Home Huddles - Issue #137

Several years ago, First United Methodist Church in Fargo, North Dakota, began a culture shift. Believing that the home is the primary setting for forming faith, the church began providing daily resources for families to talk together about their faith. The resources are provided through downloadable documents available on the church website. For at least fifteen minutes a day, families (with or without children) are encouraged to use the FAITH 5 for their "home huddle."

The FAITH 5 includes:

1. Sharing your highs and lows of the day.
2. Reading Scripture (usually related to the texts used in worship).
3. Talking about how the Scripture relates to your day.
4. Praying for your family or small group and for the world.
5. Blessing one another (provided in the home huddle resources).

On Sunday mornings, one of the worship options includes a time in which all ages meet together; and then after about fifteen minutes, those fifth grade and younger move into sessions designed for them.

Following the worship service, parents of the K–5th-grade children join their children for a learning experience, such as a craft, game, viewing a video clip, or a service project. The morning closes with a home huddle, sharing prayer concerns, and a blessing.

The energy and commitment to this model of faith formation has been gratifying. Parents arrive on Sundays asking, "What are we going to do today?" Grandparents bring their grandchildren; one godmother brings her godchild. Parents believe that the home huddles have improved communication in their homes and provide safe places for conversation, questions, and addressing difficult issues.

Some Questions for Discussion

• How does your congregation support faith formation in the home?
  
  
• What are the primary settings for intentional faith formation in your congregation?
  
  
• How does your church partner with families to teach the faith?
  
  

Carol Krau is the Director of Adult Formation and Discipleship at the Discipleship Ministries. She can be reached at [email protected]. You can read more about First UMC Fargo at www.firstumcfargo.org.

In 2007 church leaders throughout The United Methodist Church in the U.S. were invited to identify churches that demonstrated the vision of discipleship described in the twelfth chapter of Romans. Over 200 churches were surveyed or visited. Issue #137. © 2012 Discipleship Ministries. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to copy this page for use in United Methodist congregations.