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.
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 1-7
Matthew 5:1-12 ┃ Happy Are They
Let us hear the Good News of God:
The Beatitudes
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying:
“Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.
“Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
“Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.
“Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.
“Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
“Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me.
Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you.
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.