Third Sunday of Easter

Year C:  April 10, 2016

First Reading:  Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)

Just A Dream by Chris Van Allsburg

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment:  This text is the story of two conversions where God leads both Paul and Ananias in unexpected directions. Just A Dream is the conversion story of Walter, a boy whose way of life is completely transformed by a vivid dream of the future. What it would be like to stand in Paul, Ananias, or Walter’s shoes before, during, and after their lives were changed? In exploring their experiences, we are preparing ourselves for the possibility that in our own lives God might “take our ‘no way,’ and our ‘we’ve never done that before’ and transforms them into ‘yes.’”

Second Reading:  Revelation 5:11-14

How Do You Wokka-Wokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment:  Dana Ferguson calls this a day “to join ‘every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them’ in praising the loving God who reaches out not just to the upright, but to all God’s children…” (Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol 2, p 416) Bluemle’s story follows a boy through his neighborhood as he invites those around him to join in his Wokka-Wokka dance. Soon a large, diverse group of people is dancing and celebrating in the street. When exploring this text and story shift the question to, “how do you praise God-praise God?” and invite your congregation to join in a grand celebration of praise.

Gospel Reading:  John 21:1-19

Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment:  In Beautiful Oops, Saltzberg explores the way a person can create art out of an oops moment. The story serves as a good reminder for children and adults alike: “When you think you have made a mistake… think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful.” In many ways, this passage from John is a beautiful oops moment, particularly as described by Frank L. Crouch: “This ‘last breakfast’ once again transforms a moment of deprivation and insufficiency into a feast… Attention turns to Peter, whose three-fold denial at Jesus’ trial and rapid return to his old occupation are graciously redeemed and redirected…”  Using this text and story, invite your congregation to share moments when God transformed an oops into something beautiful.

The Lectionary Linksthis week are written by Noell Rathbun-Cook, Minister of Children and Youth Discipleship at Grace Baptist Church in Richmond, VA.

Lectionary Links: Sunday, April 10, 2016 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.