and can keep going even when we aren’t feeling happy.

Discussion Question(s)

• If you had dinner with the people you love the most, who would be there and how would it make you feel?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for both happiness and joy. We thank for things like our favorite foods that can provide little bursts of joy. And we thank...

Duration: 00:05:24

Intro to Peace

Monday Morning, December 8, 2025

The theme for the second week of Advent is peace. Peace in the Bible means whole and complete, everything in its right place, and everything working together for good.

Discussion Question(s)

• What do you think peace means?

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for this new week and for showing us what real peace looks like. Help us to be peace-bringers today - through our kind words, our helping hands, and our loving hearts. Amen.

Episode Music: Canoe Journey by...

Duration: 00:05:32

Choosing Rest

Friday Evening, December 5, 2025

It is important to take time to reflect on our week. It reminds us what we did, what was important to us, and how God was with us through it all.

Discussion Question(s)

What was one of your favorite things that happened this week, and why was it meaningful to you?What was something about this week that wasn’t so fun, and how did it make you feel?As we shared our gratitude, intentions, and prayers together this week, was there anything you or someone el...

Duration: 00:07:30

Listener Mail

Friday Morning, December 5, 2025

Dan shares listener mail! We also introduce the concept of sabbath, which is taking intentional time to rest and recharge. We can achieve this through both being calm and being active.

Discussion Question(s)

What is one calm thing that helps you feel rested?What is one active thing that helps you feel energized?

Listener Mail

Aiden - Sanford, FloridaEric - Chesterfield, VirginiaConnor - Sanford, Florida

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you that you care for us. We thank you...

Duration: 00:05:36

Thank You for Slow Days

Thursday Evening, December 4, 2025

We learn the importance of slow days, especially when we are tired and need to recover. Having a day with nothing on the calendar gives us space to rest and reflect on how God is present and active in our lives.

Discussion Question(s)

Tonight’s episode features a quiet reflection on our day.

Prayer

Thank you, God, for this day - whether it was a good one or a bad one, a jam-packed day or a slow day. Thank yo...

Duration: 00:04:35

Hope Begins

Thursday Morning, December 4, 2025

Each week of Advent has a theme, and this week’s theme is hope. Dan defines hope as “looking forward to something good that hasn’t happened yet.”

Discussion Question(s)

What’s something you’re hoping for, and why would it be good if it happened?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you that we can get as excited as we want about your love for us. And while we are waiting for the big celebration on Christmas, we know you already love us every day...

Duration: 00:04:35

Christmas Tree Lighting

Wednesday Evening, December 3, 2025

Tonight’s episode comes to you from the Christmas Tree Lighting and block party at the Village Green! We learn that while it is important to thank God for all of the good things in our lives, we can take gratitude to the next level when we share our gratitude with others.

Discussion Question(s)

What is one thing from your day today that you are grateful for?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for this day and for all of your bl...

Duration: 00:04:25

Gratitude Is…

Wednesday Morning, December 3, 2025

Starting our day with gratitude is a way of turning our hearts on in the morning. It focuses us on God’s blessings in our lives. Dan also makes final preparations for the big Christmas block party tonight!

Discussion Question(s)

What are you grateful for today?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you that we have things to be grateful for! We know that you love us, and one of the ways we can feel that love is by recognizing the things in our...

Duration: 00:05:21

Guiding Words

Tuesday Evening, December 2, 2025

When we set our intentions for the day, it shapes our focus. It helps us both be proactive in our approach to the day, but it can also help us respond when things don’t go the way we are planning.

Discussion Question(s)

Was the word you picked this morning a good fit for today?If not, what word would describe your day?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for this day and for all of your blessings. As we spend the ne...

Duration: 00:04:02

What is Advent?

Tuesday Morning, December 2, 2025

This morning, we introduce the season of Advent. We learn that it is important to prepare our hearts for Christmas so that we can get the most out of it. Dan begins preparations for the big Christmas Tree Lighting and block party on Wednesday.

Today’s Discussion Question(s)

What is one word you hope describes your day today?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for all of the exciting things that are coming today and tomorrow and over the next couple we...

Duration: 00:05:38

What Matters to You

Monday Evening, December 1, 2025

Sometimes the things we are looking forward to happen and sometimes they don’t. But even if they don’t happen, setting our intentions is still valuable. If nothing else, they help us learn more about ourselves and what’s important to us.

Today’s Discussion Question(s)

What was the thing you were most looking forward to today?What can we learn about each other based on what we were looking forward to?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for this day...

Duration: 00:06:41

Welcome to Grace Harbor

Monday Morning, December 1, 2025

Welcome to Grace Harbor! This morning, we meet Pastor Dan and introduce our three core disciplines: gratitude, intention setting, and prayer.

Today’s Discussion Question(s)

What is something you’re really looking forward to today?

Prayer

Dear God, I thank you for all of the new friends I’ve made this morning through the podcast. I can’t wait for them to get to know more about Grace Harbor and for us to learn more about them! And we all thank yo...

Duration: 00:06:16

Family Prayer Podcast - Preview Episode 2

Welcome back to the Family Prayer Podcast! This is the second of two preview episodes for the parents and grandparents interested in using this resource with their family. This episode dives into what you can expect from the podcast, how to get the most out of it, as well as a preview of an evening episode.

After this, it’s onward to the full launch on Monday, December 1. See you in Grace Harbor!

Episode Music: Rooted by LNDÖ, Fallbrook by Reveille

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📝 Send Us Your...

Duration: 00:15:23

Family Prayer Podcast - Preview Episode 1

Welcome to the Family Prayer Podcast! This is the first of two preview episodes for the parents and grandparents interested in using this resource with their family. This episode focuses on the heart behind the podcast - why it exists and how it came to be - as well as a preview of the first full episode coming Monday morning, December 1.

Episode Music: Monte Rosa by Alsever Lake, New Tricks by LNDÖ

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📝 Send Us Your Stories!

We love featuring listener submissions!

Voi...

Duration: 00:14:31

Introducing the Family Prayer Podcast

The Family Prayer Podcast transforms everyday family moments into opportunities for sacred connections through twice-daily episodes for families with elementary-aged children. Set in the fictional coastal town of Grace Harbor, Pastor Dan guides families through gratitude, intention-setting, and prayer with zero prep required by parents. Each sub-10-minute episode fits seamlessly into existing routines—breakfast, car rides, bedtime—making spiritual formation accessible for busy families who want meaningful faith practices without the overwhelm.

Episode Music: New Tricks by LNDÖ

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🎧 Connect With Us

Social Media: Duration: 00:02:27