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) What did you learn about laughter in this story?
2) How does community factor into how much we laugh and what makes us laugh?
3) What affect does another persons laughter have on us? Have you experienced another persons laughter affecting how much or if you laugh?
4) Where else do you see one persons actions in community leading to other performing or taking part in that same action?
5) Do you think this is also true with forgiveness? If so, how?
Views and Qs: Forgiving Forward
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) Who benefited from the first person being kind in the video? 2) What does this video say about how we are connected to one another?
3) Do you think that every person who receives an act of kindness in the video has the responsibility to pass it on? 4) Have you experienced an act of kindness recently? Did it affect the way you interacted with other people afterwards? 5) Do you feel a responsibility to help and be kind to other? Why or why not?
Feast and Faith: The Flow of Forgiveness
For this week's dinner discussion we will focus on Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant.
Prayer -
Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many
voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where
many listen and write what many read; that they may do their
part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and
its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Discussion -
This week we are reflecting on Jesus' command to forgive not just seven times but seventy times seven (i.e. and infinite number of) time, and his corresponding parable of the person who was forgiven a massive debt but unwilling to forgive a much smaller debt immediately after:
Questions -
1) Where do you see forgiveness needing to take place in the world around you? ?
2) Where do you see forgiveness needing to take place in your own life and relationships? Either forgiving or asking for forgiveness?
3) Do you think there is a relationship between being forgiven and our willingness to forgive others? Why or why not?
4) What was a time in your life when you experienced being forgiven for something you did to hurt someone else? What about forgiving someone who have hurt you?
5) Do you find that it has been easier or harder to forgive others since you had the experience of being forgiven?
Final Nugget -
Jesus is inviting us in this time to understand our responsibility to one another to continue the flow of forgiveness throughout our relationships and communities. Where do you see the flow of forgiveness getting stuck in yourself or in your community, and what could you do about it?
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 114
(read in unison)
1 Hallelujah!
When Israel came out of Egypt, *
the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,
2 Judah became God's sanctuary *
and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea beheld it and fled; *
Jordan turned and went back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, *
and the little hills like young sheep.
5 What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? *
O Jordan, that you turned back?
6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams? *
you little hills like young sheep?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, *
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water *
and flint-stone into a flowing spring.
Reading
(read by assigned person)
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
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)
O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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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