Refresh 2012


Thoughts on Dirt



Week 7: October 1-7

Open Our Homes

Focus Verse

John 13:34-35

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Scripture Readings:

Children's Activities


Prayer:

Open my eyes that they may see the deepest needs of people;
Move my hands that they may feed the hungry;
Touch my heart that it may bring warmth to the despairing;
Teach me the generosity that welcomes strangers;
Let me share my possessions to clothe the naked;
Give me the care that strengthens the sick;
Make me share in the quest to set the prisoner free.
In sharing our anxieties and our love, our poverty and our prosperity,
We partake of your divine presence.

~ Canaan Banana, Zimbabwe

Week 6: September 24-30

Open Our Mind

Focus Verse

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Scripture Readings:

Children's Activities


Prayer:

Merciful God, we present our lives as a sacrifice.  We come before you awkward and clumsy.  Give us the courage to consider ourselves worth giving to you.  Fill our minds with joy and transform us into people who believe wholeheartedly and whole-mindedly that the Kingdom of Heaven is here, and fill us with the certain knowledge that life is full and abundant and holy.  Open our minds to the hand of the creator in the world around us.  Help us to tread deeply in the Spirit and step away from what our minds conceive into the mystery of your kingdom.

Amen   

Week 5: September 17-23

Open Our Hearts

Focus Verse

Luke 10:27
He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

Scripture Readings:


Children's Activities


Prayer:

We are made in the image of a loving God.  
God help us receive your love.
We are made in the image of a loving God.
God help us to reflect your love.
We are made in the image of a loving God.
God help us share your love.

Amen   

Week 4: September 10-16

Prepare Our Homes

Focus Verse


Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Scripture Readings:


Children's Activities


Prayer:

We long to sit at your feet, but our lives are busy with the everydayness of life.  We long to serve you, but our schedules are tight.  We long to serve others, but we just need to tidy up a but first.  Help us to discipline ourselves so that we are available to your call both to sit and to serve.  Help us to simplify our lives to give us room to reach out.  Bless our homes that we might bless others.  

Amen   


Week 3: September 3-9

Prepare Our Minds

Focus Verse

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Scripture Readings:


Children's Activities


Prayer:

Triune God, we are stumped by you.  We cannot comprehend your greatness and we never fail to pare you down to our size.  Forgive us for our lack of courage and imagination.  Today we are asking you to open our minds to the things you love.  Help us to have minds that are capable of imagining what it is you are calling us to do.  Help us not to limit you to our capabilities.  Give us the courage to ask.

Amen   



Week 2: August 27-September 2

Prepare Our Hearts

Focus Verse

Psalm 51:10-12

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Scripture Readings:

Children's Activities


Prayer:

Lord, we are tired.  We try to love you and your people, but we find that our hearts are weary.  We are stretched and empty.  Prepare our hearts.  Soften them.  Give us the discipline to protect our hearts so that we are available to love.  Give us hope--make us hopeful.  Give us mercy--make us merciful.  Give us love--make us loving.

Amen   



Week 1: August 22-26 
Give us Strength

Focus Verse (Memory Verse)

Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!”

Scripture Readings
Children's Activities


Prayer

Dear God, Creator and Parent.  Meet us here in this time and give us strength.  Spirit, fill us as we ask for your blessing and direction.  Jesus the Christ, give us grace to be vessels of your perfect love.  Protect our minds and hearts as we open them to you.  Fill us with the courage to ask to see our neighbors and to be seen by them.  Give us the grace and strength to ask to see your face.  Teach us to love and to hope and to live fully and abundantly.  May your Kingdom come.  Amen

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