Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Year C: June 26, 2016

First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Starring Mirette & Bellini by Emily Arnold McCully

(Written for ages 7-11)

Comment: Educator Carolyn Brown suggests using this text to “encourage children to think about their heroes and heroines and what they are learning from them.”) Bellini is Mirette’s mentor and hero. While he directly teaches her how to be comfortable on the high wire, through his example, he also shows her what it means to be a prophetic voice, even when it means risking your life. Following in the footsteps of a prophetic leader can be exhilarating and terrifying. Invite your congregation to share stories of the mentors who have given them the courage to step out in faith and accomplish things they didn’t think were possible.

Second Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Here Comes Darrell by Leda Schubert

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” What does a life spent loving neighbor and guided by the fruits of the Spirit look like? In all seasons Darrell’s life is shaped by loving his neighbors, but he often misses the “as yourself” part of love. When strong autumn winds blow his barn roof away, his neighbors help him to embrace the fullness of loving neighbor as self. As you reflect upon this text and story, wonder together with the children of your church about what it looks like to love your neighbor as yourself.

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:51-62

Over-scheduled Andrew by Ashley Spires

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: In his commentary on this text, Richard J. Shaffer Jr. talks about the way even good things, in this case family obligations, can become obstacles on the path of one’s calling. (Feasting on the Word, Year C, Volume 3, p 194) Here is a message that many of us struggle with but need to hear. It seems as if we are all doing more, setting fewer boundaries, and rarely saying no. This is also a problem Andrew struggles with. In order to become a better actor, Andrew keeps adding more activities to his daily routine. Unfortunately, he’s so exhausted, he fails to follow through on the things in life that matter to him most. Using this text and story, encourage your congregation to consider what priorities are helping them to live a life of Christian discipleship and which priorities might need to be set aside.

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

Lectionary Links: Sunday, June 26, 2016 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.