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 surprised you the most in this story?
2) What are some of the primary places of discrimination identified in the article?
3) Does this understanding of who is affected by racism and discrimination differ from that which you have had? If so, how? If not, why not?
4) How could greater equality and antiracist policy benefit everyone, even those who have not been disproportionately affected by racism and discrimination?
5) What could you do in your community or institution to "reverse discriminatory practices?"
Views and Qs: Universal Basic Income
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) What is "a universal basic income?" 2) Do you think it's a good idea? Why or why not?
3) What affect do you think it would have on your community? What about on your family? 4) Do you think there is one group of people that would benefit from this program, or would everyone benefit? Why? 5) What resistance do you feel in yourself to this idea? What resistance to you imagine would come up in your community to this idea?
Feast and Faith: Equal Access To Resources
For this week's dinner discussion we will focus on Jesus' parable of the workers in the vineyard.
Prayer -
Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer
want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this
land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find
suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment
for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Discussion -
This week we are reflecting on Jesus' parable about the workers in the vineyard, where some people come to work early in the morning, some at mid-day, and some at the end of the work day, and yet they all end up getting paid the same:
Questions -
1) Can you think of a place in your community or country where not everyone has the same access to resources? What resource is it and who does not get equal access?
2) Why do you think some people have very good access to resources while others do not?
3) If, like in Jesus' parable, everyone got paid the same amount regardless of what their job was or how much they worked, how do you think people's behavior would change?
4) How do you think your community would change in that scenario? What about the country? What about the world?
5) Do you think it's unfair for everyone to get paid the same? Do you think it's unfair for some people to have greater access to resources than others? For both, why or why not?
Final Nugget -
Jesus is inviting us in this time to imagine a world where everyone receives equal resources and has access to exactly the resources that they need. Where is their a discrepancy between what resources are needed and access to those resources in your community? Is there something you could do about it?
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 105:1-6, 37-45
(read in unison)
1 Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
and speak of all his marvelous works.
3 Glory in his holy Name; *
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Search for the Lord and his strength; *
continually seek his face.
5 Remember the marvels he has done, *
his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, *
O children of Jacob his chosen.
37 He led out his people with silver and gold; *
in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad of their going, *
because they were afraid of them.
39 He spread out a cloud for a covering *
and a fire to give light in the night season.
40 They asked, and quails appeared, *
and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and water flowed, *
so the river ran in the dry places.
42. For God remembered his holy word *
and Abraham his servant.
43 So he led forth his people with gladness, *
his chosen with shouts of joy.
44 He gave his people the lands of the nations, *
and they took the fruit of others' toil,
45 That they might keep his statutes *
and observe his laws.
Hallelujah!
Reading
(read by assigned person)
Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
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 us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; 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: