Taking Faith Home

Taking Faith Home

SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST The people of God forgive. DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday Matthew 18:21-35 Genesis 50:15-21 Romans 14:1-12 Do not judge another Wednesday 2 Chronicles 7:12-18 The Lord appears to Solomon Thursday Ephesians 1:3-14 Friday Saturday Sunday John 8:1-11 Psalm 103:1-13 Matthew 20:1-16 SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases. Psalm 103:2-3 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: Gracious God, we praise you for your desire to forgive; help us to love and forgive as we are loved and forgiven through Christ our Lord. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest; let these gifts to us be blessed. Let there be a goodly share on every table, everywhere. Amen. A Blessing to Give: May God give you a merciful heart. © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 HYMN OF THE WEEK Healer of Our Every Ill WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS A parable about forgiveness Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  When someone says something hurtful to you, how do you react?  How does God’s merciful forgiveness make a difference in our relationships? Joseph forgives his brothers Spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus intercedes for a woman Thanksgiving for God’s goodness Parable of the vineyard workers DEVOTIONS Read: Matthew 18:21-35. Jesus presents a very unreal story to make a very real point. In Jesus’ day, each talent was worth more than 15 years of work and a denarius was one day’s wage. Therefore, one slave owed over 150,000 years of income while the other owed one hundred days of wages. The differences are extreme to make a point. God’s forgiveness of us is wildly out-of-this-world and wonderful. It leads the follower of Jesus Christ to sing or pray Psalm 103 that begins, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (v. 1). A concrete way to praise God is to “forgive your brother or sister from your heart” (Matthew 18:35) and do so again and again and again. Or, as Jesus suggests, do you want to consider the consequences of not showing a little forgiveness to others? That lack of forgiveness Jesus says, would destroy your life. Discuss: How does this story challenge the way you think about forgiveness, especially God’s forgiveness? Pray: Merciful God, give me faith to remember how kind and generous you are to me and to praise you by being kind and forgiving to others through Christ our Lord. Amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, how can you extend a word of forgiveness to someone who has hurt you? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS The theme this week in the Bible readings is forgiveness. Genesis 50:15-21 is the story of Joseph forgiving his brothers for throwing him in a pit and selling him into slavery. Forgiving someone who has hurt you is not easy. Think of someone who needs your forgiveness. Write a note to that person. Take a moment to read your note silently. Hold your note as you pray the Lord’s Prayer. Pause for thought when you pray, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,” then finish the prayer. Choose whether or not to send the note to them. In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org

SEPTEMBER 6, 2026 FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Resolve conflicts in the church with mercy. DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday Matthew 18:15-20 Seeking reconciliation Ezekiel 33:7-11 Romans 13:8-14 Wednesday Philippians 4:1-3 Thursday Friday Romans 5:6-11 God’s judgment seeks repentance Love for one another Paul encourages the Lord’s followers Being acceptable to God Ephesians 4:25-32 Rules for the new life Saturday Sunday Psalm 119:33-40 A prayer for understanding Matthew 18:21-35 A parable about forgiveness SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one.” Matthew 18:15 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: Almighty God, teach us your ways that we may live together in peace and see Jesus in the face of others. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: Dear God, in the midst of violent storms and droughts we encounter in the world, we thank you for this gift of food and for those who have brought it to us. Amen. A Blessing to Give: May God bless you to love your neighbor as yourself. © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. SEPTEMBER 6, 2026 HYMN OF THE WEEK Lift Up Your Heads WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  What do you do when your relationship with a neighbor, family member, or someone else is in conflict?  Jesus says we are to pursue others with love and grace. How can knowing this help you to resolve differences in relationships that are difficult? DEVOTIONS Read: Matthew 18:15-20. All relationships experience conflict, even relationships in the church. Jesus is aware of this and lays out a plan of action: out of love, be direct. It is the way of life of the people of God. This is announced by Paul in Romans 13:10: “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.” Being right is not good enough. Having your own way is not good enough. Be loving, be merciful, and pursue what is right; face conflict through a personal conversation to resolve the issue. But if the person who has hurt you does not repent, this is not an excuse to treat them badly. Treat them as Jesus would treat a Gentile or tax collector. He pursued them with his love. Jesus is present in all our relationships, even the stressful ones. We are to seek out relationships with love and mercy. Discuss: When you have been wronged or hurt in a relationship, how did you handle it? How might Jesus’ words in Matthew 18 impact how you respond? Pray: Lord Jesus, when I am with others, remind me that you are present. Strengthen us to love one another anew each day. Amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, how can you help resolve a hurtful relationship you have with someone? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20). Think or talk about people in your life at home, school, work, in your family, and in your neighborhood. Write their names down on a sheet of paper and next to each name, a word or words that describe your relationship with each one. How is Jesus present in those relationships? Light a candle to symbolize Jesus’ presence within you. Pray: Lord Jesus, help us to love others, live together in peace, and see your face in others. Amen. In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org

AUGUST 30, 2026 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST To follow Jesus is to be open to suffering. DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday Matthew 16:21-28 Jeremiah 15:15-21 Romans 12:9-21 Wednesday Exodus 3:1-15 Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 Peter 4:12-19 2 Timothy 2:1-13 Psalm 26:1-8 Matthew 18:15-20 Take up your cross and follow Jeremiah complains Rules for Christian living Moses at the burning bush Suffering as a Christian A good soldier of Christ Jesus Prayer of an innocent person Seeking reconciliation SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: Dear God, help us to pick up our cross and follow you to serve and love others even when it causes pain and suffering. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: Loving God, we thank you for the toil and hard work of those who grow, gather, and prepare our food so that we may be fed. Amen. A Blessing to Give: May the cross of Christ give you courage. © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. HYMN OF THE WEEK What Wondrous Love Is This WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  Who do you turn to for support when you are suffering or in pain?  How does your faith in Christ help you when you are suffering? DEVOTIONS Read: Matthew 16:21-28. In an era when we can do so many things to avoid or stop physical pain, it can be surprising that suffering is still very present. It is also an essential part of the Christian life because Jesus shows us that the way of his painful death on the cross gets at the heart of the Christian faith. Even if Peter knew Jesus was the Messiah, he still did not fully understand. Peter had to be humbled and corrected, and we do, too. God shows the depth of God’s love from the cross of Christ. We are invited to join the great movement of divine love by caring, suffering, and celebrating Christ’s victory over sin, death, and evil. Part of that celebration of Christ’s triumph over death is our openness to the pain of the world. For the sake of love, we join in the suffering of others. It is the path of new life, the resurrected life, which allows us to see the kingdom of God at work through empathy, justice, and a desire to minimize the pain and suffering of others. Discuss: How does knowing that suffering is an essential aspect of the Christian faith impact how you view life? Pray: Compassionate God, help us to see in Jesus’ suffering and death the very path of life and love through Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, how can you be courageous and help someone who is hurting or suffering? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS In Jesus’ time, the cross was about death. It is not easy to understand or talk about Jesus’ death on the cross. The cross is a Christian symbol. It reminds us that Jesus is with us through easy and hard times. We see crosses in many places in our lives. As a follower of Jesus, notice the number of crosses you see in your home and in the community. Each time you see one, be reminded of what it means. Pray: Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross to save me. Amen. In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org

AUGUST 23, 2026 THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday Matthew 16:13-20 Isaiah 51:1-6 Romans 12:1-8 Wednesday Exodus 1:8–2:10 Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Ephesians 3:14-21 Ephesians 6:10-20 Psalm 138 Matthew 16:21-28 Peter’s confession of Christ The LORD will bring comfort Christ brings new life Israelites are oppressed Prayer for the readers The whole armor of God Praise God with all your heart Take up your cross and follow SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK “I [Jesus] will give you [Peter] the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: Almighty God, in a world that can divide us from one another, we pray for your rule of mercy and grace that binds us together in faith and love through Christ, the Son of God. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for this meal and pray for all to have food to eat through your abundant and fruitful creation. Amen. A Blessing to Give: May Jesus, the Son of God, give you new life. © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. HYMN OF THE WEEK We Sing to You, O God WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  What motivates someone to break the law or do something wrong?  How is Jesus’ power different from other powers in the world? DEVOTIONS Read: Matthew 16:13-20. Jesus and his disciples were in Caesarea Philippi, an important center for the Roman government and a place where many gods of the ancient world were recognized and worshiped. They were fickle gods that ruled over human life rather harshly and arbitrarily. You could not trust them. This was very similar to the rule of the Roman authorities. In contrast to such untrustworthy and unkind gods and powers, Jesus as the “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (v. 16) showed compassion and positively transformed lives like the Canaanite woman and her daughter in Matthew 15. Jesus has the power to bind and to loosen lives. Jesus as our Messiah intends to transform our lives from despair to hope, from broken relationships to a life of mutual forgiveness, from lives that are judged and condemned to lives that receive mercy. Jesus gave Peter and the church that power and way of life. Yes, Jesus has the authority to restrict and to free lives, but Jesus’ intent is to free, to forgive, and to give new life where suffering and death had once reigned. Now, that message and life-giving power will be Peter’s and the church’s to do the same. Discuss: How does knowing Jesus as the Messiah inspire you to serve others? Pray: Almighty God, your ways are not our ways; give us hearts and minds to grasp that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God for the sake of the world you love. Amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, how can you encourage someone who is in despair or losing hope? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS Psalm 138 is a song of thanksgiving and praise: “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart” (v. 1a). Draw a heart on a piece of paper. Inside the heart write a list of things you thank God for in your life. Place the heart in a visible place in your home as a reminder to give thanks and praise for God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. Pray: I give you thanks, O Lord, for all you do to protect me with your steadfast love and faithfulness through Christ our Lord. Amen. In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org

AUGUST 16, 2026 TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Jesus’ ministry is for all nations. DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday Matthew 15:21-28 Isaiah 56:1-8 A woman’s faith God’s saving power is everywhere Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 God saves Jews and Gentiles Wednesday Genesis 45:1-15 Joseph and his brothers Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Matthew 28:16-20 Psalm 67 Matthew 16:13-20 Instructions concerning prayer The Great Commission Tell the nations to praise God Peter’s confession of Christ SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Psalm 67:12 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: God of the nations, we thank you for your mercy and grace that is meant not only for those we know and love but for all people through Christ our Lord. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for this food and for all those who have planted, harvested, transported, and prepared it for us this day. Amen. A Blessing to Give: May God be gracious to you and bless you. (Psalm 67:1) © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. HYMN OF THE WEEK All Are Welcome WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  What have you learned from someone who speaks another language or comes from a different culture?  It is easy to overlook how God’s grace and mercy is not just for us but for all people. How can you extend kindness to someone of a culture that is foreign to you? DEVOTIONS Read: Matthew 15:21-28. The Canaanite woman is central to this story for many reasons. She is a woman, and she is a foreigner, both good reasons for Jesus not to talk to her. He is especially not to address her plea before addressing the needs of the Jewish people, “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (v. 24). This woman is also a critical figure because her plea for help changes Jesus’ response to her. It is not easy to understand how this woman seems to teach and change Jesus, but she does. The result, however, is clear: Jesus’ ministry, like that of the God of the Old Testament (Psalm 67) is for all the nations, not just the sons and daughters of Abraham. This story lifts up the essential mission of Jesus and the church of all generations. As Jesus directed us in Matthew 28:16-20 (the Great Commission), we are to make disciples of all nations, not just our ethnic group, not just “our people,” and not just our own nation. Discuss: What opportunities do you have in your community to show God’s love to a foreigner or a stranger? Pray: Generous God, help us to see the breadth and depth of your love for all people in the world through Christ our Lord. Amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, how can you reach out to someone who needs to hear kind and loving words? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS The prophet Isaiah declared God’s intention to make God’s house (the temple in Jerusalem) a “house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7). Think or talk about where, when, and how you pray in your home. In what ways do you feel your own home is a "house of prayer“? Pray: Lord Jesus, we come to you in prayer. Help us to show faith in you today and every day. Amen. In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org

AUGUST 9, 2026 ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST We are sent to bring the good news of Christ to others. DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday Matthew 14:22-33 1 Kings 19:9-18 Romans 10:5-15 Wednesday Genesis 41:37-49 Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Psalm 105:1-11 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Psalm 85:8-13 Matthew 15:21-28 SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK Jesus walks on water The Lord appears to Elijah Anyone can be saved Joseph’s rise to power God’s faithfulness to Israel Timothy brings good news Restoration of God’s favor A woman’s faith And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: Lord Jesus, just as you saved Peter from the stormy waves, we praise you for saving us from the things that overwhelm us. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: You who walked upon the sea, come and join our meal, we plea. Thank you for your care this day; lead us, Jesus, in your way. Amen. A Blessing to Give: May God’s word be near you. (Romans 10:8) © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. HYMN OF THE WEEK We Are Marching in the Light WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  Describe something you think is beautiful. What makes it beautiful?  Who do you know that is spreading the good news of Jesus through their work? What do they do? DEVOTIONS Read: Romans 10:5-15. Paul continues an intricate dance that balances the covenant given to Abraham, Moses, and the larger Hebrew community with fulfilling the new covenant given through Jesus. It is the same God and the same promise: salvation is meant for all. Therefore, our job is not to judge but to proclaim the good news that Christ is the fulfillment of the law. That message only helps if it is heard. What is so beautiful is not really people’s feet—what some may consider the least attractive part of a person’s body—but the person themself. People cannot receive the message of salvation without hearing. We are those sent to tell the good news of Jesus Christ to others. We are the ones that are beautiful souls, not because of our feet, noses, or eyes, but because of the good news of Christ told to others. Discuss: How do you use your hands, feet, and voice to spread the good news of Christ? Pray: Living God, may we see the beauty of the gospel and the beauty of those who share your saving message with us and others through Christ our Lord. Amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, where can you go to tell others about Jesus? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS Jesus came to the disciples in the middle of the night and calmed their fears. Bedtimes are special opportunities to reflect on one’s life in prayer. When you go to bed, think or talk about fears you may have. How does it make a difference to know that Jesus is with you and calms any “storms” or fears that you might experience? Pause for a moment and reflect on your answer. Then say: “I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.” (Psalm 4:8) In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org

JULY 19, 2026 EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Christians are people of hope. DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Parable of the weeds Isaiah 44:6-8 Romans 8:12-25 Wednesday Genesis 28:10-22 Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Psalm 139:1-24 1 Peter 1:3-9 Psalm 86:11-17 Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Parables of the kingdom SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:24-25 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: Dear God, may the hope you have given us take away our fear and strengthen us for each new day through Christ our Lord. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for your goodness and for the good seed that falls into the soil to give us bread. Amen. A Blessing to Give: May the Lord be gracious to you. © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. HYMN OF THE WEEK Goodness Is Stronger than Evil WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  Where do you find hope when you read or hear something bad in the news?  How does the power of the Holy Spirit in your life give you hope? The Lord’s promise to Israel Future glory for God’s people Jacob’s dream at Bethel The inescapable God A living hope Save me, Lord DEVOTIONS Read: Romans 8:12-25. The Apostle Paul speaks about our death “by the Spirit” that we may live (v. 13). It is a baptismal theme he mentioned in Romans 6:4: “. . . we have been buried with [Christ] by baptism into death . . . so we too might walk in newness of life.” Paul speaks of living “according to the flesh” (v. 13). It is the life lived without hope in God. We live by the power of the Holy Spirit and are adopted as children of God. That life-giving Spirit kills the “deeds of the body” (v. 13), our life in the flesh (life without God). Life in Christ is a death and life experience, one that leads to hope. As children who can say, “Abba! Father!” (v. 15), we are heirs of God’s future in Christ. Being an heir does not mean we avoid disappointments and hurts. In fact, Paul reminds us that we “suffer with [Christ] so that we may also be glorified with him” (v. 17). We are people of hope as we suffer—just as Christ suffered and died—that we may rise with Christ to a new life. In faith, we wait for Christ’s final victory with hope and patience. Discuss: How does being an heir of God’s future in Christ give you patience and hope? Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you give us a living hope; through the ups and downs of life, help us to have faith in you and trust in your saving work now and always. Amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, how can you support and encourage someone going through a tough time? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationships – often in our own homes. Think or talk about the Christian rituals and traditions you do in your home, like prayer and scripture reading. Who taught them to you? Have you taught some of these rituals and traditions to a family member or someone else? If not, think about who you can teach them to. Pray: “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.” Amen. (Psalm 86:11) In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org


Taking Faith Home weekly flyers are a simple, yet effective, tool to help your family extend your faith practices in your home.  Based on the worship scripture text for the week, each flyer contains faith building scripture, activities and devotions designed to help your family share and live their faith together during the week.  With a variety of activities to chose from, the flyers offer something for everyone.

Here are some of the key features:

  • Based on the Revised Common Lectionary used by many congregations
  • Gives examples of each of the four key faith practices (caring conversations, devotions, service, and rituals and traditions)
  • Includes a weekly prayer, Bible verse, meal time prayer and blessing
  • Offers suggested daily Bible readings

MAY 17, 2026 SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Eternity is living now with God and with one another. DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday John 17:1-11 Acts 1:6-14 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 Jesus prays for his disciples Ascension of Jesus Tending the flock of God Wednesday 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 Paul’s encouraging words Thursday Deuteronomy 8:1-10 Friday Saturday Sunday Ephesians 4:7-16 Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 John 20:19-23 SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK God’s protection Unity in the body of Christ Praise and thanksgiving Jesus appears to his disciples And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: Eternal God, give us the Spirit of Christ that we may know you and live with you today and with one another in love. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: Lord of orphans and protector of widows, as we enjoy this meal, we pray for food for all people. Amen. (Psalm 68:5) A Blessing to Give: May the God of grace strengthen you. © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. HYMN OF THE WEEK Change My Heart, O God WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  If you could spend a day doing anything you want to do, what would it be?  How is God’s love different than a friend’s love? DEVOTIONS Read: John 17:1-11. Being with God in eternity seems to be something we anticipate after we die, but not in the Gospel of John. Eternity is understood as a life that begins now and is experienced through faith in “the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (v. 3). Jesus speaks of his glory. The hour of his glory is his suffering, death, and resurrection. We participate in Jesus’ glory as those who remain in the world now protected by God. Eternal life is experienced as a life of glory that knows suffering and also knows God in Christ. A personal relationship with Jesus is not private. We live in eternity now as the body of Christ in the world together. Therefore, Jesus prays that all of his followers “may be one, as we are one,” (v. 11) that is, as Jesus and the Father are one. Eternal life involves a relationship to God that knows, trusts, and believes in Jesus as the one who is with the Father. One may ask, “How do you think you will experience eternity after you have died?” John’s question would be, “How do you experience eternity now, living with God and with one another in a world that God loves?” Discuss: What difference does it make for you to know that eternity is now, and not just after you die? Pray: Eternal God, we thank you for the gift of faith that we may experience your presence in our lives through the body of Christ. Amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, how can you help someone who is experiencing challenges in their life? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS The disciples watched Jesus ascend to heaven as a cloud took him out of sight. Jesus told the disciples they would be his witnesses (Acts 1:8). Make a dessert in a glass alternating blue gelatin with whipped cream to symbolize the sky, clouds, and Jesus’ ascension. While eating the dessert, think or talk about ways you have been or can be a witness for Jesus. After you finish, say the Lord’s Prayer. In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org

MAY 3, 2026 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER We are precious in God’s sight. DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday John 14:1-14 Acts 7:55-60 1 Peter 2:2-10 Wednesday Romans 8:31-39 Thursday Friday Hebrews 11:29-40 Jesus is the way, truth, and life The stoning of Stephen A chosen people God’s love in Christ Jesus The faith of heroes Lamentations 3:19-24 God’s steadfast love endures Saturday Sunday Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 John 14:15-21 SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK Prayer for deliverance The promise of the Holy Spirit But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: Almighty God, you send us out to witness to Jesus Christ; give us confidence and courage to be your faithful witnesses. Fill us with mercy and love through Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: Dear God, may this food strengthen the body and your word strengthen our calling to be your loving and faithful witnesses in the world. Amen. A Blessing to Give: May God bless you with the steadfast love of Jesus. © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. HYMN OF THE WEEK There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  When is a time you were honored for something you did?  What are words that you would use to describe God’s people? DEVOTIONS Read: 1 Peter 2:2-10. 1 Peter helps us to imagine the meaning of Christ’s resurrection for our lives. Jesus is the living stone rejected by people yet “precious in God’s sight” (v. 4). As followers of Jesus, we are living stones built into a sacred community, “a holy priesthood” (v. 5). The imagery in this reading is expanded to explore its spiritual depth. We are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people” (v. 9). This rich language and imagery all lead us to understand the treasured life we have. We are called to speak of God in Jesus Christ, the one who has brought us out of darkness and into a precious and holy light. Once we were those who had not received mercy, those who were not God’s people. Now we are God’s people and live lives f illed with mercy and honor to be God’s chosen people. Jesus’ resurrection changed our lives from desperation to empowerment and joy. It is no wonder that we are to be like babes, thirsting for spiritual milk so we may grow into a life that is our inheritance and delight. Discuss: How does being one of God’s chosen people affect how you live your life? Pray: Almighty and living God, remind us again and again of our holy calling as your chosen people sent out to others with words of mercy and hope through Christ our Lord. Amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, how can you show mercy to someone who is feeling lonely or in pain? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS 1 Peter 2:4-5 describes Jesus as “a living stone” and Jesus’ followers “like living stones” to be “built into a spiritual house.” Gather some smooth stones. Draw a cross on a large stone and write the names of family and friends on the smaller ones. Place the smaller stones around the one with the cross on it in a visible place in your home. Think or talk about what it means to be a “spiritual house” where God dwells. Take a moment to look at the stones and say: Alleluia! Christ is risen. Alleluia! In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org