At-Home Family Worship for the Second Sunday of Lent

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, maybe light a candle. Then, invite one person to lead the opening prayer.

2. OPENING PRAYER

Prayer leader: The Lord be with You
All: And also with you.
Prayer leader: Let us pray.

God of mercy and forgiveness,
you made us to love you and your creation
and to love our neighbors as ourselves
but we fall into sin
when we choose to do hurtful things;
guide us through the forty days of Lent
to come closer to you
with prayer, fasting and giving. Amen.

(from Common Pray for Children & Families)

3. READING

Read together Mark 8:34-38

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

4. REFLECTION

Watch this reflection on the reading by Postulant for Holy Order, Daniela Lee!

5. MUSIC

Listen to this classic Lenten hymn sung by the choir and congregation at Bradford Cathedral.

6. CLOSING PRAYER

Take a moment to pause. Invite a member of the household to be the prayer leader to lead these or similar prayers:

Prayer leader: Let’s pray together silently or out loud. First, let’s say thank you to God for the good things in our lives. Are there specific things you’d 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

All: 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.