February In Home 2021

Theme:  Love is Patient/Love your Enemy

February 14 & 17, 2021

Objective:

Families will explore and learn about feelings of love. Families will read 1 Corinthians 13 and write on hearts why they love each member of their family.  They will also read Luke 6: 27-28 and pray for people they do not like or may not get along with.

Prayer: 

Pray Together St. Francis Prayer for Peace:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

Amen.

Lesson:

Read:  1 Corinthians 13.  After reading the passage discuss the following questions:

• • Choose three words that describe what love is according to St. Paul.
  • Talk about a time when you experienced a patient love.
  • Why do you think St. Paul says that love never fails?

Read Luke 6:27-36.  After reading the passage discuss the following questions:

• • What are three things Jesus tells you to do to your enemies?
  • What is another name for verse 31?
  • How are these two scripture passages alike?

Both passages speak of a certain type of love called “agape” (a-gah-pay) love. Agape love is love without conditions.  This type of love is present no matter who you are (family, friend, or enemy) or what you do (love, dislike, or sin.)  With agape love there is no expectation of being loved in return.  God’s is agape love.  Since we are created in God’s image we are to love others with an agape love. 

Videos:

For children in Grades 1-5: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA5_oVhl9yE

For children in Grades 6-10: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slyevQ1LW7A

Activity: 

Cut out paper hearts, one or more for each member of your family.

Distribute the hearts to each family member.  Using a pencil, marker, pen or any writing implement write on the heart and fill in the blank: “I love you because. . . “ Once each heart has been written on then tape the heart to a family members bedroom door.  It can serve as a reminder that even in the messiness of life family love never fails.

Challenge Activity: 

Think of someone you are not fond of or just do not like.  Say a prayer for that person when you go to bed tonight.  The prayer can be as simple as “Jesus, help me like (name).”  Or “Jesus, help me see (name) the same way you do.”