Family Worship
The Gathering
In the Old Testament, people gathered their finest belongings, (linen, precious
stones, etc.) and brought them to the place of worship to create a space that
would remind them of God.
What items do you have that remind you of God? Can you make a space that
helps you remember God? As a family, gather those items and create a space.
Talk about why each item reminds you of God.
Call To Worship - Psalm 8
Songs: Choose your own or sing with lyrics online
Overwhelmed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6oxXwRWFTo
Prayer (one of your own) or
Dear God, as we gather today, we are blessed to be safe and warm. Be with those
this morning who are cold and wet. Be with those with homes that are not heated
or safe, and those who have no homes. Be with the police and rescue helpers who
must be out on the storm. Be with our leaders who make decisions. Be with our
church family today, wherever they worship. May today help us remember the
thousands of Christians who cannot gather to worship because of persecution or
because of ill health. May today also remind us that we are not called so much to
go to church, as to be the church. Help us today to worship you, and then to
worship you by serving at least one person outside our family. Thank you, God,
for loving us. Amen.
Old Testament Isaiah 1:18
Time of Confession (object lesson)
Take a big bowl. Load CLEAN snow in the bowl until half full. Put a piece of saran
wrap big enough to cover the snow. Fill the rest of the bowl with snow, covering
the saran wrap. Put outside until you are ready.
You will need some food color dye (preferably red, but use what you have…beet
juice/other colors/detergent with some sort of color, be creative!).
1) Bring the bowl of snow in. Talk about how beautiful and clean it is. That is the
way God intended our lives to be. Clean, without sin. Talk as a family about the
good things we can do and have done this weekend. Humans are made in the
image of God, so there is much that is good and special about us.
2) Take the food dye or whatever else will stain the snow. (This will be sin). Talk
about the fact that we are not perfect. When we do something that breaks God’s
law and His heart, we sin. Sin isn’t only something we do, it is something that
stains us. Invite family members to confess things they have done that have
stained us. As they do, let them put a drop of food coloring on the upper level of
snow. Pray as a family to say sorry to God for the things we have done.
3) Words of Assurance
9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we
make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:9)
What that means is that if we confess our sins, God forgives us and removes
the stain from our hearts.
(Now lift the saran wrap under neath the top layer of snow to reveal the
layer underneath, which hopefully is still pristine clean! )
What the bible says is that though are sins are like scarlet, God forgives us,
and makes them white as snow again.
Song:Amazing Grace: (Chris Tomlin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I
New Testament: Matthew 5:13-16 (younger) Luke 14 :1-14
Reflection: (discuss as family selecting questions that fit your age/stage)
1. What do you miss about being with God’s people this morning?
What is good about being home today?
Does it seem like a Sunday?
2. Jesus had a different kind of Sabbath. He always worshipped, but if he saw
someone sick or hurting, he also healed. The Pharisees didn’t understand, and
called that work. How is helping someone worship?
3. What does Jesus call us in Matthew 5? (get some salt) Why do you think we
are like light? How can we show God’s light to others?
Why do you think we are salt?
Here are some things about salt: (put in a dish and let them taste)
a) Salt cleanses and heals..Did you know that in ancient times, salt would be used
to clean and also cleanse wounds.
b) Salt preserves. People would take salt and rub it on meat so it wouldn’t go bad
because they didn’t have refrigerators.
c) Salt adds flavor. When something tastes really bland, salt enhances the flavor.
d) Salt melts snow. (You can demonstrate.) Salt is a catalyst, which means
something that makes things happen.
So…
How are we as Christians called in our neighborhood:
a) To heal and cleanse? How did Jesus do that for us? To whom can we offer
comfort and healing today? Is there a relationship that needs to be healed? How
can we do this?
b) How can we preserve something of value today? How does Jesus preserve us
(restores our soul?) Is there something we have been neglecting as a family, (like
meals together, or reading scripture) that we can put back in place as a priority?
(Older disciples) Did you know that historians believe that the early Methodist
movement in the 18th century is what kept England from having a bloody
revolution like the French revolution? In what other ways are Christians called to
preserve society?
c) How can we add flavor to someone else’s life as salt? How did Jesus do that for
us? What can we do today to give joy to at least one of our neighbors? Make a
call? Share some cookies? Write a thank you or note of encouragement?
d) How can we be catalysts? Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses.
How can you witness to Christ today? Share your faith? Pray and make a
difference?
6. Older disciples: The Pharisees were looking to the Sabbath to prove they were
righteous, and to exclude others. Jesus looked to Sabbath to bring healing to us
and to others. What do you hear in the interaction of Luke 14?
Today is a different kind of Sabbath. We are home and not at the campus of First
UMC. But we are still the church.
How can you claim Sabbath today? How can you seek God’s presence?
How can you bring healing to yourself?
To someone else?
Serve God today by doing at least one kind act for someone outside your
household. Plan together how to do that.
Pray as a family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdUO54dM-Is (for young children/VBS
style)
Or, a bit deeper and more mellow:
This Little Light Of Mine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVeB7ACVgO0
God bless you all.