23rd Sunday after Pentecost Proper 27 (32) Things to keep ... · are reminded that there is no place where hope no longer resides, including death. The promise of God’s liberation,

Ecumenical Prayer Calendar

Things to keep in mind this weekhellip

Planning aheadhellip

Lection Connection links current events with this weekrsquos scriptures Go to wwwseasonsonlineca and click on the link

Liturgical colour green

Revised Common Lectionary (Year A)

135135Copyright copy Wood Lake Publishing Inc 2019 Seasons of the Spirittrade SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation bull Pentecost 2 2020

Seasons of the Spirittrade is based

on the semi-continuous readings of the Revised Common Lectionary

Sunday November 8 ndash Saturday November 14 bull 2020

Based on In Godrsquos Hands Common Prayer for the World ed By Hugh McCul-lum and Terry MacArthur (Geneva World Council of Churches 2006)

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 2122 23 24 25 26 27 2829 30

November 2020

December 2020S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 1920 21 22 23 24 25 2627 28 29 30 31

October 2020S M T W T F S

1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 1718 19 20 21 22 23 2425 26 27 28 29 30 31

23rd Sunday after PentecostProper 27 (32)32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Armistice DayRemembranceVeteranrsquos Day

Joshua 241ndash3a 14ndash25Psalm 781ndash7Matthew 251ndash13 the focus for age-level materials1 Thessalonians 413ndash18

Republic of Congo Gabon Sao Tomeacute and Principe

136 Seasons of the Spirittrade SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation bull Pentecost 2 2020 Copyright copy Wood Lake Publishing Inc 2019

Biblical Background bull November 8 2020

Seasons of the Spirittrade is based on the semi-continuous readings of the Revised Common Lectionary

Season of Creation Pentecost 2 2020Joshua 241ndash3a 14ndash25Psalm 781ndash71 Thessalonians 413ndash18Matthew 251ndash13 the focus in age-level materials

Door Shut or Open

Spirit of liberation you have called us to be wit-nesses to your compassion and justice Yet we grow impatient and discouraged because so little seems to change and our efforts feel incon-sequential Help us maintain the joy enthusiasm and commitment required so that we might always be ready to reflect your love when the opportunity comes our way Amen

This weekrsquos texts remind us there is nothing casual about living as a witness to Godrsquos liberation and jus-tice It is a daily commitment shared by each genera-

tion with a readiness to respond trusting the assurance this is the door to realm-of-God life

Joshua 241ndash3a 14ndash25 is ripe with internal tensions On the one hand it embraces an imperial theology of domination with a divinely sanctioned genocidal story of eliminating people who presently reside in the land On the other hand it calls for communities of liberation to be a faithful witness to a God whose liberation and justice are for all Ultimately it is up to each person and community to decide the nature of the God they choose to follow and the type of the world for which they are preparing Psalm 781ndash7 invites us to experience our lives and faith in relationship both to those who have gone before and those who go after Each genera-tion has a responsibility to share the story of liberation and justice they have received In 1 Thessalonians 413ndash18 we are reminded that there is no place where hope no longer resides including death The promise of Godrsquos liberation justice and love unite us in life and death Matthew 251ndash13 is directed to the early community of faith and to believers of every age who struggle with the discon-tinuity between the realm of God transformational-prom-ise and lived reality The realm of God preached and lived by Jesus raised expectations for both personal and social transformation Yet when the gospel of Matthew is written some 30 to 40 years after the disciples proclaimed the resur-rection of Christ it appears to most that little if anything has changed The Roman empire is still in charge The poor continue to be exploited Roman imperial military might has a firm grip on the populace

What do you do when the realm-of-God promise of personal and social transformation goes unfulfilled Whether the challenge faced is that of the early Christians a contemporary struggle with drug addiction health insurance immigration climate change or any number of

personal and social issues how does one trust much less live into the promised transformation when nothing seems to change

It may be half-hearted but the early Christians to whom the gospel of Matthew is first directed still hold hope that the transformative promise of liberation justice and compassion is possible The notion that those claiming to be followers of Jesus might like the foolish maidens be shut out of the realm-of-God promise is as discomforting to these early Christians as it for us today Yet this is what this parable claims ldquoThe door is shutrdquo

The message of the women waiting is reminiscent of the Woody Guthrie song ldquoYou gotta walk that lonesome valley You gotta walk it by yourself Nobody here can walk it for yourdquo Participation in the transformative work of the realm of God only happens when we as individuals and as communities of faith are prepared to do the transformative work of liberation justice and compassion No one else can prepare for us It is for example never enough to put a statement in onersquos bulletin or pass a resolution saying you are welcoming Participation in the realm of God means doing the hard work in advance before a stranger or guest ever appears It is never enough to say we support diversity but then neglect to do the hard work demanded by racial justice

The message to Christians of every age is the transformative moment for realm-of-God change will come in its own time Half-hearted or half-prepared will never do If we fail to do the work we will miss the opportunity when it arrives Expect delays but be ready For those who prepare their light will shine bright and the door to Godrsquos realm will be open

bull bull bull bull bullThere is a well-known gospel refrain that goes ldquothey will know we are Christians by our loverdquo An alternative refrain might read ldquothey will know we are witnesses by our lightrdquo This weekrsquos texts call us to be witnesses to that light and live by the hope it provides

Reflection and Focus bull November 8 2020

Adapt and use for youth and adult studies sermon seeds lay worship teams

Reflecting on the WordSeason of Creation Pentecost 2 2020

Connecting with life What type of situation makes you feel that you are

only partially committed and consequently only going through the motions

How do you feel when hoped-for results fail to materialize How does that affect your commitment and readiness to offer your best

When have you recognized that your growth your learning was something only you could do

When have you experienced opportunities that might never have been there without preparation

ScriptureJoshua 241ndash3a 14ndash25 describes the initial effort of Joshua to follow in the steps of Moses as a leader for this liberation community of faith as they step into the promised land In spite of the challenges this text provides there are things we can learn and important questions raised

Why might it have been especially important that those in leadership roles embrace their identity as a community of liberation What difference does leadership make in shaping the ethos of a community

If the people truly live into their vocation as a witness to liberation and justice for all people what might it mean for them to be a witness How would a faithful witness shape their relationship with the Amorites in whose land they were living

Psalm 781ndash7 encourages us to see our faith in a multigenera-tional context

What does it mean to care about future generations

How might such considerations shape the life of a community of faith and how they prepare for the future

1 Thessalonians 413ndash18 is an encouragement to live with hope grounded in faith

What does it mean to live without hope What does it mean to live with hope and how do these two orientations make a difference for a community of faith

Matthew 251ndash13 provides strong encouragement to the early church to continue striving for the realm of God as a place of liberation justice and compassion even when it appears the fulfilled promise is much delayed with no evi-dence of its arrival

What might have made early Christians feel like there was no reason to take the risks of being faithful disciples and that going partway was good enough

What might being only partially prepared for the reign of God look like

What might being prepared with extra oil look like for the early church What challenges would being prepared present

What does it mean that the door to Godrsquos realm is closed Is this forever as some Christian traditions proclaim about personal salvation or does the closed door have to do with the opportunities that come our way to live out the value of Godrsquos realm

How does your congregationrsquos light shine bright in the wider community

Connecting scripture and lifeWestern culture often reinforces a go-it-alone attitude that inhibits a collective response to challenges we face

How might ldquowalking that lonesome valley alonerdquo be an asset to our everyday life

In what ways are we being asked to prepare for transformative possibilities today

Focus for Worship Learning and ServingOnce again there is tension Once again ndash dichotomy In our spiritual lives we are called to balance being pre-pared for the arrival of the realm of God and knowing that we have long lives to live in faithful attention This week provides opportunities to examine this new point of tension For many people there is a division between their spiritual lives and their working or weekday lives Worship includes an invitation to examine the ways that

aspect of our lives either draws us closer or further away from our sense of God and Gods love for us This includes a gentle challenge to what it means to follow the Christ rather than simply be a good follower of the rules of the church into which we might have been baptized as infants Making choices about our faith and being intentional are critical aspects of our journey Our scriptures offer us a variety of entry points to explore these dynamics

Music Suggestions

A chart that shows the licence holder(s) for each song in each of the 9 Seasons of the Spirit Music Volumes can be found at wwwseasonsonlineca Click on Library Seasons Music Information Please contact a licence holder for permission to duplicate

Worship Outline bull November 8 2020

NOTE All of these suggestions are mere starting points adapt delete and add according to your local needs

Prepare

Gather

Door Shut or Open

Recruit volunteers needed for worship Choose an option for hearing Matthew 251ndash13 For

the Bible story arrange for a storyteller to present ldquoEnough for Allrdquo on p 142 For Are you serious prepare to project the following words or have them displayed on four placards or printed in the bulletin Finances Career Social Activities and Choices Personal Choices Provide pens and paper for note-taking

Bring items for setting the worship space an oil lamp that has a transparent vessel and only par-tially filled and a jar containing additional lamp oil

Print in your bulletin or prepare to project the prayer that is in response to the reading from Joshua 241ndash3a 14ndash25

Fix a roll of paper to a wall in the worship space for the reading from Psalm 781ndash7

You might choose to print Truth Teller on or in your bulletin (in the Images to Project and Print folder) For background to the art and artist see ldquoConnecting with the Artrdquo on p 10

Bring song such as ldquoAs Long as We Follow Na Nzela Na Lolardquo (Seasons Songbook vol 9 17 on Seasons Music CD vol 9 Printed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads wwwseasonsonlineca)

Set stations as described on pp 143ndash144

As Long as We FollowNa Nzela Na Lola Joseph Kabemba Seasons Songbook vol 9

The AnointingJames Maher Seasons Songbook vol 9

Jesu Tawa PanoJesus We Are HerePatrick Matsikenyirl Seasons Songbook vol 6

All We Long ForTrisha Watts Seasons Songbook vol 6

As We Go NowStephen Fischbacher Seasons Songbook vol 6

I Would Be True Howard Walter Joseph Peek

Keep Awake Be Always Ready Arthur G Clyde Philipp Nicolai

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning African American Spiritual

Prepare the Way of the LordMichael Burkhardt

Seek Ye FirstKaren Lafferty

Place an oil lamp that has a transparent vessel and is only partially filled on the worship table Have it lit with the other candles at the beginning of the service Allow the oil to burn out as the service progresses Have also another jar containing additional lamp oil During the prayers of the people as you are speaking words of supplication for renewal and strength take the time to carefully pour more oil into the lamp creating a visual connection with the scripture and the desire to ldquobe readyrdquo as people of faith

Call to worshipAdapted from Psalm 781ndash7One Give ear O people to Godrsquos teachingsAll For in parable and story Godrsquos wisdom is revealedOne Come let us remember the stories of our ancestors in

faithAll Let us share them with our children and celebrate

the goodness that has come from them

One God has established decrees with our grandparents and all generations

All and God has asked us to teach and continue themOne Come people of God let us raise our hope in God and

remember our blessingsAll let us never forget Godrsquos glorious works in our livesOne Come let us worship

Opening prayerHoly Leader we are presented once again with many choices Today we have chosen to worship together in thanksgiving and praise We have found the freedom and joy of being able to gather in peace we have found the time and resources to be able to enjoy this precious opportunity

Engage

and we have followed the calling of our faith to come together in supplication intercession and gratitude Be with us as we worship and help us to choose you over and over Help us to recommit ourselves to the blessings and challenges of our devotion to you and your love Be made known to us and help us to feel you near we pray Amen

Prayer of confessionAbiding God there have been times when we have chosen the gods of our contexts over full devotion to you We have worshipped at the altars of progress efficiency competition and acquisition We have claimed to be your people while behaving in ways that do not bear this out We have allowed the obsessions of the ldquoworldrdquo and the scar- city mentality of our cultures to permeate our spirits and cause us to wander

We imagine we are ready to be in your presence but in truth are often asleep to the true preparedness of constant vigilance in your grace Forgive our shallow ways and wake us up to what it means to be ready to follow whole- heartedly Jostle us into alert commitment Teach us to embrace the responsibilities that come with help- ing to bring about your realm on Earth And help us to stay awake and prepared we pray Amen

Words of affirmation The great good news is that though we may sleep and fall short God is always awake to our needs and provides over-flowingly Though we may wander into the wildernesses of many temptations Godrsquos journey is one of focused and complete compassion We are loved and forgiven God will always embrace us whether we are ready for such grace or not In this let us be assured

Opening the wordJoshua 241ndash3a 14ndash25 This text in conjunction with Mat-thew 251ndash13 invites us to pay attention to the ways we wor-ship other gods or serve other purposes that make us unpre-pared and unready to meet God in fullness You might reflect on the things that prevent from fully worshipping God Have the phrase ldquoWe are witnesses against our-selves We claim to worship God but instead we worship ______________ Help us to choose you Loving Godrdquo print-ed in your bulletins or projected on a screen to use as a response at the end of the reading and reflection

Psalm 781ndash7 In the movie Enemy Mine there is a beautiful scene in which ldquoJeriba (Jerry)rdquo played by Louis Gossett Jr recites his lineage as a rite of passage for the young Willis to hear and own in order to recite it in turn for the child that will soon be born In the Hawaiian tradition it was customary for people to recite their lineage upon entering a new community This psalm speaks of sharing with future generations what previous generations have ldquoheard and knownrdquo On a large piece of paper ndash perhaps along a wall of the worship space ndash consider inviting worshippers to draw and tell the story of an important occasion in the life of the church or people in the church When many have done so ndash you will have a full(ish) timeline of and story of the life of your congregation Celebrate this

1 Thessalonians 413ndash18 is an example of metaphorical theology Consider emphasizing this fact by inviting people to offer words or phrases that envision a metaphorical future full of beauty and peace Moving into Matthew 251ndash13 the focus scripture for age-level materials in ENCORE

Choose from the following

Bible story Have a storyteller present the story ldquoEnough for Allrdquo (p 142)Are you serious For many Christians our faith has been an ldquoinheritancerdquo of sorts We may have been baptized as infants and introduced to our tradition through our family and the church customs Project or have the following words dis-played on four placards or printed in the bulletin Finances Career and Work Social Activities and Choices Personal Choices (what neighbourhood to live in what car to drive what food to eat worklife balance and so on) After the reading invite groups to spend some time reflecting honestly about how these aspects of their lives are reflective of their faith and challenges to their faith As they do this ask them also to consider what it would mean to be ldquomore readyrdquo or more intentional about following Christ or being people of God with regards to each aspect Alternatively if your space allows people might gather around the topic of their choice and enter into conversation

RespondInvite children young people and all who wish to move to the stations Others will remain seated for proclaiming the word

After proclaiming the word you might invite those who have not already done so to move to and around the stations taking ten minutes or so with a chosen practice

Sing or listen to a song such as ldquoAs Long as We FollowNa Nzela Na Lolardquo as people gather together again (Seasons Song-book vol 9 17 on Seasons Music CD vol 9 Printed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads wwwseasonsonlineca)

Prayers of the peopleSpoken near the worshipCommunion table Take time during part of this prayer to carefully replenish the oil in the lamp that was placed at the beginning of the service CAUTION Be sure the flame is extinguished and the lamp cool before adding oil and relightingLoving God we are a people who have often taken our faith for granted We have allowed ourselves to become distracted by the constant light show that is human life on this planet in this age And yet we gather desiring to be your people in truth and honesty Although we are surrounded by the glittering masterworks of technology and entertainment we sometimes struggle to find your light We long for clarity of life in your love but the temptations of our culture can consume us(Filling the lamp) Help us to be ready and to be renewed when we fall short Fill us with your joy humility justice grace and mercy Help us to be replenished by your forgiving love and teach us to renew others as we go

Renew your planet we pray Teach us to walk gently upon it as readiness in your reignRenew your communities we pray Teach us to work and live in harmony and justice as readiness in your reignRenew your children we pray Teach us to find deep purpose and satisfaction in worshipping you as readiness in your reign Renew your leaders we pray Guide them to be led by compassion and wisdom and help us to support them in their endeavours toward the common good as readiness in your reignRenew your presence among us Help us to discern your light even in the brightness of the lights of this world as readiness in your reign And receive us into holy communion with you ndash united in the glorious fruition of love imagined designed and embodied We pray in the name of the embodied one Jesus the Christ Amen

Prayer of dedication or offering prayerToday more than most we ask you to hear our prayer of dedication We dedicate ourselves again to you We are ready to be in your presence and to be your people Receive our worship and our promises as evidence of our commitments and love And bless them all we pray Amen

Go now Seek and worship God Light and shine Godrsquos love Prepare yourselves and remember your commitments Al-

low God to work in you and give thanks for Godrsquos grace Go in peace

Special Days Commentary

November 11 ndash Armistice DayRemembrance Day Veteransrsquo DayAt the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the armistice ndash laying down of arms ndash was signed to end the first World War Many nations continue to call this Armistice Day while others name it Remem-brance recalling the sacrifice made by women and men in both World War I ndash ldquothe war to end all warsrdquo ndash and the many wars that have taken place since

November 12 ndash Bahalsquoulsquollahrsquos Birthday (Bahalsquoi)The birthday of the founder of the Bahairsquo faith is often observed with prayers feasts and community activities Baharsquoursquollah was born in Nur Persia in 1817

Poetry and Prose bull November 8 2020

Blessing for WaitingWho wait for the night to end

bless them

Who wait for the night to begin

bless them

Who wait in the hospital room who wait in the cell who wait in prayer

bless them

Who wait for news who wait for the phone call who wait for a word

who wait for a job a house a child

bless them

Who wait for one who will come home

who wait for one who will not come home

bless them

Who wait with fear who wait with joy who wait with peace who wait with rage

who wait for the end who wait for the beginning who wait alone who wait together

bless them

Who wait without knowing what they wait for or why

bless them

Who wait when they should not wait who wait when they should be in motion who wait when they need to rise who wait when they need to set out

bless them

Who wait for the end of waiting who wait for the fullness of time who wait emptied and open and ready

who wait for you

o bless

From Circle of Grace A Book of Blessings for the Seasons Copyright Jan Richardson Janrichardsoncom

Used by permission

Bible Story bull November 8 2020

A recording of this story is available in MP3 format in the Audio Stories folder

Enough for AllMatthew 251ndash13

Jesus went to talk with a group of peopleHe told them stories about Godrsquos dream The dream

was about a community where everyone was loved healthy and happy People would be treated well everyone would eat and be filled and the place where they lived would be beautiful Some called it the kingdom of God and some called it Godrsquos reign

This community was so big and beautiful that it is hard to describe so Jesus told stories to help the people imagine such a place The stories also helped the people to imagine wonder and think deeply about how we should live into the world that God wants for all people

In this story he said that the community would be like ten women who were going to a wedding They had to walk a long distance and it was dark so everyone had lamps to help guide them The lamps needed oil to make them work but some of the women did not have enough oil for their lamps Other women carried extra oil for the lamps

After travelling for a little while the women became tired and decided to rest Everyone slept

Suddenly a voice woke them up ndash it was time to get ready to go The women all hurried to get their lamps prepared so they could go to the wedding banquet But some women did not have enough oil to keep their lamps alight They asked the other women if they could share But the women who had extra oil said no if they tried to share there would not be enough for everyone They encouraged the women who did not have enough to go and buy extra oil

The women with extra oil walked on to the wedding banquet The women who did not have enough oil went instead to the store After they had bought oil they hurried to the wedding banquet But they were too late The wedding banquet had begun The women learned that they should always be ready because they do not know what would happen

The disciples thought deeply about that story and what it might mean ldquoPerhapsrdquo said one of the disciples ldquowe should be ready at all time to keep the light of Godrsquos love shiningrdquo

Bible storyThe practice of storytellingMaterials recording of todayrsquos story

ldquoEnough for Allrdquo player paper or drawing pads crayons pencils a copy of the directions displayed where all can see alternatively arrange for a storyteller to present the story

Directions1 Listen to the story ldquoEnough for Allrdquo 2 Use the art supplies to write or draw your response to the story

Stations bull November 8 2020

Suitable for all ages working together

Suitable for ages 15ndashadult

Living Learning Growing as DisciplesThe following stations might be set up around your worship space or in other places around the church Choose one or more practices depending on your space and numbers Display the directions

For your convenience instructions are formatted for printing and available in the Stations folder

The article ldquoConnecting with the Artrdquo on page 10 provides some background to the two posters for Season of Creation Pentecost 2 and some art engagement ideas for individuals and groups You might choose to

add an Art Engagement station each week using one of the art engagement ideas

Lamps and lights The practice of letting our light shineMaterials Bibles or copies of Matthew

251ndash13 copies of Bible story ldquoEnough for Allrdquo (p 142) pictures of oil lamps from biblical times self-hardening air dry or oven-baked clay either pur-chased or homemade (enough clay for one lamp per person and divided ahead of time) battery operated tea-lights one per person a copy of the directions displayed for all to see

Directions1 Mould an oil lamp from the clay provided size the opening so a battery tealight

fits inside (see illustration of a Palestinian lamp) 2 Insert the battery tealight3 Once the clay has dried use the lamp to retell the story using the reading from

Matthew 251ndash13 or the Bible story ldquoEnough for Allrdquo 4 Display your lamp at home in a place that will be a reminder to keep the light of

Godrsquos love shining in your lifeYounger children might make a simple holder for the tealight such as a small saucer-shaped holder

Creator of life and promise you imagined our unfolding world and called it into being

To make self-hardening clay mix 4 cups of flour 1 teaspoon of alum 1frac12 cups salt together in a bowl Gradually add 1frac12 cups of water until the mixture is smooth and no longer falls apart Store in the refrigerator in sealed plastic Bring clay to room temp for easy use Leave finished article to dry for two days (Increase measures to suit the number of people likely to be at this station)

A new view of the reading The practice of digging deeperMaterials Bibles or copies of Mat-

thew 251ndash13 sheets of paper pens pencils personal journals (optional) copies of the directions (one for each person)

Directions1 Read Matthew 251ndash13 This is a puzzling parable as it seems that privilege wins

out 2 Reflect in your journal on a separate sheet of paper or in pairs or small groups This is such an odd parable It would seem the privileged win out What if the ldquofool-ishrdquo maidens didnrsquot have money to buy more oil

How might our view of this parable change if we substituted the word privileged for wise and the word poor for foolish What do you think about the bridegroom keeping the door tightly shut excluding half of the maidens

How does this parable fit or not fit with what you believe about what Jesus taught and modelled about what it means to ldquobe the churchrdquo in todayrsquos world

What if we re-cast this parable to think of the lamp and the oil it contains as repre-senting both us as individuals and the wider church ldquoBeing the churchrdquo can use up a lot of oil

Think about the life of your church community What might result in the lamp being out of oil

What messages does your church give about taking time to refill the lamp both individually and collectively Is true sabbath time encouraged or does the need to accomplish church tasks take priority

What fills you up What needs to be replenished so we can collectively continue to ldquobe the

churchrdquo How might we support each other in community to help keep the lamp filled

How can we provide oil for each other

Suitable for all ages

Service projects The practice of active waitingWaiting can be hard regardless of onersquos age so this aspect of the parable is something with which children youth and adults can all relate This station has two options depending on the ages of those participating

With young children or an intergenerational groupMaterials paper markers pens pen-cils copy of the directions displayed where all can see

DirectionsWhen have you had to wait What was it like What made it harder or easier Did having something to do like the I spy game make waiting easier The story Jesus told was about waiting ndash and waiting and waiting Have you ever had to wait so long that you didnrsquot think what you were waiting for would ever happen Invite sharing The first Christians who lived after Jesus died had a hard time waiting too Many of them were very poor The leaders in their country treated them cruelly Some of them thought Jesus would come back and fix all the problems in their lives but they had been waiting for so long ndash years and years ndash and nothing seemed to have changed These people were waiting and hoping that Jesus would come back to change things that were not fair Now we know Jesus wants us to help change the things that are not fair Jesus might be saying ldquoWhat are you waiting for You do itrdquo 1 ldquoDoodle journalrdquo or draw about what you might do in service to others and help

change the things that are not fair (some examples cleaning church or a neighbourrsquos yard serving a meal as part of a larger group writing letters or cards to govern-ment leaders regarding a specific issue making cards for those isolated in their home or apartment picking up litter in your community washing cars for free)

Ages 15ndashadultMaterials copies of the poem ldquoBless-ing for Waitingrdquo (p 141) paper pens pencils sticky notes copies of the dir-ections displayed where all can see

Blessing with oil The practice of blessing and prayerMaterials olive oil or baby oil placed

in a small container paper towels or small cloth towels a copy of the direc-tions displayed where all can see

Directions The women in the story did not have enough oil for their lamps Oil is used in many different ways in history one of the ways is for healing and with prayer In the Bible oil was also used to bless people oil would be rubbed on parts of the body such as the forehead After people were blessed with oil they would go out to do good things in their communities Today you will have an opportunity to be blessed with oil1 Dip one of your fingers into the container of oil2 Use the oil to draw a cross on your forehead3 As you smear the oil say words such as ldquoGod is with me nowrdquo4 Offer a prayer of thanks and consider how you could be a blessing in your com-

munity5 Use the towels to wipe any excess oil from your fingers

Directions1 Read the poem ldquoBlessing for Waitingrdquo 2 Reflect on the following

When might we the church be waiting when we should not wait What might it mean to practice ldquoactive waitingrdquo What are youwe the church waiting for What do we do while we (the church) wait (How are we the hands amp feet of

Christ) 3 What community-building project might you plan support or participate in that

fits within the overarching mission of your faith community (for example letter-writing advocacy bread-baking supply-gathering) Write your thoughts on sticky notes and fill a section of the wall with drawings notes and ideas

4 Take a photo of the wall and display on the bulletin board or invite people to take a sticky note and commit to this project ndash individually as a household or a circle of friends

ttrade S

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bull Pen

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t of o

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ldquoW

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t of o

ldquoFin

hersquo

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odrsquos

ith la

rsquot di

flet bull

Seasons of the Spirittrade SeasonsFUSIO

N Season of Creation bull Pentecost 2 2020 Copyright copy

Wood Lake Publishing Inc 2019

Seasons of the Spirittrade SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation bull Pentecost 2 2020

Copyright copy W

ood Lake Publishing Inc 20193

2Seasons of the Spirittrade

SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation bull Pentecost 2 2017

Copyright copy W

ood Lake Publishing Inc 2016Seasons of the Spirittrade

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ood Lake Publishing Inc 2016 3

activityWhen we show Godrsquos love Godrsquos love goes on and on Jesus shows the way

Use your markers to decorate the people of the world

ltltprepress gtgt

_GoBack

__DdeLink__580_40522629