26 September 2021

---

Bible readings for today

• Esther 7:1-6,9-10
• Psalms 124:1-8
• James 5:13-20
• Mark 9:38-50

Collect

Alleluia! 
God of calm, you bring peace in the midst of distress; still our troubled hearts 
when we struggle to believe, give us the courage to doubt, give us peace in believing. Through Jesus Christ, 
who is alive and reigns with you now and forever, 
and in the strength of the Holy Spirit. 
Amen

Mark 9:38-50

Some of the words of Jesus are simply hard. When he speaks of cutting off hands, or millstones around necks, what do we do with that? How about the question of our approach to those outside the church who are clearly doing as Jesus would have us all do? Or the blessings connected with the simple, unheroic act of giving someone a glass of water? Bishop Steve, Gillian Townsley and an Auckland-lockdown-ring-in, Jonathan Gale, bravely tackle these and other questions in this week's discussion with Michael Godfrey on Mark 9:38-50.

James 5:13-20

Today's passage from James urges us to pray.

Prayer Fidget Spinners

A fun prayer wheel to get kids praying, using the a popular toy craze! Download the Fidget Spinner prayer and a new kids worksheet worksheet to go alongside it, to draw or write your prayers

Prayer Ideas

• Prayer Origami - download our prayer foldable resource to get kids playing and praying
• Paper Chain Prayers (Flame Creative)
• Road Sign prayers (instructions and signs)
• Make a Calm Jar
• How to run a leavers service for school children
• Foil Prayers
• Alarm Clock Prayers (Psalm 5:3)
• The best 5 Finger Prayers
• My Little Prayer book - printable resource from Strandz
• The Lord's Prayer / Te Karakia O Te Atua Koru - a printable spiral activity.

Esther (Esther 7)

An overview of the Book of Esther from BibleProject - a great resource for leaders wanting more context on the book.

The Book of Esther from Saddleback Kids.