Thursday, September 20, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Family Dinner & Devos, Week of Sept 24-30
Scripture for the Week: Mark
9:38-50
This passage is often
considered very challenging. The hope,
though, is that we understand that Jesus wanted us to lead a life of goodness,
truth, and beauty so that we can experience joy and bring others into that joy.
Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation): “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness,
how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace
with each other.” Mark 9:50
- Who or what has brought you down this week? Who or what has helped you to be the person God made you to be?
- In what ways might you have hurt or caused someone to stumble? In what ways have you helped someone to know God and/or live a good life?
- What do you think it means to “be salt”? How can you “be salt” this week?
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Help us to understand
your teachings. Help us to live them
daily. Forgive us when we stumble or
cause others to stumble. May we receive
and live your grace. May we know how
much you love us. Help us to go forth
and share Your love and peace and be salt in the world. Amen.
Service Focus
In September, many churches across the country celebrate "The Season of Creation." This is a time to remember that we have a Creator God, to sit in wonder at God's amazing creation of sky and sea and land, and to love deeply God's "very good" creation of human beings. So during the month of September, talk with your family about how you might take care of God's creation... perhaps walking and cleaning up your neighborhood or planting a tree... take action and make a difference together!
Family Dinner Nights to Begin the Week of September 24, 2012
So... what exactly are these "Family Dinner Nights." Well, consider it an invitation to an intentional dinner night with your family, a time to connect with one another and talk about how God is working in your life. You can watch this brief video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx2h6DHphaU&feature=em-share_video_user or read more about it here:
What? Good food and nutritious conversation! Ascension Lutheran Church & School, along with Raising Micah, want to help families connect with one another and grow in faith. Each week, Pastors Tim & Chamie will be providing a way to talk, over dinner, about one of the week’s Bible passages from the Revised Common Lectionary - scripture that will preached about during weekend worship and Wednesday school chapel. You can look here on the blog for the weekly scripture passage, questions for conversation, and prayer.
When? You pick whatever day and mealtime works for YOUR family! So it could be breakfast, lunch, or dinner on any day of the week.
Who? Families of all shapes and sizes. You may wish to have dinner and talk-time with just you own family, or join with another family – or families – each week. Or perhaps, you and your family practice weekly dinner and devotion nights, and then once a month gather for dinner with families that are doing the same thing and share your experiences. The invitation – and challenge – is that families covenant to one weekly dinner and devotional talk-time.
Why? Well, here are just a few reasons:
3. Families who share dinner together have children who have better report cards. Of teens who eat with their family fewer than three times a week, 20% get C's or lower on their report cards, according to a national study. Only 9% of teens who eat frequently with their families do this poorly in school. Family meals give children an opportunity to have conversations with adults, as well as to pick up on how adults are using words with each other, which may explain why family dinnertime is also thought to build a young child's vocabulary.
2. Healthy meals mean healthy kids. Studies have shown that kids who eat with their families frequently are less likely to get depressed, develop an eating disorder, or engage in risky activities. When a child is feeling down or depressed, family dinner can act as an intervention.
1. Mealtime is central to the Christian life. Jesus, on his last night before his crucifixion, gathered the disciples for the “Last Supper.” Today, we continue this celebration through Holy Communion. Yet you as families can celebrate the presence of Christ at your table… and even include bread and juice (or wine) at your own family table. Also, Jesus shared meal upon meal with people. He even said, “I am the bread of life.” So as we gather with our families, we gather, too, with “the Bread of Life” and experience God’s grace.
What? Good food and nutritious conversation! Ascension Lutheran Church & School, along with Raising Micah, want to help families connect with one another and grow in faith. Each week, Pastors Tim & Chamie will be providing a way to talk, over dinner, about one of the week’s Bible passages from the Revised Common Lectionary - scripture that will preached about during weekend worship and Wednesday school chapel. You can look here on the blog for the weekly scripture passage, questions for conversation, and prayer.
When? You pick whatever day and mealtime works for YOUR family! So it could be breakfast, lunch, or dinner on any day of the week.
Who? Families of all shapes and sizes. You may wish to have dinner and talk-time with just you own family, or join with another family – or families – each week. Or perhaps, you and your family practice weekly dinner and devotion nights, and then once a month gather for dinner with families that are doing the same thing and share your experiences. The invitation – and challenge – is that families covenant to one weekly dinner and devotional talk-time.
Why? Well, here are just a few reasons:
3. Families who share dinner together have children who have better report cards. Of teens who eat with their family fewer than three times a week, 20% get C's or lower on their report cards, according to a national study. Only 9% of teens who eat frequently with their families do this poorly in school. Family meals give children an opportunity to have conversations with adults, as well as to pick up on how adults are using words with each other, which may explain why family dinnertime is also thought to build a young child's vocabulary.
2. Healthy meals mean healthy kids. Studies have shown that kids who eat with their families frequently are less likely to get depressed, develop an eating disorder, or engage in risky activities. When a child is feeling down or depressed, family dinner can act as an intervention.
1. Mealtime is central to the Christian life. Jesus, on his last night before his crucifixion, gathered the disciples for the “Last Supper.” Today, we continue this celebration through Holy Communion. Yet you as families can celebrate the presence of Christ at your table… and even include bread and juice (or wine) at your own family table. Also, Jesus shared meal upon meal with people. He even said, “I am the bread of life.” So as we gather with our families, we gather, too, with “the Bread of Life” and experience God’s grace.
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