The Family Zone
Lectionary-Based Playlist /Issue 27/October 4, 2020
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
The second reading from Paul to the Phillipians, this week, reminds us to bring our concerns to God. Prayer can be a powerful force in our lives and God desires that we communicate often. This Sunday's Gospel directs us toward embracing Christ in our lives, especially in these difficult times, but in ALL times! How can we direct our family to trust in God and be a positive force in bringing about God's kingdom here on earth? This week, our learning playlist gives you many options to make prayer a central focus and through those prayers, to direct God's attention to your needs and the needs of the world. Today is also the Feast of St. Francis. The style of prayer that St. Francis taught was to find God out in the world. What a great week to seek out the presence of God!
As always, this playlist is a menu of choices. Pick the option or options that work best for your family to help you all better understand the message of this week's liturgy.
READ!
Family Stories:
- "What Happens When I Talk to God: The Power of Prayer for Boys and Girls" by Stormie Omartian
- "The Monks Daily Bread" by Sylvia Dorham
- " In the Candle’s Glow" by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson and Amandine Wanert
Articles for Parents: "5 Ways to Improve Your Prayer Life" by Emilie Callan https://saltandlighttv.org/blogfeed/getpost.php?id=79601
Blog Post for Teens: How to Start Talking to God: https://lifeteen.com/blog/prayer-101-start-talking-god/
Write!
- Write a prayer for your family! It can be a prayer of gratitude, a creed of what you believe or a prayer asking for God's blessing. It doesn't have to have a certain format; just use your authentic thoughts to share your message with God!
- Create a prayer jar out of materials around your house; every day, write a prayer on a piece of paper and add it to the jar
- We often learn best when we write things out. Write out one of our traditional prayers you are having problems memorizing such as the Our Father or the Hail Mary!
- St. Francis, whose feast day is today, October 4, wrote a prayer about being the instrument of peace. There is so much happening in our world right now. Write a prayer asking God to use you, as a force of good, to bring positive change to the world.
LISTEN!
Here are some podcasts centered around prayer that you and your family might enjoy!
CS 236: 7-1-19: Thankfulness Replay: Monday
PRAY!
- Pray for our world this week. Pray this Peace Prayer of St. Francis every night as a family:
https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/prayer/traditional-catholic-
prayers/saints-prayers/peace-prayer-of-saint-francis/
- Pray with this song! https://youtu.be/IAdouAceLYI
- Take a walk in your neighborhood or community and stop at various places to pray for the people there..Passing a firehouse? Pray for their safety / Passing a government building? Pray that they might be servant leaders/ Passing a school? Pray for students and teachers to open their minds to the challenges this year might present, etc. OR take the nature prayer walk below!
- Pray together this prayer for challenging times: Franciscan Prayer of Discomfort: https://www.paulistcenter.org/a-franciscan-prayer-may-god-bless-you-with-discomfort/
- On this final weekend of the Season of Creation, pray together for our earth:
WATCH!
Use the videos below as a springboard for conversation or to lead you and your child in prayer!
The Power of Prayer
Holy Father, Teach Us to Pray! The Pope Francis Minute
Let's Pray the Our Father! 2 min of guided prayer
Play!
- Play a game of Telephone with your family. Have one person start by whispering a prayer to another person. Did the prayer change when it got to the end? Talk about how God hears what we mean to say even if we do not say it correctly.
- Play pick up sticks while you pray in gratitude for others!
CREATE!
- Make a set of prayer prompts for family time, bedtime and mealtime! https://www.meetpenny.com/2013/08/free-printable-prayer-prompt-cards-for-kids-linky/
- Create a prayer wall in your home. Follow this link for ideas: https://www.projectinspired.com/4-must-try-prayer-wall-ideas-for-your-room/
- Use popsicle sticks to write the lines of prayers you want your child to learn. Encourage them to put the "puzzle" together in the correct order!
- Have an autumn campfire and enjoy the prayer below together as you create s'mores!
WONDER!
- Does God listen to your prayers? Share stories of when you experienced a prayer answered!
- How many prayers do you think come to God in one day?
- What is the best way to pray? Is there only one way? What can prayer look like?
- What would it feel like not to have God to pray to?
WORD OF THE WEEK!
Breviary: A prayer book that contains the prayers for the Liturgy of the Hours which is the official, non-sacramental, daily prayer of the Catholic Church. Prayers, scripture readings and reflections happen at regular hours during each day.
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Debtor in PossessionEmail: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210