CRAFT: We are going to make little trees that we can lean against. The trees are simply small branches decorated. Then they will make little people and rest them against the tree. They can even put in grass, etc. They need to put a flame in it to represent God the Holy Spirit living in them (and the burning bush of Moses.)
SNACK: Dorothy, the Gospel Lesson talks about figs, so this one is probably as simple as fig Newton's, (but be creative.)
LESSON PLAN: There is an obvious connection in our Old Testament Lesson with the tree on which Jesus died. God spoke words of salvation from the bush and Jesus spoke words of salvation from the cross. The connection in the Gospel Lesson is that we, the redeemed in the Kingdom, are the trees in the garden, through whom God now speaks to the world. For the Epistle Lesson we are told to see that we stand firm. It takes deep roots for a tree to stand firm.
MEMORY WORK: Luke 13:13b "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
We will learn that God did not simply dismiss our sin, He put His Son on the cross to win our forgiveness.
We will understand that God is very patient with us while waiting for us to repent.
We will thank God that He created in us the ability to repent and believe in Jesus Christ our Savior.
Preliminary considerations: The overall theme for today involves the patience of God, as He waits for us to repent and the wonder of God that in our repentance He makes us His forever. The Introit starts with our attempts to keep ourselves set on God, and God's glory at releasing us from sin and surrounding us with righteousness The Collect continues showing us that God will surround us with the righteous. The Old Testament Lesson is the account of Moses and the burning bush. The time had come for God to send the people someone to deliver them. The Gradual is alike to the Introit proclaiming the Savior God sent. The Epistle Lesson reminds us to take heart in God's Word. He will make us stand tall in His time. The Gospel Lesson says, unless we all repent we will perish, and then it presents the patience of God in the parable of the fig tree, as He awaits our repentance.
THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Exodus 3:1-8a, 10-15
Moses' life has taken unusual twists and turns. He should have been killed at birth, instead he was raised in the Pharaoh's house. He should be a leader, but instead he is a shepherd. The people of his birth family fear him, the people of his adopted family want him dead. Moses was watching someone else's sheep. What a loafer. An unlikely bush becomes the presentation of God. The lowliness of the bush represents both Moses and the chosen people. Though we are a lowly bush we are made great through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The fire is alike to the presence of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. God in us makes us a light so others can see, yet we are not consumed by the fire for we are safe in Him.
THE EPISTLE LESSON: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
From the history of Israel in the desert, Paul draws out a clear lesson: The experiences of Old Testament Israel serve as warnings for the New Testament Corinthians. Paul presents a list of the offenses and then repeats that these things happened as a warning and were written for our instruction. "Let the one who is standing" (as a tree stands in the forest) "watch lest he fall." When our roots are in God, we are okay.
THE GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 1:1-9
The verses of this text teach of the Grace of God's Kingdom, even as judgment is at hand. We often worry about being beset by evil. Jesus instead tells us to realize that we don't deserve any of God's Grace. People to whom bad things happen are no worse people than we, and because of our sin, God could destroy us in some horrible way. Then Jesus goes on to teach us about God's patience as He waits for us to show forth the faith, that the Holy Spirit is at His task of presenting in our hearts. The care and compassion of the caretaker (Jesus) and the extended time are signs of the divine own of the garden's Love. We are trees planted in God's garden. Either we produce the fruits of the Faith He gives out freely, or we will be placed into the fire to be burned as worthless. It is a wonder of God's Grace and Mercy that we believe.
STUDY SHEET
October 12, 1962, was Columbus Day. It had been a fun day for those of us at Lake Land Elementary School. We had all participated in a Columbus Day assembly where the story of Columbus had been presented by the 5th and 6th graders. There was a storm brewing as we went home, but no one thought much of it. The wind that evening was unbelievable. Put "Columbus day storm Seattle Washington" into a browser and up will pop thousands of web sites that talk about this horrific event.
At the time of the storm we were living between two lakes. We were surrounded by 100 year old Cedar and Douglas Fir trees. When the winds hit 100 mph, the trees started to topple. We lived among the trees. It was very frightening to my parents, but to a boy of 7 it was the greatest thing ever. 50 and 60 foot trees were toppling over as if it was a normal event.
When it was over we noticed something interesting. The trees that fell were the ones by the water. They had never had to put roots very far into the earth to find water. They were very lazy and when the wind blew hard enough over they went. The trees further up stood the test of the wind. Some were bent and broken but they roots had held them fast.
God grows our roots far into the soil of His garden. Faith in God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the source of our ability to stand fast under the storms of this world. And even provide shade so that others can rest in the shade of our knowledge.
1. Why do we confess our sins in our worship service?
2. What sins do we confess?
3. What would happen if we didn't confess our sin?
4. Why doesn't it look as if anything happens to those who do not believe?
5. What is the punishment for unbelief?
6. What parts of our lessons show God is patient?
7. What parts show that God acts when the time (His time) is right?
8. What does it take to be a tree in God's garden?
9. Whey didn't the bush that God was using to talk to Moses burn up?
10. Of all the sin in your life, which sin are you most glad that Jesus forgave?