Engage @ Home
Engage @ Home
Engage @ Home
Engage @ Home
Engage @ Home
Engage @ Home
Engage @ Home
Engage @ Home
Engage @ home
Engage @ home
Engaging with God can be challenging in the best of times, but engaging with God in the midst of a pandemic, without being able to be in church or fellowship with other Christians (not to mention with primary age and secondary age children running around) is really tough. We want to help you and your whole family engage with God during this lockdown.
Engage worship has developed some daily posts which include exercises and things to think about so that we can engage with God and the hope of our faith. We will post a new one each day. We hope you enjoy them and a big thanks to Engage worship!
December 25
… and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Watch:
Listen:
Pray
Thank God for sending his son into the world.
God our Father,
today the Saviour is born
and those who live in darkness are seeing a great light.
Help us, who greet the birth of Christ with joy,
to live in the light of your Son
and to share the good news of your love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who has come into the world. Amen.
Chat
Have a chat with someone: What was the best gift this Christmas?
Do
Have a Merry Christmas!
December 24
…because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
Listen
Watch
Pray
Pray for babies being born during this time and their parents.
When all things in silence lay, and the night was in the midst of her course, you Word leaped down from your royal throne, O God. So we rejoice and give you praise, that your Word may live in us, and that we may glorify you for ever. Amen
based on Wisdom of Solomon 18:14, Orthodox liturgy in The Book of a Thousand Prayers compiled by Angela Ashwin
Chat
Have a chat with someone: What is your favourite Christmas movie?
Do
Give a donation to a homeless charity or give a homeless person some spare change if you can.
December 23
An angel of the Lord appeared and said: “Do not be afraid; for see—I am
bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, [a] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, [b] praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
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Pray
Pray for those who feel afraid at the moment. May they feel comfort and protection.
With the shepherds of Bethlehem
help us, oh Lord, to stand in vigil on the eve of your Coming,
to run with haste to meet you,
to see your face in the faces of others
and to wake from our sleep as a new world is being born.
With the angels of Bethlehem help us,
oh Lord, to tell the whole world of your presence
God is with us!
Let us create peace amongst people
and work for justice amongst nations.
With Jesus, the infant Christ
help us, oh Lord,
to cherish the hope that is born at Advent,
to hear the calling of your people,
to nurture the seeds of your Kingdom
and through our actions to be messengers of your love
in building communities of service and prayer.
Amen.
This prayer was sent by Miguel Alonzo Macias from Honduras for CAFOD
Chat
Have a chat with someone: What is your favourite Christmas food?
Do
Leave someone a note, voice message, or text message to spread cheer and joy.
December 22
Listen:
Pray
Pray for those who will be missing loved ones this Christmas.
Christ our Advent hope, bare brown trees, etched dark across a winter sky, leaves fallen, rustling, ground hard and cold, remind us to prepare for your coming; remind us to prepare for the time when the soles of your feet will touch the ground, when you will become one of us to be at one with us.
Kate McIlhagga- The Book of a Thousand Prayers compiled by Angela Ashwin
Chat
Have a chat with someone: How hard is it to wait? What’s something you’ve had to wait a long time for?
Do
Set a timer and spend 5 minutes in silence….waiting.
December 21
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
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Watch:
Pray
Pray for those who also don’t have a place to lay their head tonight.
Vulnerable God,
As we contemplate the wonder of your birth,
Stir in us the desire to cradle those who have no where to lay their head,
That together we may rock the boat of injustice.
Give us grace to offer our hands to those who reach out
That with faltering steps we may find a way home
And kindle our hearts to embrace the rejected and dispossessed
And so meet you face to face.
We ask this in your name. Amen.
Annabel Shilson-Thomas/CAFOD
Chat
Have a chat with someone: How do you decorate your home for Christmas?
Do
Visit someone today, even if it just means standing on their doorstep for a bit.
December 20
Listen:
Watch:
Pray
God our Father,
the angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary
that she was to be the mother of your Son.
Though Mary was afraid,
she responded to your call with joy.
Help us, whom you call to serve you,
to share like her in your great work
of bringing to our world your love and healing.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world. Amen.
Chat
Have a chat with someone: What’s a favourite memory you have of your mum or a mother-like figure in your life?
Do
Do something that you have been too nervous or afraid to do.
December 19
Listen:
Watch:
Pray
Pray for joy in our homes and communities.
God, as we look forward to Christmas, may we have the joy, excitement, and anticipation of children as they look forward to Father Christmas coming. May we greet your coming with the same sense of awe. Amen
Chat
Have a chat with someone: What is your favourite part of the Ross Christmas Carnival?
Do
Send a Christmas card to someone today.
December 18
Listen:
Watch:
Pray
Thank God for the season of Christmas- for Christmas trees and decorations and baked goodies and more!
A prayer for your Christmas tree:
This tree is a blessing to our home. It reminds us of all that is beautiful, all that is filled with the gentleness and the promise of God. It stands in our midst as a tree of light, that we might promise such beauty to one another and to our world. It stands like that tree of paradise that God made into the tree of life, the cross of Jesus.
from the Catholic News Agency
Chat
Have a chat with someone: What is your favourite Christmas ornament and why?
Do
Make a Christmas ornament for someone.
December 17
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Luke 2: 8
Listen:
Watch:
Pray
Pray for people working 0-hour contract jobs, migrant workers, and other jobs that you or I might not want to do.
With the shepherds of Bethlehem
help us, oh Lord, to stand in vigil on the eve of your Coming,
to run with haste to meet you,
to see your face in the faces of others
and to wake from our sleep as a new world is being born.
(this is part of a prayer on CAFOD sent by Miguel Alonzo Macias from Honduras)
Chat
Have a chat with someone: What was the first Christmas present you ever bought?
Do
Plan a way to say thank you to your mail person and/or rubbish people this Christmas; it could be just a note or maybe a box of chocolates!
December 16
Today we celebrate the joy of pantomimes, theatres, and the performing arts. This year we especially think of the challenges that performers face during this pandemic, but look forward to the future where they can share their gifts more widely once again.
Watch:
Pray
Pray for the performing arts to be able to survive this time of reduced activity and come back in strength. Pray for the performers who will be struggling financially.
‘Lord, we thank you for creating each and every person with unique gifts and skills. We especially thank you for those that entertain us and bring such joy to this time of year. We pray that they too may experience your joy. Provide for them and their businesses. Amen.
Chat
Have a chat with someone: What is the best pantomime you’ve seen?
Do
Encourage an actor/ actress/ musician/ performer today.
