Family Worship : Part 5

Religious Education in the Family
by Henry F. Cope

(Page 16 of 25)

THURSDAY

1. A brief reading or recitation from the New Testament.

2. A few moments' conversation on the reading.

3. A very brief prayer followed by a song.

The only apparent difficulty here is in starting the conversation. Do not ask formal questions; rather put them something like this: "I wonder whether people would do just the same on our street today." Make the conversation as general as possible; do not slight, nor scoff at, the contribution of even the least in the group.

FRIDAY

1. A few verses in concert.

2. Read a parable or very brief narrative.

3. The Lord's Prayer.

The reading had better be from one of the paraphrases if it is a narrative from the Old Testament. Even in reading the New Testament one can at times use with advantage the Twentieth-Century Bible or the Modern Reader's Bible.

SATURDAY

1. A period of song.

2. Closing prayer, with the Lord's Prayer.

Perhaps only one song can be sung. It need not be a hymn; that should depend on the choice of the children. Help them to put together all the good songs, including the hymns, in one category in their minds.

SUNDAY

1. Ask: "What has been the best we have read or repeated in our worship this week?"

2. Ask: "What shall we learn for memory repetition this week, what psalm or other passage for our concerted worship?"

3. Read the psalm selected.

4. Closing prayer.

5. Period of song, lasting as long as desired.

This exercise evidently permits of extension in time and should be arranged in accordance with the program for the day.

I. References for Study

George Hodges, The Training of Children in Religion, chaps. viii, ix. Appleton, $1.50.

The Improvement of Religious Education, pp. 108 to 123. Religious Education Association, $0.50.

Mrs. B. S. Winchester, "Methods and Materials Available," Religious Education, October, 1911. $0.50.

II. Further Reading

Koons, The Child's Religious Life. Eaton & Mains, $1.00.

Hartshorne, Worship in the Sunday School. Columbia University, $1.25.

III. Methods and Materials

A. R. Wells, Grace before Meat. U.S.C.E., $0.25.

C. F. Dole, Choice Verses. Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts. Privately printed.

F. A. Hinckley (ed.), Readings for Sunday School and Home. American Unitarian Association, $0.35.

J. Martin, Prayers for Little Men and Women. Harper, $1.25.

S. Hart (ed.), Short Daily Prayers for Families. Longmans, $0.60.

G. A. Miller, Some Out-Door Prayers. Crowell, $0.35.

Oxenden, Family Prayers. Longmans, $1.50.

George Skene, Morning Prayers for Home Worship. Methodist Book Concern, $1.50.

W. E. Barton, Four Weeks of Family Prayer. Puritan Press, Oak Park, Ill.

Abbott, Family Prayers. Dodd, Mead & Co., $0.50.

Prayers for Parents and Children. Young Churchman Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, $0.15.

IV. Topics for Discussion

1. What are the causes for the decay of the custom of family worship?

2. What influences us most: public opinion, popular custom, economic pressure?

3. How have the changes affected the religious influence of the home?

4. What features of the older customs are most worth preserving?

5. Recall any of childhood's prayers which you remember. How many maintain the custom of bedtime prayers in mature life?

6. What should be the central motive of "grace" at meals?

7. Would there be advantage in occasionally omitting the "grace"?

8. Give reasons for and against "grace."

9. Criticize the proposed plan of evening family prayers.

10. Describe any plans which have been tried.

11. Why is it desirable to maintain family worship?

Copyright 1915 by The University of Chicago