Weekly resources to help nurture actively growing faith ADULT. Mar 10 to Jun 9, 2019 (Revised Common Lectionary YEAR C)

Transcription

1 Weekly resources to help nurture actively growing faith ADULT Lent, Easter Mar 10 to Jun 9, 2019 (Revised Common Lectionary YEAR C) ISBN: Printed in Canada

2 Contents Adult About this Lent, Easter This Lent, Easter for Adults... 2 Weekly resources March 10, 2019 A Place of Justice and Grace... 3 March 17, 2019 Journey Toward Trust... 9 March 24, 2019 Fed by the Glory March 31, 2019 A Traitor for Grace April 7, 2019 The Fragrance of Life April 14, 2019 Palm, Passion Sunday April 21, 2019 Easter Day April 28, 2019 Love s Disruptive Witness May 5, 2019 Turning Point of Transformation May 12, 2019 Identity of Resistance May 19, 2019 Spirit of Solidarity May 26, 2019 The Power of Listening June 2, 2019 Haunting Claim of Freedom June 9, 2019 A Spirit-Powered Faith Extra Resources The Practice of Gratitude Promised Land? Whose Land? The Resurrection of Judas Iscariot The Spirit in Acts Acts Alive! Connecting with the Art Lent, Easter Evaluation form Published by: Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 485 Beaver Lake Road Kelowna, British Columbia Canada V4V 1S5 Phone: Seasons of the Spirit resources are produced collaboratively by teams of writers, editors, and resource persons from Australia, North America, and the United Kingdom. The teams include representation from denominations such as Anglican and Episcopal, Presbyterian, The United Church of Canada, The United Church of Christ, The United Methodists, and The Uniting Church in Australia. A chart that shows the license holder(s) for each song in each of the 9 Seasons of the Spirit Music Volumes can be found at Click on Library; Seasons Music Information. Please contact a license holder for permission to duplicate. Please Note! From Start to Finish provides suggestions for beginning and ending the year, plus an overview of Seasons of the Spirit. It can be downloaded free from the Library at Adult writer and editor team: Cathie Talbot, Alyson Huntly, Patricia Bays, Rebecca Grothe, Ann Bemrose, Susan Burt, L Lee Levett-Olson, Paul Turley, Michael Schwartzentruber Cover design: Cyrus Gandevia Illustrations: Mark Chellew, Katherine Carlisle, Anna Payne-Krzyzanowski Seasons of the Spirit resources for Lent, Easter 2019 is a collaborative effort of an international and ecumenical community that includes participation by Seasons writers, editors, resource persons, and members of the Seasons Production, Marketing/ Interpretation, Customer Service, Business Operations, and Publishing Teams. Seasons of the Spirit is based on the Revised Common Lectionary, copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT). All rights reserved. Used by permission. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. Seasons of the Spirit. Copyright 2018 Wood Lake Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. See Terms of Use on this disk. WLP does not have the right or the means, under any circumstances, to grant you permission to make copies of the art posters or of any of the articles or materials that are not marked with the photocopy symbol. Those rights remain with the creator/copyright holder of each work. The professional artwork may be viewed onscreen. For permission information contact permissions@seasonsonline.ca. ISSN: ISBN: Everything in this resource marked with this symbol can be photocopied for use in your church during the Lent, Easter 2019, from March 10 to June 9, Everything else is copyright protected unless otherwise stated. At Wood Lake Publishing, we are committed to caring for the environment and all creation. Seasons of the Spirit resources are printed on SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certified and chlorine-free papers using vegetable oil inks suitable for children s packaging. Wherever possible, we offer digital options on Seasons products.

3 About Lent and Easter 2019 Lent is a season of unfolding honesty and truth-telling about our lives and our world. It begins with Ash Wednesday and the humble recognition that we are all human beings with finite lives. This is a levelling confession because no one is exempt from the dust from which we are formed or the ashes to which we return. We are all equal in those ashes, from those with the greatest wealth and power to those who have little or nothing at all. There is no hierarchy of value or importance in Ash Wednesday or the journey of Lent that follows. In boldly acknowledging our humanity while embracing God s love as our destiny, we become immune to the virus of fear on which systems of domination continue to depend in order to maintain power and control. We live in a time when truth is questioned, yet the need for the truth-telling of Lent remains greater than ever. Social media and those who would exploit this modern technology make it possible to formulate a truth that conforms to self-interest and is often at the service of domination systems. The melting glaciers of climate change, for example, are justified in an imperial truth unwilling to relinquish power and control. Lent gives us a lens for finding truth in the headlines and our daily lives. It draws us into a narrative of God s people living with and resisting exploitive systems of domination; that narrative illuminates the times in which we live. The journey of Lent begins by engaging us with the theological and interpretive question: Which God of scripture will we follow? Will we journey within a religious tradition that sees God as part and parcel of a domination system or will we journey within a religious tradition that embraces a liberating God of creation, known in and through relationship? Wes Howard- Brook, in his book Come Out My People, notes that both religious traditions are in scripture. How we answer this question will determine the truth we discover as we journey through Lent. Tim Johnson The Season of Easter continues this truth-telling narrative but does so with the disruptive awareness that the imperial power of domination and its imperial religion are unmasked as false hope. In sharp contrast to the short-lived Good Friday victory of empire, we are given the good news of resurrected life by a covenant-making God; the one who breathes life into Creation, whose spirit offers freedom, and draws us into a relationship with each other and all that exists. The Season of Easter continues a journey of disruption to the way things are, challenging and overturning the comfortable sensibilities of the status quo. We reflect on the ever-present possibility of transformation, turning points, and radical change that no one other than the spirit of the living Christ might imagine. On this journey, we are called upon to join the faithful witnesses whose lives and communities become testimonies to the realm of God for which we pray. A Time to Receive, A Time to Let Go, mixed media on board. Copyright Julie Elliot. Used by permission. Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter

4 This Lent, Easter for Adults During Lent this year, group members will explore some foundational stories from the Hebrew scriptures and from the New Testament, exploring themes of gratitude, trust, forgiveness, and compassion. A weekly gathering litany is included on the resource sheet Prayers for Lent and Easter (p. 93). The resource sheet Spiritual Practices (p. 94) and two articles, The Practice of Gratitude (p. 96) and The Resurrection of Judas Iscariot (p. 98), offer a variety of resources for this meditative season. The article Promised Land? Whose Land? (p. 97), can help adults explore issues of land ownership. During the Easter season the focus passages all come from the book of Acts, and the articles The Spirit in Acts (p. 99) and Acts Alive! (p. 100) provide good overview for these stories of the apostles and the early Christian church. All-ages gatherings Special resources are provided for all the age groups to meet together for Palm/Passion Sunday (April 14), Easter Sunday (April 21), and Pentecost Sunday (June 9). Sacred space The space where you gather with the members of your group is a sacred space of worship and learning. In what ways can you make it comfortable and inviting? During Lent this space can be set with purple cloth, symbolic of a time of meditation and reflection. During the Season of Easter this colour changes to white or yellow, symbolic of new life. Leadership preparation Review the materials provided on the introductory pages (pp. 1, 2) and in the extra materials and articles at the end. The Focus for Adults section on the Prepare page of each week s session offers ways in which group members might connect with the themes that week. Be aware that any group of adults contains individuals with a wide spectrum of faith stances and beliefs. During the discussions consider using open-ended questions as you share your own beliefs and listen to their responses, knowing that you are on a journey of discovery and exploration together. In choosing the activities for each week, consider the members of the group and their learning styles and needs. Bibles Encourage group members to bring their own Bibles, as having a variety of different translations is useful for interpreting the texts. Unless otherwise stated, scripture references in the session materials are from the New Revised Standard Version. A Dig deeper option is offered each week in Respond, offering further opportunities for discussion. Posters There are two fine art posters included with this resource. Information about integrating art into weekly sessions is provided in the article Connecting with the Art Season of Lent, Easter 2019 (pp ). Two additional teaching posters of maps, available for order from the Seasons website, would be useful during the Easter season: Palestine in the Time of Jesus and the Mediterranean World of the First Century. If your church has purchased the FUSION resource, the poster images are available for projection on the CD included with that material. Music referred to in the sessions can be found in Volumes 2, 5, and 8 of the Seasons Songbooks and the Seasons Music CDs. If you have not already purchased these songbooks or music CDs, but would like access to the music, you can order songbooks and CDs, or purchase downloadable sheet music and MP3 recordings at the Seasons website. The Seasons website ( includes background information about the resources, Links to other websites, an Ask the Rabbi section in the Library, and connections between weekly focus passages and current events or films in the Spirit Sightings section. You are encouraged to read these weekly postings and bring copies of items that might be of interest to the group. Basic supply kit Stock a container with clear tape, masking tape, scissors, glue sticks, white glue, washable felt markers, crayons, coloured pencils, pencils, stapler, hole punch, removable adhesive. The Prepare section in each week s session will only list supplies not included in this kit. 2 Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

5 A Place of Justice and Grace March 10, 2019 Lent begins in joyful remembrance of the extravagant outpouring of God s love. This is no generic God onto which we might impose values that give comfort to the status quo. This is the God of Exodus and liberation, who calls us out of empire domination and temptations into a place where the abundance of God s grace feeds all. The experience of God s grace beckons us to open what we have and who we are in thanksgiving to God, and in sharing with a neighbour. Focus scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1 11 Deuteronomy 26:1 11 is a text of community formation and worship that puts itself squarely on the side of those who embrace the God of creation and reject the god of empire and domination. As Wes Howard-Brook notes in his pivotal work Come Out My People, the God of Creation and the god of empire are two distinct theologies competing with each other from Genesis to Revelation. The choice is ever before us in biblical interpretation and everyday life, which God will we follow? Although Deuteronomy as a whole comes down on the side of empire theology, this week s text offers a counter-narrative insisting that the God of Creation revealed in Genesis is a God who calls us out of Egypt (empires, colonization, domination) and invites us into the land of God s abundant freedom and justice. Read through the lens of empire theology, this text has been employed by Christians to marginalize and dominate all who stand in their way, eagerly claiming and embracing the inheritance of land they believe God has given them. This is the theology of white supremacy, gender domination, heterosuperiority and Earth exploitation. Read through the lens of creation theology, infused with the non-hierarchical breath of God, this text tells us that we have been set free from the harsh, oppressive ways of empire with its capitalistic exploitation. The land we inherit is no place and every place. The land we inherit is the Realm of God, the place where God s justice and abundance dwells. It is in this land that we welcome the Levites and the aliens who reside among us. In this land of God s dwelling, all people and all creation enter into God s abundant grace. In the land of God s abundant mercy, grace, and justice we are shaped and formed into an alternative community. As a community, we bring our first fruits, the best of what we have to offer, to remember, be shaped by and continue the journey as people living into a new way of life. This is our true inheritance. Psalm 91:1 2, 9 16 asserts that we find our true dwelling place in God who is our refuge and strength. Read through the lens of empire theology this text can comfort all who benefit from systems of domination. It enables the affirmation that God is on our side! Read through the lens of creation theology we are reminded that the place of God s dwelling is the place where God s justice, compassion, and grace reside. The question then becomes, are we on God s side? It is this justice-making, compassion shaping, spirited filled creation theology we encounter in Romans 10:8b 13 when Paul claims there is no distinction between Jew and Greek (10:12). Luke 4:1 13 provides a sharp contrast and direct challenge to the way of empire proclaimed by Rome and the way of life proclaimed by Jesus. Rome s power is rooted in control of commerce (bread), demands for ultimate loyalty (worship), peace through violence (security). Jesus rejects each of these temptations with a counterclaim that requires trust in the ways of God rather than the ways of empire. This week, we remember the journey of the Israelites out of empire and into the desert. We remember Jesus journey into the wilderness where, at the start of his ministry, he faces the temptations of empire. Our own lives reflect those journeys. Foremost in our Lenten reflection is the question, how are our lives, individually and corporately, shaped by the values of empire life with its domination and control, and how are our lives shaped by the inclusive, compassion filled, justice-making ways of our creator God? What do our worship practices tell us about the God we choose to follow? Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter 2019 Focus scripture Deuteronomy 26:1 11 Additional scriptures Psalm 91:1 2, 9 16 Romans 10:8b 13 Luke 4:1 13 Journey with us, O God, through this day, through this season. Lead us into that land where we know the fullness of your justice and grace. May we follow your leading and draw strength from your presence. Amen. If you have Internet access, visit to access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage. 3

6 March 10, 2019 The Focus for Adults This week s text from Deuteronomy holds a beautiful loop of anticipation, remembering, and thanksgiving. Within it, we are invited to connect with the wonderful expectation of abundance held in the arrival into the land of promise and the importance of not forgetting the struggles and challenges that made it possible to be where we are today. This text holds instruction for the specific language and actions expected of a people who have striven long and hard to be free and who have finally attained that freedom. It affirms the fact that God was with the Israelites through the harshest of treatment at the hands of the Egyptians, as well as along the exhausting journey through the desert, and thus will be with us too. As we begin the journey of Lent, we might ask ourselves How can we celebrate God s loving presence and mark our progress on the journey? What do we have to share with others? In particular, this session invites participants to consider what motivates our practices of gratitude and of stewardship as we share what God entrusts into our hands. Lent is an opportunity to engage in a specific spiritual practice that intentionally focuses on the importance of God in our lives. Each session will include a spiritual practice option, but adults should also be encouraged to take up a spiritual practice at home. Pray for those who will be in this session, that all will be open to the spirit of gratitude. Prepare Before the session q Read and prayerfully reflect on this week s scriptures, Deuteronomy 26:1 11, Psalm 91:1 2, 9 16, Luke 4:1-13, Romans 10:8b 13, and biblical background material (p. 3). q To access connections between current events and the focus passage, visit and click on Spirit Sightings. Bring information that might inform this week s session. q Review About this Lent and Easter (p. 1), This Lent, Easter for Adults. q Bring Bibles, matches, and basic supply kit (p. 2). q Bring basic supply kit (p. 2) and, if possible, Seasons Songbook (Volume 5); Seasons Music CD (Volume 5); and CD or MP3 player; downloadable sheet music and MP3 recordings are available at www. seasonsonline.ca. q Set a worship space with purple fabric, an open Bible, and candle. Gather q Bring copies of resource sheet Prayers for Lent and Easter (p. 93); save copies for coming weeks. q Bring, if possible, song, Come, O Holy Spirit Come/Wa, Wa, Wa Emimimo (p. 12 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5; #10 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). q Bring samples of letters appealing for donations. Respond Choose one or two options. Prepare and bring the materials. q Dig deeper: copies of resource sheet Practices of Gratitude q Reflection: copies of resource sheet Stewardship q Spiritual practice: no additional materials needed q Lenten service: information about local or denominational outreach projects Bless q Bring copies of resource sheet Spiritual Practices (p. 94) and biblical background material for March 17 (p. 9). q Bring, if possible, song We Give Thanks (p. 44 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5; #31 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). 4 Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

7 A Place of Justice and Grace March 10, 2019 Scripture Deuteronomy 26:1 11 FOCUS To affirm and practice giving that is grounded in gratitude Welcome participants and introduce any newcomers or visitors. Gather around the worship space. Light the candle and call attention to the purple cloth, noting that this change marks a shift to the Season of Lent. Pray Distribute copies of the resource sheet Prayers for Lent and Easter (p. 93) and lead the group in the Gathering litany for Lent. Sing or listen to, if possible, the song Come, O Holy Spirit, Come/Wa, Wa, Wa Emimimo (p. 12 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5; #10 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). Pause for a few moments after the song, inviting the group to ponder in silence how they might be open to the coming of God s Spirit during Lent. Moving into the theme Think of the values and gifts you have inherited from family, educators, friends, church. n Which of these values and gifts are a source of life? n Which are a source of separation, division, and alienation? Setting the context The book of Deuteronomy records the 40-year journey after the people of Israel left Egypt. This week s reading comes from chapter 26, the section of Moses second address to the people of Israel who are now gathered at the border of the new land. Some commentators refer to the content in chapters as some further rules and regulations for life. They contain advice to prepare the people for the transition from their wilderness wandering to life in a new land. Exploring the texts Invite a volunteer to take the part of the narrator (Moses), reading Deuteronomy 26:1 5a and 10b 11, and a second volunteer to speak the words the people of Israel are to say, reading Deuteronomy 26:5b 10a. Then discuss: n What are the people to remember? How are they asked to mark this remembrance? Deuteronomy 26:1 11 emphasizes the importance of remembering God s guidance, which leads to places of life. n When and where in the life of your congregation do actions of remembering and responding to God s provision come to life? Which of these actions do you find meaningful? The idea of giving first fruits, which reflects an attitude of gratitude for abundance and a willingness to share, is not familiar today, when so many people live with a scarcity mentality that says resources are limited and if someone gets a piece of the pie, it mean less for everybody else. n How are the offerings of the first fruits to be used? Explain that those who would benefit from the offering of first fruits included the Levites, who as priests didn t have tribal lands on which to raise crops; and foreigners, a title that referred to anyone who wasn t an Israelite. n Why do you think this injunction to share with the Levites and foreigners was important? Other readings The additional readings for this day also speak of gratitude and trust in the one who calls us and guides us on the journey. Form three groups, giving each group one of the following readings: Psalm 91:1 2, 9 16; Luke 4:1 13, and Romans 10:8b 13. Ask groups to read their texts and then discuss the questions below in the whole group. Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter

8 March 10, 2019 n What do these readings tell us about God, the creator and sustainer? n What do these scripture texts call us to do for the sake of God, for the sake of others? Making life connections Life isn t static and continually puts before us choices about the type of people we are becoming. Some of those choices are about temptations between practices that are life-giving and those that rob us of life. Other choices have to do with our openness to those who are alien to us and our generosity in all of life. n Who reminds you to make choices that are lifegiving? n Who are the strangers or aliens in your midst and what is required of you and your congregation to be fully welcoming? Choose one or more of the following options. q Dig deeper: Exploring gratitude The ritual described in the reading from Deuteronomy speaks of gifts offered in response to God s provision. Distribute copies of the resource sheet Practices of Gratitude and invite group members to form three groups to each review one of the three readings and discuss the questions to fill in the chart. Share responses as a whole group. q Reflection Invite the group to explore ways in which the members of your congregation affirm and practice giving. Distribute copies of the resource sheet Stewardship and review the information. Provide some time for participants to respond to the questions individually, based on their own experiences. Share insights together. Consider which suggestions might be forwarded to those who promote stewardship in your congregation. q Spiritual practice A gratitude practice helps us remain conscious of the bigger reality that surrounds us both in painful times and when life is going well. We can regain a wider perspective by remembering with gratitude the miracle that is life. Invite each member to name three things for which they were grateful during the previous week, and why those things were meaningful for them. This will be an ongoing option each week, so it may be helpful to invite participates to keep a gratitude journal through Lent and Easter, to record their gratitudes and observations. As part of a daily practice at home, invite participants to name five things each day, and to consider the breadth and depth of their experiences. q Lenten service Lent is often a time of reaching out in service. This week s focus passage affirms that our time and our resources are all gifts from God, to be shared in gratitude. Review information about local or denominational outreach projects and consider how members might participate. If the congregation has not initiated a project discuss other ways in which group members can practice gratitude by sharing with others this season. Gather around the lit candle again. Distribute copies of the resource sheet Spiritual Practices (p. 94) and invite group members to spend a few moments reviewing in silence, reflecting on ways they might incorporate some of these practices into devotional time during this season of Lent. Sing or listen to, if possible, the song We Give Thanks (p. 44 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5; #31 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). Pray the prayer on the biblical background page (p. 3). Distribute the biblical background material for March 17 (p. 9). What insight did you receive from the discussions about gratitude? In what ways might you help the group to invest themselves in spiritual practices during this season? 6 Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

9 Resource sheet June 19, 2012 Resource Sheet March 10, 2019 Practices of Gratitude Luke 4:1 13 Romans 10:8b 13 Psalm 91:1 2, 9 16 What are the gifts from God and/or the actions of God mentioned in the reading? What human responses are called for or exemplified in the reading? What are the implications of these verses for living as a faith community? Based on this text, Gratitude is (Fill in the blank.) Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter

10 Resource Sheet March 10, 2019 Stewardship As you read the following descriptions of possible motives or reasons for giving to the church, keep in mind your congregation s most recent stewardship program, giving campaign, or pledge drive. Stewardship as investment The motive or reasoning behind this approach seems to be: Give and God will bless you the Christian steward is one who expects her or his giving to be met by God s giving. Stewardship as crisis management The motive or reasoning behind this approach seems to be: Give because the church has pressing needs (new roof, pay raise for the minister, helping others in a natural disaster) the Christian steward is one whose giving responds to a crisis. Stewardship as duty The motive or reasoning behind this approach seems to be: Give because it s your duty the Christian steward is one who shoulders her or his fair share of the organizational load. Stewardship as gratitude The motive or reasoning behind this approach seems to be: Give because God already has given to you abundantly the Christian steward is one who gives in response to the conviction that all things in life come as gifts from God. n What other motive or reasoning for giving to the church can you add to this list? n Which of these motives do you feel is the reasoning among most members of your church? n What might help church members grow in their understanding of stewardship as gratitude? 8 Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

11 Journey Toward Trust When you find yourself in a space such as Lent, where life seems thinner than usual and the journey more focused than usual, what do people of faith do to keep journeying on? In ancient times, rituals helped to remind the people of the promise, as yet unfulfilled, and gave reason to trust what seemed to be impossible. Focus scripture: Genesis 15:1 12, Genesis 15:1 12, is part of the narrative in which God calls Abram and Sarai to leave comforts behind and strike out for a new land, with an alternative way of living based on community and trust. This alternative life comes for these ancestors at a cost of faith; fear, anxiety, and uncertainty are never far away. False comfort comes from staying with what is known, even if what is known is hurtful, exploitive, and self-defeating. False comfort for Abram is the certainty of empire functioning, which God calls him to abandon when he leaves the land of Ur. False comfort for the Babylonian exiles, the first recipients of this Genesis narrative, involves accepting the norms, rules and inherently oppressive ideology of the Babylonian empire. Genesis 15:1 12, reminds us that it takes trust in a vision to overcome fear and to venture into a new way of living. This is precisely what Abram, Sarai, and their descendants are called to do. The land God offers Abram is less a place and more a space, which is found wherever and whenever people leave behind empire ideology and instead trust in justice creating, love enhancing, compassion nurturing relationships. They and we are called to trust in the One who has guided ancestors before and whose love embraces generations yet to come. Like all of us, Abram would prefer a little more specificity as to how this empire challenging way of living will come into being. As far as Abram can see, the details of how one gets from here to there are sorely lacking, something he is quick to point out: you have given me no offspring. In response, God draws Abram out of the confines of this shortterm, limited ways of seeing by encouraging him to count a few stars. It is difficult to count stars without being reminded of the fullness and potential that comes from trusting the ways of the God who shapes creation. Trust is not something we acquire and store away for a time when it is needed. Trust in a relationship creating God is more like manna that is reclaimed each day. Each day there are new questions, new uncertainties, and fears. Each day we are invited to reclaim the covenant and journey forth in trust. We reclaim covenant (right relationships) in ritual, private devotions, shared worship, and by living as if the promise we receive is for generations yet to come. Psalm 27 is a work of trust, despite what the evidence seems to be saying. The promises of God are the foundations of the writer s faith, even when everything seems to be going in the opposite direction. Living in the promise offers hope in the future. Philippians 3:17 4:1 calls us to live into the future. Paul knows full well the challenges inherent in living an alternative life of faith that is counter to the empire ideology of Rome. For Paul, our citizenship is in the justice making, life-giving theology of creation that is revealed in Jesus the Christ. We stand firm because God is with us on this journey. Luke 13:31 35 brings a full-eyed awareness of the resistance faced when confronting the ideologies of domination Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets. These destructive powers that take many shapes and forms are no match for the gentle love gathering up her children. This is the way of God in which we can place our trust. Perhaps God is living through the present and into the future as much as we are, towards a future still to take shape. This may be our experience as we move through the wilderness of Lent: we trust the future but the present experiences count against that. What words and rituals do you hold on to that keep you on the journey of faith? March 17, 2019 Focus scripture Genesis 15:1 12, Additional scriptures Psalm 27 Philippians 3:17 4:1 Luke 13:31 35 or Luke 9:28 36 We come to you, O God, often wondering about the fulfillment of promises that seems to take so long. But even in our questioning we come to you in trust. We trust you will bring good to us and all. Help us to build our lives on your promises. Amen. If you have Internet access, visit to access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage. Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter

12 March 17, 2019 The Focus for Adults Concerned for his future and the future of the people, Abram turns to God, who invites him to turn his eyes to the night sky. This story probably sounds like the story of our own lives. We may identify with Abram s sense of being part of God s larger plan, yet we wonder and maybe even doubt that the promises of God will be fulfilled. We know what we can see and what we can touch in our lives right now. What the future holds is unknown. However, this tension between the present and the future can serve as a positive dynamic. Now affirms the important things that God entrusts to our care and keeping today. The future asserts that much of what is good and worthwhile will stretch beyond our lifetimes. Of course, later in the story, other even more difficult perspectives emerge. For example, how do we grapple with the idea of entitlement that comes with the idea that God grants a people ownership of land and territory that may have been previously occupied by other peoples? (See the article Promised Land? Whose Land? ) The ritual in today s story from Genesis and the rituals we practice today from the simplest shared meal to our personal prayers and public worship are signs of God s promise. Even though that promise is yet unfulfilled, or we may embody it in ways that are unjust, we can trust God. We move through Lent trusting God in our weakest moments, when our journey seems too difficult and we wonder if we can go on. Pray that this session will provide an opportunity to affirm trust in God in times of hope as well as in times of fear. Prepare Before the session q Read and prayerfully reflect on this week s scriptures, Genesis 15:1 12, 17 18; Psalm 27; Luke 13:31 35; Philippians 3:17 4:1, and biblical background material (p. 9). q To access connections between current events and the focus passage, visit and click on Spirit Sightings. Bring information that might inform this week s session. q Bring Bibles, matches, and basic supply kit (p. 2). q Bring basic supply kit (p. 2) and, if possible, Seasons Songbook (Volume 5); Seasons Music CD (Volume 5); and CD or MP3 player; downloadable sheet music and MP3 recordings are available at www. seasonsonline.ca. q Set a worship space with purple fabric, an open Bible, and candle. Gather q Bring copies of resource sheet Prayers for Lent and Easter (p. 93); save copies for coming weeks. q Bring, if possible, song, Come, O Holy Spirit Come/Wa, Wa, Wa Emimimo (p. 12 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5; #10 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). Engage q Bring copies of resource sheet Abram and Sarai. Respond Choose one or two options. Prepare and bring the materials. q Dig deeper: copies of resource sheet The God Who Covenants q Prayers: no additional materials needed q Spiritual practice: no additional materials needed q Cards: postcard-sized pieces of cardstock Bless q Bring copies of resource sheet Spiritual Practices (p. 94) and biblical background material for March 24 (p. 15). q Bring, if possible, song Go ( Music Booklet, Seasons Songbook and Seasons Music CD, vol. 5, #22). 10 Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

13 Journey Toward Trust March 17, 2019 Scripture Genesis 15:1 12, FOCUS To affirm trust in God s promises in times of hope and in times of fear Welcome participants and introduce any newcomers or visitors. Gather around the worship space and light the candle. Pray Distribute copies of the resource sheet Prayers for Lent and Easter (p. 93) and lead the group in the Gathering litany for Lent. Sing or listen to, if possible, the song Come, O Holy Spirit, Come/Wa, Wa, Wa Emimimo (p. 12 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5; #10 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). Pause for a few moments after the song, inviting the group to ponder in silence how they might be open to the coming of God s Spirit during Lent. Moving into the theme n What promise(s) have you made this week to yourself, to others, to God? n How hard or easy is it to keep these promises? Setting the context Recall last week s reading from Deuteronomy in which the people of Israel were instructed to offer the first fruits of their harvest in thanksgiving for all that God had done. Read Deuteronomy 26:5 and recall that a wandering Aramean refers to Abram, the first of our faith ancestors. Distribute copies of the resource sheet Abram and Sarai and review the summary of the story of Abram and Sarai up until this week s reading. Exploring the texts Ask for three volunteers to read the parts of God, Abram, and a narrator in Genesis 15:1 12, Abram pours out his concerns to God, who encourages him to stand firm. Abram need only look at the stars to know that God will fulfill the promise of place and heirs n What other images of creation help you to trust, or have hope in, the future? How do they speak to you about living in a just, productive relationship? n How might we use these images to reaffirm the covenant in which we live? n How do you read this passage in the context of land issues or possession in general? n What is the difference between the land offered by God and the land for which we claim property rights? Covenant Invite the group to look at Genesis 15:9 12, 17. Explain that this section describes a ritual used in ancient times to cut a covenant between two people or groups of people. God and Abram are in this together. n How do we offer that same truth to the people of our faith community in worship and in life? n What makes it difficult to trust in the future? The ritual in today s story and the rituals we practice today from the simplest shared meal to the prayers and movements of worship are signs of God s promise. n How is this promise of an alternative way of being manifest in your congregation? n How would people know we follow the God of creation, rather than the god of empire? n How do your rituals, your worship life as a community of faith show and/or nurture this? Other readings The additional readings for this day also speak of trust and living beyond the present into the future: Psalm 27; Luke 13:31 35, and Philippians 3:17 4:1. Ask the group to read these texts and then discuss the questions below. n What are the promises in these texts? n What do you learn about the nature of trust, or the intrinsic qualities of trust? Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter

14 March 17, 2019 In the passage from Luke, the Pharisee so often found on the wrong side of the story helps Jesus. n When have you received assistance from unexpected sources? n How do you understand this is in the broader scheme of God s promises? Making life connections n What false comforts keep us passive today and resistant to the alternative, life-giving way of life offered by the God of covenant? What are we, individually and as church, called to leave behind so that we might more fully enter this alternative, life-giving way of being? Choose one or more of the following options. q Dig deeper: Covenant This week s focus passage speaks of a ritual that established a covenant between God and Abram. As a group, list on newsprint the things that come to mind when you hear the word covenant. Distribute copies of the resource sheet The God Who Covenants and review the information together. Discuss the following questions: What questions arise for you from this information on covenant? What do these biblical covenants suggest to you about the nature of God? What do they suggest about the nature of trust and our relationship with God? q Prayers Trust in God is deeply tested when we encounter times and places of fear. In The Message, Eugene Peterson translates Genesis 15:12 as, As the sun went down a deep sleep overcame Abram and then a sense of dread, dark and heavy. Invite the group to reflect on times when they have wrestled with dread and fear in their own lives, and to write prayers based on these reflections. They might consider using some of the words of Psalm 27 to frame their prayers. q Spiritual practice A gratitude practice helps us remain conscious of the bigger reality that surrounds us in painful times and when life is going well than the individual events of our lives. We regain a wider perspective by remembering, with gratitude, the miracle that is life. Invite each participant to name three things for which they were grateful during the previous week, and why those things were meaningful for them. This will be an ongoing option each week, so it may be helpful to invite participates to keep a gratitude journal to record their observations. As a daily practice at home, invite participants to name five things each day, and to consider the breadth and depth of their experiences. q Cards Lent is often a time of reaching out in service to others. The Hebrew scripture readings for this week express trust in God during life s circumstances. Invite group members to find words and images in the readings from Genesis and the Psalms that they might offer to encourage others to trust in God. Distribute card stock and markers and invite group members to use words and phrases as the basis for making cards to send to those who might need a word of hope or encouragement. Make plans for the delivery of these cards. Gather around the lit candle again. Distribute copies of the resource sheet Spiritual Practices (p. 94) to those who did not receive it last week and invite group members to share how they might incorporate some of these practices into devotional time during this season of Lent. Sing or listen to, if possible, the song Go (pp in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5; #22 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). Pray the prayer on the biblical background page (p. 9). Distribute the biblical background material for March 24 (p. 15). What insights were offered by group members in the discussion about trusting God and God s promises? What words or gestures can you use as leader to convey empathy and support? 12 Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

15 Resource Sheet March 17, 2019 Abram and Sarai The focus scripture for today comes from the book of Genesis, the first book in the Bible. Genesis is a collection of stories that deal with two primary subjects: the creation of the world, and the creation of God s people. Correspondingly, the book is divided into two main sections. The first, Genesis 1:1 11:25, is often called the prehistory. It records the creation and population of the world. In this section are some of the most intriguing and well-known stories of the Bible: the creation stories, Cain and Abel, the flood, and the Tower of Babel. The second section, Genesis 11:26 50:26, describes the call of God s people through Abraham (Abram) and Sarah (Sarai), and the adventures of their descendants. Abram was originally from the city of Ur (in modern Iraq). His father, Terah, moved the family to Haran (in modern Syria; see Genesis 11:26 32). It is in Haran that Abram first hears the call of God to leave everything behind and move to a new land (Genesis 12:1 8). God promises that through Abram and his descendants, God will make a great nation. Abram travels, with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and their whole household, south through the land of Canaan. Along the way he stops in Shechem, Bethel, and Mamre (near the city of Hebron) to build altars to God. By the time God speaks to Abram again in today s reading, Abram is settled in Canaan, although he keeps a rather nomadic lifestyle, moving around between the three places at which he built altars. In Abram s first experience of hearing a message from God, Abram didn t speak at all but simply obeyed that was the beginning of his journey to Canaan. But in this second encounter, Abram questions God about God s promise and intention. Abram and his wife Sarai, are, after all, elderly and childless. How can their descendants become a great nation when there are none? This is where our story begins. Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter

16 Resource Sheet March 17, 2019 The God Who Covenants Covenant is, at its most basic meaning, an agreement or contract between two parties. Often in the ancient Middle East, covenants were forged between two nations or kings. Such relationships were defined in terms of obligations, benefits, and warnings. Sometimes oaths, meals, and/or other rituals were used to seal covenants, as reflected in the story about Abram in Genesis 15:1 12, Covenant as used in the biblical witness describes the nature of the relationship God enters into with various individuals and groups. In the Hebrew Scriptures there are several covenants. Christians sometimes call this section of the Bible the Old Testament. The original meaning of testament is closely related to covenant. First, consider the covenant struck with Noah in Genesis 9. Notice that the covenant is not with Noah alone, nor is it even with Noah s descendants alone. God covenants in Genesis 9:10 with every living creature that is with you and in Genesis 9:17, with all flesh that is on the earth. The promise of this covenant is: never again. Never again will the earth be destroyed by a flood. Genesis 15:1 12, where God covenants with Abram, describes the next covenant, but it is not the last. God continues to seek relationship with the people of Israel. Beginning in Exodus 19, we read of the covenant God makes with the Israelites at Mount Sinai. The promise and gift of that covenant is the Law (Torah). Later, God makes a covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7. For hundreds of years, the Hebrew prophets call Israel to accountability based on the demands of God s covenant for justice. As the Hebrew people face judgment and exile, the prophet Jeremiah translates God s promise of hope into the language of new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31 34). The New Testament new covenant reflects the faith that God, in Jesus and then through the Spirit, continues to call God s people into communities of trust and service grounded in God s loving commitment to us. Communities formed by covenant are called into relationship with God and with one another. We do not create the covenant as God s people. Rather, we live in its grace and in faithfulness to its call. God s covenant with us invites us to trust in its promises by trusting in the One who makes them. 14 Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

17 Fed by the Glory March 24, 2019 The goodness of God invites all to its feast. Do we hear its priceless grace? The goodness of God bids all to receive love, gift-wrapped in relationship. Do we see its community? The goodness of God opens hearts to reconciliation. Do we seek its healing? The goodness of God brings second chances. Do we turn to the One in whom we find or deep belonging? Focus scripture: Isaiah 55:1 9 Isaiah 55:1 9 is first spoken to Babylonian exiles who have a stark choice to make. They can consent to the type of glory dominating the ethos, culture, and beliefs of the Babylon Empire, or they can embrace the glory given to them by the God of Creation and covenant. The Babylonian glory is found in the marketplace. Marketplace glory is tangible, concrete, often eliciting praise and admiration. Marketplace glory underlines what is commonly known as prosperity gospel. The material acquisitions of the marketplace become evidence that you have received God s glory and justification. The glory of the marketplace, with its winners and losers, provided and provides justification for colonial domination and the continued exploitation of Indigenous lands. Nations claim God s blessing when what is intended is the blessing of empire (military security) and marketplace (exploitation of Earth, capital, and people). This glory comes at a cost. It might be the cost of injustice suffered by so many. It might be the cost of stress, depression, and addiction. It might be the cost of broken families who measure their value and worth by the status of this marketplace. It might be the cost of a hunger and thirst that is simply never met. The glory Isaiah speaks about is radically different. Isaiah tells us that we are to lift our heads and journey forth in hope, not because of self-promoting glory, but rather because the glory given to us is part of the everlasting, all embracing, all inclusive, justice-making covenant of God. It is this glory that we are promised, and to which we are called. In his book, Dare We Speak of Hope, apartheid leader and South African theologian Alan Boesak tells the story of a black servant woman. Francis had been brought to England against her will in the 1640s. On her deathbed, she sent a note to her fellow Christians, many trapped in poverty and injustice like herself. She wrote, not to loose ye glory of God in their families, neighbourhoods, or places where God casts them. Boesak goes on to say that for Francis, Glory signified the transcendent present not a passive waiting for a future heaven, but actions to be taken by the dispossessed to create heaven here on earth (p. 31, 32). This is the glory that makes us a witness to the people. True glory comes from God. It is given freely. This glory provides meaning and purpose to our lives and brings us into union with one another and all with all creation. Its fullness is beyond our comprehension, but it is none-the-less available to all who are willing to receive. Psalm 63:1 8 speaks of seeking God as a thirsty one seeks for water. Trust is possible because of God s goodness and love, which satisfies as with a rich feast. 1 Corinthians 10:1 13 recalls the experience of our ancestors in faith who were unable to leave behind the idolatry of empire with which they had lived so long. Even after being set free, the glory of empire with its promise of self-aggrandizement has a powerful allure. Luke 13:1 9 engages listeners with in an age-old question, How do you recognize winners and losers? For adherents to empire theology, there is an automatic and easy answer. Winners are those who do well. Losers are those who suffer. Jesus rejects this with a parable that tells us the only marker of success is our readiness to bear the fruit of God s realm. The glory of God is a gift and the potential for every human being. The righteousness of God s glory stands in sharp contradiction to the glory offered in the marketplace. God provides a feast of abundant love. In what ways have you thirsted for God on your faith journey? How does the glory of God shine forth in your living? Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Adult Lent Easter 2019 Focus scripture Isaiah 55:1 9 Additional scriptures Psalm 63:1 8 1 Corinthians 10:1 13 Luke 13:1 9 God of table and God of open door, thank you for your invitation. You feed the deep places in our spirits and speak words that evoke turning for the good. Send your Spirit to guide us in turning toward and trusting in you. Amen. If you have Internet access, visit to access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage. 15