Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar, and joined the each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go Podcast highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.
from NPR
Questions:
1) What do you think is the role of courage in social justice work and activism?
2) How are the people highlighted in the story sustaining their spiritual and emotional energy to continue this work?
3) What are the practices that keep you energized and passionate?
4) How has your energy fluctuated over the last three months of conversations and activism around social justice?
5) What might you take from the article to help sustain you in the future?
Views and Qs: Courage From Others
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) When have you been courageous in your life? 2) Do you think there are different kinds of courage?
3) How have other people helped you be courageous? 4) Is there a common trait that those people have? 5) What role do you think trust plays in being courageous?
Feast and Faith: The Power of Trust
For this week's dinner discussion we will focus on Jesus walking on the water.
Prayer -
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart and especially the hearts of the
people of this land, that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Discussion -
This week we are reflecting on the miraculous story in Matthew's gospel of Jesus walking on water and Peter stepping out of the boat in the midst of a storm to walk on the water to him. This episode shows a great amount of trust on Peter's part, in the midst of a disorienting and dangerous situation:
Questions -
1) Who is someone you trust deeply in your life? Why do you trust this person?
2) What do you have a hard time trusting in the world or people around you today? Why?
3) How do you know what or who to trust?
4) Have you ever done something you usually would not do because a trusted person asked you to do it?
5) What was the outcome of this event? Did you trust the person more or less afterwards?
Final Nugget -
Today we are being asked to trust people in ways that we may never have before. In these modern circumstances, some people's lives depend on our trust of one another. Pay attention this week to where you are being called to show trust in relationship. How might greater trust lead to healing and wellness for yourself and for the world around you?
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 85:8-13
(read in unison)
8 I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *
for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
and to those who turn their hearts to him.
9 Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth have met together; *
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him, *
and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.
Reading
(read by assigned person)
Matthew 14: 22-33
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son 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)
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: