17th sunday after pentecost 26th sunday in ordinary …. as a remedy against this happening again,...

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Resources based onsemi-continuous

readings of the Revised Common Lectionary.

Ecumenical Prayer Calendar

Things to keep in mind this week…

Planning ahead…

If you have Internet access, visit www.seasonsonline.ca to access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage.

Liturgical colour: green

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Revised Common Lectionary (Year A)

7979Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation • Pentecost 2 2017

7

6 5

4 3

2

1

Sunday, October 1 – Saturday, October 7 • 2017

October 2017S 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

September 2017S 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 2017S M T W T F S

1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30

17th Sunday after Pentecost26th Sunday in Ordinary TimeProper 21 (26) World(wide) Communion Sunday

St. Francis of Assisi

Sukkot begins (Judaism)

Exodus 17:1–7Psalm 78:1–4, 12–16Philippians 2:1–13Matthew 21:33–46

The epistle readings in this season are letters of encouragement that are shared amongst friends. Consider including in the worship service let-ters of encouragement, love, and reflection from members of the congregation who may be away from the community. Invite people to write letters to the church to be read alongside the epistle each week. Another option would be to write a letter from the community to members of the community who are away. Reflect together on: What do you miss about the person? What spiritual gifts did they share with the commun-ity? What do you learn from them? How has the community changed because of their presence? What would you encourage them to continue to do? What is your hope for their ministry?

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

80 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation • Pentecost 2 2017 Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016

Season of Creation, Pentecost 2 2017 Biblical Background • October 1, 2017

Seasons of the Spirit™ is based on the semi-continuous

readings of the Revised Common Lectionary.

Is it always rude to complain? What if the intent is to in-form and it comes across as a complaint? Or what if the information is redundant? In this week’s focus scripture,

we have the opportunity to explore how to inform people of our needs in a way that is well received.

Focus scripture: Exodus 17:1–7The people of Israel are wandering in the wilderness, led by Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Since the people of Israel fled Egypt, this is the third time there have been mumblings from the crowd. First, the people complained “what shall we drink” when they discovered that the water in Marah was bitter (15:24–25). Then, when the people found themselves hungry in the land of Sin (located between Elim and Sinai) they cried, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (16: 3). Now, the people are camped in Rephidim when they discover there is no water. Their reaction to this dilemma is a familiar one – they complain to Moses. It has now been several months since they have been seemingly wandering in the wilderness, how could they be sure that God was still with them? How could they be sure that Moses understood their suffering? How could they be sure that God would recognize their need? After all, where were God and Moses when the people were enslaved by Pharoah? Why freedom? Why now?

Moses, perhaps unable to empathize with the people, cries out to God for guidance. “What shall I do with this people?”

Moses and the Hebrew people are not left alone in this wilderness of frustration, fear, and anger. God responds with grace and the journey resumes: “Go on ahead of the people…I will be standing there in front of you.” God’s faithful presence and provision sustains them once again.

Moses strikes the rock as God directs, and water rushes forth. The springs that are found there are named Massah and Meribah, Hebrew words that recall the Israelites’ quarrelling and testing. This may seem like a reminder to

Focus scriptureExodus 17:1–7

Additional scripturesPsalm 78:1–4, 12–16Philippians 2:1–13Matthew 21:23–32

Everyone’s a Critic

Draw closer to us,our God, Rock, and Redeemer,for our travels have made us thirsty,our trials have made us weary,our tribulations have pushed us apart;leaving us longing for the nourishment and refreshment that only you can provide.Amen.

not raise complaints to God. Or, perhaps, it is a reminder that the needs of the people will be met, regardless of how these needs are voiced.

The text concludes with the question, “Is God among us or not?” This question remains critical for all who journey in faith. So does the response given in this text – water springs from a rock to bring life in the wilderness. This will not be the last time that the people of Israel grow anxious and fearful on their journey to the Promised Land. Still, as is often the case for them, this time of crisis pushes them to re-affirm their trust in God’s presence.

Trust that God is among us is evident in Psalm 78:1–4, 12–16. God’s provision of good things is celebrated with joy. The lectionary skips over verses 5–11, the memory of the people’s rebellion against God and their refusal to keep covenant. As a remedy against this happening again, the psalmist calls the people to remember and recite accounts of God’s powerful works.

Paul, in Philippians 2:1–13, declares, “God is with us!” And to live in God’s name is to be of service to all. When Paul implores the community to “work out your salvation” (v. 12), he is not saying salvation is earned, but that the community must take the steps necessary to reach and express their complete wholeness. God calls; humans respond.

In Philippi, some favoured Caesar and some Jesus as lord. In Matthew 21:23–32, Jesus faces religious authorities who refuse to take a stand either way. Jesus responds to this time of testing by declaring the importance of standing with God’s truth, regardless of the consequences.

• • • • •

As we live between frustration and hope, we call out to God and our human leaders. We long to know we will be heard, that there will be a response. Assured by Christ, we can be confident of God’s sustaining presence. What does it mean to trust in God alone in the midst of test and struggle? How might you and your church support one another as you grow in trust of God’s compassion and provision?


Season of Creation, Pentecost 2 2017Reflection and Focus • October 1, 2017

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

Reflecting on the Word Materials poem: “We All Stood Together” p. 85

■■ What message might the people in the wilderness have for we who have had a glimpse of the promised future/new land?

Water is found in an unexpected place. Reflect on a time when you experienced the unexpected.

■■ How did this experience change your perspective?

Psalm 78:1–4, 12–16 ■■ What does the writer say about God’s provision?

Connecting scripture and life Read “We All Stood Together” by Jewish feminist and peace activist Merle Feld.

■■ How is this woman’s experience different from her brother’s? Why?

■■ What changes when we remember and recount our common story together (vowels and consonants)?

Connecting with lifeReflect on a time when you have felt misunderstood or mis-represented.

■■ What do you think are the root causes for the misunderstanding?

■■ How do you think you were perceived by the other? ■■ Did you come to a mutual understanding? If yes, how

and if no, do you think one can be achieved and how?

ScriptureExodus 17:1–7

■■ With whom do you empathize most in this story? ■■ What do you find most relatable about them? ■■ What can you learn from them?

Hungry and thirsty the people wished that they had died in the land of their oppressors. Perhaps these people are griev-ing and wrestling with what it means to be free. Their cries for “daily bread” might not be solely for food and water, but for comfort, assurance, and respect.

Focus for Worship, Learning, and ServingMany years ago, the United Church of Canada hosted an Anti-Racism workshop with predominantly racialized clergy and church members. Quickly, the focus became how difficult it was to talk about empire and racial power within church communities. One person stated: “I don’t feel comfortable naming racism within the church. I have built a good relationship with the mainstream people, and I don’t want to be misunderstood by supporting anti-racism work.” Many people in the workshop were afraid to address their real needs such as the need to be treated

equitably, with dignity and respect, because they were afraid that others would refuse to receive their concerns or, worse, dismiss as an isolated complaint instead of an ongoing systemic issue. In the desire and eagerness to pro-claim that our churches were not racist, the voices of racial-ized people saying “we are not there yet” were dismissed. How might you, in worship, learning, and serving bring empowerment to any who are marginalized? What would it take for them to be full participants?


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 www.seasonsonline.ca. Click on Library; Seasons Music Information. Please contact a licence holder for permission to duplicate.

Worship Outline • October 1, 2017

PrepareNOTE: All of these suggestions are mere starting points; adapt, delete, and add according to your local needs.

Gather

Everyone’s a Critic for additional 12 voices. Bring the items listed on that page.

■❑ You might choose to print the art image ”Grossman Tower Doors” on your bulletin covers (in the Images to Project and Print folder on the Season of Creation, Pente-cost 2 CD and in the web version of SeasonsFUSION). You might also include one of the art engagement ideas described in “Connecting with the Art” (p. 4).

■❑ Bring song such as “Fill Us, God” (Seasons Songbook, vol. 9, #14 on Seasons Music CD, vol. 9. Printed music and re-cording are also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads, www.seasonsonline.ca).

■❑ Set stations as described on pp. 87–88.

Have symbols and sounds of long journeys present as people enter the worship space. Perhaps a soundtrack of desert sounds, carry-on suitcases, duffle bags, brown bag lunches, and so on.

Call to worshipOne: Come and recall the stories of our ancestors,All: We will remember the glorious deeds of God.One: Recall how God divided the seas and made the waters

stand like a heap.

All: We will remember the glorious deeds of God.One: Recall how God led our ancestors with clouds and

fiery lights.All: We will remember the glorious deeds of God.One: Recall how God made streams come out of the rock in

the wilderness, causing water to flow down like rivers.All: We will remember and tell new generations of the

glorious deeds of God.One: Come and worship God, who has and continues to do

glorious deeds.

Fill Us, GodGerry Holmes; Seasons Songbook, vol. 9

In Full FlightSean Gilbert, Jill Scott; Seasons Songbook, vol. 6

Come, Let Us Seek Our God’s ProtectionMalawian folk song; Seasons Songbook, vol. 6

We Come to the Hungry FeastRay Makeover; Seasons Songbook, vol. 6

Your Mercy FlowsWes Sutton

Come to the WaterJohn Foley

Eat This BreadTaizé Community

This Holy Covenant Was MadeSylvia Dunstan

■❑ Recruit volunteers needed for worship. ■❑ Choose an option for hearing Exodus 17:1–7. For the

Bible story, arrange for a storyteller to present the story “No Longer Slaves” on p. 86. For the dramatic reading, arrange for several readers: a few to be the voice of the people, one to be the voice of Moses, and one to be the voice of God.

■❑ Bring items for setting the worship space: sandbox, which will be in the worship space for this week and the next four weeks.

■❑ The epistle readings in this season are letters of encour-agement that are shared amongst friends. Consider including in the worship service letters of encourage-ment, love, and reflection from members of the congre-gation who may be away from the community. Invite people to write letters to the church to be read along-side the epistle each week. Another option would be to write a letter from the community to members of the community who are away. Reflect together on: What do you miss about the person? What spiritual gifts did they share with the community? What do you learn from them? How has the community changed because of their presence? What would you encourage them to continue to do? What is your hope for their ministry?

■❑ Provide black or brown moulding clay and a few pre-moulded people to represent Aaron, Moses, Miriam, and the people in the wilderness.

■❑ Arrange for symbols and sounds of long journeys to be present as people enter the worship space. Perhaps a soundtrack of desert sounds, carry-on suitcases, duffle bags, brown bag lunches, and so on.

■❑ If using the “Communion Liturgy for World(wide) Communion Sunday” (in the Extra Resources folder on the Season of Creation, Pentecost 2 Data CD), arrange


Worship Outline • October 1, 2017

Engage

Respond

When we act out of selfish ambition and conceit,All: forgive us and help us to be humble.One: When we disregard the needs of others,All: forgive us, and help us to regard the interests of

others.One: When we idolize ourselves, our ideas and our ways,All: forgive us, and help us to be more like Jesus the

Christ.Amen.

Words of affirmationBeloved, know that God is at work in each of us, enabling us to both will and work for the kin-dom to be.

lot about God and the people of God. We will discover that although the people of God are wandering, although they do not know where they are going and when they will get there, and although they do not know much about who they are following, they are brave people. Our ancestors were not lost because God is with them, just as God is with us now.Invite children and young people to add their people to the sand.

We are all the people of God! Over the next few weeks as we learn about these wandering people and we will learn about ourselves, too.

Exodus 17:1–7Choose from the following for hearing the focus story.Bible story Have a storyteller present the story “No Longer Slaves” on page 86. Dramatic reading Arrange for a few people to read the voice of the people, one reader to be the voice of Moses, and one reader to be the voice of God.

After the focus scriptureInvite 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 “Fill Us, God” as people gather together again. (Seasons Songbook, vol. 9, #14 on Seasons Music CD, vol. 9. Printed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads, www.seasonsonline.ca).

Opening prayerGod, we thank you for words and actions that tell the story of who we are and from where we have come.We thank you for the abundance of your gifts, and for the ability to find something extraordinary in unexpected places.May we uncover something special in this sacred time together.Amen.

Prayer of confessionOne: Complete Love, we long to be complete in our love, despite our many

imperfections.

If you are including letters of encouragement, love, and re-flection from members of the congregation who are away from the community, or if you are writing letters from the community to people who are away. Read one letter along-side the reading from Philippians 2:1–13. (See prepare for more information.)

Opening the wordMoving into the focus scripture Distribute pieces of clay/play dough to children and young people and invite them to shape a person. Move to the sand tray that will be used during the next 5 weeks.For the next month, we will be learning about a group of people who left everything they knew to journey through the wilderness. They left all the things that brought them comfort (such as their homes and their lives) and all the things that brought them pain (such as their chains and their enemies). They left everything, to flee slavery. They were led by their faith in God, and a group of siblings, Miriam, Aaron, and Moses.Pour sand.

Guided by God, Aaron, Miriam, and Moses led the people into the wilderness. The people were in this wilderness for 40 years! During these stories of the wilderness, we will learn a


Bless

Worship Outline • October 1, 2017And buoy-up your prophets (insert names) as they provide new hope, new perspectives, and new understandings. May they look past our complaints to receive our sincere love and admiration for their ministry in your name.Amen.

Prayer of dedicationWith humility we share these offerings with the church to further our ministry as a church dedicated to your service.With hope, we offer our gifts with each other so that together we can be more like Jesus. With love, we offer our praise and dedication to you, always.Amen.

Prayers of the peopleGlorious God, remind us of your glorious deeds when we feel we are lost in the wilderness. When we and those we love experience times of disappoint- ment and sadness; times of broken expectations (name particular situations)...When we are doubtful and uncertain …When we are grief-stricken …When we cry out, “are you among us or not?”... break into our lives like a mighty stream,so that we can no longer deny or question your presence. Rush into the hearts of those for whom we pray (insert names) with your healing power and love.

One: Today we have remembered the glorious deeds of God.

All: We have recalled how God made streams come out of the rock in the wilderness, causing water to flow down like rivers.

One: Empowered and blessed by God the creator, Jesus the redeemer, and the friendship of the Holy Spirit, we must go and tell new generations of God’s glorious deeds.

All: In our words, thoughts and actions, may we pro-claim the glorious deeds of our God.

Special Days Commentary

October 1 – World(wide) Communion SundayThis day is observed in many parts of the world, although not by all churches. Some denominations produce worship and learning resources for this day, and some ecumenical agencies encourage churches to acknowledge the fact that on this day perhaps more than any other, Christians around the world are – symbolically – gathered at a common table. A communion liturgy is provided in the Extra Resources folder on the Season of Creation, Pentecost 2 CD and in the web version of SeasonsFUSION.

October 4 – St. Francis of AssisiGenerally known as a lover of birds, animals, and creation in general – statues of St. Francis frequently appear in gardens – Francis of Assisi was also a strong champion of the poor and outcast of his time and society. The son of a wealthy Italian cloth merchant, Francis underwent a deep spiritual trans-formation and lived a humble, peaceful life, rebuilding the ruins of church buildings as places of worship and refuge.

October 5 – Sukkot (Judaism)Sukkot (or “Sukkoth” – both pronounced “soo-KOTE”) is one of the Jewish festivals most closely tied to Judaism’s agricultural roots. The Torah mentions the observance of Sukkot in Leviticus 23:33–35. Many scholars believe this harvest festival was the most important one in temple times. Jews celebrate this seven-day festival by building a mo-bile booth (sukkah) in their yards. It has solid walls, but a thatched roof that enables those who dwell in it to see the stars at night. The sukkah connects us to the harvest nature of the festival, as well as to a mythic piece of our past, re-minding us of the booths the Israelites lived in as the wan-dered the wilderness for forty years. The commandment regarding Sukkot is to either eat or dwell in the sukkah – as many Jews do – and to utilize four species of harvest: the myrtle, willow, palm, and etrog (citron) in a dance-like wav-ing ritual.

Rabbi Adam Morris lives in Denver, Colorado, USA, and serves as a consultant to the Seasons of the Spirit editorial team.

He also answers questions posed to “Ask the Rabbi “at www.seasonsonline.ca.


Poetry and Prose • October 1, 2017

We All Stood TogetherMerle Feld

My brother and I were at SinaiHe kept a journalof what he sawof what he heardof what it all meant to him

I wish I had such a recordof what happened to me there

It seems like every time I want to writeI can’tI’m always holding a babyone of my ownor one for a friend always holding a babyso my hands are never freeto write things down

And thenAs time passesthe particularsthe hard datathe who what when where whyslip away from meand all I’m left with isthe feeling

But feelings are just soundsThe vowel barking of a mutemy brother is so sure of what he heardafter all he’s got a record of itconsonant after consonant after consonant

If we remembered it togetherwe could recreate holy timesparks flyingReprinted by permission from A Spiritual Life: Exploring the Heart and Jewish

Tradition, Revised Edition by Merle Feld, the State University of New York Press, copyright © 2007 State University of New York. All rights reserved.


Bible Story • October 1, 2017

A recording of this story is available in MP3 format in the Audio Stories folder on the Season of Creation, Pentecost 2 CD and in the web version of SeasonsFusion.

When the people of Israel were living in a land called Egypt, life there was hard. In that land, they were forced to be slaves and to do hard labour. They

worked long hours in difficult conditions. They were not considered to be equals in the land, and they wanted a dif-ferent land to call home. They prayed and called out to God, crying out for freedom. God listened and led the people to freedom.

Once the people were no longer slaves, they had to travel for a very long time to get to a new land. They travelled with their whole families, their animals, and everything that they owned. God guided them on their journey with signs and symbols. God was with them always.

On this day, the people had been walking through the wil-derness. Hot and tired, they had just arrived at a place called Rephidim and set up camp there. They began to complain against their leader, Moses. They argued with Moses, and demanded a drink.

“Why are you arguing with me?” Moses asked. Moses en-couraged them saying that they should trust that God was with them and would give a sign, just like God had done so many times before.

No Longer Slaves Based on Exodus 17:1–7

The practice of storytelling

But the people would not listen. Instead, they grumbled and complained about being thirsty! Some even said that their life as slaves in Egypt was better than this journey to a new life and new land!

“Why did you bring us out of Egypt,” they demanded, “to kill us, our children, and livestock with thirst?”

Moses did not know how to respond to the people, so asked God what to do. Moses said that he was afraid that the people would keep complaining and yelling at him unless he did something about the water and their thirst.

God said to Moses, “Go ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you.” And God reminded Moses of the staff that he carried; the one he had used before to perform a miracle on the Nile River. “Take the staff in your hand, and go,” God said. “Go to a place called Horeb. “Strike the rock at Horeb, and water will flow from it, and the people will have something to drink.”

Moses did exactly what God said to do. He took some of the elders and his staff to Horeb. He struck the rock. And water flowed from it.

Even though the journey was hard, God was with the people, guiding and providing.

Bible storyMaterials recording of today’s story “No Longer Slaves,” player, paper or drawing pads, crayons, pencils, a copy of the directions displayed where all can see; alternatively, arrange for a storyteller to present the story

Directions1. Listen to the story “No Longer Slaves.” 2. Use the drawing pads or paper and pencils or crayons to record your response to

the story.


Stations • October 1, 2017

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 on the Season of Creation, Pentecost 2 CD and in the web version of SeasonsFUSION.

The article “Connecting with the Art” on page 4 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 and choose one of the art engagement ideas.

Suitable for all ages

Suitable forages 14–adult

Modern-day slavery The practice of action-reflectionMaterials paper, pens, a computer

with Internet access to “Human Traf-ficking” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqCSgCDGNT8, a copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions The people of Israel had been slaves in the land of Egypt for a very long time. Their forced labour had been difficult to endure. Through Moses, God saved the people from slavery. Today, there are still many forms of modern-day slavery. One type of slavery that is practiced in many places around the world is human trafficking.1. Reflect on what you already know about human trafficking. Write the word “hu-

man trafficking” on a page, and place a circle around it. Around that word, write as much as you know about human trafficking.

2. View the four-minute video on the computer, which is found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqCSgCDGNT8.

3. After watching the short video, return to your page. Did you learn anything else about human trafficking, as a form of modern-day slavery? What else might you want to add to your page?

4. Discuss with a partner:■■ What do you think that you, or your church community, could do about

human trafficking? ■■ What is one tangible action you could take to help work towards freedom for

today’s slaves?

God’s presence The practice of contemplation

Materials paint, paper, play dough or moulding clay, a copy of the direc-tions displayed where all can see

Directions Moses always carried a staff with him; The staff was a reminder of God’s constant presence, and of the wonderful things that God can do. Moses always had his staff with him. Create something small to remind you of God’s constant presence with you, and you can carry it around like Moses.1. Use the materials provided to create a small reminder or keepsake. You can carry

this with you to remind you of God’s presence with you.2. Once you have created your piece of art, hold it in your hand and offer a prayer of

thanks that God is always with you.


Stations • October 1, 2017

Suitable for all ages working together

Suitable for ages 6–adult

Suitable for all ages

Materials paper, pens, crayons, markers, paint, a copy of the direc-tions displayed where all can see

Journeying together The practice of noticingDirections The people of Israel had been travelling together for many years. The people jour-neyed for a very long time to get to where they were going. All along their journeys, God showed the people that God was still with them. In today’s story, God asks Moses to make water flow from a rock. It is possible, that later, whenever the people saw a rock or water, they were reminded of God being with them. Today you will be able to go on a short journey and try to notice things that remind you that God is with you.1. Travel around the inside of your church (or, weather permitting, journey outside). 2. What items do you notice that might remind you of God’s presence? Are there rocks

or water (such as in today’s story)? Are there other things that you notice that could be reminders of God’s presence in your life?

3. Create a reminder of God’s presence and place inside or outside the church. Use the art supplies to create something simple that people could notice and understand.

4. Share what you have created in an upcoming worship time, then ask for permission to place it in or around the church.

Like a rock

The practice of creatingMaterials paper, paint, song “Like a Rock” (in Seasons Songbook, vol. 1, #46 Seasons Songbook Music CD, vol. 1. Printed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads, www.seasonsonline.ca), copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions God asked Moses to strike a rock, and then water flowed from it. God is like a rock – always present and sustaining. There is a song that also talks about what God is like; the song is called “Like a Rock.” Today you will have a chance to explore the song, and then to create images from the song, and to create your own song or poem.1. Read the lyrics for the song “Like a Rock.”2. Use the paint to draw each image from the song: rock, the sky, the sun, a river go-

ing to the ocean. As you paint each image, reflect on how God is like what you are painting.

3. Once you have finished painting, consider if you can write your own lyrics to a song or a poem. How would you describe what God is like?

4. Ask if you can share your song or poem at an upcoming worship service.

Gifts of gratitude The practice of gratitudeMaterials small boxes, small pieces

of paper, pens, copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions God did many good things for the people of Israel. God led the people out of slavery and showed them many miracles as they travelled. But, as soon as things became a bit uncomfortable for the people, they complained against their leader Moses, and complained against God. The people had forgotten how to practice gratitude. Today, you will have a chance to practice gratitude as well.1. Reflect on the past week, or past few months. What has happened in your life for

which you are grateful? Write down each idea on a piece of paper. Offer thanks for each item.

2. Take one of the small boxes. Using the art supplies, label it as “Gifts of Gratitude,” and decorate it, however you would like – perhaps like a gift box.

3. Place your pieces of paper inside the box.4. Take your box home with you. On a regular basis, add things for which you are

grateful. When you feel that you want to complain about something, take an item from your “Gifts of Gratitude” box, and give thanks for this gift. At other times, when you are feeling grateful for things, continue to add items to your box.

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heir

le

ader

, Mos

es, a

nd s

aid,

“We’

re th

irst

y. W

e’re

thir

sty.

”

But

still

, th

ere

was

no

wat

er.

The

peop

le w

ent t

o M

oses

agai

n an

d sa

id,

“We’

re th

irst

y, w

e’re

thir

sty.

”

Ever

y da

y, t

he p

eopl

e sa

id, “

We’

re

thir

sty.

We’

re th

irst

y.”

Mos

es w

as u

pset

bec

ause

the p

eopl

e ke

pt a

skin

g fo

r wat

er. M

oses

pra

yed

to G

od, “

Wha

t am

I to

do? T

he p

eopl

e ar

e an

gry!

The

y ke

ep s

ayin

g to

me,

’W

e’re

thir

sty.

We’

re th

irst

y.’”

Mos

es w

as u

pset

bec

ause

the p

eopl

e ke

pt a

skin

g fo

r wat

er. M

oses

pra

yed

to G

od,

“Wha

t am

I t

o do

? Th

e pe

ople

are

ang

ry! T

hey

keep

say

ing

to m

e, ’W

e’re

thir

sty.

We’

re th

irst

y.’”

God

said

to M

oses

, “Ta

ke y

our w

alk-

ing

stic

k an

d go

to th

e bi

g ro

ck.”

The

pe

ople

wen

t with

Mos

es to

see

wha

t G

od w

ould

do.

All

the w

ay to

the b

ig

rock

the

peop

le co

mpl

aine

d, sa

ying

, “W

e’re

thir

sty.

We’

re th

irst

y.”

Whe

n ev

eryo

ne r

each

ed t

he r

ock,

M

oses

took

the s

tick

and

hit t

he ro

ck.

Sudd

enly

, wat

er c

ame

flow

ing

out –

cl

ean,

goo

d w

ater

for

all t

he p

eopl

e to

dri

nk. W

ater

from

the

rock

! Wha

t an

am

azin

g th

ing!

Wha

t a w

onde

r-fu

l sur

pris

e G

od g

ave

to th

e pe

ople

! Th

e pe

ople

dra

nk a

nd d

rank

unt

il th

ey c

ould

not

dri

nk a

noth

er s

ip o

f w

ater

. The

y kn

ew th

at G

od w

as st

ill

with

them

and

God

wou

ld p

rovi

de

wha

t the

y ne

eded

.

Aft

er t

hat,

the

peop

le d

id n

ot h

ave

to sa

y, “

We’

re th

irst

y. W

e’re

thir

sty.

” In

stea

d,

they

co

uld

say,

“T

hank

yo

u G

od f

or g

ivin

g us

wha

t w

e ne

ed.

Than

k yo

u G

od f

or g

ivin

g us

w

ater

w

hen

we

are

thir

sty.

”

Roc

k re

min

ders

Cle

an, g

ood

wat

er fl

owin

g fr

om th

e ro

ck r

emin

ded

the

peop

le th

at G

od

was

with

them

, giv

ing

them

all

they

ne

eded

.

Mak

e a

“tha

nk y

ou”

rock

, as

a re

-m

inde

r th

at G

od g

ives

us

all

we

need

.

You

will

nee

d a

larg

e sm

ooth

roc

k,

acry

lic p

aint

s an

d pa

int

brus

hes,

pe

rman

ent m

arke

r(s)

, sel

f-adh

esiv

e st

icke

rs.

Dir

ecti

ons

1. W

rite

, or

have

som

eone

hel

p yo

u w

rite

, “Th

ank

you,

God

” on

you

r ro

ck w

ith a

per

man

ent m

arke

r.2.

Deo

rate

you

r ro

ck w

ith p

aint

s an

d/or

mar

kers

, or

stic

kers

.3.

Dec

ide

whe

re y

ou m

ight

put

you

r ro

ck to

rem

ind

you

of G

od’s

love

an

d ca

re fo

r yo

u.

Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSIO

N Season of Creation • Pentecost 2 2017Copyright ©

Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016

Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSIO

N Season of Creation • Pentecost 2 2017 Copyright ©

Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016

Activity

32 Wilderness surprise

When the people of Israel discovered that they had no water to drink, they were afraid. They grumbled and complained to Moses. God used this thirsty and scary time to help the people understand something very important. To find out what it was, put a circle

around every other person in the rows of the crowd below, starting with the second person. Use those letters to fill in the blanks of the first sentence. Then use the letters in the people not circled to fill in the blanks of the second sentence.

The people learned that _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

God _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

17th sunday after pentecost 26th sunday in ordinary …. as a remedy against this happening again,...

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