Introducing a series of five devotions for families

This is a series of five devotions that have been specifically written for families confined to their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic by Scripture Union Global. The sessions are designed for all ages and are simple to use – they don’t require lots of set up or materials, just you and your family.

The devotional can be used as your church service on a Sunday or divided up over a few weeknights – you choose what works best for your family. Alternatively, you could join together with other households via an online platform.

The series is structured around the choices we can make during this time. It’s a good time to talk together as families about how we respond to this global crisis. Each devotional will focus on one of these choices:

• Anxiety v peace: Matthew 6:28-31 – do not worry
• Boredom v purpose: Matthew 5 – how are we to live?
• Looking after #1 v caring for others: Matthew 5:13-16 – being salt and light
• Loneliness v community: Matthew 14 – reaching out to others
• Fear v faith: Matthew 8:22-27 – Jesus calms the storm

 Practical suggestions for families

• Find what works best for you, recognising that each family is different. Don’t set high expectations of what the session will look like but celebrate the small wins.
• Choose a place to have your time together. Have the same place each time to create a routine. This could be around a table or on the couch together.
• Have at least one adult in the family read through the material beforehand and familiarise themselves with it. Share this responsibility around. One day it could be Dad, the next day it could be Gran.
• Divide the tasks up. Different members of the family can read the Bible passage or ask the questions or lead a song. A family member might like to play an item as part of the response time.
• Sharing times can be difficult. To avoid one family member dominating the conversation, encourage active listening: each person shares while the others listen in affirming silence. Then, when everyone has shared, there can be discussion. This allows each person to share without interruptions.

Each session includes

To do a simple fun activity (no materials required)

To talk about a question to get the conversation started

To explore a short Bible passage to read and an optional video clip to view

To think about something for the family to ponder

To respond choose from a few options (prayer ideas, a song to sing, an action)

To pray finish by praying a simple blessing together

If you want to download the devotions go to Scripture Union Global’s webpage and scroll to the bottom and click the buttons for the individual devotions,

Alternatively, click this link to download all the devotions together as a pdf.

The Full Armour of God

Sing along – and do the actions!

Here are ten activities that children or young people might want to try during the half-term to listen to God and inspire creativity:

(Why not print off the list and encourage the children and young people you know to have a go at one or more or all of them?)

1. Get up to date! Watch a television news broadcast or read some news on the Internet. What stories provoke a reaction? What might God have to say about those stories?
2. Get sweaty! Take part in some sport or exercise (you might even want to join Methodist staff member Gareth for a boxercise session here). What were your thoughts and feelings throughout the exercise and what were your thoughts on completion?
3. Tune in! Listen to some music – worship or chart! What words in the songs stand out for you or might say something about God or the world?
4. Netflix and pray! Watch a film or a TV show with friends or family and then talk together afterwards about what you might have learned or noticed. Does it remind you of a particular Bible story or passage? Where might you have experienced or seen God in the story?
5. For the bookworms! Think about a book you have read recently that you enjoyed or that inspired you. What feelings did it bring about for you and why? Where did you see glimpses of God in the story?
6. All the feels! Take part in a sensory activity – paddle in a cold stream (or stick your feet in a cold bath!) or sit in a quiet spot and listen to the birdsong and other sounds around you, or gaze at the stars on a clear night. What might God be saying to you through these sensations?
7. Get biblical! Choose a guided Bible meditation to take part in on the TakeTime website. What might God have said to you as you wondered about the questions in the meditation?
8. Justice league! Spend some time reading about or researching a social justice issue that you really care about (like the climate crisis, poverty, homelessness, war, refugees, Covid-19 and health). Do you think God cares about this issue too? What might God want to say to you or to us about this subject?
9. Get schooled! Think about some of the things you’ve learned at school (or home school) in the last few weeks. Has anything surprised you or made you so interested you want to find out more? What are you curious about and where is God in that curiosity?
10. Everyday influencers! Think about a person who you admire, love or are inspired by. Or has someone done something recently that has really blessed you and made you feel thankful? Is there anything about that person that teaches you something about God or Jesus?