GLAD YOU ASKED: If Home Is Church Too (as each Sunday’s worship bulletin reminds us), how can I quickly and easily take home Sunday worship? How can I extend Sunday worship into the home?
I am glad you asked! You have a great resource for doing that right there in your hand when you participate in Sunday worship: the worship bulletin!
We make every effort to make our worship services accessible to everyone, including visitors who may not be very familiar with the liturgy and “the way” Lutherans worship at Christ Church. Therefore, the entire service is printed out in the bulletin and is easy to follow. The hymnal only needs to be used to look up hymns for assembly singing. Of course, that makes the service bulletin sometimes 20 pages and more long. But that need not be “wasted” and “throw-away” paper once the service is over. You can take the bulletin home and use it during the week as a valuable devotional resource for you and your family. It is a great tool for making Home Church too!
Here are some of the ways you can use the Sunday worship bulletin at home during the week:
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The appointed Scripture readings are printed out and readily available for reading, reflection and discussion. Each reading is introduced by a short commentary which can help your understanding of the Scripture passage.
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There are a variety of prayers (beginning with the Prayer of the Day which reflects the message of the season, the theme of the day or the message of the Scripture readings) that can be used in a devotion when you may be at a loss for what to say.
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There is a “devotional commentary” at the conclusion of every service which picks up on some theme in the appointed Scripture readings for the day and can be an important part of your home devotion.
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There is a “sermon summary” which can help you recall the sermon/message of the day.
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There is the “Taking Faith Home” tear-off home devotion sheet found on the last page of every bulletin insert which provides numerous opportunities to reflect on the worship service and appointed Scripture for the week.
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There is the “Family Memory Verse” selected each week from one of the appointed Scripture readings and spoken by the assembly in the service which can be used as part of “Taking Faith Home” or your “Faith 5 Home Devotions” or any other devotional exercise you might choose.
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There are references to the hymns and songs sung by the assembly which you can “sing again” at home. Or you can refer to the written text/words of each hymn as a devotion or resource for conversation. (You will need your own copy of the ELW to do this. Remember, each 5th grade youth gets their own copy when they receive their “first communion” in the spring of the year. You can order your own copy from Augsburg-Fortress or contact the church office.)
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The “Commemorations for the Week” listed after the “devotional commentary” recall some of the great historical leaders and heroes of the Christian tradition and church. They remind us of our connection to the whole Christian Church and the communion of saints throughout history. If you want to learn more about these “saints,” go to the internet. Give your kids the opportunity to do a little “online research” and share the results as part of your devotion.
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Use the Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness as part of your home devotions. One of the most difficult yet most important things we can do as Christians is to say to one another “I am sorry for . . . “ and to receive forgiveness from those who love us.
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Use the Greeting from the beginning of the service or the Benediction and Dismissal at the end of the service to bless one another at the beginning or the close of the day.
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Our entire liturgy is nothing more that Scripture set to music. Google phrases from the liturgy to find out from where in Scripture they come. (Hint! There is a list at the rear of ELW.)
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Pray for those who are listed on the Prayer List in the weekly bulletin insert. As Christians we get to go to our heavenly Poppa/Abba and talk to Him about any one and any thing.
Christ Church, the Lutheran Church of Zionsville
Rev. Dr. Steven E. Albertin (Click to E-mail)
