If You Get Lost You Can Always Get Found

Day 30: October 14, 2013

Luke 15:20-32

Having sown his wild oats and hit rock bottom, the Prodigal Son decides to return home. Despite fears he is unworthy of being considered a family member, he's welcomed home. 

His father, overwhelmed with elation, orders the best calf slaughtered and a party thrown. The eldest is not at all pleased. The father explains that there should be happiness because although he was lost to them for sometime, he has found his way home.

Despite what may cause a family to distance themselves, we should rejoice when a path is opened up and healing can begin. True unconditional love is hard, but is worth it when families can come together and celebrate overcoming life’s struggles.

Creator God, We pray that children of any age, know unconditional love from their family, no matter what distance may separate them. Light the path to those who are lost to family members, and give them safe passage home. Open the hearts of their families to accept them home with open hearts and unconditional love. Amen.

Karen Anne Fitterling-Eckhardt

South Joplin Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Joplin, Missouri

www.southjoplindisciples.org

The Right Blend

Day 29: October 13, 2013

Luke 2:41-52

Mary “treasured all these things in her heart.” Each moment of a child’s life is a treasure, and an opportunity for growth and adventure. Children need space to discover their dreams and gifts. What looks like the terrible twos or adolescent rebellion may be the stirrings of a child’s vocation and discovery of their life’s work.

It’s difficult to give children space, especially in a world in which we are constantly bombarded by threats. Still, a child needs room to be her or himself, to go on adventures of the spirit to places never traveled, and to delight in the unexpected wonders of life. We need to be watchful while providing space for adventure.

Mary let go and came to treasure what at first seemed like teenage rebellion. She trusted God and her child Jesus enough to let him go and let him grow as God’s beloved child, the inspiration for our own beloved children.

Adventurous God, help us to let go so our children may grow. Awaken us to the right blend of order and novelty, structure and freedom, and security and risk.  Help us to grow so that our children might flourish. Let us together embrace our identity as God’s beloved. In the name of the growing Jesus. Amen.

Bruce Epperly

Pastor

South Congregational Church

Centerville, MA

www.southchurch.homestead.com

Author of Letters to my Grandson

Swerve Often

Day 28: October 12, 2013

Luke 18:15-17

“If you stop to be kind, you must swerve often from your path.”

-Mary Webb

The disciples’ sternness in this passage is not their only foible. It is only a symptom of a deeper and more tragic truth. As human beings, we are often afraid to swerve from the most comfortable and secure paths. Being afraid of the unknown, we can fall into the trap of excluding others from our party, particularly strangers, minorities, outcasts, and little children.

Jesus instructs the disciples to stop and be kind, even if it means swerving from the path. Indeed, he urges openness and inclusion for all, but especially for children.

Receiving the Kingdom of God means to welcome the unexpected and greet change kindly. Redirecting can be hard sometimes, but somewhat easier if we remember we are all created children of God.

Loving Creator, We who are fearfully and wonderfully made often forget to be open. Out of fear or doubt, we exclude what is different and overlook the invitation to be kind. Rekindle in us a spirit of adventure, a mind for acceptance, welcoming hands, and affirming hearts. In your many Holy names, Amen.

Rev. Shayanna Jolly

Pastor

Crittenden Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Crittenden, Kentucky

www.crittendenchristian.com

Shoots of Hope

Day 27: October 11, 2013

Isaiah 11:1-9

When I was a child, I participated in a 4-H program where I learned how to plant, nurture, and harvest strawberries. The strawberry plants had “runners” where new berries would emerge. If one is not careful, the strawberries could take over the garden fairly quickly.

The prophet proclaims “a shoot shall come out of the stump of Jesse, a branch shall grow out of his roots.” Isaiah is striking in his depiction of the tensions between violence, peace, destruction, and hope. What stands in its center is the child.

The shoots of humanity are full of violence, despair, abuse, and death. These are the branches in which we are accustomed to abide. The hope for our future, “the child,” forces us out of this logic of the world and to accept that a different kind of world is possible. A world where hopelessness does not infest the ground, but instead peace, and with peace, children who live to their full potential is possible.

God of peace, The ways of the world are not your ways; bring us to a new understanding of your will for humanity.  Your prophet proclaims that future generations will not hurt the earth or destroy each other through knowledge of you. Lead us to make this vision a reality. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Rodkey

St. Paul’s United Church of Christ

Dallastown, PA

www.stpaulsdallastown.org

Eager Sharing

Day 26: October 10, 2013

John 6:1-11

Anyone who lives with, works with, or knows a two-year old understands we are not innately born knowing how to share. However, once children learn the skill they are eager to share all they have with us, whether we want those little treasures or not. It is fitting that this boy eagerly shared his gifts of two fish and five loaves. Adults would see the lack of food and hesitate to share with the large crowd.

Jesus saw the gift the way the boy saw the bread and fish: more than enough. Thanks be to God!

Gracious God, Thank you for the children who teach us to eagerly share our gifts. Thank you for those who see the world through the understanding of children. Point our attention to the simple acts of shared faith so that we can see the ways you make simplicity into more than enough. Amen.

Molly Goodrich

Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

 Weatherford, TX

 www.welcometothetable.us

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

Day 25: October 9, 2013

Mark 9:16-27

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, 

and he was able to stand. Mark 9:27 NRSV

Holding hands is the first thing we teach children to do. Before we try to get them to smile or talk we are putting our fingers into their tiny palms and waiting for the grasp of their little fingers to tighten. When they get old enough to pull themselves up, we are right there holding their hands to help them stand. 

When they take their first steps our hands are right within reach of their fingers. When they cross the street or the parking lot our hands are always open for theirs to fit into. There’s a connection made.

There’s a feeling of love and safety, even healing in the act of hand holding.   

God, Help us to offer our hands to the boys and girls of this world who have no hand to hold. Help us to make a connection, to extend healing and security and support and, above all else, everlasting love. Amen.

Rev. Samantha Houser

Zion United Church of Christ

Waukon, IA

Persistence for Children

Day 24: October 8, 2013

Mark 7:24-30 

In Jesus’ time, custom dictated that the Hebrew people and Gentiles had limited contact with one another. Men and women also did not have direct contact except within families.  

In this scripture lesson, Jesus is alone when a woman comes into the room. She is not only a woman, she is also a Gentile. Jesus looks at her because she should not be there. This woman knows that also. However, her daughter is very sick. So instead of being afraid of custom, she comes to ask Jesus to heal her daughter.

Though Jesus first goes along with the rules about relationships, the woman will not give up.  Finally, Jesus agrees and heals her child. How great it would be if we would all be as persistent as this woman when it comes to helping a child!

God in communion, Holy One, help us share your unconditional love for all people -- children, women, and men -- all people.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Wes Morgan

Pastor

Peachtree Corners Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Norcross, Georgia

http://www.peachtreecornerscc.org/