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First Presbyterian Church

Family Conversations

A Month of Devotions and Talk-topics

for Adults and Children

This is available at the Welcome Center at First Presbyterian.

Weekly readings are taken from Seasons of the Spirit...at Home, a brief daily devotional for families. Full copies are available at our Welcome Center in the great room or you may download them on the link below.

To download the weekly readings for February 10 - May 11 click on the link below:

This Season ... at Home Lent, Easter 2008

This Season...at Home

Lent, Easter 2008

Lent and Easter: From Quiet Reflection to Joyful Alleluias
Lent is a quiet time in which we make space for reflection, prayer, and self-examination. It is a time when we identify those things which may be getting in between us and God, a time for saying sorry, and looking for the ways in which we can decide what may need to be changed in our lives. God promises to help us if we really want to live more like Jesus. We travel week by week on a journey with Jesus to the cross arriving finally at the remembrance of Jesus� death. Throughout this time we remind ourselves of the journey with the colour purple and simplified rituals during worship.
But purple does not last forever. Easter arrives, dressed in white and gold, and with a flurry of Alleluias! We celebrate with the disciples that Christ is alive. And we travel again, this time towards Pentecost when we welcome the Holy Spirit, sent to us in wind and flames.

A family Easter candle One of the special parts of the Easter service in many communities of faith is the lighting of the Easter or Paschal candle. Create one for home by making and decorating a family candle. Perhaps you will want to make your candle during Holy Week.

Materials:

� thick white candle, at least 15 cm/6 in tall

� white tissue paper

� thin white glue

� permanent pens

� 5 whole cloves

Draw some Easter symbols such as a cross, egg, rainbow, butterfly, or flower with the permanent marker on the tissue paper and cut out. Working on a small section at a time brush glue on the candle and carefully flatten the tissue paper symbol onto the glue. With a heated sharp object make five holes in the side of the candle to form a cross. Insert a clove into each hole. Light the candle during devotions.

Easter tree Just prior to Easter Sunday, decorate a branch with Easter symbols. Symbol suggestions will be given each week for you to consider adding to the branch. This will help all in the house remember that Easter is not just one day but 50 days of celebration.

Materials:

� tree branch, budding if possible

� eggs, blown out and decorated

� paper shapes

� string or yarn

You can either leave the branch as it is or shape it into a cross by removing extra branches. Place the branch upright in a container of water or sand and rocks. Use string or yarn to tie a paper people shape for each person in the family. Add more paper shapes each week through the Easter season.

April 6, 2008
Risen Indeed
Acts 2:14a, 36−41
Psalm 116:1−4, 12−19
1 Peter 1:17−23
Luke 24:13−35

Bringing the scriptures home
Many of us wonder about what kind of �body� Jesus had after the Resurrection. But none can know exactly other than that Jesus� friends recognized him as the same Jesus they knew from before the crucifixion. The loaf of broken bread was an unmistakable sign for them that this was indeed Jesus in their midst. Jesus explained the events of the last few days to his friends with infinite love and patience.

Easter tree
Add a paper loaf of bread this week to remind you that Jesus is known to us in the Communion bread.

Family prayer
Gracious God, thank you that Jesus continues to come to us even today. Help us to always say �welcome.� Amen.

April 13, 2008
Life Abundant
Acts 2:42−47
Psalm 23
1 Peter 2:19−25
John 10:1−10

Bringing the scriptures home
This Psalm is familiar to many of us as the �Shepherd Psalm.� But many of the images are not so familiar. We may have little or no contact with sheep or shepherds and most of us have not encountered a host who poured oil on us. But it is intriguing to think of lying in green valleys and making our way through the dark. There is great security depicted here, and we can take comfort.

Easter tree
Add some paper sheep to your tree. Remember that God cares for us tenderly and lovingly.

Family prayer
Thank you, loving God, for making a home for us within your love. We know that we can always rely on you. Amen.

April 20, 2008
A Place with God
Acts 7:55−60
Psalm 31:1−5, 15−16
1 Peter 2:2−10
John 14:1−14

Bringing the scriptures home
Jesus repeats his message twice. God is always with us. If you want to know God, look at Jesus. God speaks and acts through Jesus. Now, it is our turn. If we believe in Jesus we will show it forth in the world.

Easter tree
Wind a ribbon through the branches of the Easter tree to symbolize that Jesus always shows us the way.

Family prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for showing us the way to God. Help us to always show loving actions to others so they can see God in us. Amen.

April 27, 2008
Spirited Love
Acts 17:22−31
Psalm 66:8−20
1 Peter 3:13−22
John 14:15−21

Bringing the scriptures home
This is another opportunity to explore our mysterious God. We hear that God is as close as can be. God is deep within each of us, loving us and moving us to love others. The more we love others the more we feel God�s love. And the more we feel God�s love the more we are really able to love others.

Easter tree
Add some hearts to your tree this week to symbolize the infinite love Jesus has for us.

Family prayer
We thank you, wonderful God, for your love which fills us and surrounds us each day. Help us to grow in love for you and for others. Amen.

May 4, 2008
Community of Prayer
Acts 1:6−14
Psalm 68:1−10, 32−35
1 Peter 4:12−14, 5:6−11
John 17:1−11

Bringing the scripture home
Jesus is concerned for his friends. He knows what is coming and prays for them. He has cared for them during his time on earth and entrusts them into God�s care. Jesus asks for protection; protection from temptations, fears, and discouragement. Above all, Jesus wants them to stay close to God.

Easter tree
Cut out people figures and cluster them together on the tree. Or, if possible, cut short paper chains of people and string them on the branches. Jesus knows we live best in loving community and prays for us constantly.

Family prayer
Thank you, God, for our community of loving friends. Help us to always welcome others to our community. Amen.

May 11, 2008
Life-giving Spirit
Acts 2:1−21
Psalm 104:24−34, 35b
1 Corinthians 12:3b−13
John 20:19−23

Bringing the scriptures home
What a day! A party with fire, and wind, and different languages, and an amazing gift from God. The Holy Spirit arrives bearing spiritual gifts and the witnesses are forever changed. The excitement remains with us today as we too acknowledge God�s deeds of power.

Easter tree
Add paper flames to celebrate the Holy Spirit.

Family prayer
We thank you, dear God, for the gift of the Holy Spirit who comes to guide us each day. Thank you for the life and love you pour out upon us. Amen.

Thank you Jar
Look at a few jars in your cupboards. Take out a large jar, and imagine it being nearly empty. Look at a small jar and imagine it being full. The contents of the nearly empty large jar in reality might actually be more than the contents of full small jar. When you look at the jars how do you feel about abundance and scarcity?
Together, write a grace thanking God for all that we have. Include words about being thankful, acknowledge the gift of abundance and bless the food so it might strengthen all who eat it to live in God�s way.

This page was last updated on May 05, 2008.