July 2, 2017 Proper 8 Semicontinuous Gen. 22:1 14 Ps. 13 Complementary Jer. 28:5 9 Ps. 89:1 4, 15 18 Rom. 6:12 23 Matt. 10:40 42 Compassionate Welcome Goal for the Session Children will explore Jesus teaching about welcoming others and name ways of showing compassionate hospitality. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Matthew 10:40 42 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective by Eugene Eung-Chun Park The present passage is primarily a promise of reward for those who receive the itinerant missionaries sent by Jesus. By implication, it is also an exhortation for the itinerant missionaries who are sent by early Christian communities in the name of Jesus not to despair, in spite of the opposition, persecutions, and sufferings that they might face, because their eschatological reward will be great. If the reward for those who receive the itinerant missionaries is great, how much greater will be the reward for the missionaries themselves in the eschatological kingdom of God! WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective by Emilie M. Townes Compassion, then, grounds itself in a double paradox of love where love can lead to tribulation, which then leads us to greater love. With this in mind, we must remember that God s grace continues to act in and through the most hateful situations and that crucifixion is followed by resurrection. With compassionate welcome, Jesus calls us to put our love in jeopardy so that its blessings are made manifest in our lives and in the lives of others. We become the embodiment of Christian compassionate welcome that leads to hospitality in God s spirit of mercy. As we extend hospitality to others, we may well find that we experience new insights and hear new stories of faith that redirect our perceptions. Such witness can stimulate our theological and spiritual imaginations so that we become new beings. This is the reward we will not lose. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective by William Goettler The real good news is for those who have in the past guarded the door. Jesus insists that although we might pretend otherwise, we are not the gatekeepers of the community of God. We can bear that job no longer. Our work is to welcome, to offer an embrace when embrace is invited, and to give a cup of cool water for a hot summer day. Our reward, Jesus says, will be full indeed. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective by Lance Pape In the role of host we find ourselves strengthened in our own faith by these little ones who carry no money in their belt (10:9), no health insurance card in their purse. They cast themselves upon us in trust, and so create a cherished opportunity for the settled church to offer a simple cup of water to its Christ (8:20; 10:40 42; 25:40). Could it be that the Father knows that our hard-won second naiveté will never sustain us unless it is continually leavened with the more straightforward faith of these unlikely missionaries? If so, in practicing hospitality we also may find that we will not lose our reward (10:42). 1
Compassionate Welcome FOCUS SCRIPTURE Matthew 10:40 42 YOU WILL NEED small table or sturdy box green cloth candle and matches Bible offering basket Color Pack 1, 7, 9 Singing the Feast, 2016 2017; CD player Resource Sheet 1 ball cups and jug of water For Responding option 1: Resource Sheet 2, scissors, basket option 2: large pieces of paper, art supplies option 3: tablecloth, napkins, glasses, plates, water jugs, lemons, knives, ice cubes, cookies, serving platter option 4: bags, stickers, self-adhesive bows, drawing materials, paper, small gift items Focus on Your Teaching Children of all ages know what it is like to be welcomed and to welcome others. They enjoy going to a friend s home to visit, and when people they know come to their homes they like to extend hospitality. You can help the children think about ways of extending those practices by discussing ways to show hospitality in all circumstances. Some children may feel they are not up to the task. Reassure them that even the smallest actions, such as offering a glass of water or smiling at someone, can make a huge difference. Generous God, as I receive your gifts of hospitality, send your Spirit so I can show that hospitality to the children. Amen. n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, display Color Pack 1 where the group gathers for the Bible story. Place a marker at Matthew 10 in the worship table Bible. For option 1 in Responding, cut apart the scenario cards on Resource Sheet 2 and place them facedown in a basket. For option 3 in Responding, invite parents or other adults to join the group at the end of the session for a snack. Be mindful of food allergies while sharing the snack. Welcome each child by name. Invite the children to help you prepare the worship table. Light the candle. Receive the offering. Point to the green cloth, and recall that this is the season after Pentecost, a time of learning and growing. During this time, the Bible stories help Christians grow in faith and follow Jesus way. Explain that when you raise your hand in the prayer, everyone is to clap twice as they shout Amen. Leader: God is with us. All: (Clap twice, shouting) Amen! Leader: Loving God, we are gathered to hear Bible stories. Teach us to walk in Jesus ways. Amen. All: (Clap twice, shouting) Amen! Extinguish the candle. Ask the children to think of times they have been guests at a friend s home. Ask: P How did your friend and her or his family welcome you? P How do you welcome guests to your home? Comment that today s story is about Jesus way of welcoming. 2
Compassionate Welcome EXPLORING Ask a child to retrieve the Bible from the worship table, and open it to the marker at Matthew 10. Recall that Matthew s Gospel in the New Testament tells about the life and teachings of Jesus. Find Matthew on Color Pack 1. Show Color Pack 7. Ask: P Where is Jesus in this picture? P What do you think he is saying? P If you could step into the picture, where would you go? Invite each learner to select a disciple in the picture and pose as that one and listen to the Bible story. Tell the story on Resource Sheet 1 (Welcoming Others), explaining that it is found in the Gospel of Matthew. After the story, ask: P How did Jesus want his disciples to treat visitors? P How does a glass of water help someone who is thirsty? Offer everyone a cool drink of water. As you hand out the cups, say, (Child s name), you are welcome here. Ask everyone to sit in a circle on the floor. Explain that you will roll the ball to a child and say, Whoever welcomes others. When the person catches the ball, everyone shouts, Welcomes Jesus. That person then rolls the ball to someone else in the group, and the words are repeated. Continue until everyone has a turn to catch and roll the ball. Ask: P What way of welcoming did Jesus name? P Offering a glass of water is a small gesture. What other small things might you do to welcome others? (Smile at someone, say hello, ask someone his or her name.) Explain that through the ages God s people have believed it was important to welcome visitors and care for them. This kind of welcoming care is called hospitality. Jesus showed this kind of welcome to all. Encourage children to take turns leading the game. This prepares them for the options in Responding. EASY PREP Look at Color Pack 9. Invite children to play an adaptation of the game I Spy. The first player starts by saying, I spy with my little eye someone who I can welcome. Then the player describes someone in the picture. The other children look for that person and point to him or her. Ask: P What could you do to welcome him or her? RESPONDING If possible, offer at least two options so the children have a choice. One might be more challenging to interest older children who can work on their own. 1. Role Play Role-playing provides the opportunity for children to name and practice ways of showing compassionate hospitality. Have a volunteer take a Resource Sheet 2 (Welcoming Jesus) scenario card from the basket and read it aloud. As a group, discuss how they could welcome and care for the person in the situation described on the card. After the discussion, ask for volunteers to role-play the suggested scenes. Repeat with 3
Compassionate Welcome another card. If you have more than eight children, form small groups and give each group a card to discuss and role-play. Invite children to suggest other scenarios that involve welcoming and being welcomed. If there are people who speak other languages in your community, print welcoming messages in those languages too. 2. Welcome Signs Children will make signs to welcome others. Brainstorm ways to make welcome signs for the church. Provide art supplies and invite children to work in small groups to create signs that will help others feel welcome. As you work, discuss ways the group could be welcoming. 3. Welcome Snack Extending hospitality to others in the congregation allows the children to put what they have learned into practice. Explain that they are going to prepare a special snack as a way of showing hospitality to the church. Have the children wash their hands. Invite them to set the table with a cloth and lay out napkins, glasses, and plates. Pour water into jugs and add ice cubes. Older children could slice lemons to add to the water. Arrange cookies on serving platters and place them on the table. Talk about some other ways the group might show hospitality to others. Share the snack with the children and guests or congregation. 4. Welcome Bags Children will make welcome bags and name ways of extending hospitality to visitors. Invite children to help prepare welcome bags to give to newcomers or visitors who join the group. Some children may decorate bags with stickers or bows. Others may assemble the contents or create cards for everyone to sign. Older children can write welcoming messages to include in the bags. As you work, plan other things the group could do to help newcomers feel welcome. Share the snack with the children and guests or congergation CLOSING If possible, play Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (track 21 on Singing the Feast, 2016 2017) as the children gather at the worship table. Light the candle. Ask the children to take deep breaths and feel the breath as it comes in and goes out. Observe that God is as close to them as their breath. God is always with them. Pray: God of stories, thank you for stories that help us discover more about you and what it means to live in the ways of Jesus. Amen. Speak to individual children as they leave. Thank them for coming, and affirm any positive contribution they have made. Remind them that you will be praying for them throughout the coming week. 4
July 2, 2017 Compassionate Welcome Multi-Age Resource Sheet 1 Jesus looked at his disciples. They were such good friends, and they were learning so much about following him and living in God s way. Jesus knew that one day the disciples would go out to tell the good news on their own. They would need the friendship and help of others to do this. My friends, Jesus said, one day you will go from town to town to tell others about the good news of God s love. Some people will welcome you, but others will not. That is to be expected. Remember that anyone who welcomes you also welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me also welcomes God. The disciples nodded to one another. They understood what Jesus was saying. Sometimes you will be the ones to welcome others, continued Jesus. When you welcome others, you are welcoming me. Whoever welcomes me also welcomes God. The disciples looked at one another and smiled. We can do that, exclaimed John. We already do, said Peter. I know you do, agreed Jesus. Are you sure it s enough? asked Thomas. Welcoming Others based on Matthew 10:40 42 Well, explained Jesus, sometimes the smallest things can make a big difference. When a person is really, really thirsty, giving him or her a glass of cool water makes all the difference in the world. When you do this kind of thing, you are showing God s love. I get it, exclaimed Peter. When we love others, we are showing love to God. When we welcome others, we are welcoming God. Absolutely right, replied Jesus, and God notices these things and remembers them. As the years went by, Jesus followers reminded one another about his teachings. Eventually they wrote them down so they would never be forgotten. They wanted everyone to know that they could welcome Jesus by showing love to others, and when they welcomed Jesus they were also welcoming God. 2017 Westminster John Knox Press
July 2, 2017 Compassionate Welcome Multi-Age Resource Sheet 2 Welcoming Jesus A child who doesn t speak the same language as you do comes to your school. How could you welcome the child? Your friend brings her cousin to your church school group. How do you welcome him? A visitor comes to speak at your church. How do you welcome her? Your classmate has forgotten his lunch. How do you show hospitality? A new family moves in next door. How do you welcome them? Your class has a new teacher. How do you welcome him? 2017 Westminster John Knox Press