Lectionary Links: Pentecost, May 27, 2012

Pentecost

Year B:  May 27, 2012

First Reading:  Acts 2:1-21

We Are One by Ysaye M. Barnwell

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: On Pentecost we celebrate the birth of the church and the pouring out of God’s Spirit upon a diverse body of believers. According to Donald K. McKim, “[realizing] that ‘all flesh,’ all people, receive the Spirit, enables us to watch and participate in God’s work in this world with a wide-open vision… [joining] with all others to accomplish the Spirit’s purposes.” (Feasting on the Word, Year B, volume 3, p 6) Though we are a diverse people, we are unified through the Spirit. We Are One illustrates Sweet Honey in the Rock’s song “We Are…” The book beautifully expresses our identity, both musically and visually. On Pentecost, may we seek to celebrate our unity and oneness in the Spirit. 

Second Reading:  Romans 8:22-27

Let There Be Peace: Prayers from Around the World by Jeremy Brooks

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: This text serves to remind us that often are prayers are an expression of a hope not yet fully realized. Indeed, prayers may be groans, sighs, breaths taken, or words exhaled. This book of prayers collected by Rev. Jeremy Brooks express what it is we are hoping, groaning, sighing, praying, waiting for: a world of peace, creation as it was intended to be. When we’ve exhausted the words in this book as well as the words of our hearts, when we find no words remain, may we be comforted that our hope will forever be expressed through the sighs too deep for words of our ceaseless intercessor.

Gospel  Reading:  John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

One Thousand Paper Cranes: The Story of Sadako and the Children’s Peace Statue by  Takayuki Ishii

(Written for ages 10-14)

Comment: In thinking about this text, we might pause to consider how powerful it is that the story and mission of Jesus survived and thrived beyond the time he was physically present on earth. Surely that in itself is a picture of the Spirit at work in our family of faith, glorifying Christ, taking what is his and declaring it to us again and again. The Spirit weaves us together in life and in death,  building us up for Christ’s work in the world. In many schools, children and youth learn about Sadako, a girl who battled leukemia caused by the bomb that hit Hiroshima. Though Sadako died, her story and spirit live on, inspiring children around the world to study and seek peace.

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

Lectionary Links: Sunday, June 12, 2011

Day of Pentecost

Year A: June 12, 2011

First Reading: Acts 2: 1-21

Too Much Mush! by Abby Levine (Written for Ages 5-9)

Comment: The text of Pentecost serves to remind us of the power of language. It must have been an incredible moment when suddenly everyone in the room could hear about God’s deeds of power in their own language. Hearing and understanding the words affected the people—if we look ahead to verse 41 we read that three thousand people were baptized that day. The right words can make all the difference. Hanna’s mother and the townspeople learn this lesson when they can’t find the words to make the magic mush pot stop. Each, in turn, yells orders to the pot, but the pot cooks on. Finally, when Hanna returns home, she asks the pot to stop in a language it understands.*

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13

Head, Body, Legs: A Story From Liberia by Won-Ldy Paye  & Margaret Lippert (Written for Ages 5-9)

Comment: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” This folktale of body parts coming together to form a person is an excellent way to express what it is to be the body of Christ. The body parts each perform different tasks, but work for a common goal. When they find a way to connect with one another to best use their gifts together, they are able to pick and eat a mango from the tree.

Gospel Reading: John 7: 37-39

Jordi’s Star by Alma Flor Ada (Written for Ages 5-9)

Comment: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” If we believe in Jesus, the living water, and we drink of him, rivers of living water shall flow from our hearts. Our belief changes us, the drink changes us, and the change flows through us. Jordi experiences a similar transformation when he discovers his star. Jordi’s life is changed by his relationship with the star, and through his transformation, the people and land around him are transformed as well.*

*Out of print books can frequently be found by searching at AbeBooks and Alibris.

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