Family Devotions Model: Daily Devotional or Saturday Morning Devotions (20 minutes)

Gather as a family for devotions on Saturday morning, or choose an alternative time during the weekend. Create a family altar by placing a cross or a picture of a cross in the center of a table. On the table, place a Bible and a hymnal. Gather the whole family, including children, around the altar (table). Then follow the devotional model of Adoration , Confession, Thanksgiving, Scripture Reading and Reflection (ACTS). Close with a prayer circle.

Adoration: Prayer and Praise (5 minutes)
Ask a family member to read a psalm.
Suggestions:
Psalm 23        Psalm 34    Psalm 67
Psalm 95:1-7      Psalm 100     Psalm 103: 1-18
Psalm 136:1-9    Psalm 150

Singing a Favorite Hymn
Suggested hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal
92   For the Beauty of the Earth
408  The Gift of Love
383  This Is a Day of New Beginnings
460  Help Us Accept Each Other

Confession and Receiving God's Forgiveness (2 minutes)
Read Psalm 51.
Members of the family speak words of forgiveness, hold hands, or embrace in a circle to receive God's forgiveness, saying to one another: "In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven."

Thanksgiving (3 minutes) Ask one another the following questions:

• What are you thankful for today?
• What blessings have you received from God?

Scripture Reading and Reflection (8 minutes)
(Read one of the following Scriptures.)
Genesis 1:1-31         Joshua 24:14-18
Isaiah 12:2-6           Jeremiah 31: 31-34
Matthew 5:1-12        Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 12:46-49     Matthew 22:35-40
Acts 16:11-15          Hebrews 13:1-6
John 3:16-17          Mark 9:33-37
1 Cor. 13:1-13       Romans 12:1-13

The Family Discusses the Meaning of the Scripture
Ask family members to think about the following questions and share with one another:
What do I want the most for our family?
What is the Word of God saying to our family today?
How can I contribute to the well-being of our family?
How can our family share the love of God with others?

Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
(Family members may share their prayer concerns, then pray together the following prayer.)

Loving God, we praise you and we love you. We thank you for forgiving us, and we thank you for uniting us as a family. We present to you our prayer concerns. In your mercy, grant us healing, hope, joy, and peace. Help us accept each other with the love of Jesus. help us to grow in faith, and teach us to reach out in love and service to our neighbors. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

___________

    Reprinted from the 1997 Christian Home Month planning resource, which was developed by staff of the General Board of Discipleship. Permission is granted to download and copy this material.

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