This week's resources focus on the themes of being alert and growing in awareness as we enter the Advent season.
Faith To Go Podcast: Being Prepared
Hosted each week by the Faith Formation team at St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego, David Tremaine, Maya Little-Sana and Jackie Pippin, the Faith To Go Podcast highlight themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your conversations throughout the week.
Reads: Slave Bible
Questions:
What was this article about?
What surprised you most about this article?
Would you call the Slave Bible the “Good Book” (aka, is it the Bible?)?
What questions does the Slave Bible raise about how the Bible is used today?
How is a proper translation of the Bible important to our faith?
Views and Qs: Luke: Part 1
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
What is this video about?
What book is Luke paired with?
Who writes the book of Luke? What was his job?
What are the social implications that we see in Luke?
Why are you excited to learn about Luke in this next church year?
Why did he write this account?
What two babies come to us in the introduction to Luke?
Feast and Faith: Preparing
Prayer- Thank you for this time of waiting
to be still amid life’s busyness
to hear your call amid life’s noise
to prepare a way in this world for you.
Thank you for this time of preparing
to clear away the clutter
to make room in my crammed life
to receive the light of Christ that awakens me.
Thank you for this time of awakening
to notice that that you are with us
to hear your voice in the night
calling us to bring your light to people.
Thank you for your light in the world.
I want to walk as a child of your light.
Questions
What does Advent mean to you?
What does it mean to prepare for Christmas?
How has your family prepared for Christmas?
What are ways that you are trying to open up your heart for Jesus?
How can you share this feeling of Christmas with others?
Final nugget – Getting ready for Christmas can feel like there’s a lot to do, and you’re right. But what Jesus really wants from us is to take some time to slow down. To find ways that we can be more mindful of his birth and to open our hearts a little more to him. This can be really hard during this season, but try to take a few minutes each morning to stop and be more aware of his presence in your life.
Stay and Pray: A Devotion for Families at the Close of the Day
Each week we feature a way for your family to reflect and pray together. For families with older children this is an at home liturgy for your family to participate in together. It is a daily devotion for families adapted from The Book of Common Prayer.
Before you begin, take a few moments to decide who will read the scripture reading and who will read the collect and closing. Read the Psalm and Lord's Prayer in unison.
After a moment of silence, begin with the Psalm.
Psalm 1:68-79
(Read in unison)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Luke 3:1-6
(read by assigned person)
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
Prayers for Ourselves and For Others (take this time to each offer one person/event that you would like to hold in prayer as well as one thing you are thankful for)
Dear God, tonight I ask your prayers for.......
and I give you thanks for ..........
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
(read in unison)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen
The Collect
(read by assigned person)
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Share some of your conversations in the comments below:
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