Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar, and joined the each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go Podcast highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.
From NPR
Questions:
1) How does giving directly to one family impact the local community?
2) Why does this happen?
3) Have you seen this kind of ripple effect in your own life or community?
4) Does this change the way we understand our connection to the world and people around us?
5) What does this ripple effect say about how God moves in the world?
Views and Qs: The Universal Christ
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) What does Rohr mean when he says Christ isn't Jesus' last name?
2) What new way of understanding the Christ is Rohr proposing?
3) Does this change anything about how we understand Advent and Christmas?
4) If Christ is "another name for every thing," does this change how we understand Jesus' command to be watchful?
5) Where do you see Christ today?
Feast and Faith: Suffering and Restoration
For this week’s dinner discussion, we are talking about Jesus declaration that all things are alive to God.
Prayer -
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so
guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our
wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to
you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always
to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our
Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Discussion –
In the gospel this Sunday Jesus implores his disciples to be awake and be watchful for God breaking into the world. As we move into the season of Advent, let's explore what it means to be prepared and watchful in our everyday lives:
Questions
1) What does it mean to you to be watchful?
2) What are some ways that we can be prepared to recognize God int he world around us?
3) What makes it hard to see God moving int he world?
4) Do you think its easier or harder to see God in times of challenge and suffering?
5) What do you think the phrase from the prayer "for the welfare of your people" has to do with Advent and watchfulness?
Final Nugget: Jesus is calling us to action in this week's gospel and in the season of Advent. Our expectation for the coming of Christ is not passive, and the kingdom of heaven does not show up on its own. It requires our participation, our awakeness, and our watchfulness, to recognize Christ in the people and places around us and to respond to that presence with our own presence. How can you respond "for the welfare of [God's] people" this week?
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.
Psalm 122
(Read in unison)
1 I was glad when they said to me, *
"Let us go to the house of the Lord."
2 Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;
4 To which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord, *
the assembly of Israel,
to praise the Name of the Lord.
5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
"May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.
8 For my brethren and companions' sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.
9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, *
I will seek to do you good."
Gospel
(read by assigned person)
Matthew 24:36-44
Jesus said to the disciples, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
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)
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Share some of your conversations in the comments below:
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