The Family Table
where we feast and are formed
Plan a meal each week (breakfast, lunch, or dinner--whichever works best for that week) to all sit down together to eat, share a sacred story, wonder, and give thanks for one another. Suggested: place a candle in the middle of the table for this meal. Printable Version of the Prayers, Story, and Questions Found Here - or simply use the website on your phone!
The Meal
Light the candle.
If you are using an Advent Wreath, consider lighting the wreath instead of your candle and saying one of these prayers.
Bless.
Use this or create your own blessing.
Gracious God, bless this food, the gifts of your creation, and all the hands that played a part in bringing it to this table.
Bless this table, around which we gather, and bless all those we wish were with us today.
Help us to listen to your word and to each other so that we might hear the Good News in this story.
Read.
Readers in the household take turns reading.
November 29 - December 5
Mark 13:24-37 ┃ Advent I
Let us hear the Good News of God:
The Coming of the Son of Man
‘But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
The Necessity for Watchfulness
‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’
Thanks be to God!
Question.
Use some or all of these questions as you wish. If you have younger children in your household, you might invite them to make up their own question to ask!
- What do you think it might have smelled...tasted...felt...looked...sounded...like to have been there?
- If this story happened today, what might be different?
- Is there a place that reminds you of this story?
- Have you heard another story similar to this one (TV/movie/play, song, book)?
- Who would you be if you were in this story?
- Who might God want you to be like in this story?
- How can this story help you?
Bless.
Gracious God, we thank you for all we have been given, the blessings of this table, and the blessings of our daily lives.
Thank you for all we have heard, your voice in both scripture and in the words of those we love.
We pray for the courage to speak the Good News in the world around us either by word or action, that we may play our part in the sacred story.