Church Family Moment for Sunday, July 7, 2024

By Director of Spiritual Formation Rebecca Guzman

Scripture: Ruth 1

1. Watch a video that tells the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Pay close attention—there are a lot of names in this story. Naomi has two sons. Her sons are married. Both of the sons die. Their wives (Orpah and Ruth) tell Naomi they will stay with her. Naomi tells them she could never ask them to do that, and Orpah goes back home to live with her family, but Ruth decides to stay with Naomi and take care of her.
2. On a piece of paper, draw a large heart for each person who lives in your family with you. Inside the heart, write or draw a prayer for that person. Maybe you will draw a good memory or a way that you are going to be more helpful to them. Show it to your family later!
3. Play an obstacle course game! If you are worshiping at home, you can set up an obstacle course and think about what it would have been like to be Ruth and Naomi. What makes an obstacle course easier or harder? What kind of person would dyou want to be with on a long and hard journey? If you can’t set up an obstacle course, play this one online!
4. After reading the story, think about these questions:
   1. What do you think it was like to be Ruth? Naomi? Orpah?
   2. Why do you think Ruth decided to stay with Naomi?
   3. Why would it have been so scary for Naomi to be alone? What would have happened to her?
   4. Was it wrong for Orpah to go back to her family? Are there sometimes two right choices?