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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, hp://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only. session essentials Intermediate 1 Question of the Week What gifts or talents do we have? Where do we use them? Helps for Catechists More about Today’s Scriptures Reflection e Scriptures and the Catechism Snapshots of the Soul e World of the Bible: Parable Enrichment Explore the Good News Art: Andrews’s Field Workers Bible Skills Bible Book Cards Info: Where You’ll Find Everything Else Core Session Getting Started (Andrews’s Field Workers and Paliekara’s Suffering Servant, manila envelopes, collage materials such as felt scraps, buttons, ribbon and yarn scraps, feathers, pasta shapes, etc.) Today’s Gospel Model Your Talents (Model Magic® or other modeling material) Praying Together After entrusting his servants with varying sums of money, a householder praises one for risk-taking. Jesus tells the story about a worker who uses the master’s money wisely. Children’s self-esteem in the intermediate years develops from their growing power to use the gifts of their abilities and skills. Children in this age group strive for excellence in the activities they choose. Today’s session celebrates the gifts given to God’s people through creative art, Bible study and simple discussion. Way of Abundance Scripture Matthew 25:14-15, 19-29 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – A Living the Good News | Intermediate | 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

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Page 1: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

session essentialsI n t e r med i a t e

1

Question of the WeekWhat gifts or talents do we have? Where do we use them?

Helps for Catechists ◆ More about Today’s Scriptures◆ Reflection◆ The Scriptures and the Catechism◆ Snapshots of the Soul◆ The World of the Bible: Parable

Enrichment ◆ Explore the Good News◆ Art: Andrews’s Field Workers ◆ Bible Skills◆ Bible Book Cards◆ Info: Where You’ll Find Everything

Else

Core Session ◆ Getting Started (Andrews’s

Field Workers and Paliekara’s Suffering Servant, manila envelopes, collage materials such as felt scraps, buttons, ribbon and yarn scraps, feathers, pasta shapes, etc.)

◆ Today’s Gospel◆ Model Your Talents (Model

Magic® or other modeling material)

◆ Praying Together

After entrusting his servants with varying sums of money, a householder praises one for risk-taking. ◆ Jesus tells the story about a worker who uses the master’s money wisely. ◆ Children’s self-esteem in the intermediate years develops from their growing power to use

the gifts of their abilities and skills. Children in this age group strive for excellence in the activities they choose.

◆ Today’s session celebrates the gifts given to God’s people through creative art, Bible study and simple discussion.

Way of AbundanceScriptureMatthew 25:14-15, 19-29

33 rd Sunday i n O r d i n a r y T ime – A

Living the Good News | Intermediate | 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Page 2: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

core sessionyour b

asic and co

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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Getting Started (5-15 minutes)Before doing this activity you might gather members around two posters attached to this document: Andrews’s Field Workers and Paliekara’s Suffering Servant. Explain that these works of art mix painting and collage. Collage can use any assortment of materials to create a finished work of art. Invite par-ticipants to first create collage collections, and then use the collections to make pictures.

Spread collage materials such as felt scraps, buttons, ribbon and yarn scraps, feathers, a variety of pasta shapes, etc., on a work surface. Distribute large manila envelopes. Directions:◆ Select several of the collage materials (but no more

than 10). Put these into your envelope.◆ For example, you might put a feather, a length of

ribbon and three pasta shapes in your envelope.◆ Seal your envelope and put it on the table.

Shuffle the pile of envelopes. Then continue with these directions:◆ Choose an envelope. If you get the one you

prepared, trade with someone.◆ Make a picture that uses all the materials inside

your envelope. You can make an abstract design or turn your materials into any picture you like.

◆ You may also use glue, and felt pens or crayons as you make the picture.

Ask volunteers to show and tell about their finished pictures. Explain that in life, just as in this activity, we all receive different gifts from God—gifts that we can choose to use in new and unexpected ways. Invite them to explore a gospel passage about using our gifts.

Today’s Gospel (10-15 minutes)Help members find Matthew 25:14-15, 19-29. Ask them to follow along as you read the passage aloud. Discuss:◆ How do you think the first two servants may have

made their money?◆ What did the third servant do with his money?

Why do you think he did this?◆ Why was the master angry with the servant who hid

his money?

◆ Jesus tells this story to help us understand what to do with the gifts that God gives us. What is that?

◆ Sometimes this story is told using the word talent instead of coin. Our English word talent came from this story. In Jesus’ day, it meant a kind of coin. Over the years, it’s come to mean an ability or skill.

◆ What do you think of when you hear talent?◆ Why might it be important to God that we use our

talents?

Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes)Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents.

Directions:◆ Take a lump of play dough.◆ Think of something you like to do—this is one of

your talents.◆ Make a play-dough symbol that shows us what you

enjoy. For example, you might make a saddle if you like to ride horses, or a dog or cat if you enjoy taking care of pets.

Invite volunteers to show and explain their finished symbols. You can share with them this quote from the movie Chariots of Fire, about a runner who said, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel God’s pleasure in me.” Discuss:◆ How might you use the things you enjoy doing—

your talents—for good and for God? (Encourage concrete examples, using their play dough creations.)

Praying Together (5 minutes)Gather in a circle. Ask members to close their eyes for a moment and imagine that they’re doing something they love and doing it well. Say:◆ Thank God silently for the special talents you’ve

been given; there’s never before been anyone like you, nor will there ever be again!

After a minute, close by praying:◆ Dear God, thank you for all the good gifts you give

us. Help us not to be afraid, but to boldly use them often and well. Amen.

Note: If you use At Home with the Good News, distribute this week’s paper to the children before they leave, or e-mail it to their parents after the session.

Living the Good News | Intermediate | 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Page 3: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

enhance your core

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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Explore the Good News (5-15 minutes)Distribute copies of today’s Explore the Good News. On page 1, members will find Explore God’s Word, a scripture study activity they can complete together.

You might ask participants to discuss how they could use the things they like to do now to serve others today. You might also ask them to look ahead and consider how the things they enjoy now could help them decide the work they want to do as adults.

Older children, like many adults, need encouragement to see their skills as part of a valuable life. Many older children will choose their favorite sport as something they like to do without seeing a place for it other than being a celebrity star. Help members see the valuable place that a sport, for example, might play in adult life. An adult might play soccer to:◆ help a child who’s learning to play◆ remain fit◆ get together with friends or family members in a

healthy shared activity◆ raise money for a school or organization

On page 2, members will find the scripture skills activity called Scripture Snoop, as well as a discussion-starter about using their talents today. Encourage them to work together on these.

Art Talk (15 Minutes)Andrews’s Field WorkersActivity Soundtrack: Play an orchestral work such as Haydn’s “Andante” from the symphony nicknamed “The Surprise Symphony.” (Open your Fall-A Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Companion Music for options on obtaining this music.) As part of the discussion, you can point to the many gifts needed for an orchestra to play a musical work together.

Together view Benny Andrews’s painting Field Workers, attached to this document. Invite initial responses to Andrews’s painting. If necessary, select questions from the article First Impressions (found in your Fall-A Seasonal Resources folder, in the Seasonal Articles folder) to help members get started.

Explain:◆ Today’s gospel, Matthew 25:14-15, 19-29, speaks

about the use of our gifts and talents. ◆ Growing food together takes lots of skills—and

good weather! What gifts and talents can you find in the workers in this painting?

◆ When we look at the food on our table, all these gifts and talents, and more, were needed to bring the food to us. That’s one reason we thank God before eating.

If possible, take a walk with the group through the building. Ask them to think about what gifts and talents are needed for your church family to come together for worship every week, for example:◆ finances—who takes care of the money?◆ landscaping—who mows the lawn?◆ janitorial work—who changes light bulbs?◆ writing—who puts together the bulletins?

Afterward, invite members to work together to create an oversized thank-you card showing appreciation to all those whose gifts make weekly worship happen in your congregation. Encourage them to specifically name as many gifts and talents as possible. Before beginning, members can:◆ decide on a design for the card◆ determine what words will go on in the inside◆ agree on how the work will be shared so that each

person has the opportunity to contribute

Upon completion, thank members for their own gifts and talents in working together and creating the card. If possible, display the card in a public part of your church’s building.

Living the Good News | Intermediate | 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Page 4: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

enhance your core

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enrichment

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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Living the Good News | Intermediate | 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Bible Skills (10-25 minutes)Participants continue learning the order of New Testament books.

Help members review the order of the first 20 books of the New Testament. Volunteers can list these, in order, on the board or newsprint: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews and James.

Help participants find the next five books in the New Testament: 1 and 2 Peter and 1, 2 and 3 John. Ask volunteers to add these books to the list.

Invite participants to play a game of Everybody Up. Members sit in chairs in a circle. One person is It and stands in the center. It spins and points to someone in the circle, who then says, “First Peter.” It spins again and points to a second participant, who responds, “Second Peter.” It continues spinning and pointing until a fifth participant says, “Third John.”

When the participants hear “Third John,” everybody gets up and tries to find a new seat (much like Musical Chairs). It tries to find a seat, too. Participants aren’t allowed to sit in or next to their original seats. The player left standing is the next It. Play the game several times, if interest is high.

If desired, members can then review the order of the New Testament books learned to date by playing a round of Bible Book Buzz. Sit in a circle. Pick one book—for example, 1 John—to replace with the word buzz. Take turns around the circle saying the books in order: Matthew, Mark, Luke, etc. But instead of saying “1 John” for example, participants must say “buzz” when they get to the place in the order of books where 1 John belongs. Make it more challenging by increasing speed as they play.

You may additionally invite members to make Bible Book Cards for the new books.

Bible Book Cards (15-20 minutes)Members make oversized mock “baseball cards” based on newly learned names of New Testament books.

Distribute 5 sheets of poster board (for 1 and 2 Peter and 1, 2 and 3 John), together with colored markers. You may wish to assign small groups of members to each card.

See page 4 in the session for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time for complete directions.

Save the finished cards and display alongside previous cards, if applicable, for the remaining sessions.

Where You’ll Find Everything Else

◆ Attached to this Session Plan you will find:— Backgrounds and reflections for today’s

readings, titled More about Today’s Scriptures.— An optional activity titled Faith Skills, which

continues the exploration of Catholic life.— An optional information piece titled

Older Children and the Gospel, with tips on doing an outreach project that emphasizes stewardship of our monetary gifts.

— An optional activity titled With Your Family, which encourages intermediates to recognize the talents of family members.

— Andrews’s Field Workers, to be used in today’s Getting Started and Art Talk.

— Today’s At Home with the Good News, to distribute or e-mail to families after the session.

— Paliekara’s Suffering Servant, to be used in today’s Getting Started.

◆ Open your Fall-A Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Seasonal Articles to find:— Information on Fall-A’s Models of the Faith.— A printable article titled First Impressions, which

offers practical helps for the use of fine arts in your classroom.

— A helpful article on Using the Arts in Faith Formation.

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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Living the Good News | Intermediate | 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

More about Today’s ScripturesIn today’s readings, God asks us to make appropriate use of our gifts and talents. The writer of Proverbs praises the ambitious and compassionate woman. Paul urges the Thessalonians to quit worrying about the time of Jesus’ return, and instead to live fully, now, as children of light. Jesus’ parable describes two slaves who wisely invest the talents entrusted to them, while a third slave cowers in fear.

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31Proverbs, a collection of concise statements and poetic instructions, is attributed in part to Solomon and to

anonymous authors. Many scholars see 31:10-31 as an epilogue composed by a later editor who wished to represent the idealized feminine figure of Wisdom found in chapters 1–9. Like Wisdom, the ideal wife is of more value

than any earthly treasure and is a constant blessing to her family.

The description of the wise woman comes to a climax with the summary of verses 30-31. Her activities and attitudes spring from her relationship with God. The author thus describes for us the daily life of a woman who has mastered the practical wisdom described in the rest of the book.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6Paul responds to another of the Thessalonians’ concerns, the desire to know the “times and the seasons” (v. 1), the persistent human wish to have an end-times timetable. Paul replies that such knowledge is not needful for Christians.

The “day of the Lord” (v. 2), now identified with Jesus’ second coming, will happen as unexpectedly as a thief ’s entry. False assurances leave people unprepared for “sudden destruction” (v. 3), final separation from God.

The Thessalonians should not concern themselves so much with the imminence of the second coming as with its immediacy to their lives, which acts as a call to vigilance and freedom from excess.

Matthew 25:14-30The second of Matthew’s three end-time parables concerns the gift of talents and how they are used. As so often with Matthew’s parables, the emphasis is on the serious demand for a decision about how to act. Here the demand is to use one’s gifts in order to participate fully in the reality of God’s coming kingdom. The focus is on the last slave who does not put to use what he has been given.

The question is not uncertainty about the date of the return, but about what reckoning will be required. According to rabbinical law, a man who buried property entrusted to him had taken the safest course and was not liable for its loss. Whereas the first two servants take the risk of losing their talents, the last servant shows that his primary interest is in his own security. The master, however, expects fruitfulness from his servants no matter how long his return is delayed.

The parable is now directed at the Christian community. Gifts given either grow with use or wither with disuse. The Lord expects of the individual not a vindication of his or her own righteousness, but a devotion to God and others that takes risks in their service. The reward for such faithfulness is further responsibility.

ReflectionLet’s start on a positive note: the joy of the master in today’s parable. He is not punitive, but genuinely delighted with the servants’ work. Quick to reward those with five and two talents, he is equally clear about punishing the one who hid his talent. Hiding money was common practice in Jesus’ day, but it was a stupid, wasteful practice. In the parable, the servant with one talent is fearful and lazy. He teaches us that even if we think we’re not as talented as others, we have unique gifts. If we’re still not convinced, it may be time for reflection.

We are made in the image of a God whose creativity sparkles in the Genesis accounts. Creating humans, God was lavish with gifts. To deny that is to take the role of the one-talent servant, who blames his master for his own failure.

Enough of comparisons with other people. Let’s take stock of what tools we’ve been given to serve God’s people and build God’s reign. An honest assessment isn’t proud posturing: in fact, it pays tribute to God’s infinite variety and care.

“Give to everyone that asks you, and do not refuse, for God’s will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received.”

––The Didache (The Teaching of the 12 Apostles,

2nd century)

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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

helps for catechistsbackground in

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Living the Good News | Intermediate | 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

The Scriptures and the CatechismToday’s parable reveals that God has entrusted gifts to each of us that we must not neglect but use in the service of God and others (CCC, #799–802, 951, 1830–32, 2003–05). We try to use our wisdom in order to live fully in harmony with God’s guidelines for successful living (CCC, #283, 1303, 1950–60, 2500). The kingdom community is enhanced by the diversity of gifts that people offer (CCC, #733–41).

Snapshots of the Soul by Mary Lee WileTwo exercises can involve participants in co-creating with God in a visual, tactile sense. They need not be “artists” to do either. The first is two-dimensional. Provide everyone with an 8½" by 11" piece of paper with a large circle centered on it. Invite group members to fill the circle with images: a “snapshot of the soul” at that moment in time. (Some might know it as a “mandala.”) Provide markers or colored pencils, and give the group 15 to 20 minutes of quiet time. Play quiet, wordless music in the background if that feels appropriate.

Beforehand, consider reading the following excerpt from Paul Murray’s “The Canticle of the Void”:

Smaller than the small I am that still centre within you…. I am the seed of all that is known and unknown

This exercise invites people to trust what is within, to allow that seed to blossom. I’ve used this exercise at pre-ordination retreats to help the participants literally “see” where they are, and with teenagers to give them something concrete to use as a way of opening a discussion. One woman has since told me that she fills a circle every day as part of her meditation practice.

The second exercise, appropriate for grief counseling and the classroom, uses clay. Cover surfaces so the clay doesn’t make a mess. Provide the clay. Suggestions of what to shape with the clay will depend on where you are in your shared journey. Some possibilities:◆ What is the shape of your soul?◆ What is the shape of grief?◆ What is the shape of God?◆ Shape your image of peace.◆ Shape your image of God’s love.

Because participants will have something tangible that they’ve created, they can “clutch” it as they enter into conversation. Before they begin, consider using background music. This time, learn a chant (I’m especially partial to Taizé) that they can sing repetitive-ly while they work. Singing or chanting engages the body and mind, freeing the soul to shape the clay. The resulting objects may not be aesthetically beautiful, but they are often profoundly meaningful.

The World of the BibleParableA parable (from the Greek to “throw together” things for comparison or illustration) is a short realistic story intended to encourage reflection by connecting the

parable to our own life. Since one can connect the parable to various aspects of one’s life or that of one’s family or community, parables are always open-ended in their application.

Parables were a common teaching device of the Jewish rabbis and important to Jesus in his teaching because the only way

we have to talk about what is unfamiliar to us (God’s ruling presence or “kingdom”) is in terms that are familiar to us (our everyday life and world).

Thus they challenge the audience to think about their meaning and change their lives because of what they discover.

“At its simplest the parable is a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application to tease it into active thought.”

––C.H. Dodd The Parables of the Kingdom

Page 7: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918

Fall • Year A

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

The parable of the three servants challenges us to use our gifts wisely. when we consider ways to use god’s gifts wisely, we need to consider our stewardship of money, too. nonetheless, outreach projects for children too often substitute collecting money for more direct acts of service to people in need. older children benefit from sharing in the hands-on work of church ministries, too.

if you do decide to use a money-collection project as part of the children’s outreach program, consider these tips:

try to make the project as concrete as possible. For example, children who’ve also had the opportunity to serve in a soup kitchen that feeds the homeless can easily understand the need for and importance of collecting money to fix a broken stove.

if you collect money for a more global cause, work with a well-established group that can provide advice on integrating the project into your group work. heifer Project internation-al, for example, has long experience in helping leaders of children find meaningful ways to collect money for outreach. you can find them on the web at www.heifer.org. you may also wish to do an online search to find a particular type of nonprofit group that aligns with your group’s goals and desires, as expressed by members.

Older Children and the Gospel

IN-FA-PR28-DL-A-Older Children and the Gospel

Page 8: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918

Fall • Year A

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Participants continue to explore the catholic life. this week, we explore the gifts of god named in corinthians.

explain that all the gifts of the christian life are rooted in three great gifts of god: faith, hope and charity. ask participants to read 1 corinthians 13:1-13. invite them to work together to define each gift. discuss:

what is faith?

what difference can faith in god make in peoples’ lives?

what is hope?

what difference can hope in christ’s promises make in peoples’ lives?

what is charity?

what difference can loving god with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and loving our neighbors as ourselves make in peoples’ lives?

why do you think Paul may have named love as the greatest of all god’s gifts?

encourage members to pick one of the three gifts (faith, hope or love) that they want to focus on in the upcoming week. say:

think of these three gifts—faith, hope and love—and choose one that you want to “try out” this week. how will you show or act on the gift you’ve chosen?

invite members to brainstorm ways they can practically “live the gift” that week.

Faith Skills

IN-FA-OT33-DL-C-Faith Skills

Page 9: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

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Page 10: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

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Page 11: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

In today’s readings, God asks us to make appropriate use of our gifts and talents. The writer of Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20, 30-31 praises the ambitious and compassionate woman. In 1 Thessa-lonians 5:1-6, Paul urges his readers to

quit worrying about the time of Jesus’ return, and instead to live fully, now, as children of light. In Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:14-30, two slaves wisely invest the talents entrusted to them, while a third slave cowers in fear.

The Preschool/Kindergarten session focused on gifts

that are real and immediate to young children. Activi-

ties included making a mural, hearing today’s story,

playing a game that asks each child to name a gift

from God and playing a creative movement game.

The children also made thank-you cards for God,

learned a table grace to use during today’s snack and

made a giant book to illustrate the table grace.

Primary (Grades 1-3) children heard the story of the

three servants and responded in the following activi-

ties: making self-portraits, talking about ways to use

their gifts and inventing skits that use miscellaneous

props.

Today’s session encouraged Intermediate (Grades

4-6) participants to use what they are given. Group

members created collage pictures, discussed today’s

story and made play-dough symbols of their own tal-

ents. Members continued to learn books of the New

Testament through games and art.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time • Year A

Page 12: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

© 2014 Morehouse Education Resources. All rights reserved. www.livingthegoodnews.com • 1-800-242-1918 • Permission is hereby granted to reproduce these pages for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Today’s gospel encourages us to take

risks. What new experiences are we afraid

to try? This week, branch out. Sample

a different food, a new author or movie.

Learn a few words in another language.

Go swimming or dancing. Fly a kite.

Explore another neighborhood. Do what

the kids want to do for an hour or two.

Let’s start on a positive note: the joy of the master in today’s parable. He is not punitive, but genuinely delighted with the servants’ work. Quick to reward those with five and two talents, he is equally clear about punishing the one who hid his talent. Hiding money was common practice in Jesus’ day, before the First National Bank of Jerusalem.

But it was a stupid, wasteful practice. In the parable, the servant with one talent is fearful and lazy. He teaches us that even if we think we’re not as talented as others, we have unique gifts. If we’re still not convinced, it may be time for reflection.

We are made in the image of a God whose creativity sparkles in the Genesis accounts. Creating humans, God was lavish with gifts. To deny that is to take the role of the one-talent servant, who blames his master for his own failure.

Enough of comparisons with other people. Let’s take stock of what tools we’ve been given to serve God’s people and build God’s reign. An honest assessment isn’t proud posturing: in fact, it pays tribute to God’s infinite variety and care.

• Jesus, forgive us our fears of failure. Help us to reach out boldly, trusting you to carry us when we falter.

Today Jesus seems to urge parents to take a chance on children who have

goofed up before—just as someone once took a chance on parents. Give responsibilities

in small doses, so children can grow into them—and someday “share the master’s joy.”

What gifts or talents do we have? Where do we use them?

Page 13: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918

Fall • Year A

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

In today’s readings, God asks us to make appropriate use of our gifts and talents. The writer of Proverbs praises the ambitious and compassionate woman. Paul urges the Thessalo-nians to quit worrying about the time of Jesus’ return, and instead to live fully, now, as children of light. Jesus’ parable describes two slaves who wisely invest the talents entrusted to them, while a third slave cowers in fear.

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

Proverbs, a collection of concise statements and poetic instructions, is attributed in part to Solomon and to anonymous authors. Many scholars see 31:10-31 as an epilogue composed by a later editor who wished to represent the idealized feminine figure of Wisdom found in chapters 1–9. Like Wisdom, the ideal wife is of more value than any earthly treasure and is a constant blessing to her family.

The description of the wise woman comes to a climax with the summary of verses 30-31. Her activities and attitudes spring from her relation-ship with God. The author thus describes for us the daily life of a woman who has mastered the practical wisdom described in the rest of the book.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

Paul responds to another of the Thessalonians’ concerns, the desire to know the “times and the seasons” (v. 1), the persistent human wish to have an end-times timetable. Paul replies that such knowledge is not needful for Christians.

The “day of the Lord” (v. 2), now identified with Jesus’ second coming, will happen as unexpect-edly as a thief ’s entry. False assurances leave

people unprepared for “sudden destruction” (v. 3), final separation from God.

The Thessalonians should not concern themselves so much with the imminence of the second coming as with its immediacy to their lives, which acts as a call to vigilance and freedom from excess.

Matthew 25:14-30

The second of Matthew’s three end-time parables concerns the gift of talents and how they are used. As so often with Matthew’s parables, the emphasis is on the serious demand for a decision about how to act. Here the demand is to use one’s gifts in order to participate fully in the reality of God’s coming kingdom. The focus is on the last slave who does not put to use what he has been given.

The question is not uncertainty about the date of the return, but about what reckoning will be required. According to rabbinical law, a man who buried property entrusted to him had taken the safest course and was not liable for its loss. Whereas the first two servants take the risk of losing their talents, the last servant shows that his primary interest is in his own security. The master, however, expects fruitfulness from his servants no matter how long his return is delayed.

The parable is now directed at the Christian community. Gifts given either grow with use or wither with disuse. The Lord expects of the individual not a vindication of his or her own righteousness, but a devotion to God and others that takes risks in their service. The reward for such faithfulness is further responsibility.

00-FA-OT33-SB-C-More about Today_s Scriptures

More about Today’s Scriptures 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Page 14: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918

Fall • Year A

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

ReflectionLet’s start on a positive note: the joy of the master in today’s parable. He is not punitive, but genuinely delighted with the servants’ work. Quick to reward those with five and two talents, he is equally clear about punishing the one who hid his talent. Hiding money was common practice in Jesus’ day, before the First National Bank of Jerusalem.

But it was a stupid, wasteful practice. In the parable, the servant with one talent is fearful and lazy. He teaches us that even if we think we’re not as talented as others, we have unique gifts. If we’re still not convinced, it may be time for reflection.

We are made in the image of a God whose creativity sparkles in the Genesis accounts. Creating humans, God was lavish with gifts. To deny that is to take the role of the one-talent servant, who blames his master for his own failure.

Enough of comparisons with other people. Let’s take stock of what tools we’ve been given to serve God’s people and build God’s reign. An honest assessment isn’t proud posturing: in fact, it pays tribute to God’s infinite variety and care.

More about Today’s Scriptures 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

00-FA-OT33-SB-C-More about Today_s Scriptures

Page 15: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918

Fall • Year A

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

With Your Family

IN-FA-PR28-DL-A-With Your Family

Materials: (optional) flour, salt, water and oil to make play dough, plastic container for storage

In today’s session, you made a play dough symbol of a talent—something you enjoy and do well. invite your family to a Play dough talent show.

Rules:

each person first makes a play dough symbol of one thing he or she does well.

then each person makes a play dough symbol for every other member of the family, showing something thing that family member does well.

if you want to make play dough, here’s an easy recipe:

Mix together 1-1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water, and 1/4 cup oil.

Knead well. use food coloring to tint the play dough.

store in plastic containers.

display the symbols of talent somewhere in your home.

Page 16: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

Living the Good News: Paliekara’s Suffering ServantSuffering Servant by Marcella Paliekara. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Page 17: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something
Page 18: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something
Page 19: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

Living the Good News: Paliekara’s Suffering ServantSuffering Servant by Marcella Paliekara. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Page 20: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something
Page 21: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

Living the Good News: Andrews’s Field WorkersField Workers © Estate of Benny Andrews / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

Page 22: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something
Page 23: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something
Page 24: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something

Living the Good News: Andrews’s Field WorkersField Workers © Estate of Benny Andrews / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

Page 25: session essentials - HCRELED · Model Your Talents (10-20 minutes) Participants make play-dough symbols of their talents. Directions: Take a lump of play dough. Think of something