32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C:  November 6, 2016

First Reading: Haggai 1:15-2:9

Granddaddy’s Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: Following their return from exile, the people set themselves on the task of rebuilding the temple. Their work at restoration was a disappointment, to say the least. Nelson Rivera speaks of the people as ones “…who have been downtrodden for a long time, and whose hopes have all but disappeared…” (Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol 4, p 270) These words could also be used for African Americans living in the mid-twentieth century, including the family described in Granddaddy’s Turn. Granddaddy had such hope and happiness  as he waited patiently in line to vote, and then met with great disappointment when he was turned away. It is a bittersweet moment when the reader watches his grown grandson vote, clutching a photo of his grandaddy who never lived to experience that right. Haggai’s words are spoken to people living with disappointment, encouraging them to keep going with the promise that God’s presence has been with them, continues to be with them and will remain with them, bringing about “not mere prosperity… but shalom – peace, well-being, security, wholeness, and restoration.”

Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

What James Said by Liz Rosenberg

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “…we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us…” Rumors have been flying in the Thessalonian community, stirring people up, saying the Day of the Lord has come; Paul assures them the Day of the Lord is not yet here. In Rosenberg’s story a young girl is shaken by rumors that her best friend James told another kid she thinks she is perfect. Hurt by this information, she ignores James all day, only to find that he thinks her painting for the art show is perfect. Rumors can have a disturbing effect upon people, causing us to no longer believe the truths that are within us, truths like being loved and chosen by God or being loved as best friend. Using this text and story, invite your congregation to share their own experiences of rumors and the ways they shake up and disturb the truths within us.

Gospel Reading: Luke 20:27-38

Sally Goes to Heaven by Stephen Huneck

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: Educator Carolyn Brown encourages preachers speaking with children to skip over the trap being set by the Sadducees, and instead focus the conversation on what happens after we die. “We don’t know very much at all about what life will be like after we die… We do know from Jesus that we will be with God and will be safe.”  We might guess or have ideas of what we hope life after death will look like. Readers experience Huneck’s hope of what Heaven might be like for his beloved dog Sally after she dies. It seems our visions of Heaven reflect much of what we value in life. As you read this text and story, wonder with the children of the church about the things we hope for after death, and the things we are sure of. As you wonder, consider how our visions of Heaven might impact the way we live our lives on earth.

The Revised Common Lectionary Links this week are written by Noell Rathbun-Cook, Minister of Children, Families and Liturgical Arts at Grace Baptist Church, Richmond, VA and Union Presbyterian Seminary alumna.

Lectionary Links (RCL): November 6, 2016 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.