Mother Kristin sits teaching children in St. Paul's Chapel

Family Worship: Home Edition #44

Each week, we’re offering a simple family-style service for you and your family to follow together at home. We hope these resources will help you find time to worship together at whatever time and in whatever way feels most comfortable and authentic for you.


Gather

Gather all the members of your household who plan to participate in one place. Get comfortable! Maybe sit on the floor or on cushions. Maybe sit in a circle. Take a moment to pause and breathe together.

Invite a member of the household to lead the gathering prayer. Read line by line, with the rest of the household repeating back to them.

Repeat after me.

Dear God,
Thank you SO much
For bringing us to this time and place.
Please be with us
As we listen, pray, and learn.
And help us remember that,
No matter what,
You will always love us.
Amen.


Reading

Exodus 20:1–17

Watch the reading by Sian Wetherill.
 

 

Reflection

Watch this reflection from Fr. Matt.
 

 

Music

“And So it Goes” by Billy Joel, arr. Bob Chilcott, performed by the Schola Choristers

Listen to this recording.
 

 

Prayers

Take a moment to pause. Invite a member of the household to be the prayer leader to lead these or similar prayers:

Let’s pray together silently or out loud. First, let’s say thank you to God for the good things in our lives. Are there specific things you’d like to say thank you for? (Give time for others to share out loud or silently.) For all these things, let’s say together: Thank you so much, Lord!

Thank you so much, Lord!

Now, let’s pray for the people or animals who are sick or need help. We also pray for the things that worry us. Are there specific people, animals, or worries you’d like to pray for? (Give time for others to share out loud or silently.) Let us say: Please God, help us!

Please God, help us!

Repeat after me:

Dear God,
Thank you for this time together
Stay with us
This week and always. 
Help us to be like Jesus. 
Amen.


Activity

Kathryn Carroll

In this Sunday’s Gospel we hear the story of Jesus losing his temper in public. He didn’t like that any person or material payment could decide who was or wasn’t given access to the temple. Imagining our kind and gentle Jesus like this might be upsetting for children, or any of us. Maybe because we tend to fear anger, in others as in ourselves. Anger and grief are feelings that can be the most difficult to control. And it is control that we so often rely on to keep us “safe.”  But God is present, and knows us, and loves us. We can’t hide from God, nor can we use God as a shield to hide behind, nor do we need to. This week try to “unmask” yourself to God. Express your true self. You could use this cinquain (sin-cane) poetry format as your prayer or lament:

Line 1: Title (a noun, one word)
Line 2: Describes the title (two words)
Line 3: Action words or phrase about title (three words)
Line 4: Describes a feeling about title (four words)
Line 5: Refers to title (one word)

Printable Activity Pages