2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Year A: June 22, 2014

First Reading:  Genesis 21:8-21

God Keeps You Safe by Michelle Medlock Adams

(Written for ages 2-5)

Comment: God blessed Abraham and Hagar with a son and promised to protect him. Unable to see her only child die of thirst, Hagar hides her son, Ishmael under one of the bushes in the wilderness. Hagar asks for water and God answers her prayer and provides “a well of water.” “God was with the boy, and he grew up.” Ishmael who was left by his mother to die grew up to be the father of a great nation. God kept God’s promise by protecting Ishmael. God Keeps You Safe is a lift-the-flap book that assures children of God’s continuous presence and care. God is with them when they play and learn new things. God is with them when they are afraid. God is with them when they are anxious to know if something is going to work. The book invites children to call on God any time and to trust in God at all times.

Second Reading:  Romans 6:1b-11

David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon

(Written for ages 4-Up)

Comment: David Gets in Trouble but never wants to admit it. He feels good being naughty and blames others for his faults all through the day. When night comes David can’t sleep with it though. When he says the magic words “I’m sorry,” he feels much better and realizes that it was not hard after all. In his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul invites them to amend their sinful ways and receive a new life in Jesus. God offers us new life in Christ. The story of David will help children understand that accepting one’s mistakes is not hard after all. Living a truthful life brings us closer to Jesus.  

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 10:24-39

Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment:  To be a true disciple of Christ is to be like Christ and do what Christ did. We must show Christ’s love to others. We must witness to Christ’s love by our words and deeds. In Karen Chinn’s book Sam and the Lucky Money, Sam received “lucky money” from his grandparents as a New Year’s gift. He was allowed to spend the money in China Town. Sam wanted to spend his ‘lucky money’ on delicious sweets or a new toy. Amongst the crowds in China Town, Sam saw an old man with bare feet. He wondered how the old man could stand the cold weather. While at the bakery he was tempted to buy his favorite sweet but he felt sad for the stranger. At the toy store his “lucky money” was not enough for anything in the store. On his way back Sam saw the old man again. Sam gave his “lucky money” to the old man to buy socks for his feet. This gesture made Sam feel lucky. Sam’s story encourages children to help others. By helping others we share Christ’s love.

The Lectionary Links this week are written by alumna Mary Taneti, coordinator of children’s and youth ministries at First Presbyterian Church, Goldsboro, NC.

Lectionary Links: Sunday, June 22, 2014 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.