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Month: October 2015

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Saturday: Generosity

Pray:  Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord God, as our week draws to a close, help us to notice and count our many blessings. Thank you for all that you have given us! Bless each person in this room, and be with us now as we study your Word. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Pay close attention as these verses from the Bible are read aloud.

Galatians 2:14-16
But when I saw that they were not really obeying the truth that is in the good news, I corrected Peter in front of everyone and said: "Peter, you are a Jew, but you live like a Gentile. So how can you force Gentiles to live like Jews? We are Jews by birth and are not sinners like Gentiles. But we know that God accepts only those who have faith in Jesus Christ. No one can please God by simply obeying the Law. So we put our faith in Christ Jesus, and God accepted us because of our faith." (CEV)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: How have you tried to please God in your life? Why do you think faith pleases God the most?

Child: How did you first learn about Jesus? What helped you put your faith in him?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Heavenly Father, we want to please you, yet so often we fall short. Give us true faith in Jesus, your Son. Help us to realize all that he has done for us, and to share the good news of his saving love with others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you realize how blessed you are! Amen.

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Friday: Trust

Pray:  Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, this is the day that you have made! We will rejoice and be glad in it! Thank you for all that you have given us, including this time together. Help us to appreciate it, and to use it wisely. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Pay close attention to this reminder from Luther’s Small Catechism.

We know we have not earned, nor do we deserve, those things for which we pray. But we ask that [God] would grant us all things through grace, even though we sin every day and deserve nothing but punishment. And so we, too, will heartily forgive, and gladly do good to those who sin against us. (Luther's Small Catechism)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: Luther says that we don’t deserve the things for which we pray. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Child: Do you find it hard to forgive? What helps you do good to those who sin against you?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Holy God, it can be so hard to let go of our anger when others are unkind to us. Yet you forgive us every day. Help us to remember this, and to pray for those who sin against us rather than seeking revenge. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you forgive and let go of resentments. Amen.

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Thursday: Compassion

Pray: Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Almighty Father, thank you for this day, and for this time together. Be with as we study, talk and pray, and help us to learn the lessons you have for us. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Pay close attention as the Bible story is read in the form of a rhyme.

Writing to his friends, Paul said,
“My friend Peter’s been misled
For he thinks he cannot eat
With the sinners on the street."

“He’s forgotten one small fact;
He need not be so exact!
For, indeed, I have good news
Both for Gentiles and for Jews.”

“Jesus came to set us free
All of us, both you and me!
Put your faith in him today;
Not in deeds that fade away.”

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: Why isn’t it a good idea to put our faith in our own deeds?

Child: What was Paul’s good news? How does this news make a difference in your own life?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Lord God, thank you for having compassion on us each day. You forgive us when we fall short, and you never give up on us. Help us to realize how very blessed we are. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you trust in Jesus above all else. Amen.

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Wednesday: Mercy

Pray:  Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Holy Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit might fill our hearts and minds as we study today’s Bible story. Help us to realize that we are never alone and we need fear nothing when you are with us. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Listen: Pay close attention as these verses from the Bible are read aloud.

Galatians 2:12-14
Peter was afraid of the Jews and soon stopped eating with Gentiles. He and the other Jews hid their true feelings so well that even Barnabas was fooled. But when I saw that they were not really obeying the truth that is in the good news, I corrected Peter in front of everyone… (CEV)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: When you were young, did you ever avoid someone because he or she did not fit in with your group? How might you have handled that differently?

Child: Why do you think Paul felt the need to correct Peter in public? Have you ever had to correct someone else? What happened?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Lord God, it can be hard when we see our friends doing something that isn’t right. Help us to speak up when we need to do that, and to do so kindly and with mercy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you be merciful to others. Amen.

Published on Leave a comment on Holy Family Time: Peter-Paul

Thursday: Compassion

Pray: Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Almighty Father, as we gather in your name, be with us. Help us to grow not only in faith but in compassion for others as well. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Pay close attention as the Bible story is read in the form of a rhyme.

Paul wrote a letter to his friends
And asked them all to make amends
For they’d been fighting day and night
It wasn’t good. It wasn’t right.

“Please don’t take sides. Don’t point. Don’t shout.
That’s not what faith is all about!
It matters not who taught you all,
Apollos, Peter—even Paul.”

“We’re on one team, let’s all agree,
We worship Jesus Christ, not me!”
Paul spoke these words, and then he said,
“Let’s share the gospel now, instead!”

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: Has someone ever told you they were sorry for something they did? What happened, and what helped you be able to forgive?

Child: If you were writing a letter to your friends about Jesus, what would you tell them?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Lord God, you show us compassion every day. Yet it is easy for us to forget that, especially when we are fighting with others. Help us to remember your kindness, and to extend that to those around us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you receive God’s care today, and share it with others. Amen.

Published on Leave a comment on Holy Family Time: Peter-Paul

Wednesday: Mercy

Pray:  Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Holy Father, open our ears to hear your Word, and our minds to understand it. Let your Holy Spirit work in our lives today and throughout this week. We ask this, and anything else you see that we need, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Listen: Pay close attention as these verses from the Bible are read aloud.

1 Corinthians 1:13-16
Has Christ been divided up? Was I nailed to a cross for you? Were you baptized in my name? I thank God that I didn’t baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius. Not one of you can say that you were baptized in my name. I did baptize the family of Stephanas, but I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else. (CEV)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: Paul was a great preacher and teacher, and many people looked up to him. Who do you admire in your life?

Child: How would you feel if people started following you and thinking that you were as important as Jesus? What would you tell them?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Lord God, thank you for the many good people in our lives. As much as we admire them, they are only human, just as Paul was. Help us to remember this, and to look to Christ alone as our Savior.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you have many people to admire, but only one Lord! Amen.