Incarnation families are gathering on Sunday mornings at 9:30am in Alcova Heights Park—or at home, or in another lovely natural spot—for a casual time of family prayer and nature exploration. This fall, we’re enjoying art, music, and nature together, and we’re pondering Jesus’ maxims or "great truths." Here's this week's verse:
"give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on the one who wants to borrow" Matthew 5:42
What does this "great truth" say about God?
What does it say about us?
Can you think of any stories Jesus told that give us examples of giving to someone who asks? Can you think of any examples from our own time?
November Art and Music
"Steal Away to Jesus" is this month's song from the Fisk Jubilee Singers and Wallace Willis. Though not as well known as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" or "Wade in the Water," it's quite moving. Huge thanks to Eva-Elizabeth for recording this gorgeous a cappella version for us! (If it's your turn to organize family prayer at your house, may I recommend simply quieting down and listening to this!?):
Our third Jacob Lawrence painting is A Family, from 1943:
Go ahead and print out this image, put it on the fridge, or save it as your phone's lock screen. Ask the kids for their observations. Does it look like your family's dinner table?
Family Tables
As we gather around our own tables, it might be a nice time to think and learn more about the communal meal we share at church:
This video is directed toward our youngest kids, identifying items in our basic "table setting" for the Eucharist. (The point is to foster a greater connection to what we do each week in Big Church, conveying the sense that the Eucharist is a wonderful gift for us . . . we'll continue to build on this!) With your older kids, use this video as a jumping off point to discuss a little more about what they know or what questions they have about communion. I'd love to hear about what comes up!
Other links and announcements:
All Saints Day is this Sunday; I wrote a blog post about the holiday and fostering family connections a couple years ago: "All Saints Day: Let's Talk About Dead People."
Save the Date: on November 22, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Incarnation kids will help lead the service (like we did on Pentecost)! Keep an eye out for emails from me about how your family can help. We'll be celebrating God's gifts from creation—from the stars, to sea creatures, to rocks and minerals, animals, humans, to God's gift of Jesus to us. Look out for more details from me, and start thinking about what your kids are into that they could share: e.g., a rock collection, a beautiful seashell, photo of a pet?!
Advent Wonder: we'll also be looking for help as we observe Advent and celebrate Christmas together! Does your family have a tradition—a recipe, a craft, a song, a beloved nativity scene—that you'd be willing to share? Keep it in the back of your mind, or go ahead and let me know if anything immediately popped into your brain.