At-Home Family Worship for the Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Every other week we are offering a simple family service for children and families to follow together at home. We hope this can act as another spiritual formation resource for families during this time we cannot meet in-person for worship.

1. Gather Together

Gather all of your household participants in one place. Find somewhere in your home that feels comfortable and inviting! You can sit in a circle, perhaps around the dinner table or in the living room. You could even get pillows and sit on the floor! Wherever you are, take a moment to pause and breathe together.

Invite one person to lead the opening prayer.

2. Opening Prayer

This prayer can read line by line with the household repeating back each line.

Prayer leader: Repeat after me.

Dear God,
Thank you SO much
For bringing us to this time and place.
Please be with us
As we listen, pray, and learn.
And help us remember that,
No matter what,
You will always love us.
Amen.

3. Reading

Read Phillipians 4:4-14 as a family, or watch this video of the reading by Director of Children’s Formation, Brooke Parker.

4. Reflection

Watch this short reflection on the reading from the amazing Holly Huff, Postulant for Holy Orders.

5. Music

The St. Mark’s children’s choir has been learning a song from the Taize community—Dona Nobis Pacem Domine (“give to us your peace”)

Music from Taize is wonderful to learn and listen to with children because it is usually simple and meditative and repetitive.

6. Closing Prayers

Invite another member of the household to be the prayer leader to lead these or similar prayers:

Prayer leader: Let us pray together, either silently or aloud, saying thank you to God for the good things in our lives. What would you like to say thank you for? (Give time for others to share out loud or silently.)  For all these things, let’s say together: Thank you so much, Lord!

All: Thank you so much, Lord!

Prayer leader: Now, let’s pray for the people or animals who are sick or need help. We also pray for the things that worry us. Are there specific people, animals, or worries you’d like to pray for? (Give time for others to share out loud or silently.) Let us say: Please God, help us!

All: Please God, help us!

Prayer Leader: Repeat after me.

Dear God,
Thank you for this time together
Stay with us
This week and always. 
Help us to be like Jesus. 
Amen.

These family services are inspired by and adapted from the Family Worship: Home Edition services at Trinity Wall Street in New York City.