For many families with children, the beginning of a school year is more significant to the family routine than New Years Day in January. Resolutions about new ways of being together can have more of an impact in the fall. As a result of this awareness, this ordinary time of the liturgical calendar was open for the introduction of a faith practice.
On Rally Day, the September kick off to a new school year of educational programs, congregation members were invited to take a wooden prayer die for use with their families. Each die includes six meal blessings, one on each side. Families have been encouraged to leave it where they eat together most often and take turns rolling it to offer the blessing it lands on. While praying at the table when the family is gathered for a meal may not be new, giving it some intentionality may be. We may assume that families are saying a blessing before eating but often do not give any assistance with this practice.
Many congregation members wanted extra dice for families living in other areas and were thrilled to have such a concrete way of practicing prayer together.
** Our initial order of "Mealtime Prayer Cubes" was from Vibrant Faith Ministries but VFM has since discontinued sales so the follow-up order actually came through Amazon.
On Rally Day, the September kick off to a new school year of educational programs, congregation members were invited to take a wooden prayer die for use with their families. Each die includes six meal blessings, one on each side. Families have been encouraged to leave it where they eat together most often and take turns rolling it to offer the blessing it lands on. While praying at the table when the family is gathered for a meal may not be new, giving it some intentionality may be. We may assume that families are saying a blessing before eating but often do not give any assistance with this practice.
Many congregation members wanted extra dice for families living in other areas and were thrilled to have such a concrete way of practicing prayer together.
** Our initial order of "Mealtime Prayer Cubes" was from Vibrant Faith Ministries but VFM has since discontinued sales so the follow-up order actually came through Amazon.