Ninth Sunday after Pentecost- Week of July 25, 2021 - Proper 13
Praying
Begin your devotion time by praying this prayer: Amazing God, you give us good gifts.
Help us share these gifts so that we might be a blessing to others. Amen.
Reflect on the Way of Love together: This week’s practice on the Way of Love is BLESS. In this week’s story, one boy’s lunch became a blessing for thousands of people! How can you use your gifts to bless many other people?
Reading
Feeding the Five Thousand
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Jesus Walks on the Water
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Jesus Walks on the Water
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
watch this two minute video about Jesus feeding the multitude
Click the above picture for nine Story Scenes from the feeding of the multitude
Reflecting and Responding
Younger Children and Adults
Reflect:
If you were going out for the day, would you bring a lunch? Jesus’ friends were no different except they did not have lunch boxes. They put their lunches in their pockets. Jesus knew that some people had big lunches in big pockets and some people had nothing. A little boy heard someone say, “I am hungry.” He was part of God’s big plan to teach five thousand people who wanted to be more like Jesus. When the boy shared his fish sandwich, everyone copied him. All the lunches turned into a big, blessed party. People said, “It is a miracle!” People said, “There are enough leftovers for each family.” When people were hiding their lunches, it looked like there was no food. Even Jesus’s best students were a scared. But when people shared their lunches, it was a blessing. It took a kid to show all those people how to have lunch with God. Learning not to be afraid at lunchtime made Jesus’s friends braver and ready to bless.
Respond:
Even adults have a hard time learning to share. When people do not share what God has given them, the world looks hard and scary. Here is a game you can play to be like the boy with the fish sandwich. Try to replace the word my with the word God’s. You might say, “I made God’s bed,” or “Have you seen God’s blocks?” Remembering that everything belongs to God makes it easier to share. It might sound funny if you say, “I love God’s friend,” instead of “I love my friend.” But it is a good reminder that God gave you the friendship to teach you about God’s love. Sharing can be hard to learn. You can copy people who are good at sharing until you become the teacher for someone else.
- Lea Colvill
Reflect:
If you were going out for the day, would you bring a lunch? Jesus’ friends were no different except they did not have lunch boxes. They put their lunches in their pockets. Jesus knew that some people had big lunches in big pockets and some people had nothing. A little boy heard someone say, “I am hungry.” He was part of God’s big plan to teach five thousand people who wanted to be more like Jesus. When the boy shared his fish sandwich, everyone copied him. All the lunches turned into a big, blessed party. People said, “It is a miracle!” People said, “There are enough leftovers for each family.” When people were hiding their lunches, it looked like there was no food. Even Jesus’s best students were a scared. But when people shared their lunches, it was a blessing. It took a kid to show all those people how to have lunch with God. Learning not to be afraid at lunchtime made Jesus’s friends braver and ready to bless.
Respond:
Even adults have a hard time learning to share. When people do not share what God has given them, the world looks hard and scary. Here is a game you can play to be like the boy with the fish sandwich. Try to replace the word my with the word God’s. You might say, “I made God’s bed,” or “Have you seen God’s blocks?” Remembering that everything belongs to God makes it easier to share. It might sound funny if you say, “I love God’s friend,” instead of “I love my friend.” But it is a good reminder that God gave you the friendship to teach you about God’s love. Sharing can be hard to learn. You can copy people who are good at sharing until you become the teacher for someone else.
- Lea Colvill
CLICK on picture for slides with art and scripture
Adult and Elementary
Reflect:
In this passage, we see Jesus offering a generous blessing of food to 5,000 people. Jesus also performs a miracle by walking on water to meet the boat the disciples are traveling in. Both of these episodes end with people wanting to reward Jesus for what he has done. Those Jesus fed try to make Jesus their king. The disciples ask Jesus to get into their boat so they can transport him over the sea. Jesus refuses these rewards. What Jesus does find important enough to do is thank God for the gift of the food before distributing it and saving the extra food after people have eaten, so that people can continue to be blessed, even after he has left. The boat was also immediately in Capernaum, instead of in the middle of a stormy sea, once Jesus spoke to the disciples. Jesus helps make sure his friends reach the city they are going to teach in so that people can continue to be blessed by the learning about God. What does this tell us about blessing, and what Jesus thinks is important when blessing others?
Respond:
What anonymous acts of kindness can you share today? Find a small act of kindness you can share right where you are. If you are in your church building, it might be helping straighten up your sanctuary or picking up the discarded bulletins left in the Sanctuary. If you are at home, consider gathering some tasty and easy-to-prepare foods from the kitchen to take to a local food pantry. If you have some time to prepare, make up a “blessing bag” of socks and tissues and hand sanitizer for unhoused people or cut fleece lap blankets for your congregation’s homebound and nursing home residents. If you want to keep working on sharing blessings throughout the week, cut bread-shaped ovals of brown construction paper to look like loaves or slices of bread and write the acts of kindness you want to try on them. Save them just like Jesus had the apostles save their leftovers. Keep them in a basket for when you have inspiration and share a new ‘loaf’ each week until you run out.
- Carla Christopher Wilson
Check out an entire playlist about this scripture by clicking on the image
Connecting
Connecting through story
Just Enough is Plenty by Barbara Diamond Goldin
(Written for ages 3-8)
Comment: In this “story of Hanukkah,” two children worry they won’t have enough to eat for their Hanukkah meal. The family has “just enough” for those gathered – and then a visitor shows up, meaning they’ll have to stretch in order to have enough for him, too. In much the same way, the disciples worry they won’t have enough bread for those gathered to hear Jesus’ preaching.
A boy offers what he has: five loaves and two fish, which seems preposterously insufficient. In both stories, the children and the disciples learn that “just enough is plenty” and that when we join together to share what we have, there is more than enough to go around.
Just Enough is Plenty by Barbara Diamond Goldin
(Written for ages 3-8)
Comment: In this “story of Hanukkah,” two children worry they won’t have enough to eat for their Hanukkah meal. The family has “just enough” for those gathered – and then a visitor shows up, meaning they’ll have to stretch in order to have enough for him, too. In much the same way, the disciples worry they won’t have enough bread for those gathered to hear Jesus’ preaching.
A boy offers what he has: five loaves and two fish, which seems preposterously insufficient. In both stories, the children and the disciples learn that “just enough is plenty” and that when we join together to share what we have, there is more than enough to go around.
four minutes Sidewalk Flowers
Praying
Close your time together by praying for one another, your neighbor, community and the world.
REBECCA DAVIS is the associate professor of Christian education at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. A teaching elder and certified educator, she served congregations for over 20 years before moving into academic teaching. In addition to teaching and mentoring students, her passion is child advocacy and ministry.
REBECCA DAVIS is the associate professor of Christian education at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. A teaching elder and certified educator, she served congregations for over 20 years before moving into academic teaching. In addition to teaching and mentoring students, her passion is child advocacy and ministry.
PRAYground is Open Sundays in Worship
PRAYground pictures
PRAYground pictures
The Nursery will open again inside on Sundays
Children of all ages are always welcome outside to roam around the PRAYground during the 9:00 and 11:00 services.
Meet Janae and Lindsey who will be caring for our cherished children.
Message from Janae Gipson:
"I have always loved working and being around children. I volunteered for four years at St. Paul’s Catholic Church nursery every Sunday. I volunteer weekly at Gigi’s Playhouse, a Downs Syndrome Achievement Center and at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary. I really enjoy children and believe that they make the world so much better. Although I have the most experience with nannying and babysitting with children of all ages, I prefer to work with infants and babies under two years. I’ve just graduated from Brooks-Debartolo Collegiate High School in Tampa and am entering Hillsborough Community College in the fall in Child Development. I am CPR and first aid certified. I’m looking forward to spending time with the children at Palma Ceia."
"I have always loved working and being around children. I volunteered for four years at St. Paul’s Catholic Church nursery every Sunday. I volunteer weekly at Gigi’s Playhouse, a Downs Syndrome Achievement Center and at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary. I really enjoy children and believe that they make the world so much better. Although I have the most experience with nannying and babysitting with children of all ages, I prefer to work with infants and babies under two years. I’ve just graduated from Brooks-Debartolo Collegiate High School in Tampa and am entering Hillsborough Community College in the fall in Child Development. I am CPR and first aid certified. I’m looking forward to spending time with the children at Palma Ceia."