Lectionary Links (RCL): July 1, 2018
6th Sunday after Pentecost
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year B: July 1, 2018
First Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories By Audrey Penn
(Written for ages 4-8)
Comment: Losing someone close to you is hard no matter how they died or how old they are. It is a difficult process. Our Old Testament reading for this morning tells us how David mourned for Saul and Jonathan after their deaths. David sings a song of lament for them, and has everyone participate in the mourning. He is remembering many of the great things about Saul and Jonathan through this song. Chester Raccoon has recently lost a friend and his mother suggests that he make a memory of his friend in Chester Raccoon and the Acorn full of Memories. Chester’s mother helps him remember things about his friend. They set out to visit his friends favorite places in search of something that will help Chester remember his friend. As they travel, Chester and his mother are joined by many animals of the forest in their remembering. We know that death is something that all children will face at some point in their lives and both David and Chester show us one way to mourn our loved one. The church is a place that we can bring our sadness and memories as we mourn.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15
The Present By Bob Gill
(Written for ages 5 and Up)
Comment: Arthur is a young boy who happens to find a beautifully wrapped present in his dad’s closet. He assumes it is a birthday present for his ever-nearing birthday and takes a peak at the box each day thinking about what can be inside it. It is finally the day before his birthday. One more day and he would get to see what was in the box. And then the doorbell rings. At the door is a woman who is collecting toys for poor children. Arthur overhears this and without missing a beat he brings the present to the door and gave it away. Arthur provides an example of giving cheerfully. He was not asked to give his present away, and he didn’t do it with hesitation. He gladly gives to others in need. In these words from 2 Corinthians, we are reminded to give cheerfully. We are reminded to help care for others needs and that we can all take part in this task. These words remind us to stop and think, “What can I do?” or “What can I give?” and then to do so with enthusiasm. Arthur does this. He hears there are children who don’t have toys. He knows that he can give his present to help brighten their day and does so with eagerness and enthusiasm.
Gospel Reading: Mark 5:21-43
Leopardpox By Orna Landau
(Written for ages 4-7)
Comment: The Gospel reading illustrates two people who will go to great lengths for a healing from Jesus. The two people come from very different backgrounds, yet what they seek most is the same. They both are seeking healing from Jesus. The woman seeks it for herself, after many years of seeking full health. Jarius, the Synagogue leader, is seeking healing for his daughter. They both are able to find what they are seeking. In Leopardpox we follow a family who is seeking a healing for their little girl. She has turned into a leopard. Every where they go, the family is not able to find what they are seeking, but they do not give up. Finally the mother figures out all her daughter needs is extra love to cure the leopard pox. Sometimes we have to seek what we are needing for a long while, other times it is a quick find. Either way we can find what we are looking for in Jesus. In his love for us, he offers to meet our needs.
Thanks to Union Presbyterian Seminary alumna Elizabeth Boulware Landes for writing the Revised Common Lectionary Links this week.
Lectionary Links (RCL): July 1, 2018 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
