19th Sunday after Pentecost 29th Sunday in …One theme of the promise of God is ecological renewal (“plant seeds,” “spring up,” and “build and plant”). How do we understand

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)

111111Copyright 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

Ecumenical Prayer Calendar

If you have Internet access visit wwwseasonsonlineca to access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage

Sunday October 20 ndash Saturday October 26 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)

September 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

November 2019S 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

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

19th Sunday after Pentecost 29th Sunday in Ordinary TimeProper 24 (29)Peace Sabbath

Simchat Torah (Judaism)

United Nations Day

Jeremiah 3127ndash34Psalm 11997ndash1042 Timothy 314mdash45Luke 181ndash8The focus for age-level materials

India Pakistan Sri Lanka

112 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 October 20 2019

Faith Persists

Jeremiah 3127ndash34Psalm 11997ndash1042 Timothy 314mdash45Luke 181ndash8The focus in the age-level materials

Eternal God empower us in the call to preach the good news to live peace even when inconven-ient to encourage others with patience and endure in the truth Like the widow who pleaded for her justice we plead that you help us ldquoto not lose heartrdquo Amen

We continue in this season of movement and growth moving into and growing toward Godrsquos promises of justice and peace which will be pro-

claimed and realized with the coming of the Messiah during Advent and Christmas The peaceful and just way of Christ is already here and yet it is coming too We might wrestle with what is commonly called ldquothe already and the not-yetrdquo How then do we proclaim and live this way in a world that seems to encourage injustice recklessness toward others and self-service The readings this week reveal the call of faith to persist in the ways of peace and justice even in the face of the worldrsquos ambivalence and division

Jeremiah 3127ndash34 outlines a new covenant between the people of Israel and Judah and God we come to see that the ways of justice love and faithfulness begin with and flow from God This covenant comes after the one God made with the ancestors of the people of Israel and Judah The prophet describes how the former covenant was broken by unfaithfulness and how this new covenant is of a different nature God empowers the people engraving on their hearts the ways of justice and faithfulness and inviting them into the very heart of God from which these ways flow

Like the prophet the writer of 2 Timothy 314mdash45 reminds its readers that they can go forward in the ways of Godrsquos promises The letter reminds them of the instruction they have been given instruction that is wise just and humble

Luke 191ndash8 finds the reader immersed in a parable about persistence Jesus tells the story of a powerful judge who has no interest in serving justice for the oppressed This judge only cares for his own best interests A widow comes before him to plead for a ruling in her favour against those who oppose her (we are given no reasons as to why she has ldquoadversariesrdquo) As a widow this woman has lost

any access she had to justice other than her persistent belief that it is possible

Still perhaps aware of the judgersquos responsibility to be fair in cases of widows and other oppressed members of the community (Deuteronomy 2417ndash22) the widow comes to the judge repeatedly The judge continually refuses her requests Eventually the womanrsquos persistence breaks through the judgersquos callous nature and he rules in her favour

This story of a persistent woman helps us to the see divisions in our world between justice and injustice the ways of God and the ways of the world and the power of God to overcome We are reminded that justice is eternal and that God empowers us to speak the words of Godrsquos heart words of compassion words of faithfulness and words of persistence

Psalm 11997ndash104 reminds the reader that the instruction we have been given to help us persist is something for which we should be thankful Gratitude is undoubtedly at the heart of the work of justice because it promotes humility (though this can be difficult to see because a quick glance at the psalm makes it read as boasting at best and hubris at worse) This psalm also reminds the reader that instruction in the ways of Godrsquos heart is life-giving To follow these instructions is not only good for onersquos own self but good for the community

bull bull bull bull bullHow do we proclaim and live Godrsquos ways in a world that resists them How do we find ourselves faithful to justice when our society makes it easier to serve ourselves This weekrsquos scriptures remind us of the power of Godrsquos teaching and the endurance to persist If we persist in this broken world by speaking out against injustice surely it is Godrsquos mercy that strengthens us to do so

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

Season of Creation Pentecost 2 2019Reflection and Focus bull October 20 2019

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

Reflecting on the Word

Connecting with lifeIt is a serious commitment to be the Body of Christ in the world when done for years and years on end with no re-prieve such work is exhausting Faith communities espe-cially older ones sometimes describe themselves as ldquotiredrdquo

What makes you weary What makes or has made your faith congregation weary

What gives you persistence What work is worthy of persistence

ScriptureLuke 181ndash8 The writer of Luke tells us that this is ldquoa par-able about their need to pray continuously and not be dis-couragedrdquo (181 Common English Bible) We see that prayer is linked to the work of justice and perhaps at the centre of persistence and resistance

Reflect upon your own prayer practices Are there specific ones that strengthen you for the work of justice Are there particular practices that your faith community embraces to strengthen themselves to persist

Prayer is not only central to the work of justice but is itself the work of justice How might this be How might our prayer lives embody justice

Sometimes Godrsquos response to our prayers for justice seems slow like the response of the judge When has it been difficult for you to trust in Godrsquos justice

Jeremiah 3127ndash34 The prophet describes a new covenant that is part of Godrsquos desire to instil hope and new life for those who have known the destruction of their lives and the world

Jeremiah distinguishes between the old covenant and the new covenant One for one time and place and the other for another How has your understanding of Godrsquos promises changed as times and places in your life

have changed One theme of the promise of God is ecological renewal

(ldquoplant seedsrdquo ldquospring uprdquo and ldquobuild and plantrdquo) How do we understand this part of Godrsquos promise in a world increasingly plagued by global warming climate change and their effects

Psalm 11997ndash104 The longest psalm Psalm 119 incorpor-ates many types of psalms including petition praise and instructional pieces 11997ndash104 is an instructional piece

Consider a time you learned new instructions What was your initial reaction to those

Have you ever had to relearn a lesson or instruction What did you learn about yourself

2 Timothy 314mdash45 In the latter part of this reading Tim-othy is commissioned to a ministry of preaching and teach-ing

Reflect upon the teachers in your own life Who has taught you a sense of justice

Have you ever been ldquocommissionedrdquo to do something How did that change your sense of what you were to do

Connecting scripture and lifeIn a United States Senate confirmation hearing in 2017 Sen-ator Elizabeth Warren of the state of Massachusetts stated her objection to the nomination on the grounds of the nom-ineersquos track record of unjust action regarding voting rights Senators in favour of the nomination sought to interrupt her and silence her She continued to speak Senator Mitch McConnell speaking about Senator Warren continuing her speech despite warnings to conclude noted ldquoNevertheless she persistedrdquo The scriptures today call their readers to per-sist in the face of injustice and to live with the confidence that God will prevail This confidence allowed the widow and Senator Warren to speak out against injustice even when there were voices that sought to silence her faithful resist-ance Perhaps it can do the same for us

How would you seek justice in your own community What does it mean to live with the confidence that

Godrsquos justice will prevail

Focus for Worship Learning and ServingStories of persistence are often stories of courage and of the power of individuals and communities When nat-ural disasters strike communities often rally around one another to ensure for the survival of all In the western United States if a rancher loses his or her herd of cattle or sheep to unexpected disease or disaster it is common for ranches from the surrounding areas to provide one ani-mal each to rebuild the affected rancherrsquos herd In places that have been struck by violence and division such as

Northern Ireland during the Troubles or the southern United States during the Civil Rights Movement the persistence of nonviolent efforts for peace are also stories of courage that bear recognition This weekrsquos readings provide for the worshipping community to learn about encourage and support persistence The readings also provide the worshipping community the opportunity to consider their own stories of perseverance What are the moments of courage your communityrsquos life

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 October 20 2019

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

Prepare

Gather

Faith Persists

Recruit volunteers needed for worship Choose an option for hearing Luke 181ndash8 For the Bible

story arrange for a storyteller to present ldquoJesus En-courages Persistencerdquo on p 118 Arrange for someone to present the reflection

Bring items for setting the worship space Print in the bulletin or prepare to project the reflective

question in Gather You might choose to print Impression 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 8

Bring song such as ldquoStand O Stand Firmrdquo (Seasons Songbook vol 8 18 on Seasons Music CD vol 8 Print-ed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads wwwseasonsonlineca)

Set stations as described on p 119ndash120

Stand O Stand FirmTraditional Cameroon Seasons Songbook vol 8

Justice CryTrisha Watts Seasons Songbook vol 6

Christian Rise and Act Your CreedFrancis AR Russell

Lead Us from Death to LifeMarty Haugen

Song of Hope (Canto de Esperanza)Ester Camac and Edwin Mora Guevara

We Shall OvercomeUnited States of American traditional

As people gather for worship invite them to reflect on the follow-ing which is printed in the bulletin projected or spoken by a worship leader

The world is constantly changing How do we ground ourselves and persist seeking to grow in Godrsquos love and wisdom seeking Godrsquos justice

Call to worshipOne Godrsquos word is sweeter than honey enduring through

the agesAll Our lives are short Even so we grow wearyOne Come engage the Source of Life Here are wisdom and

energyAll We come into Godrsquos house that is a refugeOne Come rest in Godrsquos presence and renew your spiritAll We will dine on Godrsquos word and drink of the Holy

Spirit

Opening prayerEmpowering God you breathed and Earth was formed Adam and Eve were createdand so began our story

We come to be in your presenceto breathe in your breathto think with your mindso we may evermore live in your way

Meet with us here we prayGive to us the inspirationthe wisdom and the will to do your work and continue your storyin the world So help us God Amen

Prayer of confessionForgiving God we come to you knowing our frailtyconfessing thoughts and deedsthat separate us from one another and from you

We seek to be reunitedwith our true selveswith one another and with you

Engage

This can only happenin your grace and mercy We trust your promise and receive forgiveness

Words of affirmation Hear the words from Jeremiah 3133ndash34

ldquoThis is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days says God I will put my law within them and I will write it on their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my peoplehellipI will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sins no morerdquo

Opening the word2 Timothy 314mdash45 makes clear that it is not our human precepts but Godrsquos word that endures Envisioning Godrsquos realm of love and justice is the beginning the middle and the end of persisting faith In Godrsquos word we find inspira-tion to keep on keeping on If we grow arrogant bitter or resentful in our attempts to build the realm of God it is likely because we have lost our inspiration our connection to the living Word Growing ourselves ever more in alignment with the in-spiration and aspiration of God enables us to persist in efforts to build the realm of God in our time Gandhi said ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo Paul says ldquoAlways be steady endure suffering do the work of an evangelist fulfill your ministryrdquo We can only do this if we stay grounded in the inspiration of Godrsquos word Moving into Luke 181ndash8 the focus scripture for age-level materi-als in ENCORE

Invite the people gathered to think of a time in their lives when they gave up on something It might have been a friendship a relationship a job or a course of study How do they feel about that now It seems important to begin our contemplation of persistence acknowledging that some things should be given up For example self-defeating hab-its abusive relationships and bad theology are better left behind

Choose from the following

Bible story Have a storyteller present the story ldquoJesus En-courages Persistencerdquo (p 118)Reflection Once we have discerned that a value or practice is worth our persistence how do we do it A numeric guideline might be helpful

1 Participate in a faith community Being present in wor-ship reminds us that we are not alone in our efforts to

preach and practice the gospel 2 Engage the living word Bible study continually helps

us clarify our mission as well as finding inspiration to carry it out

3 Find an issue that evokes your passion There are many areas of injustice in our world For example inequalities in gender wealth race and food distribution genocide and war We cannot even name all the problems let alone personally confront them But we can discern the one or two that most touch our hearts and then actively pursue them

4 Pray Our prayers give support to people everywhere who share our hopes and engage deeds of transforming the world after the image of love and justice

If we do these four things with persistence we are part of Godrsquos work in the world We can be assured that Godrsquos will and Godrsquos way are the end result even when our efforts seem minuscule The widow in our story was of no account in the eyes of the judge Even so she persisted until he granted her request It was not her stature power or wealth that brought the desired result but her choice to persist In America slavery was ended civil rights were enacted and women were granted the right to vote because countless people persisted Inmates are being visited hungry people are being fed environmental protections are being enacted and girls are being educated the same as boys hellip all because right now people are persisting to bring love and justice to our world These are just a few examples

What is your role in this sea change this gospel of God transforming the world Keep up the good work Remember the words of Saint Teresa of Avila

ldquoChrist has no body now but yours No hands no feet on earth but yours Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world Yours are the hands yours are the feet yours are the eyes you are his body Christ has no body now on earth but yoursrdquo

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

RespondAfter 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 ldquoStand O Stand Firmrdquo (Sea-sons Songbook vol 8 18 on Seasons Music CD vol 8 Printed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Down-loads wwwseasonsonlineca)

Prayers of the peopleEmphasize again that our prayers matter They enable us to touch the Spirit of God who is resting upon all who are working on behalf of the gospel everywhere We are one body The prayers of others also support and nourish us

Inspiring God thank you for the diverse world of mountains and rivers oceans and deserts wild animals and birds of distinctionhellip thank you for breathing into us the breath of life and for a diverse gifted and ingenious humanity

We recognize that our world is hurting pristine landscapes lie beneath polluted skies and oceans are poisoned with hu-man trash Human beings wreak violence upon one another Though you have given us enough food for everyone some have too much and others go without

Inspiring God we would be overwhelmed were it not for your good news the example and teaching of Jesus and your gift of the Spirit to help us each day We pray to you for people who mourn for people who are hungry for people who have lost their way We pray to you for the people you send to give comfort and to share bread and to proclaim your love

For every human ache you are a healing balm For every hunger you are food For every conflict your depths and wisdom afford peace For every yearning you are dreams fulfilled

Help us live between our limited mortality and your infinite goodness grace peace and love Compassion helps us to join the worlds Doing deeds of justice help us to join the worlds So help us God We pray in the name and spirit of Jesus Amen

Prayer of dedication or offering prayerGiving God all that we have comes from you even our bod-ies and existence Even so it takes our choice to give back to you We do so now with prayers that you will bless our gifts and our lives to help further your realm So be it Alleluia Amen

God does not ask us to do all things but to do the good that we can Go from here in that purpose and know that God travels with you willing and working in you for good Be

encouraged so you can encourage others Be persistent in love and your hopes will be fulfilled God has promised it

Special Days Commentary

October 22 ndash Simchat Torah (Judaism)Simchat Torah is one of those times during the course of the Jewish year that Jews are expected to P-A-R-T-Y Simcha means ldquojoyrdquo or ldquocelebrationrdquo and the Torah is the embodi-ment of Jewish learning and teaching During the year the Pentateuch (Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deu-teronomy) is split up into 39 separate portions One portion is read each week beginning in Genesis sometime in Sep-tember or October and ending about a year later The point between the beginning and ending point is the Celebration of Torah or Simchat Torah It falls on the eighth day after the seven days of Sukkot (see Leviticus 2336) The culmination of the intense High Holyday season this day celebrates Torah as the dynamic tool of survival of the Jewish people Simchat Torah celebrations include dan-

cing with the scrolls of the Torah around the synagogue music sometimes even a little schnapps and most import-antly reading of the last portion of Deuteronomy and the first part of Genesis ndash keeping the circle complete We finish and then begin each year again because we believe that we must continue to turn to the Torah over and over again for everything is contained in it

Rabbi Adam Morris lives in Denver Colorado and serves as a consultant to the Seasons of the Spirit editorial team He also answers questions

posed to ldquoAsk the Rabbirdquo at wwwseasonsonlineca

October 22 ndash Peace SabbathUN SundayIn the context of the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (October 24 1945) some churches observe a Peace Sabbath on the Sunday prior (some call it UN Sunday or World Order Sunday)

Poetry and Prose bull October 20 2019

The powerless widow is apparently without any male rela-tives to plead her case So she dares to enter the forbidden public realm of men to do the impossible ndash challenge a man of great power However she has the power of courage and persistence on her side and she is ldquocontinually comingrdquo to plead her case for justice The alternative to getting justice in her case is most likely homelessness and even possible star-vation For without a male sponsor she has few respectable means to support herself Desperation is no doubt her mo-tive but she has the Torah on her side The judge is required to protect her even if he does not do so in fact There is much discussion about the judgersquos motive Accord-ing to the text the judge says that the widow is ldquobothering merdquo and will ldquowear me outrdquo John Donahue quoting Ken-neth Bailey says that ldquobotherrdquo is too weak a translation He prefers ldquowork me overrdquo Also ldquowear me outrdquo is too mild The Greek word hypopiazo literally means ldquostrike under the eyerdquo and is often translated as ldquogive me a black eyerdquo Some speculate that the judgersquos fear of a social ldquoblack eyerdquo or of public embarrassment is his motive for responding to the widow Yet Donahue makes a logical inference that the judge clearly cares nothing about his honour which in that culture

The Corrupt Judge A New ImageBy Charles McCollough

would have been based on fear of God and respect for others ndash virtues he rejects (John Donahue The Gospel in Parable)

That the judge would literally fear the widowrsquos physical vio-lence is most unlikely There is no evidence of a physical threat beyond this Lukan soliloquy of the judge and it is often seen as humorous Why would a powerful judge fear the fists of a poor widow in a public court However the humour is too often turned against the widow suggesting that ldquohe is tired of her perpetual nagging and wants to be left in peacerdquo (Joachim Jeremias The Parables of Jesus) In this interpretation the widow is dismissed as a nag instead of one who is truly heroic She has the courage to speak truth to power and to demand justice and she does so without violence Those actions as we have seen throughout the gos-pels represent the way of Jesus

To be sure there is humour in this story The judge is so unlikely as to be a cartoon figure and his behaviour is vil-lainously absurd So the joke is on him not her The widow is the model of what Jesus himself taught and demonstrated ndash justice without violence

From The Art of Parables by Charles McCollough Copyright copy 2008 CopperHouse Books Used by permission

Bible Story bull October 20 2019

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

Jesus Encourages PersistenceBased on Luke 181ndash8

Jesus liked to teach his friends by telling them stories called parables One day after overhearing one of his friends complaining about praying for the same thing

over and over he decided to tell them a parable about an unfair judge

Once there was a judge whose job was to listen to peoplersquos arguments and make a fair decision to help settle their fights But this judge was not fair He didnrsquot listen to God and had little respect for people So when a woman whose husband had died came to him for help he barely paid her any attention to her

The widowed woman knew she was in the right and that she deserved to have justice but the judge sent her home without a thought

Well this woman just kept coming back She came again and again asking for justice Eventually the judge said ldquoEven though I donrsquot care about this woman or her prob-lems she keeps bothering me so I will just give her what she asks before she wears me out with her askingrdquo

Jesus sat back smiling

ldquoSo we are supposed to bother God and ask and ask until there is justice and fairness for allrdquo asked Peter feeling very confused

Jesus chuckled at his friend ldquoYou are never a bother to God God loves you and loves to hear from you If the man in this story helped a woman he didnrsquot even care about because she kept asking for justice do you think God who loves you so deeply will do anything lessrdquo

Bible storyThe practice of storytellingMaterials recording of todayrsquos story

ldquoJesus Encourages Persistencerdquo play-er paper or drawing pads crayons pencils a copy of the directions dis-played where all can see alternatively arrange for a storyteller to present the story

Directions1 Listen to the story ldquoJesus Encourages Persistencerdquo 2 Make a quick drawing of the persistent widow and the unjust judge in todayrsquos

story What do you imagine they looked like Option Make a list of some of the physical characteristics of the persistent widow and the unjust judge

Younger children Ask younger children to draw a picture of the persistent widow and the unjust judge What clothes do they imagine they were wearing What were the expressions on their faces

Stations bull October 20 2019

Suitable for all ages

Suitable for all agesworking together

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

Persistprotest The practice of advocacyMaterials pamphlets news items

and images of a current concern or social issues of local national or international interest whiteboard chalkboard or poster board chalk pens pencils or markers a copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions 1 Spend time exploring the pamphlets and images at this station2 Contribute to a protest board (chalkboard whiteboard poster board) with state-

ments or slogans you which might be used to protest about a current social issue 3 On what issue will you not give up Write on a sticky note and display at this sta-

tion as a commitment to not give up until justice is done Younger children might contribute with their ideas about where they see or experi-ence things that are not fair

Women who speak up or act for justice The practice of persistenceMaterials construction paper in

different colours newspapers and magazines (especially magazines published by your denomination for the local churches) markers pens crayons scissors glue a copy of dir-ections displayed where all can see

Directions1 Thinking about todayrsquos story from the gospel of Luke who are the persistent

women of todayrsquos world Who are the women in your own local church and com-munity that speak up or act for justice in an unjust situation Who are the women that speak out and are heard around the world Who are the examples of endurance and strength

2 Using the materials on the table create a campaign poster for todayrsquos persistent women Include some words or phrases that these women might use in their pursuit of justice

3 When yoursquove finished walk around the table to see the different ldquopersistent widowrdquo posters

4 You might display these posters in the worship space or share these posters with the congregation while lifting these women up for prayer

Younger children Help younger children create posters ndash ask them to draw the woman from todayrsquos story or ask them to think of women they know who are doing good things for other people

Suitable for ages 12ndashadult

Breathe the words The practice of prayerMaterials votive candles in small jars

and matches (or battery candles) basket small pieces of paper ap-proximately 8 cm3 in x 12 cm5 in or index cards pens coloured pen-cils copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions1 Take a few minutes to think about todayrsquos story from the gospel of Luke and the

persistent widowrsquos pursuit of justice Now in your journal or on the paper provided make a list of examples of situations where we should not give up demanding justice

2 Choose two or three of these examples and write short breath prayers ndash short prayers that can be said in one breath ndash that ask God for endurance when seeking justice or ask God for the encouragement to come up with a just response to a lost cause

3 Write your breath prayers on the small pieces of paper or index cards and place them in the basket

4 After you place your prayer take another and silently pray that prayer before re-turning it to the basket

Younger children Ask younger children about a time that they needed God to help them do the right thing Help younger children turn their answers into short sentence prayers that ask God for strength in these situations

Prayer and protest The practice of reflection

Materials Bibles writing instru-ments a copy of the directions dis-played where all can see

Directions How can we balance indignation and prayer 1 Not everyone who participates with us in a protest is doing so from a faith perspec-

tive With this awareness reflect on or discuss What does it mean to protest because you are a person of faith What does being a Christian bring to the act of protest

2 Read these biblical passages related to protestJohn 213ndash17 Jesus clears the Temple1 Kings 1820ndash39 God answers Elijahrsquos prayer Exodus 51ndash2 6ndash9 19ndash20 Moses and Aaron deal with the backlash from their own peopleActs 1344ndash48 Paul and Barnabas broaden their appeal

3 Reflect in journals or on sheets of paper or discuss Where are the forces of chaos involved in these stories What role(s) do these individuals of faith have in these protests How doesmight prayer function to direct the actions of these people of faith

ttrade S

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ttrade S

bull Pen

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copy W

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bull Pen

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ldquoCom

ldquoI n

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erdquo

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ldquoC

anrsquot

mrsquos

merdquo

ersquos h

ldquoC

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dnrsquot

Irsquoll

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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

In todayrsquos Bible story a wom

an tells the judge over and over again to listen to her that she needs help Finally the judge listens to the w

oman and gives her w

hat she needs Look at the picture and imagine

that you want the child w

ho is taking the toys away from

the others to be fair and share the toys What

might you say to him

her In the right column draw

what happens next

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