At Home with God

Espousing the (increasingly popular) idea that every rhythm in our lives constitutes a kind of formational liturgy, Gavin Long presents a full year of home worship plans based on the traditional Christian calendar. He draws on Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant tradition to form an ecumenical body of prayers, Scripture readings, devotional meditations and physical practices and rituals that any family can use.

You won't find a lot of extraneous material here—after a brief introduction, Long jumps right into a liturgical calendar for the home, with four major sections covering the four seasons. These sections are further divided into "Preparing for the Season," "Weekend Sabbaths," "Weekday Prayer and Worship," and "Special Celebrations."

The plans for each season center around the Church holidays for that period. For instance, in Winter family worship centers around Advent, Christmas and Epiphany; in Spring the focus is on Lent and Pentecost; and Summer and Fall are more generically devoted to thechurch, kingdom and Christian life. Bible readings and suggested songs always relate directly to the appropriate season/holiday.

Long often integrates more formal elements typically associated with corporate worship into his home liturgies. Communion in particular seems to be one of his favorite at-home practices, though the version he describes for the reader has more in common with Hebraic tradition than with that ofany Christian denomination.

Family worship seems to have fallen to the wayside for many Christians, yet historically it has been one of the most vibrant sources for Chrsitian education and discipleship. Gavin Long's book isn't perhaps best used as a strict guide to family worship practices, but it is an excellent source for inspiration and guidance as you lead your family in worship and thanksgiving within the bounds of your own home.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.