Week of 08/23/20 - 08/29/20
The Road Less Traveled

In High School as part of a poetry unit we had to memorize Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" You may remember it. It begins with "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood..." The ending is the particularly inspiring part of the poem because after considering which way to take the narrator/traveler tells us "I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." What makes taking the road less traveled inspiring is that the poet chose to take the one less traveled. What do you do when that path is forced upon you? We are currently on a road that is definitely less traveled. In fact, it has never been traveled. And it is hard. And it is frustrating. And it makes us sad. Robert Frost didn't mention this! We also encounter a difficult path in our text for this week. It comes in the form of a call from Jesus to us as disciples "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." That's hard, and frustrating, and it can make us sad. What makes it harder is this is not usually a choice we are given as disciples. This walk of faith, this way of life takes us directly into the heart of roads that are less traveled. The grace and love of God in Jesus Christ carries us to places that we couldn't dream of taking ourselves. Which is frankly, quite intimidating. But Jesus walks with us. That love holds us and lifts us up. It helps us to move forward even when we feel like we can't. You don't walk alone. Even when it feels like the path is forced (or it even is). This current path will change us, in ways that we can't predict or expect or maybe in ways we don't even want but in the end I believe we will look back and see how following Jesus made all the difference. Have a good weekend!
Children

Resources for Sunday, August 30th:

Start by reading Matthew 16:21-28 or something similar in a Children's Bible. You can access the story (and even change versions!) here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A21-28&version=NRSV

Then, assess your level of energy/time and do the activities associated with that level (Or mix and match whatever!)

Not a Lot of Energy/Time

-Watch the Young Disciple and Family moment of the worship video
-Simon Says: Play a couple of rounds of "Simon Says". Pick someone to be Simon. They will give a set of things to do like, jump up and down, pat your head, rub your tummy, etc. When they say "Simon says" before the action then the rest of the players do the action. If they don't say "Simon says" then the rest of the players don't do the action. How did it feel to be Simon? What did you have to do to be successful at this game?

-Jesus is like our Simon in "Simon Says" We listen for the places he will call us. We follow what he calls us to do. Sometimes what we hear is tough or maybe not what we want to do (Like in our reading for today) but Jesus will continue to call us to follow.
Have Some Energy/Time

-Watch the Young Disciple and Family moment of the worship video
-Design a Cross as a Reminder: Search for a cross coloring sheet to decorated or draw and design your own cross. Often people will use a cross as a decoration to remind them of their Christian faith. Put your decorated cross somewhere where you will see it this week. Let it be a reminder to you that we are called to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Taking up or cross means that we follow the way of Jesus' self-giving love. How can you show love to someone this week? How can you help someone this week?


Have Lots of Energy/Time

-Do the activities above
-Here are some additional ideas:
-Walking with Jesus!: Go for a walk and look for the ways that Jesus is present. Talk about the places you see Jesus working in your life. You may not notice anything this walk but keep looking for Jesus. Spending time keeping watch can help us to notice his presence.
-Learn about Martyrs: A martyr is someone who is persecuted for their beliefs and even loses their life because of what they believe. We sometimes think that martyrs are something that happened in the past. There are still martyrs today. You can learn about some present day martyrs be checking out the organization "The Voice of the Martyrs" here: https://www.persecution.com/

Question to continue the conversation: Who is someone that needs a sign of love this week? How could you help them to experience it?

Next Sunday: Check next week's Family Connect e-mail or the Facebook group for resources!
Family

Join us for our Party in the Parking Lot on Sunday, September 13th at 10:00 am to kick-off a new year in Sunday School!

We'll be in the part of the parking lot with the play yard. Everyone will need to park every other space and we'll ask you to stay in your car. Jonathan will have a sound system hooked so that you'll be able to participate.

We'll have prayers, blessings on your year, songs, and a devotion time together.

Make sure you bring your Bible for devotion time and for the blessing for the coming year!

Let Jonathan know if you have any questions. We'll see you on September 13th!
Junior High

-Share your Blessings, Bummers, and where you have seen Jesus for the week
-Read Matthew 16:21-28
-What is one word or phrase that stood out to you? What image came to mind?
-Read the story again
-What is a story or experience that you have had recently that connects with this story? What is a question you have of this story? What is God trying to tell us in this story?
-Read the passage one more time
-Write and pray a prayer that speaks to what you have shared

Here is what your time might look like using my experience as an example:

One word that I noticed that I really hadn't before comes right at the beginning. "Show" Jesus began to show his disciples what was going to happen.

I found it really interesting because I am not exactly sure what it means. I have always pictured Jesus sharing about his upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection in a verbal way. Perhaps Matthew meant it in a verbal way but for us show means something different. In fact, the Greek verb that Matthew uses has multiple meanings (like Greek verbs often do). One of the translations could be "to teach or to make known". Either way this isn't a passing conversation that Jesus has with his disciples. He is really trying to get his point across to them about the path that he is walking into. I sometimes hope for more clarity for the path that I am on but what I also need to consider is how the path might be revealing itself, but like Peter I want to forbid it from happening.

God of The Way, Thank you for giving us Jesus to show us how to walk the journey of faith. Give us eyes to see the path unfolding before us. Give us ears to hear the sound of your Spirit urging us onward. Help us to trust in your strength and grace, and not our own. All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Question to continue the conversation: Who is someone that needs a sign of love this week? How could you help them to experience it?

Next Sunday: Check next week's Family Connect e-mail or the Facebook group for resources!
High School

-Share your Blessings, Bummers, and where you have seen Jesus for the week
-Read Matthew 16:21-28
-What is one word or phrase that stood out to you? What image came to mind?
-Read the story again
-What is a story or experience that you have had recently that connects with this story? What is a question you have of this story? What is God trying to tell us in this story?
-Read the passage one more time
-Write and pray a prayer that speaks to what you have shared

Here is what your time might look like using my experience as an example:

One word that I noticed that I really hadn't before comes right at the beginning. "Show" Jesus began to show his disciples what was going to happen.

I found it really interesting because I am not exactly sure what it means. I have always pictured Jesus sharing about his upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection in a verbal way. Perhaps Matthew meant it in a verbal way but for us show means something different. In fact, the Greek verb that Matthew uses has multiple meanings (like Greek verbs often do). One of the translations could be "to teach or to make known". Either way this isn't a passing conversation that Jesus has with his disciples. He is really trying to get his point across to them about the path that he is walking into. I sometimes hope for more clarity for the path that I am on but what I also need to consider is how the path might be revealing itself, but like Peter I want to forbid it from happening.

God of The Way, Thank you for giving us Jesus to show us how to walk the journey of faith. Give us eyes to see the path unfolding before us. Give us ears to hear the sound of your Spirit urging us onward. Help us to trust in your strength and grace, and not our own. All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Question to continue the conversation: Who is someone that needs a sign of love this week? How could you help them to experience it?

Upcoming Events

August 30th- Worship video comes out at 9:00 am (Everyone)

August 30th- Communion by Families available from 10:00 am- 12:00 pm- Contact Jonathan (Everyone)

September 2nd- Communion by Families available from 6:00 - 8:00 pm- Contact Pastor John (Everyone)

September 6th- Worship video comes out at 9:00 am (Everyone)

September 6th- Communion by Families available from 10:00 am- 12:00 pm- Contact Pastor Mark (Everyone)