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.

April 18 - 24

John 20:19-31 ┃ Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Let us hear the Good News of God:

Jesus appears to the disciples

While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” They were terrified and afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost.

He said to them, “Why are you startled? Why are doubts arising in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me! Touch me and see, for a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones like you see I have.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. Because they were wondering and questioning in the midst of their happiness, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish. Taking it, he ate it in front of them.

Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. He said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

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!

  • Are there any words you really like in this story? Are there any words you don’t understand?

  • Have you ever been in a situation like this one before?

  • Are there any people that remind you of this story?

  • What is the Good News in this story?

  • What do you need to learn from this story?

  • Now that you’ve heard this story, what might God need you to do?


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.