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!
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.
Readers in the household take turns reading.
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?
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.