Family Web Time - Activities and Prayers
Seasonal Prayers
Seasonal Prayer: Ordinary Time, Fall
Harvest Time Prayer
God of goodness,
You give us the land to provide us with food.
May the food that is harvested this year sustain our lives, and may we always use it for your glory and the good of all. Through this nourishment may we have the strength to be signs of faith, hope, and love to each other and to the world. Let our autumn sharing lead us to know you better and to love one another more fully.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Seasonal Prayer: Advent
Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath is a popular tradition used to prepare for Christmas. Here is a brief ritual you can use at home. You will need a simple wreath, four candles (three purple and one white if you can find them), a blessing for the first day, and a prayer. You light one candle the first week, two the second, and so on. During the final week, you will have four candles lit. Gather at the wreath every day during Advent (or as often as you can). Here is a blessing for the first day, and a prayer that is to be said each day after.
Advent Wreath blessing: “Lord God, let your blessing come upon us and upon this Advent wreath. May the wreath and its lights be signs of Christ’s promise to bring us to salvation. May Jesus come quickly and not delay. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Daily Advent Prayer:
Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
Leader: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation; in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you in our food and in our sharing. Blessed are you in the light of this wreath. Blessed are you as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Come, Lord, Jesus!
Seasonal Prayer: Christmas Season
Stretch the Season
If at all possible, take a day off from regular, menial tasks during the season to focus on quality time together as a family. Play together. Sing together. Do something that you’ve wanted to do for some time but just “never had the time.” This is an opportunity for “wasting time” on one another. It can be the most “productive” time you spend together all year. Just be sure to make this day tons of fun!
Seasonal Prayer: Ordinary Time, Winter
God’s Word
At least one evening each week at dinner, use the Bible as part of the meal prayer. Consider having various family members read a short verse from the Bible or take turns sharing their favorite Bible stories, and then discussing, as a family, the lessons that can be learned from the stories. Assign an evening to each family member and give them time to prepare for leading the dinner-time Scripture reading, sharing, and prayer.
Seasonal Prayer: Lent
An Evening Psalm
Some evening, after various activities have come to a close, pray aloud a psalm together.
Start the psalm with the following introduction: O God, come to our aid.” Everybody answers, “Lord, hurry to help us.” Older children can take turns reading verses of the psalm till it is finished. Close with the Glory Be.
Choose one from the following psalms, which are used at Mass used during Lent:
Psalm 50, Psalm 32, Psalm 94, Psalm 22, Psalm 129, Psalm 21.
Seasonal Prayer: Easter Season
Celebration of New Life
Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
Leader: God of sun and fresh breezes, open our hearts to the great promise of eternal life. We believe in you. We want to share the wonders of your love in our home with the people we love the best. We want to share what we believe with others. Help us to know that if we live and believe in you, we will live forever with you in heaven. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, All: Amen.
Invite everyone to share this special greeting with one other person: “Help me believe in Jesus’ promise.” The response is: “I will help you!”
After all have shared the special greeting the prayer continues…
Leader: May the God of life bless us, for we are God’s children, born to eternal life.
All: Amen
Leader: May the promise of the Son be fulfilled in our home and in our hearts.
All: Amen
Leader: May the undying love of the Blessed Trinity remind us of the love and care we should have for one another.
All: Amen
Leader: May the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come upon you and remain with us forever.
All: Amen.
Seasonal Prayer: Ordinary Time, Spring/Summer
“Bonfire” Prayer
After dark, build a fire in a fire pit, the outdoor grill, or in a metal trash can. Sit around the fire and have each person write down one wish or dream he or she has for the citizens of this country, one wish or dream for this family, and one dream or wish for him or herself.
(Little ones can dictate their dreams and wishes). Scrap paper, index cards, or cut-up cereal boxes will do for the writing.
Each person then takes a turn reading his/her dream or wish for the country and for the family - invite all to share their personal dream or wish but allow anyone to “pass” on the personal dream or wish if they are hesitant to share. After each person has expressed his/her dreams and wishes, he/she tosses the paper into the fire, and the whole group responds in prayer: “Lord, hear our prayer.” When all have had an opportunity to share, pray The Our Father together.
