While Small Church gatherings are always a type of liturgy, today we have a slightly more formal format. Below you will find a series of prayers, scripture verses, and reflection questions which have been packaged together into a formal liturgy. As you go through this liturgy as a Small Church we encourage you to have multiple voices share in the reading of the prayers or even try reading some in unison. If it is helpful for your group, the liturgy is available here as a PDF. As always, please adapt the content in the way which works best for your Small Church.
Inspired by Kat Armas’ Liturgies for Resisting Empire, today’s liturgy is designed to help us reflect on our community’s journey through the Book of Romans. You can think of this as our final culminating prayer for the series, which pulls together the main scripture passages and themes we have been studying these past three months. It is hoped that as we navigate our own lives, we can carry with us the teachings and vision laid out in this 2000 year old letter; approaching 2025 with a posture of Romans, These Days.
Last week, at All Church, Kim taught on the conclusion of Romans. She left us with the encouragement and challenge that “The vision that Paul casts for a community focused on Jesus is diverse, and able to love one another across their differences.”
Romans 13: 8-10 says:
“8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”
As a group reflect on your journey through Romans, and discuss the following questions:
Add any other hope-full prayers your group wants to include.
Close this time of worship by reading this blessing.
Moses and the Israelites
Asked God for food to eat
God cared for them by sending
Water, bread and meat
God’s people, the Israelites were on a long trip, following a man named Moses. God had picked Moses to be the leader. They were going to a new place to live and had to walk a long, long, long way.
Let’s pretend to walk just like the Israelites. Let’s stand up and pretend to walk like the Israelites. Ready? “We’re walking, we’re walking, a long, long way. We’re walking, we’re walking, a long, long way. We’re walking, we’re walking, a long, long way.” And stop.
The Israelites were NOT happy. They had been walking and walking for a very long time. They were tired and hungry from all the walking, so they complained to Moses and to God.
Let’s make a whiny noise like the Israelites. Repeat after me whiny voice: We’re huuuungry! We’re tiiiiired.
The Bible says, “God heard the people.” God knew the people were tired and hungry and God wanted to help them and care for them.
That night while the Israelites were sleeping, God sent birds called quail for the Israelites to eat. God gave the Israelites meat to eat at night. Then, in the morning, God also gave the people something called “manna” to eat. Manna is a lot like little flakes of bread and it tasted like honey.
God gave the Israelites meat and bread to eat. The Israelites felt happy and thankful! They had plenty of food to eat and they weren’t hungry anymore.
But after a while they weren’t so happy anymore because they felt thirsty. The people were so thirsty and had no water to drink. They complained to Moses again. Get your whiny voice ready again and repeat after me (whiny voice): Now we’re thiiiiirsssty!
God heard the people again. God told Moses to speak to a big rock. When he did, water came pouring out of the rock! It was cool and fresh, and all of the Israelites had plenty of water to drink.
God cared for the people by giving them food to eat when they were hungry and water to drink when they were thirsty. God cared for the Israelites and God cares for us too!
Those are our special words to remember: God cares for us. Let’s say them together: God cares for us!
Supplies: Playdough or Modeling Clay
Show your child a picture of quail and manna. Have them play with playdough to make their own food, whether that’s quail and manna or whatever else they’d like. You can do this as they listen to the story or afterwards.
Supplies: Play tent or DIY fort with blankets/sheets, basket or bowl, and ‘manna’ – this could be small paper balls, packing peanuts, cotton balls or even cereal (if you don’t mind it being on the floor)
Maddi’s Fridge read by Jennifer Garner
With humuor and warmth, this children’s picture book raises awareness about poverty and hunger
Best friends Sofia and Maddi live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, and play in the same park, but while Sofia’s fridge at home is full of nutritious food, the fridge at Maddi’s house is empty. Sofia learns that Maddi’s family doesn’t have enough money to fill their fridge and promises Maddi she’ll keep this discovery a secret. But because Sofia wants to help her friend, she’s faced with a difficult decision: to keep her promise or tell her parents about Maddi’s empty fridge.
In Scripture, we see how deeply God cares for us, and one of the amazing parts of knowing and following Him is that we get to share that same love and care with the people around us. Just as the Israelites experienced hunger in the wilderness, there are people—including children—in our world and even in our own neighborhoods who face hunger today. This is something we can be mindful of so that, when we notice the needs of others, we can offer help and support.
Some great local organizations that support people with food needs include the local food bank, Backpack Buddies, and the Harvest Project.
