21st Sunday after Pentecost 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Proper … · 2019. 10. 11. · Songbook, vol. 8, #13 on Seasons Music CD, vol. 8. Print-ed music and recording also available

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 C)

135135Copyright copy Wood Lake Publishing Inc 2018 Seasons of the Spirittrade SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation bull Pentecost 2 2019

Seasons of the Spirittrade is based

on the semi-continuous readings of the Revised Common Lectionary

Sunday November 3 ndash Saturday November 9 bull 2019

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 23 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 1617 18 19 20 21 22 2324 25 26 27 28 29 30

November 2019

December 2019S 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 31

October 2019S 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

21st Sunday after Pentecost31st Sunday in Ordinary TimeProper 26 (31)All Saints Sunday For materials for All Saints Sunday go to wwwseasonsonlineca click on Library tab

Habakkuk 11ndash4 21ndash4 Psalm 119137ndash144 2 Thessalonians 11ndash4 11ndash12Luke 191ndash10The focus for age-level materials

Burundi Democratic Republic of Congo Rwanda

136 Seasons of the Spirittrade SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation bull Pentecost 2 2019 Copyright copy Wood Lake Publishing Inc 2018

Season of Creation Pentecost 2 2019 Biblical Background bull November 3 2019

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

Habakkuk 11ndash4 21ndash4Psalm 119137ndash144 2 Thessalonians 11ndash4 11ndash12Luke 191ndash10The focus in the age-level materials

Changing Perspectives

So often we find ourselves stuck Stuck in sys-tems that perpetuate injustice stuck in situa-tions we would wish to change stuck in perspec-tives that define our actions Transforming God move us to new perspectives in body mind and spirit this day Bless the reading of your word that it might guide our change Amen

A thread weaving through the weeks leading up to this week has touched on chasms in the world The readings for this week tell more about chasms and

invite us to consider the role we might play in those divisions Are we on a particular side of the chasm by choice How might we be called to think believe and live differently Habakkuk 11ndash4 21ndash4 The prophet gives voice to the turmoil the people are experiencing and offers new per-spectives for people of faith to consider In many of todayrsquos expressions of the Christian faith little time is spent bearing witness to the violence devastation and strife in our lives The focus seems to be on the blessings God bestows But Habakkuk as other prophets and the psalmists do ques-tions God and offers a different perspective on the actions of the Divine ldquoHow long will I call for help and you not listenrdquo (12) However amid the anxiety of wondering if God will act the prophet still calls the people to stand watch

Psalm 119137ndash144 The psalmist contemplates the nature of the world There are those who abide by Godrsquos commandments and those who do not The ldquostress and strainrdquo of living in a world with these dual perspectives has caught up to the psalmist (119143) who concludes that the way of God is the way of life and wishes to be immersed in that perspective ndash ldquoHelp me understand so I can liverdquo (119144b Common English Bible) Luke 191ndash10 Zacchaeus seeks to learn and understand more about this Jesus character he had heard about Short in stature Zacchaeus faces the physical obstacle of trying to see the faith leader through the crowd A second obstacle to the potential meeting is Zacchaeusrsquo profession As a tax collector he would have been despised by the people It was his and his colleagues job to collect on behalf of the Roman Empire and sometimes tax collectors took more than their

ldquocommissionrdquo In addition Zacchaeus is not low in the peck-ing order of the tax collectors he is ldquoa ruler among [them]rdquo Zacchaeus climbs a tree in order to see Jesus over the crowd His first obstacle has been overcome At that moment Jesus calls to him by name and asks him to come down from the branches Jesus then announces he will come to Zacchaeusrsquo house In Jesusrsquo accepting nature the second ob-stacle is overcome though not to the crowdrsquos pleasure They ldquogrumblerdquo about Jesusrsquo choice As Zacchaeus and Jesus head down the road Zacchaeus stops and tells how he has made amends for those he has defrauded and how he has given of his wealth to the poor After experiencing the love of the one who called him by name in front of a community that labelled him a sinner Zac-chaeusrsquo perspectives are transformed and he bears faithful fruits His actions are a testament to the power of a changed perspective Naming Zacchaeus as a son of Abraham chan-ges the crowdrsquos perspective too Christrsquos inclusive love can move one from selfishness to charity grumbling to awe and a cast-out to be called by name

2 Thessalonians 11ndash4 11ndash12 praises the community to which it is written a community that is steadfast in the face of persecution The chasms in their own society have cast them to one side and those who persecute them to another They are living with different perspectives but even amid harassment the writer claims that the communityrsquos love has grown for one another and their faith has also increased

bull bull bull bull bullHow do we see the world as God sees the world How do we gain a more loving perspective The scriptures today help us to consider where we are in our own lives and what we might do to gain new perspectives that grow our love for others and increase our faith

Season of Creation Pentecost 2 2019Reflection and Focus bull November 3 2019

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

Reflecting on the Word

Connecting with life What acts of justice have you seen in the world this past

week What inspired those acts What did those acts inspire in you

ScriptureLuke 191ndash10 explores questions of how shifts in perspective lead to action in our lives

When has someonersquos justice-seeking actions caused grumbling like the crowd Why was that

In the Greek Zacchaeusrsquo actions are written in the present tense ldquoI give half of my belongings to the poor if I cheat anyone I payhelliprdquo

How does this change your perception of transformation

How does this show that changes in perspective are ongoing processes and not one-time events

Habakkuk 11-4 21ndash4 finds the prophet crying out to God and even seeking and asking for God to change the div-ine perspective The prophet declares that destruction sur-rounds the people can God not deliver them

When have you cried to God to change the divine perspective

Reflect upon that cry What became of it What perspectives were potentially changed

What would you cry to God today

Psalm 119137ndash144 is about Godrsquos instructions and trusting those words as the perspective from which we can live faith-fully and with righteousness

What foundational pieces of scripture have formed your own perspectives on life hellipon justice hellipon relationship with God and one another

The psalmist is angered by those who have forgotten Godrsquos instructions ndash have a different perspective

When have you been angered by another personrsquos perspectives When has someone been angered by yours How might you bridge such chasms

Connecting scripture and lifeConsider how willing you are as an individual and as a church to changing your perspectives

What perspectives of yourself would you change What perspectives of your faith community would you

change How is Godrsquos transforming power already at work in

both places It is difficult to change the habits routines actions and mindsets with which we live The scriptures today help us to see the power of the transformation God can bring into our lives that can result in the transformation of the world

What transformation might God be bringing into your life and into your community that is restorative

What actions could you take in your community that could bring restoration

Focus for Worship Learning and ServingIn mathematics there are often multiple ways to solve the same problem One could use geometry Another could use algebra There are even multiple methods to use in multiplying numbers together The result is still the same regardless of technique or approach In worship we often gather with others whose perspectives are different from our own but are seeking to share Godrsquos love with the world We might ask ourselves about the differences in our own faith communities Are we united in the work of Christ but just not in perspective Do perspectives need to change to bring justice and love to our community How is the

tapestry of perspectives that fill our pews both a challenge and life-giving

Further on this celebration of All Saints how have the perspectives that have come before us both moulded us and transformed us What perspectives of the past can we honour and which must we seek to change Worship presents an opportunity to ask these questions in the tradition of the prophet Habakkuk to challenge ourselves to challenge the Divine and to be transformed as was Zacchaeus and his community by this process

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 3 2019

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

Prepare

Gather

Recruit volunteers needed for worship Choose an option for hearing Luke 191ndash10 For the

Bible story arrange for a storyteller to present ldquoZac-chaeus Sees Jesusrdquo on p 142 Arrange for someone to present the reflection

Bring items for setting the worship space You might choose to print Impression on or in your bul-

letin (in the Images to Project and Print folder) For background to the art and artist see ldquoConnecting with the Artrdquo on p 8

Bring song such as ldquoI Am a Child of Godrdquo (Seasons Songbook vol 8 13 on Seasons Music CD vol 8 Print-ed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads wwwseasonsonlineca)

Set stations as described on p 143ndash144

Companions on the JourneyCary Landry Seasons Songbook vol 8

I Am a Child of GodBruce and Cheryl Harding Seasons Songbook vol 8

Come and Follow MeTom Franzak Seasons Songbook vol 5

One God Created All That IsDaniel Charles Damon Seasons Songbook vol 3

What Does Our God Require of UsJim Strathdee Seasons Songbook vol 3

Change My Heart O GodEddie Espinosa

Draw the Circle WideGordon Light

Here I Am LordDaniel L Schutte

I Have Decided to Follow JesusAnonymous

I Sing a Song of the Saints of GodLesbia Scott

Invite the people gathered to centre themselves with the following practice using Psalm 11941 ldquoGod let your faithful love come to merdquo

Be still and close your eyes Listen carefully to the words as you hear them seeking to focus on the words alone If your mind wanders return to the words as you hear them again

God let your faithful love come to me (Pause for a desired amount of time and let there be silence)God let your faithful love come (Allow for silence)Continue in this manner shortening the phrase as follows before returning to the full verseldquoGod let your faithful lovehelliprdquoldquoGod let your faithfulhelliprdquoldquoGod lethelliprdquoldquoGodhelliprdquoldquoGod let your faithful love come to merdquoInvite the congregation to open eyes Move into the next segment of worship

Call to worshipOne Jesus is coming nearAll We cannot seeOne What do you seeAll With Habakkuk we see wrong-doing and troubleOne destruction and violenceAll strife and contentionOne law has become slackAll justice never prevailsOne Keep watchAll There is still a vision for the appointed time One Jesus is coming nearAll We want to seeOne Climb a sycamore like ZacchaeusAll and know that instead of a mere glimpse of Christ

we might receive a visitOne see someone with Christrsquos love challenging the assumptions society makes about

who is small or sinful

Engage

All And we will see Godrsquos healing and restorationOne Jesus is coming nearAll Spirit open our eyes minds and heartsOne Come let us worship

Opening prayerGod who sees us give us fresh eyes for ourselves our neighbours and our world Change our perspectives lead us to new vantage points and help us to see you in the places and with the people we do not expect Amen

Prayer of confessionSurprising Godour lives are grounded in youand you show no favourexcept to those the world would not expect

But we find ourselves grumblingwhen you welcome the ldquosinnerrdquoand dine with those the world would leave to hunger

When the world pushes someone to the peripheryyou meet them and accept their hospitality

Teach us to do the sameto reach out to those who are scornedto sow mercy where others plant hateand to be happy to welcome youand to recognize youwhen you come to redeem our own brokenness Amen

Words of affirmation Based upon Luke 199ndash10Jesus said ldquoThe Human One came to seek and save the lostrdquo If we are lost in the brokenness of ourselves or of our society we can trust that God parades through those broken streets calling to us because indeed God wishes to stay with us this day and to share divine love and grace Amen

Opening the word2 Thessalonians 11ndash4 11ndash12 Some churches will be celebrat-ing All Saints Day Perhaps this invites us to consider the authorrsquos words about giving thanks for others even ldquobrag-gingrdquo about others (13) and that doing so ldquois only right because faithfulness is growinghellipand the love for each other is increasingrdquo (13) Within this weekrsquos theme of changing perspectives we might ask ourselves Who are the saints whose love has helped us to see the world anew to know God anew to experience life anew We can have tendencies to be rigid in our beliefs but authentic love experienced from another person can relax those tendencies The opportunity to give thanks for the lives of endurance and faithfulness that have taught us the importance of being open to new perspec-tives presents a moment to open ourselves to gratitude and even further change of perspective

Moving into Luke 191ndash10 the focus scripture for age-level ma-terials in ENCORE

While changing perspectives come with changes of scenery that through travelling to new places it is not the only way we are given new eyes with which to see Invite the congrega-tion to take a minute to think about changes in perspective they have had right in their home communities Do they see one neighbourhood differently than at another time Have they come to change their perspective about a person in the community What has led to these changes This weekrsquos

gospel story helps us to see the changed perspective that Christ can inspire in our lives and the importance of such changes

Choose from the following

Bible story Have a storyteller present the story ldquoZacchaeus Sees Jesusrdquo (p 142)Reflection In todayrsquos story from the gospel of Luke Zac-chaeus finds himself hosting Jesus Throughout the Bible offering hospitality is a frequent way of changing onersquos per-spective When Abraham and Sarah offer hospitality to three visitors they come away from the encounter with changed perspectives on what is possible for them (Genesis 18) Elijah encounters a widow in Zarephath whom he asks for hos-pitality She obliges and sees her situation and perspective shift from dreadful to hopeful In our own lives it is not un-common for hospitality to change our perspectives Hospi-tality builds deeper relationships and deeper relationships lead to new understandings and changes in perspective The Christmas movie Elf is a pop culture example of hospitality begetting new understanding In this movie Buddy the Elf actually a grown man who long believed he was an exceptionally tall elf goes from the North Pole to New York City to find the father he has never met After a DNA test proves they are indeed father and son Buddy comes to live with his dadrsquos family including his dadrsquos spouse and their son

Respond

The home situation for Buddyrsquos family is tense His dad is a workaholic who cuts corners to make profits and has been placed on Santarsquos ldquoNaughty Listrdquo By the end of the movie the relationships born out of hospitality have allowed people to grow in new ways to seek new paths

and to find hope in new places What perspectives have we seen change through the offering of hospitality What have we learned by caring for others different than ourselves What have we learned from inviting people into our homes

Invite 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 ldquoI Am a Child of Godrdquo (Sea-sons Songbook vol 8 13 on Seasons Music CD vol 8 Printed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Down-loads wwwseasonsonlineca)

Prayers of the peopleInstruct the congregation with the prayer response Lord in your mercy hear our prayer Then provide a moment for the congrega-tion to centre themselves A musician might provide instrumental background music during this time which could then continue throughout the prayer

One Let us pray for the church the world and all who are in needRighteous God whose vision for the world we saw in Jesusrsquo ministry we pray for your church When injustice blurs and complacency shutters grant us clear eyes and voices that we may serve not the rulers of this age but your reign Grow our faith and increase our love for one another Lord in your mercy All hear our prayer

One God of ants and elephants of fields and mountains you treasure all sizes Sustain every part of your creation and make us conscious of our interdependence God of tadpoles and caterpillars you treasure change Teach us the beauty of new perspectives Lord in your mercy All hear our prayer

One God of all the nations each nation has its own brand of violence Where war rages shelter victims and provide refuge Where false peace reigns give courage to those who protest and resist Use our laws to curb our shortcomings and to lift up the downtrodden Lord in your mercy All hear our prayer

One Healer of our every ill while sickness and suffering often teach us to see in new ways do not leave us in lonely or isolated places Be present and fill us with your peace When our ails are invisible (to others and even ourselves) shake loose our understandings Help us to be part of healthy communities weeping with those who weep rejoicing with those who rejoice loving our neighbours as ourselves Lord in your mercy All hear our prayer

One Offer time for other intercessions to be offered either aloud on silently God of heaven and earth we give you thanks for the faith-ful departed their witness in every age and the ways they shaped our faith Hold those who mourn in your love Lord in your mercy All hear our prayer

One God who sees us open our eyes to see you We com-mend ourselves and all for whom we pray to your care trust-ing in Jesus the Christ the light and life of the world Amen

Prayer of dedication or offering prayerGenerous God you call us down from our lofty perches ask-ing us to share what we have with you Bless the gifts that we have given this day As we go from this place help us to welcome each person as if they are you Amen

May the God who sees and loves youcreate in you new ways of seeing the world

redeem the misconceptions you have of othersand sustain you in the new perspectives you gain Amen

Poetry and Prose bull November 3 2019

According to an old Welsh legend Christ went into a bakery and asked for some bread The baker immediately put a piece of dough into the oven But her daughter felt she was too generous took it out cut half of it off and put it back in It immediately grew into an enormous loaf while the in-hospitable daughter began to hoot with surprise She had been turned into an owl (a practice reminiscent of Demeter ndash Greek goddess of corn grain and the harvest ndash who was famous for changing those with whom she was annoyed into owls) One could draw from this any number of rules for lifebullIf a stranger asks for bread be generousbullBe kind to stray owls You donrsquot know whose daughter

they might bebullDonrsquot mess with bread thatrsquos already in the ovenbullObey your mother at all times Especially if she is a bakerbullKeep your door locked if yoursquore too rude to share

But my favourite possibility is this Be alert because the sacred might be at your door Or perhaps it is found at a dinner table nearby where friends gather and talk and make a doorway into a world where our souls are honoured

As I was finishing this book my friend Trish who sometimes worries that I will be found at my computer comatose from malnourishment was hosting her usual Sunday evening gathering of six or seven friends and invited me to join them They offered helpful ideas They discussed the way family history is passed down to children and grandchildren in conversation over shared tasks such

as making bread They mused about the strengths of oral history and about the way putting words into print can close those histories down and set them in concrete I told them how Irsquod broken old words apart in order to retell the story of Jesusrsquo last supper with his friends and how (to my surprise) it had come out happy not solemn as it is in old paintings that hang on church walls

They nodded understandingly I came away happy and relieved as if I had divine approval

I think thatrsquos what the owl story is about Holy moments may be found at any time The peaceable kingdom is near just over in the next dimension where the banquet is ready where there is always enough to go around enough dear friends enough sustaining conversation enough approval Enough bread

This peaceful commonwealth can be found at dinner tables and picnics birthday and anniversary celebrations in all their pleasure and sometimes panic where ndash sometimes ndash the bread has been prepared by someonersquos flour-

dusted hands in the way of our grandmothers

The bread is only a symbol for love

In a few weeks my daughter will come to visit Soon I will take down the bowl she gave me and mix and stir Here in my kitchen fingers sticky with dough (and maybe someday with young Elijah helping on a tall stool by my side) I will make my own meaning out of bread

Excerpted from The Spirituality of Bread by Donna Sinclair published by Northstone Publishing an imprint of Wood Lake Publishing Inc

Copyright copy 2007 Donna Sinclair Used by permission

Let there be work bread water and salt for all ndash Nelson Mandela

Bread as Welcome

Bible Story bull November 3 2019

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

Zacchaeus Sees JesusBased on Luke 191ndash10

The more Jesus travelled and taught and healed the more and more well-known he became When he came into towns and villages large crowds would

gather to see him Sometimes there was much pushing and shoving to get to the front All wanted Jesus to notice them talk to them touch them Often it was the most respected and influential people in the town who got to meet Jesus and they would invite him to their large homes for fancy meals If Jesus came to your home it was a great honour

One day Jesus was coming to Jericho and a large crowd gathered along the street All of the best houses had been cleaned and had meals prepared in case Jesus and his friends would dine with them and everyone was very excited

There was a man in Jericho named Zacchaeus a tax collector He had heard so many things about Jesus and something inside him told him he simply had to try and get a glimpse of him as he came into town Zacchaeus was not very tall So try as he might he simply couldnrsquot see anything in the crowd He tried to ask taller people to let him in front of them but because he was a tax collector nearly everyone in the city disliked him After several elbows to the face he gave up He saw a tree standing by the road and decided it would be better than nothing so he slipped off his sandals and climbed as high as he dared until he could finally see the road and saw Jesus approaching

Zacchaeus held his breath as Jesus walked by him down below He was so glad he had come It was true

what they said about Jesus there was just something special about him Then Jesus stopped and stood still for a moment Zacchaeus leaned down on a branch to hear what Jesus was going to say But instead of addressing the crowd Jesus looked up straight into the eyes of Zacchaeus

Poor Zacchaeus nearly fell out of his tree As Jesus looked into his eyes a million thoughts went through his head He felt shame for all the bad things he had done but he also felt love like the love his mother had shown him and joy like he felt as a boy playing with his childhood best friend

Then Jesus spoke ldquoZacchaeusrdquo he shouted up ldquoI would like to have dinner at your house tonight if I mayrdquo Zacchaeus was too stunned to speak so he just nodded ldquoWell come on down here and walk with me thenrdquo said Jesus

Zacchaeus scrambled down the tree and did just that He was so happy he didnrsquot notice everyone in the crowd grumbling about how Jesus had chosen to go to the house of someone like Zacchaeus instead of going to their homes

As they walked Zacchaeusrsquo heart was heavy As they neared his home he looked up at Jesus and said ldquoLook half of all that I own I give to the poor and if I have cheated anyone I pay them back four times overrdquo Jesus was quiet for a moment Then he put his arm around Zacchaeus and said ldquoYou are a beloved son of God Zacchaeus Irsquom proud to know yourdquo And they went inside

Bible storyThe practice of storytellingMaterials recording of todayrsquos story

ldquoZacchaeus Sees Jesusrdquo player paper or drawing pads crayons pencils a copy of the directions displayed where all can see alternatively ar-range for a storyteller to present the story

Directions1 Listen to the story ldquoZacchaeus Sees Jesusrdquo 2 Imagine Jesus inviting himself over for a visit today ndash yes Jesus is coming to your

home today Take a few minutes to jot down some written reflections to these ques-tions What do you imagine a visit from Jesus might be like How would Jesusrsquo visit make you feel What would you eat What would you talk about What questions do you have for him What questions might he have for you

Younger children Imagine that Jesus is coming to visit you at your home Draw a picture of Jesusrsquo visit

Stations bull November 3 2019

Suitable for all ages working together

Suitable for all ages

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 8 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

Godrsquos eyes The practice of seeing with the eyes of God Materials craft sticks yarn in differ-

ent colours white glue copies of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions 1 Jesus saw Zacchaeus through Godrsquos eyes The Huichol indigenous peoples of Jal-

isco created weavings called ldquosikulirdquo (the power to see and understand things unknownrdquo) that have come to be known as ldquoGodrsquos eyesrdquo

2 Glue two craft sticks together in a cross shape 3 Following the illustration wrap yarn over and around one stick then over and

around the next and so on 4 You might use one colour of yarn or tie off the first colour with a tight knot and

continue weaving with a new colour until you reach the ends of the stick

A better view The practice of reflecting on lifeMaterials large pieces of construc-

tion paper poster board or newsprint for everyone markers crayon a copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions1 Filling the poster board or newsprint draw a large tree and a crowd of people

(simple stick people will work fine)2 On the lower half of the paper among the crowd or even in the trunk section of

the tree draw or make a list of the things that crowd your view of Jesus or get in the way of you seeing what Jesus is doing in your life and the world around you Think about distractions time commitments personal feelings or other examples that keep you at a distance from encountering Jesusrsquo love

3 On the top half of the page ndash perhaps in the branches and leaves of the tree ndash draw or make of list of things that might help you gain a better view or a different per-spective of Jesus Think about the things that help you feel closer to God and closer to your church community What actions might you take to get a better view of Jesus and be close to his message of love and hospitality How might you gain a different perspective of Godrsquos love

Younger children Ask younger children to draw a picture of todayrsquos Bible story ndash maybe including themselves in the picture

Retelling the story The practice of entering the storyMaterials paper pens pencils cards

with the names of the characters from Luke 191ndash10 (Jesus Zacchaeus someone in the crowd) Bibles or cop-ies of Luke 191ndash10 personal journals (optional) a copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions1 Choose a card with a characters name2 Read Luke 191ndash10 and reflect on the following questions from your characterrsquos

point of view What is your life like How do you feel about the other characters in the story What brought you to the streets of Jericho today What does it sound like in

the streets 3 Who in todayrsquos world do you think could identify with your character Who might

you say is the modern-day (insert your biblical characterrsquos name) given the context of this story

4 You might write the story of Zacchaeus meeting Jesus as a monologue or first-person account from your characterrsquos point of view

Younger children Think about what it might have been like to be in the crowd when Jesus was walking by you Who is with you as yoursquore waiting along the road What does it sound like in the crowd What do you think will happen when Jesus passes by you

Welcoming people in our church home The practice of hospitalityMaterials basket stationery (col-

oured note paper andor blank note cards envelopes) pens and coloured pencils a copy of the directions dis-played where all can see

Directions1 Write messages to new visitors at your church Here are some ideas

bull Welcome visitors to your congregation and invite them to come back share a short story about your own faith journey and what brought you to your church write about something you particularly enjoy about your church tell how you felt as a first-time visitor and what helped you feel at home invite a new visitor to go to lunch with you or plan to meet personally next time heshe is at church sign with your name and possibly an e-mail address or phone number so that a visitor might contact you

2 Put your message in an envelope seal it and place it in the basket Write as many messages as time allows

3 Follow-up Work with your pastor to determine the best way to distribute these ndash in church on Sunday to new visitors or through a follow-up mailing from the church

Younger children Adults should work with younger children at this station and write a short welcome message (or ask children what to write) Invite the children to draw pictures of the church or something they do at church on the cards Adults might write short captions for the drawing

ttrade S

bull Pen

ht copy

ttrade S

bull Pen

ht copy

s of t

irittrade

n bull P

copy W

ttrade S

bull Pen

ht copy

t bull O

rsquo Frie

acchae

ndash10

rsquot lik

rsquot se

ldquoZac

Irsquom

errdquo

dnrsquot

ldquoH

rrdquo

d ldquo

I will

rsrdquo

ldquoYo

odrsquos

rdquo M

usrsquo

bullLi

ill se

flet bull

Seasons of the Spirittrade SeasonsFUSIO

N Season of Creation bull Pentecost 2 2019Copyright copy

Wood Lake Publishing Inc 2018

N Season of Creation bull Pentecost 2 2019 Copyright copy

acchaeus shares all that he has with others These gifts are one w

ay that Zacchaeus show

od and others that he loves them D

raw things in the basket that you m

ight give to children w

ho would benefit from

receiving such a gift Draw

things like your books toys and clothes

_GoBack

_Hlk527549167

_GoBack

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