Read
the lessons at the Vanderbilt Library website:
http://divinity.lib.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BLent/bLent2.htm
Photograph:
Tensions ran high in Nashville, TN during the civil rights
demonstrations. From the Kelly Miller Smith Papers, Vanderbilt
University Special Collections.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church at Saint Luke's Anglican Church
Family Lectionary Study;
Alternate Sundays from 9:30 to 10:15 in the Gym
Opening Music
Review: "I have decided to Follow Jesus"
Introduce: "Were you there"
Background:
This is a “Family Lectionary Study”.
Who knows what “Family” is?
Jesus said, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Those who do the will of my Father in heaven are my Mother, my brothers, my sisters.” When we are baptized into God's family, we become brothers and sisters of one another. Even if we don't know each others names; even if one of us is a hundred-and-forty-two and another is three, we have the same duty to God: to love Him and to serve one another. It would be better, though, if we at least knew one-another's name! Sit down in a circle with the people you came with, and let's go around the circle. Introduce yourself and the people you came with, and tell us how old you are.
Christians for two thousand years have met together as Brothers and Sisters to study God's Word together and pray together, just as we are doing. As brothers and sisters, we are all equals: no one of us has authority over the others, all though we all may have responsibilities to one another. For example, I have taken the responsibility to prepare these studies, but I'm not “in charge. The real “teachers” are the participants, from the youngest to the oldest. Teaching is a big responsibility, so only people who want to, should attend.
Who knows what a “Lectionary” is?
It's a rule, or pattern, for reading something. The lectionary we use is called “The Revised Common Lectionary”. About 30 years ago, many churches decided that, because we are all part of Christ's one Body, we should all study the Bible together. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians and many others, all read the same parts of the Bible on each Sunday. It takes us three years to read all the way through the Bible. Each Sunday we have three readings: one passage from the same Scriptures Jesus would have read, which we now call the Old Testament, one from the letters that the early Christians, two thousand years ago, sent to one another to encourage each other; and one passage from the four collections of stories about Jesus, which we now call the Gospels.
Who can name the four Gospels?
During the first year of the Lectionary -- “Year A”, we read mostly from the Gospel of Matthew. On feast-days, like Christmas and Easter, we read from the Gospel of John. During the second year of the Lectionary, -- “Year B”, we read from the Gospel of Mark – and also from John. During the third year -- “Year C”, we read from the Gospel of Luke – and also from John.
Review of Previous Lessons
Discuss Pew-work. Give everyone a chance to show or talk about their insights.
What was the sermon on? -- The sermon was about unequivocal commitment: God's covenant with the world is unequivocal. Our response to God should be unequivocal. But too often, we give only part of our commitment for God, and set up “false gods” beside him in the form of social prestige, passions, other interests.
What was the Gospel lesson? -- (Jesus' baptism, temptation, and preaching; the start of His Ministry)
Did anyone have any insights about the Rainbow Covenant and its meaning to modern Canadians?
Who can tell which year of the Lectionary we are in now?
Remember the Gospel we read last week? Remember our memory passage?
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came
from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And
straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened,
and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: and there came a
voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. And immediately the spirit driveth him into the
wilderness.
And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted
of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered
unto him.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into
Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
And saying,
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye,
and believe the gospel.
Which book were they from? This is “Year B”, the Year of Mark.
Set the calendar-clock to the right date. Lent tells the story of Christ's temptation, rejection, and final suffering. We walk with Christ through the days of Lent by prayer and fasting. -- in this case the discovery of who Jesus is. Review our memory scripture:
Activity
Make a cross, as large as possible given the size of scrap lumber available to you, with the constraint that a child should be able to pick it up. Carve/decorate it with your dremel tool, coloured stains, paint and gilt. Provide sanding paper; while sanding smooth, read the passage and discuss what is meant by “picking up your cross'' – both literally and figuratively.
Bible Passage
Pew-work Hand-outs
“Pew-work” is like Home-work, except that it is done in the pews, instead of being done at home. Because it is focussed on the readings (as the sermon, presumably, also is) it can be done during the sermon to help the listener concentrate. Or, it can be done while waiting for everyone else to finish their communion. It isn't done during prayers, or hymns, or the readings, because
During Prayers, we pray
During Hymns, we sing
During the Readings, we listen
Middle-school Students' Pew-work
Elementary-School Students' Pew-work