Hi, Friends!
It's Sunday morning, and we are thinking of you big time! We hope you got the link to the first Liturgy for the Living Room from John Jay—it's a beautiful recording of all the meaningful elements in a worship service so that you can experience church in your home.
In lieu of our regular kid programming, Pastor Mary and I are providing a video with a short Bible lesson that complements John Jay's teaching on Envy. This week our "story" is actually this cool thing called a proverb, which is a little piece of awesome advice in the Bible.
After you watch the video, then you and your family members can use the discussion prompts and activities to apply the lesson (scroll down to find those). We hope they are helpful and fun!
Talk It Out
Recap: What does envy look like right now in this season of the coronavirus?
Check In With Yourself: How are you experiencing a longing for the past or the future right now?
Wonder: What are you wondering right now as you think about this lesson? Share it with your family/friends.
Apply It
Gratitude helps us find peace in the present. Have everyone take a turn sharing what they are grateful for about each person in your family today
Helping out can also give us some peace if we are anxious. On a piece of paper, have everyone write one way they want to help out around the house during this time when we are going to be home more often. Then high five each other when you follow through with your commitment!
Take some time to think about your house and all that it provides for you. Try not to think about what you wish your house was like (don't envy!). Instead, appreciate the space you have. To help you do that, draw a map of your house. In each section, write down what you most love about that space or what it provides for you. You could even give nicknames to each room or make your favorite rooms bigger—get creative! Post the map somewhere to remind you to be grateful for your home when you get cabin fever.
God created Adam by breathing into him, so breathing reminds us that we need God and that God is as close as our breath. Try a breathing exercise to help you focus on the present moment and restore peacefulness. You can do these anytime, anywhere.
Shoulder Shrugs: Roll your shoulders back and down so they are away from your ears. Breathe deeply in through your nose as you raise your shoulders up by your ears. Breathe out and lower your shoulders. Repeat movement 3-5 times and feel the tension melt away.
Darth Vader Breath: Breathe deeply in and out while exhaling strongly through an open mouth.
Ocean Waves: Close your eyes and imagine you are an ocean wave. Breathe in and out deeply as if you are an ocean wave washing on the beach. Alternate the frequency of your breath to become shorter and longer waves.
Happy Sunday and much love to all of you! Stay tuned for more fun stuff coming at you this week.
With love and virtual hugs,
Pastors Lindsay and Mary