Welcome to Lectio for Families. It’s the Advent season, the time when we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, and we are continuing with our series called ‘Voices of Advent’. This week we are listening to the voices of two very important women, Elizabeth and Mary.

Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.

Pause

We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.

Pause

Prayer of Welcome

Lord Jesus, we are excited to be celebrating Your birth this Christmas. Amongst all the busyness of this season – all the planning and the preparations – please help us to pause and be still. We open our ears to hear You now, and we prepare our hearts to receive You once again.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

Today, we’re REFLECTING on Jesus’ family tree and why, unlike other family trees written at the time, Jesus’ included women.

Read by Ruby
Matthew 1:1,16
This is the family history of Jesus Christ. He came from the family of David, and David came from the family of Abraham.… Jacob was the father of Joseph. Joseph was the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus. Jesus is called the Christ.
Matthew 1:1,16 (NCV)

In the time when the Bible was written, people didn’t value women very much. Most family trees only listed the men’s names – women didn’t even get mentioned. So, although it seems like a small detail, it’s actually a really big thing that Mary is listed in Jesus’ family tree! (In fact, she’s not the only one – other women are mentioned earlier in Matthew’s list.)

The writer obviously wants us to notice that something different is happening with Jesus’ family, something really important. Maybe it’s simply that Jesus’ family will include everyone – especially those who are normally forgotten or ignored.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Who are some of the women or the girls who are important in our lives, and why?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

Let’s each think of a couple of the women or girls that we mentioned just now – those who are important to us. Maybe it’s because they’ve encouraged us or supported us in some way? Let’s whisper their names and say our own prayers of thanks for them.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Sadly, there are places around the world where women and girls are still not treated fairly. For example, some girls aren’t allowed to go to school and some women aren’t allowed to work. And many experience poverty, violence and other kinds of suffering.

Loving God, we ASK You to fill these women and girls with Your love. Be with them, especially when they feel lonely or afraid. And we pray for Your justice – that they would be treated with dignity, respect and with fairness.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.

Matthew 1:1,16
This is the family history of Jesus Christ. He came from the family of David, and David came from the family of Abraham.… Jacob was the father of Joseph. Joseph was the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus. Jesus is called the Christ.
Matthew 1:1,16 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Lord Jesus, we’re so grateful to be part of Your family. We say a big YES to following Your example; to loving everyone – women and men, girls and boys – and treating everyone fairly, just like You do.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.

Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.

Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.