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Week of December 16, 2018: Bear Fruit (Ages 11-18)

Writer: Faith To GoFaith To Go


Faith To Go Podcast: Being Open

Hosted each week by the Faith Formation team at St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego, David Tremaine, Maya Little-Sana and Jackie Pippin, the Faith To Go Podcast highlight themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your conversations throughout the week.


 

Reads: Paris Climate Agreement

Questions:

  1. What was this article about?

  2. What did the 200 countries agree on?

  3. How do you feel about that agreement?

  4. What are ways that you can contribute to that agreement?

  5. How does this relate to Jesus’ call to us?

 

Views and Qs: Luke: Part 2

Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.


Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you remember from our Luke video last week?

  2. What types of people does Jesus reach out to?

  3. What sorts of things does Jesus teach about?

  4. Who in your life models some of Jesus’ teachings?

  5. How does the book of Luke conclude?

 

Feast and Faith: Glorification of God

Prayer- Thank you for this time of waiting

to be still amid life’s busyness

to hear your call amid life’s noise

to prepare a way in this world for you.

Thank you for this time of preparing

to clear away the clutter

to make room in my crammed life

to receive the light of Christ that awakens me.

Thank you for this time of awakening

to notice that that you are with us

to hear your voice in the night

calling us to bring your light to people.

Thank you for your light in the world.

I want to walk as a child of your light.

Questions

  1. What does it mean to bear fruit?

  2. How is a way that you bear good fruit?

  3. What is something that you could work at to bear better fruit?

  4. Who do you know that producing good fruit in their work?

  5. What are things or people that help?

Final nugget – We are called to live our lives for the glorification of God. When we do that, we bear good fruits in what we do and put forth in the world. To do this consistently, it’s important that we provide ourselves with what feeds us to produce those results. It can also be great to have role models around us.

 

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.

Isaiah 12:2-6

(Read in unison)

Surely, it is God who saves me; *

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *

and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *

from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *

see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *

and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *

for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Luke 3:7-18

(read by assigned person)

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

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)

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Share some of your conversations in the comments below:

 
 
 

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