Lectionary Links (RCL): September 4, 2016
16th Sunday after Pentecost
Year C: September 4, 2016
First Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-11
My Pen by Christopher Myers
(Written for ages 5-9)
Comment: Artists in your congregation may be drawn the metaphor of God as artist, shaping the community into the true artwork God intends it to be. No matter the media, the creative experience runs parallel. The artist in Myer’s story says “my pen worries about all the wars in the world, then tells everyone I love that I love them…” My Pen touches upon the ideas expressed in Jeremiah of the artist’s desire for and ability to make changes to their creation. As you consider God as Artist, invite your community to wonder how God shapes or re-draws us into a new work when we fail to meet God’s creative vision.
Second Reading: Philemon 1:1-21
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
(Written for ages 5-9)
Comment: When we read Paul’s letter to Philemon we consider the idea of perception. Namely, how is Onesimus perceived? Is he, according to the probable perception,Philemon, a useless slave, or is he, as Paul pleads, a beloved child? Duck! Rabbit! is a simple way to explore the concept of perception with children. We look at the same thing, yet I see a duck while you see a rabbit. How can that be?! This book and passage draw us to consider how our own perceptions of people affect our actions and attitudes towards them. Today we must ask, “who are the ones we’ve perceived to be useless that God is calling us to recognize as beloved?”
Gospel Reading: Luke 14:25-33
Their Great Gift by John Coy
(Written for ages 5-9)
Comment: “…ask [your] people to look at the long arc of their lives and ask what is important to them, what they hope for them and their families,” David Lose encourages the working preacher, reminding us that it takes sacrifice “to live into the discipleship life that grace makes possible.” (http://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=2726) A number of people in our churches may struggle with these ideas, yet those who are immigrants may connect closely to the language of sacrifice. Their Great Gift is the story of immigrants, who sacrifice home, family, possessions, and more out of hope for a better life and future. Inspired by this text and story, invite the people of your community to share their own stories of sacrifice and hope.
The Lectionary Links this week are written by Union Presbyterian Seminary alumna Noell Rathbun-Cook.
Lectionary Links (RCL): September 4, 2016 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
