24th Sunday after Pentecost

Year 3: October 30, 2016

Preaching Text: 1 Kings 17:1-16 [17-24]

Chirchir is Singing by Kelly Cunnane

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: In her commentary on this text, Sarah Koenig reflects upon what it is to trust in “God’s goodness and provision in the face of despair and doubt…” (https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2987) Elijah was likely asking himself, “What does it look like to continue to trust that God will provide when God’s provisions run out?” In a less dramatic way, Chirchir also struggles with trust, believing she can help with each family members’ task, only to find herself making mistake after mistake. Readers might start to worry alongside Chirchir whether she has something helpful to offer to her family. Both Elijah and Chirchir discover hope in the use of their voices. Elijah cries to God and Chirchir’s song soothes the baby and sustains her family. Using this text and story, invite your congregation to consider how they sustain their trust in God and themselves in the face of despair and doubt.

Noell Rathbun-Cook is the author of the Narrative Lectionary Links for Year 3.

Lectionary Links (NL): October 30, 2016 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.