Religious Education in the Family Part 14

2. Read a parable or very brief narrative.

3. The Lord's Prayer.

The reading had better be from one of the paraphrases if it is a narrative from the Old Testament.[30] Even in reading the New Testament one can at times use with advantage the _Twentieth-Century Bible_ or the _Modern Reader's Bible_.

SAt.u.r.dAY

1. A period of song.

2. Closing prayer, with the Lord's Prayer.

Perhaps only one song can be sung. It need not be a hymn; that should depend on the choice of the children. Help them to put together all the good songs, including the hymns, in one category in their minds.

SUNDAY

1. Ask: "What has been the best we have read or repeated in our worship this week?"

2. Ask: "What shall we learn for memory repet.i.tion this week, what psalm or other pa.s.sage for our concerted worship?"

3. Read the psalm selected.

4. Closing prayer.

5. Period of song, lasting as long as desired.

This exercise evidently permits of extension in time and should be arranged in accordance with the program for the day.

I. References for Study

George Hodges, _The Training of Children in Religion_, chaps. viii, ix. Appleton, $1.50.

_The Improvement of Religious Education_, pp. 108 to 123. Religious Education a.s.sociation, $0.50.

Mrs. B.S. Winchester, "Methods and Materials Available," _Religious Education_, October, 1911. $0.50.

II. Further Reading

Koons, _The Child's Religious Life_. Eaton & Mains, $1.00.

Hartshorne, _Worship in the Sunday School_. Columbia University, $1.25.

III. Methods and Materials

A.R. Wells, _Grace before Meat_. U.S.C.E., $0.25.

C.F. Dole, _Choice Verses_. Jamaica Plains, Ma.s.sachusetts.

Privately printed.

F.A. Hinckley (ed.), _Readings for Sunday School and Home_.

American Unitarian a.s.sociation, $0.35.

J. Martin, _Prayers for Little Men and Women_. Harper, $1.25.

S. Hart (ed.), _Short Daily Prayers for Families_. Longmans, $0.60.

G.A. Miller, _Some Out-Door Prayers_. Crowell, $0.35.

Oxenden, _Family Prayers_. Longmans, $1.50.

George Skene, _Morning Prayers for Home Worship_. Methodist Book Concern, $1.50.

W.E. Barton, _Four Weeks of Family Prayer_. Puritan Press, Oak Park, Ill.

Abbott, _Family Prayers_. Dodd, Mead & Co., $0.50.

_Prayers for Parents and Children._ Young Churchman Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, $0.15.

IV. Topics for Discussion

1. What are the causes for the decay of the custom of family worship?

2. What influences us most: public opinion, popular custom, economic pressure?

3. How have the changes affected the religious influence of the home?

4. What features of the older customs are most worth preserving?

5. Recall any of childhood's prayers which you remember. How many maintain the custom of bedtime prayers in mature life?

6. What should be the central motive of "grace" at meals?

7. Would there be advantage in occasionally omitting the "grace"?

8. Give reasons for and against "grace."

9. Criticize the proposed plan of evening family prayers.

10. Describe any plans which have been tried.

11. Why is it desirable to maintain family worship?

FOOTNOTES: