Weekly Word for August

Deuteronomy 6: 4-9
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. 5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:

I have been reading a book entitled Shift. It is a book about family ministry based on the Shema. These verses have long been a part of daily prayer life of Judaism. As you read the verses above, the first part is a declaration of One God and of having faith with all that we are in that One God. Then in verse 7 we are instructed to recite these words to your children and to talk about them at home and away.

While this text is nothing new, it is a great reminder to all of us that church and home are inseparable. Parents are the primary religious educators as children learn from watching their parents. Prayers at mealtimes, at the beginning and/or end of the day, and reading the Bible are great ways for families to engage in spiritual disciplines at home.

If you feel like you don’t know the Bible stories, get a children’s Bible and read stories with your children. Talk about what happens in the story and where God is acting. Ask your children where they have seen God in the world today. Maybe in the sunset, or in a bright blue sky, maybe they have seen God in someone they interacted with at school or at the store with you.

Get involved in the life of the church as well. When children know their parents are going to Sunday school or going to worship, they see that as well. There are several Sunday School classes for adults as well as different opportunities for children. Serve as a greeter and have your child serve with you; have your elementary student sing in the children’s choir, have your youth participate in youth group events, come to all church events like the retreat at Mo Ranch or the upcoming events such as Hands Across Exposition or the Barn Dance. Let your children see your faith at home and help them build it by becoming and active part of the church family of Westminster. We are a great family of faith. Let us all remember to serve the One True God with all that we are and to tell our children about God.

Grace, Mercy and Peace,

Karen