This month, in the spirit of rest and quiet anticipation in Advent, we are keeping the resources simple for these four weeks of the church season. Each week's post will focus on one of the four weekly Advent themes of Hope (Advent 1), Peace (Advent 2), Joy (Advent 3), and Love (Advent 4), and include the podcast, the weekly liturgy for families with the readings, and one featured resource (either a video, article, or dinner discussion). We hope you enjoy, and that you take the opportunity this Advent season to slow into the quiet expectation of God's emergence into our lives.
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.
Feast and Faith: Joy and Identity
For this week's dinner discussion we will focus on the story of John the Baptist's introduction in the gospel of John.
Prayer -
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Discussion -
This week we are reflecting on the very first verses from the gospel according to John, where the author of that gospel introduces John the Baptist, who precedes Jesus, and the subsequent dialogue between him and the religious leaders as he goes about his mission of baptizing in the wilderness:
Questions -
1) Have you ever had your identity questioned by people in power? What was this experience like?
2) If you have never had your identity questions, why do you think that is? Why do you think some people's identities are challenged and some aren't?
3) What has been your journey of discovering your deepest identity?
4) Why do you think identity is so important in our lives?
5) How can we work in our world to create spaces for everyone to live more fully into their identity?
Final Nugget -
This week we are asked to reflect on ways that identity is questioned and challenged by power structures.
Why do think it is a destabilizing tool for the powerful to make people question their identities? Who are the people in history who have had to struggle the most to claim their identities? This week, pay attention to places in your community where this is happening.
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 126
(read in unison)
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
and our tongue with shouts of joy.
3 Then they said among the nations, *
"The Lord has done great things for them."
4 The Lord has done great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.
5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *
like the watercourses of the Negev.
6 Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
Reading
(read by assigned person)
John 1:6-8, 19-28
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
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)
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: