Families: Called to Hope
For 2004 our theme for Christian Home Month is "Families: Called to Hope." Traditionally celebrated in the month of May, congregations often choose other times to lift up families in worship and through activities planned for the church. Don't despair if you were not able to plan activities for May. There are several other important times to celebrate families. As noted earlier in this newslettter, Thanksgiving is a good time for planning worship or learning times. Another is at the beginning of the New Year; invite church families to take the "Family Covenant for Hopeful Living" found in the Christian Home Month 2004 leaflet. A third is the Sunday closest to Valentine's Day. If you did not receive the resources for this theme and would like to receive the leaflet, contact our office toll-free 1-877-899-2780, ext. 7170 or e-mail mnorton@gbod.org or view the leaflet online.
Our office sometimes receives requests for sermon topics, Scripture references, prayers, and hymns in support of families. Here is a brief list of what is available to you.
A sampling of resources included in The United Methodist Book of Worship.
- For an engaged couple, page 557
- For a couple who is just married, page 123 (from the Christian Marriage service)
- Blessing for a couple just married or for any couple at a special time of renewal, pages 125-26
- Marriage Anniversary Prayers, page 138
- For divorcing persons, page 626
- For the birth or adoption of a child, page 585
- For the blessing of a home, page 610
- For hope after loss of pregnancy, page 623
- For the anniversary of a death, page 548
Hymns, Prayers, and Collects of note in The United Methodist Hymnal (UMH) and in The Faith We Sing (TFWS) include:
- At the Birth of a Child, UMH 146
- Happy the Home When God Is There, UMH 445
- Where Charity and Love Prevail, UMH 549
- A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition, UMH 607
- When Love Is Found, UMH 643
- Canticle of Love, UMH 646
- O Lord, May Church and Home Combine, UMH 695
- Hymn of Promise, UMH 707
- I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry, TFWS 2051
- The Family Prayer Song, TFWS 2188
- He Who Began a Good Work in You, TFWS 2163
- A Mother Lined a Basket, TFWS 2189
- Who Is My Mother, Who Is My Brother? TFWS 2225
- Lord, We Come to Ask Your Blessing, TFWS 2230
Although there are numerous Scripture selections that could be used for study and in sermons, here are four to think about:
- Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Use this to talk about the importance of worship and study in the household, as well as in the church building.
- Matthew 12:46-50. Jesus rejects the bounds of the human family for the larger family of those who love and serve God.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. The familiar words on the importance of love help us set priorities within our human relationships, as well as with our relationship to God.
- Philippians 2:1-4. Those factors that contribute to the self-esteem of each family member help us build healthy families.
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