First Congregational United Church of Christ – Eugene, Oregon FAMILY DEVOTIONAL Week of: 9-18-16 Scripture~ 8:18-9:1

Below you will find:  Scripture for the week and background on the scripture.  Conversational prompts about the scripture  Ideas for morning prayers  Family faith sharing activities for your family altar  Ideas for bedtime prayers

Gretchen Jewett, Director of Children and Family Ministries

Scripture for this week: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 Sunday School Lesson: We are learning we can be honest with God. Biblical Background: This passage reminds us how much God cares for us. Despite the fact that the people have ignored Jeremiah’s warnings and have not changed their ways, God does not abandon them. is suffering from drought. is poised to invade. Jeremiah, who has foreseen what would happen if the people refuse to change, laments what he and his nation have become. Jeremiah felt safe sharing his emotions with God, and we can be encouraged to trust God in the same way. God weeps with us at disasters, even if we bring them on ourselves. It is not always easy to share our feelings. This story reminds us that we can always be honest with God—Any time, anywhere—whatever we feel.

Conversation Prompts: Older Children: Jeremiah was a of God and shared God’s lament with others. Being a prophet today: What would God lament in our world today? Or, what would make God sad in our world today?

Younger Children: It is okay to share all of our feelings with God, even when we are sad or scared. When is a time you have shared your feelings with God? How does it feel when we share our feelings with God?

Morning Prayers: Loving God hear our prayer. Be with us here and everywhere. Amen.

Or,

O God, it is good to know that we can talk to you at any time and you are always there to listen to us and to help us. Amen.

First Congregational United Church of Christ – Eugene, Oregon FAMILY DEVOTIONAL Week of: 9-18-16 Scripture~ Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

Family Faith Sharing Activities (For your family altar): Box of Concerns: Work with your kids to decorate box and cut a slit in the top. Place this box on your family altar along with small pieces of paper and a pencil or markers. Leave this box on your family altar as a place for family members to write/draw their concerns/worries they want to share with God and put them in the box.

How I Can Be a Helper: God called on Jeremiah to be his helper. Trace your child’s hand on a piece of construction paper and cut it out. Have them write their name on the hand and how they too (like Jeremiah) can be a helper to God. Place hand on the family altar as a reminder that we can all be God’s helpers.

Bed Time Prayers:

Lord’s Prayer Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Or: Jesus Savior, wash away all that has been wrong today. Help me every day to be good and gentle more like thee. Amen.

Or: Free Form Prayer One way to share our feelings with God is through prayer. As you tuck in your child at night, have both parent and child each thank God for something that has happened or ask for God’s help. Child example: Thank you for my food today and for my family. Please help me not to fall anymore at recess. Amen. Parent example: Dear God, thank you for helping me to remain calm even when I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed today. Please help me to remember to be present in the moment and appreciate the small wonders in your world. Amen.