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.

May 9 - 15

John 15:9-17 ┃ Love One Another

Let us hear the Good News of God:

Love each other

“As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last. As a result, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. I give you these commandments so that you can love each other.

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.