Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

Psalm 68: 1-8

Pray the Psalm together aloud, alternating verses between two sides.  When finished, share reflections on the Psalm as a group

1  Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him!

2  As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God!

3  But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy!

4  Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds; his name is the LORD, exult before him!

5  Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.6  God gives the desolate a home to dwell in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7  O God, when thou didst go forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness,

8  the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, at the presence of God; yon Sinai quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

The Passover

Exodus 12-13

1.       How does the LORD deliver Israel from death in Egypt? What is the “cost” of their deliverance? How is Israel commanded to remember their deliverance in their homes?

2.       How does the Christ deliver His Church from death? What is the cost of our deliverance? How are we commanded to remember that deliverance?

3.       What domestic religious traditions were celebrated by your parents? What domestic religious traditions are you modeling for your children? What else could you be doing?

4.       On what religious occasions does your family throw a “feast”? What domestic religious traditions are joined to your feasting and partying? In what ways could you increase the religious dimension of your times of feasting?

5.       Pharaoh drives Moses and Israel away. What surprising request does Pharaoh make before they go? What does this imply about Pharaoh’s belief?

6.       What is the basis of the Lord’s claim that all first-born males are “mine”? What does that mean for first-born male animals? Sons? What is the price of “redemption”?

7.       After 430 years, Moses and Israel remember to take Joseph’s bones out of Egypt back to the Promised Land. How important has your family tree been for your family? How often did your parents take you to visit the graves of your ancestors? How often do you take your family to visit your deceased relatives? 

Resolutions

Choose a resolution for this week from the suggestions below or make your own.  Tap on a resolution to email it to yourself:

1.    I will read and reflect on the Sunday readings with my family on Saturday.
2.    I will plan a more generous meal this Sunday in honor of the Lord’s Day.
3.    I will schedule with my family to host a Party in honor of a Religious Feast Day.
4.    I will plan with my wife how to increase the domestic religious traditions of our next Christmas and Easter.
5.    I will list and learn the Church’s Holy Days of Obligation in the United States.
6.    I will schedule with my wife to celebrate the Church’s Solemnities with special meals.
7.    I will research my ancestry and share what I find with my family.
8.    I will take my family to visit and to pray at the graves of our relatives. 

Previous Resolutions - Exodus 11

Prayer Partners

Discuss with your prayer partner the success/failure of your previous resolution & offer a vocal prayer for one another.