Worship at Home
 
If it is not possible for people to worship together, we have crafted two simple acts of worship, particularly geared to those who are isolated or housebound, or who are unable to attend school or church.

Opening Sentences

O Lord, open our lips and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.
 
Pause for reflection as you offer the day to God.
 
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, fill us with love for you; now and for  ever. Amen.
 

You may wish to use the weekly pattern of short readings given below, or choose a passage of your own.  If your children find some words in these passages unusual or difficult, perhaps you could use them as a starting point for discussion.
 

Sunday
Thank you Lord Jesus for all the good things you have done for us. You are a special friend help us to be kind, to work well, to think about our family and friends especially those we can’t go out and play with at the moment. Please bless anyone who is ill with the virus. Bless every nurse and doctor and all the brave people who are working hard to keep us safe. Please blessing everyone who is looking after us. Please blessed me today and every day. Amen

 

God be in my head and in my understanding.

God be in my eyes and in my looking.

God be in my mouth and in my speaking.

God be in my head and in my thinking. 

God be with me and everyone that I care for today and every day.

 

Monday
 
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said
to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14.1-6) 

Tuesday
 
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

(Philippians 4.8-9) 

Wednesday
 
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

(Colossians 3.16,17)

Thursday
 
You are no longer strangers, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

(Ephesians 2.19-22) 

Friday
 
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

(Romans 19.9-12) 

Saturday
 
He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more
value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

(Luke 12.22-31) 

Prayers 
 
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you that you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day. Keep us safe; guide us in all that we do and remind us to always try to do what we know to be good and kind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Keep us, good Lord,  under the shadow of your mercy  in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love  in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
 
The Lord’s Prayer
 
Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, 

your will be done, 

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those who sin against us. 

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. 

For the kingdom,

the power, 

and the glory are yours, 

now and for ever.

Amen. 
 
(or)
 
Our Father, 

who art in heaven, 

hallowed be thy name; 

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done; 

on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation; 

but deliver us from evil. 

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

 
The Conclusion 

The Lord bless us, and keep us safe in everything that we do today, and help us to enjoy our beautiful world.

Amen

 
Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.