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 challenges came with being a new resident?
2) Where was there discomfort in this new role for the two doctors?
3) How did they respond to this discomfort?
4) Did they learn something about themselves they did not know before? If so, what?
5) How were they changed by stepping into this discomfort?
Views and Qs: Making Hard Choices
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) What misconceptions about making hard decisions does Ruth Chang address here?
2) What have been some hard choices in your life?
3) How did you eventually make the decision in those situations?
4) What are some hard decisions you are facing now?
5) How has making hard decisions helped you learn about who you are?
Feast and Faith: Choosing the Uncomfortable
For this week’s dinner discussion, we are talking about Joseph's decision in the gospel of Matthew to listen to the angel in his dream and stay with Mary.
Prayer -
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so
guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our
wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to
you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always
to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our
Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Discussion –
Matthew's story about Jesus' birth highlights a dream that Joseph has where the angel Gabriel comes to him and tells him to stay with Mary in the face of the challenges that that decision would entail. Joseph had already made up his mind to do the right thing, to quietly divorce her and go his separate way. This was not a bad option, it was in fact the culturally righteous one, but Joseph is called to take part in God's plan in a new an uncomfortable way:
Questions:
1) Have you ever been faced with a decision between quietly walking away and doing something uncomfortable?
2) What was the outcome of that decision?
3) Where do you feel called to act in the world today that may also be uncomfortable?
4) What are the forces holding you back?
5) How do you recognize God communicating to you what you might decide to do?
Final Nugget: In this final week of Advent how are you being called to take part in God's liberating and healing work already happening in the world?
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 80:1-7, 16-18
(read in unison)
1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and come to help us.
3 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
4 O Lord God of hosts, *
how long will you be angered
despite the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6 You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
17 And so will we never turn away from you; *
give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
18 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
Gospel
(read by assigned person)
Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
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)
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: