6th Sunday in Lent

Year C:  March 24, 2013

Additional suggestions for these texts may be found in our posts from Year A and Year B

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a

One by Kathryn Otoshi

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: “I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together.” In this reading from Isaiah, we hear that God’s presence gives strength in the midst of conflict and trials. For children, this idea might be explored through the topic of bullying. Standing up to a bully alone is scary, but the presence of someone who is supportive can empower us and give us courage. In Otoshi’s book, One contends with the previously bullied colors, giving them the confidence to stand up to Red. Invite the children and adults of your congregation to share the ways God or other people have given them confidence to stand up to things in our sometimes scary world.

Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

A Little Peace of Me by Madeleine Lippey

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “…be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind…” Paul’s words encourage us to live and work for God’s desires. What would it look like if we were of the same mind? If God’s dreams for the world we our own? This idea is explored in 16-year-old Lippey’s A Little Peace of Me when three children on three different continents share the same dream of peace. While I think adults are more likely to connect with the text of Lippey’s book, the broader idea of the three children’s shared dream will be accessible for children. The book encourages us to ask ourselves how we have sought to give a piece of ourselves to peace this Lenten season.

Gospel Reading for the Liturgy of the Passion: Luke 22:14-23:56

Grandma’s Purple Flowers by Adjoa J. Burrowes or Mama by Eleanor Schick

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “Do this in remembrance of me.” In the act of sharing communion, we remember Jesus, even thought his bodily presence is no longer among us. Our senses connect strongly to our memories, helping us to hold on to the people, places, and things that we value. This idea of remembering can be found in two children’s books where young girls experience a loss in their family. In Burrowes’s story, the granddaughter’s memories are stirred by purple flowers: “I think of Grandma. I feel her big hug…” In Schick’s story, the daughter finds comfort in actions that spark memories of experiences with her mother: “I know you’re with me. All the time, in everything.” In the sacrament of communion, and in the hearing of stories such as these, may our memories bring us comfort and connection to the ones we love.

Gospel Reading for the Liturgy of the Palms: Luke 19:28-40

Glory by Nancy White Carlstrom

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: “As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice…” The Pharisees do not seem to appreciate this praising of God and ask Jesus to silence his disciples. His response of “if these [disciples] were silent, the stones would shout out,” suggests that God, who is worthy of praise, will always be praised, whether it be by humans or some other form of creation, such as stones. Glory is a wonderful example of different creatures praising God. Take time today to explore the ways people and other parts of creation have been made to praise God.

The Lectionary Links this week were written by regular contributor Noell Rathbun-Cook.

Lectionary Links: Sunday, March 24, 2013 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.