INTRODUCTION
Sharing GOD’S STORY @ home
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS?
THAT is a great question. In this brief introduction, you will find some suggestions for putting this resource into practice in and with your household. Probably the two most important factors to make household devotions part of your daily faith practice are: grace and flexibility. “Grace” is the word we use to describe the reality that God is loving and forgiving, whether we succeed or fail. When you feel like you have “failed” in doing devotions, GOD loves you and forgives you, so you should, too! Likewise, when it comes to how you do devotions, be flexible and try different ways of using this. Will morning time or evening be better for your household? Maybe you’ll need to do this in shifts, depending on work and school schedules? How will younger or older kids relate to this material? What if your household doesn’t include any kids? Try creative ways of adapting this material so that it will match your household. This resource is a foundation from which to build your household’s practice of faith! Enjoy!
Each week’s resource will include these items:
SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THE WEEK— Each week, you will find a brief Scripture verse from the Sunday’s reading. Use it in your devotions time or copy it and stick it to a bathroom mirror. Or, do anything else that works for you.
MEALTIME PRAYER—Use this to begin or end one or all of your meals, perhaps with the Scripture Verse.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS—Each week, you will find in this space daily readings from the Bible. Those reading will seek to do one of two things. Either, it will fill in the gaps between this Sunday’s and next Sunday’s stories. Or, it will dig into a theme from on the Sundays’ stories —for example, “bread.”
If your household includes younger children, use a child-friendly Bible like the Spark! Picture Bible (Augsburg Fortress) or The Jesus Storybook Bible (Zondervan). The Children’s Illustrated Bible (New Leaf Press) is a good Bible for young readers that also includes nice illustrations and explanations. Often, you might find that the children’s Bible you are using may not include the very story assigned for the DAILY BIBLE READINGS. Read to your kids anyway. Just pick a story!
SERVICE CHALLENGE—SERVICE is how we enact God’s great love for the entire world. Each week there will be a small challenge that will encourage your household to act out love for each other or the community.
DEVOTIONS
Think about devotions as a continuation of our community’s worship. The following basic pattern could be one way of forming your household’s devotions. Adapt as necessary. NOTE: be aware of the total length of this devotional time. For many households, 15 minutes might be about the maximum amount of time for this, but that could grow with households with older children or just adults.
GATHERING
• Gathering Ritual: Consider some way to open this time of worship. Light a candle, sing a short song, or have a moment of silent breathing to relax.
• Prayer of the Week: A prayer is printed that ties in with the first Sunday’s reading that can move with you throughout the week. Use it in devotions or any other time!
CARING CONVERSATION
• Take a moment to check in with each other or to use the questions included in this section. In households with smaller children, this can just be a time to ask a concrete question about their day. The main point is to be on the look-out for opportunities to move your household’s talk from the surface toward intimacy.
DAILY BIBLE READING
• Read aloud from the DAILY BIBLE READING from the front of each insert. What do you want to remember from this reading? Even just a brief conversation about the reading might be meaningful.
PRAY TOGETHER
• Use the included weekly suggestion on how to pray together, or find a different way to pray.
CLOSING
• Closing Ritual: Consider a way to close your time together. Extinguish a candle if you lit one to begin, give hugs or handshakes, or anything else you would like.
• Rituals and Traditions: A Blessing to Share: A blessing can be a powerful ritual that reminds us of God’s promises and presence, both through the words, as well as the touch that we share. This can be used as a “good-bye.” It could be used as a bed-time blessing. Be creative in the way you bless and are blessed by the people in your life.
September 9, 2018
Genesis 6:5-22; 8:6-12; 9:8-17
Sharing GOD’S STORY @ home
SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THE WEEK
[God said] “I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
– Genesis 9:11
MEALTIME PRAYER
God, because of your love, we give you thanks. Because of your care, we give you thanks. Because of this food and drink, we give you thanks. Because of your promise to be with us always, we give you thanks. Amen.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Something to consider as you read: What are the people doing in each story? What is God doing in each story?
Sunday Genesis 6:5-22; 8:6-12; 9:8-17 Noah and the Ark
Monday Genesis 9:18-29 Noah and Family After the Ark
Tuesday Psalm 93 A Song of God’s Strength
Wednesday Psalm 104:1-9 Praise for God’s Wonderful Work
Thursday Psalm 104:24-35 God’s Wonderful Work Continued
Friday Genesis 11:1-9 The Tower of Babel
Saturday Genesis 11:26-32 Abram and His Family
Sunday Genesis 12:1-9 God Calls Abram
If your household includes younger children, use a child-friendly Bible. You might find that the children’s Bible you are using may not include the very story assigned for the DAILY BIBLE READINGS. Read to your kids anyway. Just pick a story!
SERVICE CHALLENGE
SERVICE is how we enact God’s great love for the entire world.
Pick a place or an organization that cares for animals in your area. How might you help?
DEVOTIONS
Think about devotions as a continuation of our community’s worship. The following basic pattern could be one way of forming your household’s devotions. Adapt as necessary!
GATHERING
• Light a candle to help you focus this time as “God time.”
• Prayer of the Week
God of Promise, Noah was not a perfect human being. But he was a man who listened to you and believed what you promised. Help me to hear, to believe and to rest in the peace of your promises. Amen.
CARING CONVERSATION
Take a moment to check in with each other or to use the questions below.
? Highs & Lows: What made you smile today? What made you frown today?
? Thinking About This Week’s Story: God spoke to Noah, and God still speaks to people even now. How did God speak to you today? Did you encounter God in creation? Or through a helpful friend? Or from the love a family member?
? Getting Ready for Next Week’s Story: God is on the move in this story. What is one fun thing had you on the move today? What did you do?
DAILY BIBLE READING
Read aloud from the DAILY BIBLE READING from the front. What do you want to remember from this reading?
PRAY TOGETHER
• Dear God, your love makes me feel __________. Being with the people that care for me makes me feel __________. Thank you for your love and for the people that love me. Amen.
CLOSING
• If you used a candle, extinguish it as a sign of the end of the devotion time.
• Rituals & Traditions: A Blessing to Share
With permission, mark one another with the sign of the cross on the forehead, and say, “As God was with Noah, God is with you. Amen.”