17 November 2024

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Bible readings for today

• 1 Samuel 1:4-20
• 1 Samuel 2:1-10
• Hebrews 10:11-25
• Mark 13:1-8
  

Liturgical Colour: WHITE

Collect

E te Atua, tō mātou rangatira,
kaiarataki hoki, kia tae mai mātou ki te wāhi e wehe ai te huarahi,
pupuritia mātou ki te ara tika a te Karaiti,
e ora ai ki te whakahau i ngā mahi onāianei,
me te āhei ki te oranga mutunga kore.
i roto pū i a Īhu Karaiti tō mātou Ariki.
Āmine.

God, our ruler and guide,
when we come to the place where the road divides,
keep us true to the way of Christ,
alive to the present opportunities,
​and confident of eternal life.
Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Jesus speaks about the future (Mark 13:1-8)

Gospel Conversations

Rev Michael Godfrey describes this week's gospel as "a prickly little scripture," and it is a difficult one. As we approach Advent, we begin Mark's "Little Apocalypse": Jesus' predictions of the destruction of the Temple and other tragedies. What do the rumours of disaster 2000 years ago tell us about maintaining hope and avoiding despair and apathy in the face of our own crises? We are fortunate to be joined by Bishop Cam Venables from the Western Region of the Diocese of Brisbane this week, together with our own Gillian Townsley and Trish Franklin. Together with Michael they tease out these and other questions to help us tackle what is, to us, a very strange section of the Gospels.

Hannah and Baby Samuel (1 Samuel 2:1-10)

Today's story looks at Hannah and the baby Samuel

Helping our children trust

This week, be intentional about lifting each child up with kind words and actions.  Trust is so important.  Our children can be battered around (emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically) throughout the week so go the extra mile in making church and children’s church a safe haven.  When our children trust us and know that we’ll take care of them by being kind, understanding and listening to what they have to say, they can relax and learn to trust God, too.

This animated Bible story tells the story of Hannah and God from 1 Samuel 1 and 2: 1-11. From Saddleback Kids - Slapstick Theater - a popsicle stick theater.

I wonder questions

• I wonder how Hannah felt when she left Samuel at the temple.
• I wonder what would have happened if Hannah had changed her mind and not taken Samuel to the temple.
• I wonder if you’ve ever had to give up something or someone that your really loved.

Talking about Hannah

Some discussion questions:

• Hannah made a very big promise to God by telling him she would give her first son to serve him. When Samuel was born, do you think it was hard for Hannah to hand over her son to Eli at the temple? 
• Have you ever made a promise so big that you didn’t want to keep it? What did you do?
• Can you think of any other stories that have promises in them?

A friendship without trust

What you need: Nothing
What you do:
Say something like: I once had a friend named Kim*.  I really liked being with her. She was fun and interesting. We used to like to walk together so we could chat while we were exercising.  But then something happened. She got busier at work, so it was harder to arrange time together. A few times, I invited Kim over or to go out for a walk and she said she couldn’t make it.  Then she called and asked if I were free the next morning and I was.  So we planned to meet, but Kim didn’t show up.  I thought maybe she’d forgotten so wasn’t too worried.  But it happened again. We made a plan, and she wasn’t where we’d planned to meet. We organized to go out for coffee with 2 other friends and the three of us waited for Kim, but she didn’t come. It wasn’t a good feeling at all. I felt like I couldn’t trust her and didn’t want to make any more plans with her.  It was a bit sad.  Kim had been a good friend, but it didn’t feel like she valued our friendship.
In some ways, Hannah must have felt sad, not only that she didn’t have a child of her own, but also wondering whether God had really heard her prayers- and whether he was going to answer.  But God always hears and answers.  His answer might not always be ‘yes!’ He listens carefully.  He always ‘shows up’.  We never have to worry that God is going to forget about us. 
Through Eli, God promised Hannah a son, and Hannah made a promise back to God.  Hannah’s prayers were answered- that was God’s promise.  And Hannah gave Samuel to God’s service- that was Hannah’s promise!
* If you have a similar story, use your own examples, names, etc.  If you don’t have a similar story, you can say something like, “There was once a girl named Julie who had a friend named Kim”

Letting go

As a parent, I read the story of Hannah and Samuel with amazement, joy, admiration and a gut wrenching sense of uncertainty.  Could I have done what Hannah did?  Could I have given up the answer to my prayers? Could I have let go and kept my promise? 
Letting go of our children is a tough one, and most of us are not required to let go the way that Hannah did.  Not withstanding the incredible and miraculous events surrounding the story, as parents, we too are continually faced with letting go.  From our toddler who wants to pick out her own clothes, to our 5 year old just starting school, parenting is about the balance between holding on and letting go.  We want to love, teach, resource, and support our children so that eventually they will be able to be independent. It can be a rough road. I know of parents whose children have left for uni or their OE who are devastated; empty nesters who don’t know what to do with themselves.  Letting go doesn’t start when our children move out, it starts when they’re wee; when our baby squirms to get down from our arms, when our preschooler races off to kindy friends, when our older child chooses to bike to school, when we allow our teens to drive the car or set their own bedtime.  This week, identify moments throughout the day when you are practicing letting go- not to push your child away, but to allow them to grow into the person of God that He has ordained them to be.

Trust game

A game about listening and trusting
What you need: Nothing
What you do:

1. Invite 3-4 people up front
2. Have them close their eyes
3. Explain: The group needs to count to 20.  Each person can say as many numbers as they want, but only 1 at a time.  There is no order of who goes first or second.  Instead this is a game about listening and trusting. 
4. Remind everyone that this is hard! See how far they can get before two people speak at the same time.  Bring up another group and try again.

Teaspoon prayers

This is a simple way to help people learn to pray.

What you need: Optional: A teaspoon for each person or one to hold up for the group
What you do: Explain what tsp prayers are.  Say something like:

• (Thank)Thank God for all that He’s done for you and others- the promises He’s kept.
• (Sorry) Say sorry for the times you have not kept your promises- either to Him or to others
• (Please) Ask for the things you need for yourself, for others and for the world, knowing that God hears your prayers.

Media

Leaders

BibleProject overview on the book of 1 Samuel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In 1 Samuel, God reluctantly raises up kings to rule the Israelites. The first is a failure, and the second, David, is a faithful replacement.

The BibleProject poster of the books of Samuel