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Month: July 2026

Published on Leave a comment on Holy Family Time: July 31st

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.

Mighty God, you are the source of all good things. Help us to trust that you will provide what we need to live from day to day, and help us not to worry about what we have or don’t have. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Listen: Listen carefully to this reminder from Luther’s Small Catechism.

Daily bread includes everything required to meet our earthly needs, such as food, drink, clothing, home, property, employment, necessities; devout parents, children, and communities; honest and faithful authorities, good government, seasonable weather, peace, health, an orderly society, a good reputation, true friends and neighbors, and the like. (Luther's Small Catechism)

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

Child: What does it mean to say that God gives us “daily bread”?

Child: Jesus taught us to pray for daily bread in the Lord’s Prayer. Do you know the Lord’s Prayer? Can we pray it together? (below)

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

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. 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, forever and ever. Amen.

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

May you trust that God will always provide for you. Amen.

Published on Leave a comment on Holy Family Time: July 30th

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.

Holy God, the world is filled with people who are longing to hear your world. We ask that you open our eyes to the needs of those around us. Give the compassion to reach out and bless the lives of others, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Listen: Listen carefully as the Bible story is read in the form of a rhyme.

Paul was preaching one fine day
By the river, by the bay,
When a woman heard his words,
And was changed by what she heard.

“Lydia,” that was her name,
A merchant there of local fame,
She sold lovely, purple things:
Cloth and garments fit for kings.

“Baptize me,” she said, “Please do,
And baptize all my household, too!”
When they were baptized that day,
She asked them to her home to stay!

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

Child: Why do you think Lydia was listening to Paul?  Why do we listen to our pastors’ preaching?

Child: Was Lydia just concerned about herself and her own faith? What shows you that she cared about others, too?

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

Holy God, we thank you for coming into our lives. Help us to be like your servant Paul. Use us to speak your promise and bring hope into the lives of others, by showing the love of Jesus to those we meet. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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

May the Lord open your eyes to see how you can serve others. Amen.

Published on Leave a comment on Holy Family Time: July 29th

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.

God of grace, you often surprise us with the way the Holy Spirit is at work to bring about faith. Use us as your instruments, to share the good news of Jesus with those we meet, trusting that you are the one who creates faith in us. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Listen carefully as these verses from the Bible are read aloud.

Acts 16:12-14
We spent several days in Philippi. Then on the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to a place by the river, where we thought there would be a Jewish meeting place for prayer. We sat down and talked with the women who came. One of them was Lydia, who was from the city of Thyatira and sold expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of the Lord God, and he made her willing to accept what Paul was saying. (CEV)

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

Child: Is there a special place you go to pray? Why is it important to gather together to pray with others?

Child: Did Lydia come to believe in Jesus on her own? According to the Bible, who made Lydia believe in what Paul was saying?

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

Almighty God, on our own, we could never come to believe. Thank you for putting people in our lives who are willing to speak your promise. Thank you even more for the power of the Holy Spirit for allowing us to trust and believe. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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

May the Lord use you to share the promise of Jesus. Amen.

Published on Leave a comment on Holy Family Time: July 27th

Monday: Understanding

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, we thank you for giving us time to pray and read your Word. By your Holy Spirit, open our hearts that we may learn from the Scriptures, and come to trust you more deeply each day, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Listen carefully as the Bible story for the week is read aloud.

Acts 16:9-15
During the night, Paul had a vision of someone from Macedonia who was standing there and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” After Paul had seen the vision, we began looking for a way to go to Macedonia. We were sure that God had called us to preach the good news there. We sailed straight from Troas to Samothrace, and the next day we arrived in Neapolis. From there we went to Philippi, which is a Roman colony in the first district of Macedonia.

We spent several days in Philippi. Then on the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to a place by the river, where we thought there would be a Jewish meeting place for prayer. We sat down and talked with the women who came. One of them was Lydia, who was from the city of Thyatira and sold expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of the Lord God, and he made her willing to accept what Paul was saying. Then after she and her family were baptized, she kept on begging us, “If you think I really do have faith in the Lord, come stay in my home.” Finally, we accepted her invitation. (CEV)

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

Child: Why were Paul and his friends travelling from city to city? What were they doing?

Child: Do you like to visit new place? What are things you enjoy about traveling? What things worry you?

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

Lord God, we know that you walk with us wherever we go. Help us to trust in you. Guide our steps and lead us to be faithful in doing your work in the world. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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

May you always feel the Lord’s presence in your life. Amen.

Published on Leave a comment on Holy Family Time: July 26th

Sunday: Worship

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.

Gracious God, you give us the gift of your Holy Spirit in the reading and hearing of your Word. Open our ears to hear your will for us, that Christ would be revealed to us this day and our faith would be strengthened, in the name of Christ. Amen.

Listen: Listen carefully as these verses from the Bible are read aloud.

Psalm 31:14-16
I trust you, Lord, and I claim you as my God. 15 My life is in your hands.  Save me from enemies who hunt me down. 16 Smile on me, your servant. Have pity and rescue me. (CEV)

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

Child: What does it mean to say that our life is “in God’s hands”?

Child: What does it mean to “trust” in God?  Why does God want us to trust in him?

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

Holy Lord, you are great and mighty. We trust our lives to your care and keeping. Take from us our worries and fears, and lead us to lives of hope and purpose. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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

May you worship the Lord with joy and gladness. Amen.

Published on Leave a comment on Holy Family Time: July 25th

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.

Loving Father, you have given us all we need. You protect us from danger and watch over us with a shepherd’s care. Give us hearts to care for others in the same way, that we would work to keep others safe and be the friends they need. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Listen: Listen carefully to this reminder from Luther’s Small Catechism.

We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our heavenly Father would deliver us from every type of evil — whether it affects our bodies or souls, property or reputation — and at last, when our hour of death comes, would grant us a blessed end to our earthly lives and graciously take us from this world of sorrow to himself in heaven.  (Luther's Small Catechism)

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

Child: What are some things that make you feel afraid?  How does God help you face those fears?

Child: What can we do to help keep each other safe and take care of each other?

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

Holy God, you work through us to bring help and hope to others. Make us into people who work to do good for others, that all people would experience your love and care, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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

May God be with you, and let you know that you are never alone. Amen.

Published on Leave a comment on Holy Family Time: July 24th

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.

In you, O Lord, we take refuge; in you alone is where we put our trust. Be close to us this day and speak to us your Word, that in each moment of our day our thoughts would be filled with your grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Listen carefully as these verses from the Bible are read aloud.

Acts 12:12-16
12 Then Peter went to the house of Mary the mother of John whose other name was Mark. Many of the Lord’s followers had come together there and were praying. 13 Peter knocked on the gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she heard Peter’s voice, she was too excited to open the gate. She ran back into the house and said that Peter was standing there. 15 “You are crazy!” everyone told her. But she kept saying that it was Peter. Then they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, until finally they opened the gate. They saw him and were completely amazed. (CEV)

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

Child: Why do you think Rhoda was so excited to see her friend Peter? Did she expect to see him at the door?

Child: Has God ever surprised you with something good that you did not expect?

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

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your grace and mercy. Because you have claimed us and made us your own, we have nothing to fear, because we know that you will never let us go. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

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

May the hope of God our Father grant you peace and joy all your days. Amen.