Lectionary Links: Sunday, December 23, 2012

4th Sunday of Advent

Year B:  December 23, 2012

First Reading: Micah 5:2-5a

“The Gourd of Plenty” from Joy to the World: Christmas Stories From Around the Globe by Saviour Pirotta

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord… and they shall live secure…” Nancy S. Taylor calls this “the thrilling substance of our Advent hope. In our manifestly insecure world… our God promises a security that the world cannot give.” (Feasting on the Word, Year C, Volume 1, p 74) She goes on to say that our looking to those in power to help the most vulnerable in our world is the exact opposite of Micah’s focus. Jesus is a leader unlike any other,  he is our savior and security. “He is bread for our hunger, drink for our thirst, and life for our death.” Readers see directly how Jesus, and not those in worldly power, is the one to fill the thirsty in “The Gourd of Plenty”. The water the Christ child provides Kumbi does not run dry.

Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Illustrated by Brett Helquist

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “See, I have come to do your will.” These are the words of the savior we have been preparing for this Advent season. According to Jack Haberer, Jesus came not only to save us from our sin, but to shape our character, that our lives might also be lived according to the will of God. (Feasting on the Word, Year C, Volume 1, p 90) As I read the commentaries on this passage from Hebrews, words from a familiar Christmas carol come to mind: Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. This move from sinfulness to behavior shaped by Christ’s light can be seen in Dickens’s classic tale A Christmas Carol. Scrooge experiences the casting out of sin as the love of Christ in born in his heart one special Christmas day.

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: In his commentary on today’s text from Luke, Michael S. Bennett focuses on the experience of Mary and Elizabeth. In this story, “God gives [them] two things they each lacked: community and connection. God removes their isolation…” (Feasting on the Word, Year C, Volume 1, p 94) Bennet expresses the possibility that our congregations may be filled with Marys and Elizabeths seeking genuine connection this Advent season. Certainly a great number of people experience more acute loneliness during the holidays. Holly and Ivy are themselves like Mary and Elizabeth, with deep feelings of loneliness, they find an emptiness within themselves. As their story ends, they, too, find community and connection.

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

Lectionary Links: Sunday, November 18, 2012

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B:  November 18, 2012

First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:4-20

Happy by Mies Van Hout

(Written for ages 2-5)

Comment: When thinking about sharing this text with children (and adults), it’s important to note that our prayers are not like wishes waiting to be fulfilled. Too many people have heard the false and cruel statement that their prayers are left unanswered because they are not praying the right way. The power of Hannah’s prayer is in her coming before God openly with her raw emotions. “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly.” This text gives us the opportunity to reflect on the fact that we can share our joy, sorrow, anger, grief, thanksgiving, and any other feelings we experience with God. Take the time to explore feelings with the children in your congregation through Van Hout’s simple book illustrating a variety of fish with a variety of feelings.

Second Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18), 19-25

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: In his commentary on this passage, Peter M. Wallace emphasizes that we often hold the burden of guilt and regret for “[past] behaviors [that] have caused harm to others.” (Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p 305) Each Kindness is a story of a girl who is anything but kind to the new student in her class. A lesson on kindness causes her to consider and regret her past behaviors. Readers experience the pain and distress she carries as a result her behavior. The book may leave us sad, yet hopeful that she will find future opportunities to share love rather than cruelty. We cannot undo what has been done, but through our experiences of Christ’s love, “may we provoke one another to love and good deeds…”

Gospel Reading: Mark 13:1-8

A Place Where Hurricanes Happen by Renée Watson

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.” Emilie M. Townes reminds us that while no one escapes the ravages of the apocalypse, “the time of destruction, which is an ending, is also a beginning for a people of deep faith.” (Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p 312) In Watson’s story, we follow the experience of children in a neighborhood, learn about their relationships, and see the ways they are displaced by Hurricane Katrina. In the midst of destruction and grief, the children display strong faith, in one another, and in the relationships woven through their neighborhood. They tell readers, “We’re from New Orleans, a place where hurricanes happen. But that’s only the bad side.” Readers see the good side in the rebirth of their neighborhood and the love they share.

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

Lectionary Links: Sunday, November 11, 2012

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B:  November 11, 2012

First Reading: Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17

Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition adapted by Jewell Reinhart Coburn

(Written for ages 8-12)

Comment: “She said to her, ‘All that you tell me I will do.’”According to Marcia Mount Shoop, “Ruth is a model of a way of life, which is what allows her a way in and a way toward acceptance in the covenant community.”  (Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p 270) Ruth’s character remains unshaken through so much loss and change. Her faithfulness to Naomi helps to secure her future. Domitila also has an unshaken character. Though she endures loss and hardship, she remains faithful to the wisdom of her mother by remembering to “do every task with care, and always add a generous dash of love.” In the end her faithfulness to her mother’s words secures her future and the future of her children.

Second Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28

The Hunter: A Chinese Folktale retold by Mary Casanova

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “…he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.” In his commentary on this text, Thomas G. Long talks about the way the text describes Jesus’ crucifixion, not in a historically factual manner, but in speaking of “what it means for the world and the human heart that Jesus died.” (Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p 278) Christ’s death changes our relationship with God and one another once and for all, inviting us to live into the grace that has already been given. An enduring sacrifice that changes hearts can also be explored in The Hunter. Hai Li Bu sacrifices his own life to save the lives of his fellow villagers. His sacrifice changes the character of the people forever.

Gospel Reading: Mark 12:38-44

Rosie and the Poor Rabbits by Maryann Macdonald

(Written for ages 3-7)

Comment: “…all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” This text provides a wonderful opportunity for conversations surrounding the spirit of giving. It gives us the opportunity to wonder together with children what inspires us to share and what we are willing to give. It also allows us to explore the difference between giving motivated by duty and giving motivated by the heart. In Macdonald’s story, Rosie learns about giving when she meets another rabbit who can’t afford a beautiful cupcake like the one Mama buys her. Encouraged to give some of her things away, Rosie first digs through her room choosing items that are shiny and new, but have little personal value to her. In the end she dreams of the rabbit receiving what she has to share, and decides to give away her most precious, beloved things.

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

Lectionary Links: Sunday, November 4, 2012

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B:  November 4, 2012

First Reading: Ruth 1:1-18

Tea with Milk by Allen Say

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: The book of Ruth begins with tragedy, grief, and the experience of being a foreigner. First for Naomi in Moab, and soon for Ruth in the land of Judah. Yet, no matter what land they are in, Naomi and Ruth have found home with one another:“Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” It seems much of belonging and finding our sense of home is rooted in the relationships we build. In Tea with Milk, May struggles with being a foreigner in her parents’ native Japan. She continues to feel out of place until she meets Joseph. Together they choose to adopt the country they’re in and make it home.

Second Reading: Hebrews 9:11-14

Messenger by Lois Lowry

(Written for ages 12+)

Comment: Today’s text focuses on the sacrifice of Christ moving us from dead works toward worship of the living God. This text encourages us to explore the dead works that have a tendency to pull us away from our true selves. In a response to the saving work of Christ, we may turn towards a life that reflects our relationship with the living God. Messenger presents wonderful imagery of death, life, and sacrifice. The forest comes to represent the darkness engulfing the people, literally reeking of death and decay. In the final chapter of the book, Matty sacrifices his life to heal the forest and the people, bringing hope to the village once more.

Gospel Reading: Mark 12:28-34

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment:  Love is a concept we explore often with young children, especially at church.  The church may be one of a child’s earliest experiences of loving a neighbor. This is the place where we can learn by example, so that we can take the love we’ve learned into the world and share it with neighbors near and far. Sometimes the neighbors we love will be a lot like us, sometimes they will be quite different. Sometimes loving another will seem easy, other times, it may be quite difficult.  While Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley are different as night and day, their love for one another flows quite freely. Their story is a simple view of what it looks like to love your neighbor as yourself. This story can help young children explore the ways in which we love our neighbors.

A number of books connecting to the gospel parallels of this text have been reviewed on this site:

All the Places to Love (Lectionary Links: Sunday, October 23, 2011)

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case

How to Heal a Broken Wing

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

Number the Stars

Yes We Can

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

Lectionary Links: Sunday, October 28, 2012

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B:  October 28, 2012

First Reading: Job 42:1-6, 10-17

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

(Written for ages 13 and up)

Comment: In his commentary, Gary Charles invites preachers to consider the way pastoral theology is informed by the lectionary’s final reading from Job, rather than jumping to happily ever after conclusions we might find in fairy tales. Ministers may use the text to connect with the people in their congregations who now find themselves “on the other side of the ‘ash heap.’ Suffering has happened and people are trying to reconstruct their lives and their faith.” (Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p 196)This reconstruction will include new beginnings, new hope for life, but certainly will also always hold space for remembering the suffering and losses connected to the ash heap. Katniss Everdeen sits on the other side of the ash heap in the Epilogue of Mockingjay. “My children don’t know they play on a graveyard… one day I’ll have to explain… I’ll tell them how I survive it…” Her survival is a repetition of memories from the past blended with hope for a different future for her children.

Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28

Bluebonnet Girl by Michael Lind

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.” David S. Cunnigham explains that this “passage emphasizes that Christ’s sacrifice is definitive and final; as a perfect sacrifice, it puts an end to sacrifice” (Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p 210) He goes on to explore how Christ’s actions reorient our way of life and have the potential to end cycles of violence. The bluebonnet girl makes a once and for all sacrifice when all the others in her tribe, facing hunger and drought due to selfishness, are unable to part with their prized possessions. Through her sacrificial act, she saves the tribe.

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:46-52

Elfwyn’s Saga by David Wisniewski

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “Bartimaeus, in identifying Jesus as the son of David, demonstrates that he really does see; despite his physical blindness he can see what others who meet Jesus cannot.” (Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p 214) Seeing is more than what we take in with our eyes. Though this story addresses the healing of a physical blindness, it invites us to consider how it is we see with or experience blindness in our hearts. Readers experience this in the story of Elfwyn, a princess born blind. Though she cannot physically see, her heart vision remains clear, even when others in her village become blind to the truth and their way of life.

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

Lectionary Links: Sunday, October 21, 2012

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B:  October 21, 2012

First Reading:Job 38:1-7 (34-41)

Creation by Gerald McDermott

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: It is perplexing when God responds to Job, not with answers, but questions. J. S. Randolph Harris suggests, “God is not dismissing Job, but is reorienting Job within a larger awareness of God’s good creation.” (Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p 175) God’s questions may reorient us, too, centering us on the majesty of God and vastness of God’s creation. In light of all that God has made, are we then insignificant? A blip on the radar? Creation invites readers to consider the ways we are connected to one another by One who has always been; by One who knows each member of creation; by One who declares, “I am all this. All this I AM.” May we find comfort that the God of all of creation speaks to Job, and to us. We may not fully understand, and yet, God is here.

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10

The Myseterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

(Written for ages 9-12)

Comment: “And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God…” In her commentary on this text, Susan R. Andrews explores the calling of the priesthood of believers:  “God chooses us, and will not let us go… This is why we end up with members who annoy us, leaders who forget meetings, and fellow clergy who disappoint us. Somehow God needs each one of [us]… to be the priestly body of Christ in the world.” (Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p 184) The Mysterious Benedict Society presents readers with a motley crew not unlike the one described by Andrews. Benedict calls the children to become a team, saying: “Whether you always agree is inconsequential, but you must take care of one another, must rely on one another… every one of you is essential to the success of the team, and indeed, to the fate of us all.” (Chapter 7 “Codes and Histories”) Likewise, the work we do as members of the priestly body of Christ affects the fate of us all; we, too, must take care of and rely on one another.

**An additional book selection for this text can be found in the Lectionary Links from March 25, 2012**

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:35-45

The Fisherman and His Wife by Rachel Isadora

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” It almost seems as if James and John are looking to Jesus as a magic genie, one who can grant their wish to be his powerful right and left hand. Should we be shocked? It wouldn’t be untrue to say that human beings have a desire for greatness. We see this desire on display in The Fisherman and His Wife. Continually the wife demands the flounder make her more and more powerful, until she expresses her desire to be God. In both the gospel and Isadora’s story, Jesus and the flounder turn these desires on their heads. To have the greatness of God is not to be served, but to serve.

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

Lectionary Links: Sunday, October 14, 2012

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B:  October 14, 2012

First Reading: Job 23:1-9, 16-17

A Day, A Dog by Gabrielle Vincent

(Written for ages 9-12)

Comment: “If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.” At this point in Job’s story we hear of Job’s sense of utter abandonment by God. This image of God is paradoxical to the ever-present one we so often speak of and preach about. Yet many of us have experienced moments in our own life where we feel abandoned and utterly alone. Like Job, we are filled with sorrow when we cry out, “Where is God?” Though it is a wordless book, A Day, A Dog is strikingly sorrowful. A number of pages hold only the image of the abandoned dog. Whether he goes forward, backward, left, or right, he is alone.

Second Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16

The King and the Seed by Eric Maddern

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” John P. Burgess suggests that in approaching the throne of grace, we are transformed and called to new life because “God’s judgement is a reordering and reorienting power.” (Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p160) Though he is clearly nervous, when Jack approaches the king, he is honest about his failure. Unexpectedly, his confession leads to transformation. No longer a farm boy, but a future king, Jack and the kingdom are called into new life.

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:17-31

The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment:  In this passage a young man is asking Jesus how he can inherit eternal life. “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’” A number of people in our congregations are sure to understand the shock and grief the man encountered with Jesus’ words. We live in a culture that equates stuff with happiness, wealth with security. Is eternal life worth it if it requires giving away our happiness and security? A wealthy king has a similar encounter with the Quiltmaker. Readers witness his struggle against and eventual acceptance of her advice. As the book ends and we  might find ourselves saying, “yes, it really is worth it.”

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

Lectionary Links: Sunday, October 7, 2013 (World Communion Sunday)

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B:  October 7, 2012

First Reading: Job 1:1; 2:1-10

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snickett

(Written for ages 9-12)

Comment: In today’s text, it seems the faithful Job has unfairly become a pawn in a game of which he has no real understanding. Readers encounter Job’s tale with a bleak beginning full of misfortune. The opening story of the Baudelaire children is, likewise, a bleak beginning. Though they are intelligent, charming, and resourceful, “most everything that happened to them was rife with misfortune, misery, and despair.” (Chapter 1) Neither Job nor the Baudelaire’s seem to have any real support from their communities and, in many ways, face their suffering alone. While these stories are unpleasant, they lead us to ask the age old question: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” We may not have the answers, but we can certainly seek to be present with those who, in their suffering, feel they are alone.

Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

The Brave Little Parrot by Rafe Martin

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: This text, confessional in nature speaks of “the salvation God has achieved through Jesus Christ.” (“Homiletical Perspective.” Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 4, p135) It emphasizes that Christ’s saving power was perfected through his suffering death. Martin’s retelling of a Buddhist folk tale from India is the story of a forest ablaze and sure to be destroyed. Rather than staying safe by the river, a little, gray parrot places herself in danger in order to save the forest. “Her eyes burned red as coals. Her feathers were charred. Her claws cracked. She coughed and choked. But still the little parrot flew on.” Through her faithfulness the forest is saved, and she is crowned with glory by her new, colorful feathers.

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:2-16

I Have Two Homes by Marian De Smet

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: The disciples thought being with Jesus should be something that was just for grownups. Likewise, we sometimes think divorce is a topic just for grownups; by acknowledging and discussing it with children in church, we are participating in the act of letting the children come to Jesus. Bless the children of your church by providing them with a safe space to talk about their experiences and concerns. Consider opening this kind of discussion by reading De Smet’s story of a girl who shares her experience of having divorced parents.

World Communion

Loaves of Fun by Elizabeth M. Harbison

(Written for ages 6-12)

Comment: Loaves of Fun is an activity and history book rolled into one. It presents a timeline of the history of bread along with various bread recipes from around the world. You might consider inviting various families to bake different kinds of bread for the communion table by using some of the recipes provided. Remember to look back at other books related to communion that have previously been highlighted on the blog: The Greatest Table, Bread is for Eating, and Bread Bread Bread.

The Lectionary Links this week were written by regular contributor and Union Presbyterian Seminary graduate Noell Rathbun-Cook.

Lectionary Links: Sunday, March 25, 2012

5th Sunday in Lent

Year B:  March 25, 2012

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” What does it mean to have the law written on our hearts? In many ways it is knowing that we belong to God. In The Invisible String, a mother explains to her children that there is a string of love that connects us: “Even though you can’t see it with your eyes, you can feel it deep in your heart, and know that you are always connected to the ones you love.” God’s law written on our hearts is like the invisible string. It connects us to God, and to one another. It does not have to be learned or acquired, but is always there, a gift of  God’s grace and love.

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:5-10

Can I Pray With My Eyes Open? by Susan Taylor Brown (Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears…” Many people worry over the time, place, or way to pray. Is it ok to share our true feelings with God? In hearing and reading of Jesus’ prayers, we understand that our priest and intercessor is “in deep solidarity with humanity.” (Feasting on the Word, Year B, Volume 2, p 136) What better example have we of how or when to pray than here? There is no wrong time or way to pray. We, too can approach God with loud cries and tears in supplication, with blessing in thanksgiving, or in whatever situation we find ourselves to be. Can I Pray With My Eyes Open? is a way to explore the concept of prayer with children and to share that during any time, in any place, with whatever feelings we have, we can indeed talk to God.

Gospel Reading: John 12:20-33

The Greatest Power by Demi (Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” The seed is a helpful image during Lent for thinking about the death and resurrection. It is both a strange and amazing experience to bury a seed in the ground and discover, sometimes in just a few days, the new life it brings. There is true wisdom in Jesus’ words when he compares the coming hour in which he will be glorified to the life cycle of a seed. Demi describes a seed as the greatest power on earth through words of the young child Sing: “the nothing in this seed is Eternal Life–it continues from seed to seed, forever and ever in perfect harmony. So, Life is the greatest power in the world.” Truly this story will prove a meaningful one to hear as our Lenten journey leads us towards the new life of Easter.

This week’s Lectionary Links post was written by regular contributor Noell Rathbun-Cook.

Lectionary Links: Christmas Day, December 25, 2011

Christmas Day

Year B:  December 25, 2011

First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10

Cock-a-doodle Christmas by Will Hillenbrand

(Written for ages 3-7)

Comment: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news…” It would not be odd to wonder at the ways the content of the message being shared might affect the messenger. Poor Harold can’t seem to fill the role left for him by Old Rooster. No matter how he tries, his cock-a-doodle doesn’t wake a soul! Everyone on the farm is frustrated with Harold—he’s just not a good messenger of the new day. Then, one night, he encounters the baby Jesus and he is changed. “This day and every day were going to be different!” Finally Harold experiences news he can’t wait to share. “Cock-a-doodle-doo! Good news for you!” he cries, and his call echoes through the mountains and valleys.

Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12)

The Light of Christmas by Richard Paul Evans

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: When approaching this text with children, it might be helpful to reflect on what it means for Jesus to be the reflection and imprint of God. Therefore, we seek to know and follow God by knowing and following God’s son. To follow Jesus is not always easy, but it is good to direct our lives towards the righteousness God loves. Although it means he’ll miss the lighting of the Christmas torch, Alexander decides to help an old man in need. He is in the end, given the honor of lighting the torch because the Keeper of the Flame saw that the light of Christmas burned within the boy when he was willing to give of himself. At Christmas we, too, are reminded that we have the opportunity to prioritize our lives and live in a way that might bear God’s light to the world.

Gospel Reading: John 1:1-14

Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “In the beginning was the Word… all things came into being through him…and the Word became flesh and lived among us…” The opening to John’s gospel might not be what we were expecting to read on Christmas day, but it is a powerful message of the incarnation. How beautiful it is to stop and reflect on the fact that “the One who made us has come to live with us!” This is the message shared by all of creation in Song of the Stars, a story that displays creation coming to praise the light of the world-the Word made flesh. This beautifully illustrated book grounds the story of Jesus’ birth in the imagery of today’s text from John. As the book ends, we gaze together at “Heaven’s Son sleeping under the stars that he made.”

This Lectionary Links post was written by regular contributor Noell Rathbun.