we expect the minister to do before he takes a service or we do ourselves before we give our Sunday school lessons. Sometimes we expect to get by in our domes tic worship without having prepared ourselves for our share in it, having carefully thought out a program for the worship or considered what would be best. Yet the family devotions are of equal importance with taking a Sunday school class and could be more in fluential with the children than the public service of worship. The Bible story especially needs careful plan ning. If mother or father tells it rather than reads it from a book, the children will be more interested. It will be more real to a little child. True, this is more difficult, but it is much more valuable. Telling a story gives opportunity for the person to add any essential details to give a clearer picture in the minds of the hearers as well as giving it that expression which makes the story live. Charles and Catherine Tomkins had a family altar that was a precious memory for all who were present. They shared the planning of the family devotions. They decided not only what was to be done but how and by whom. As the children got older they too shared in the preparations. When the family held a conference once a week, one subject discussed was details of the daily devotions. Charles and Catherine knew that as they got older their knowledge of what appealed to youth was getting rusty. Young people knew best what would interest and so benefit the younger members of the family. Charles went on to explain: “ While children like to know what is coming, imagination must be used in the arrangement of family worship. Indeed this is cru cial in preventing our devotions from becoming bor ing. We need to be creative and make changes within a given pattern. Sometimes we sing or say together a hymn or part of it. A hymn or a psalm can be used as part or the whole of the prayer. By careful plan ning ahead, one member of the family says the verses of scripture from memory. “ Again, the Bible is read sometimes by one per son, at other times by another. Some days we read it responsively, other days all in unison. Also we vary the version used. While a modern version is usually to be preferred for use at the family altar, we need not confine our reading to Phillips or Amplified Versions. Today’s English Version makes an interesting change.” When mother and father are mature Christians familiar with the Bible, they can devise their own pro gram. For a change they can use one of the printed forms of help for part of their family devotions. Some of these are planned by people who give considerable time to make these meditations a strong devotional stimulus to family worship. Where mother and father need considerable aid, a booklet is vital. Most denominations print their own. Changing for a while from a denominational to an in terdenominational publication, or the other way THE KING’S BUSINESS
the Fami/yA Itar
by Gordon Chilver s I n one Christian home, family devotions followed this pattern! During breakfast one person, prefer ably a visitor, was given a Bible and told to read a certain passage. If the reader did not mind, it was explained, the children would carry on with their breakfast or they would be late for school. Until the moment arrived for reading, the reader had no idea what passage it would be. The family was reading through the Bible a section at a time. On one of my visits to the home, I was asked to read about the most unsuitable passage in the Old Testa ment for group reading, especially during breakfast. After the reading, which had to be without any helpful comment or explanation, a short prayer followed. A little later, the father said he was so disappointed. No member of the family seemed to have a stronger spiritual life through this family altar. What can we do to make our devotional periods a joy to each member of the family? The part of the day to have for the domestic altar must be carefully chosen. The ideal time is when every member of the family can be present and nei ther come there out of breath with haste or have to rush away scarcely before the last words have been said. Also, the preferred time is when no one has to leave something he is doing and return to it later. A school assignment or preparation for a ball game could easily crowd out more spiritual thoughts. Either having devotions at the table or moving to another room directly after the meal is finished can avoid some difficulties. Further, choose a time which is most convenient for all members of the family. This becomes increas ingly difficult as the children grow older. One may have a job to do before school; another arrives home late from school. Father may have to leave either early in the morning or not come back till the evening. The schedules of each member of the family have to be examined carefully. Perhaps the chores must be done at different times. What is best for most is the rule when selecting a time. It may even be that one day has to differ from another, or one week from another, to fit the best time. Occasionally one mem ber of the family will be absent at the time fixed. This will require patience and thought, but these are essen tial in arranging the most profitable family altars. We want our devotional periods to be a joy to each member of the family. We shall reach that goal only after much planning. We shall prepare as carefully as 12
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