Reading
Read Mark 6:1-13
6:1 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
6:2 On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!
6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
6:4 Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house."
6:5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.
6:6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.
6:7 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
6:8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;
6:9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.
6:10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.
6:11 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them."
6:12 So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.
6:13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
6:1 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
6:2 On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!
6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
6:4 Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house."
6:5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.
6:6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.
6:7 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
6:8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;
6:9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.
6:10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.
6:11 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them."
6:12 So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.
6:13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Reflecting and Responding
Adult and Small Child
Reflect: Can you imagine Jesus, or even his disciples, showing up in your town? What would it be like to welcome them into your town? What things would you want to show them? What about inviting them into your home? Where would they sleep? What would you make them to eat? Who would you want them to meet? Why? How would it feel if they were there to help someone who was sick? Jesus sent out his disciples to go and heal, anoint, and help others just like we are called to do.
Respond: There are many ways that you can help in your neighborhood. You can pick up trash at a park. You can donate food to a food pantry. You can visit with your neighbors and see if they need any help. Animal shelters need help walking and playing with their dogs or feeding and petting their cats. You can make cookies to give to the fire department, police department, or nursing homes. You can hold the door open for someone at the store. Throughout the week, see how many ways you can go out and help your neighbor.
- Kelly Benz
Adult and Elementary
Read: Mark 6:1-13
Reflect: Have you ever been rejected? Have you ever tried really hard to do something only to be told “No!” Rejection is hard. I remember trying out for the basketball team in middle school. I really wanted to make the team so I tried my very best, but I still did not make the team. I was incredibly disappointed and sad. The rejection made me feel like I was not good at anything.
Rejection is always a risk with anything that we do. Sometimes we will hear “yes” and sometimes we will hear “no.” Even Jesus was rejected, but he didn’t let it keep him from trying. There is a line in a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer that says, “help [me] to take failure, not as a measure of [my] worth, but as a chance for a new start.” (Book of Common Prayer, For Young Persons, p.829)
Respond: Spend some time this week thinking about ways you have experienced rejection. Maybe this rejection has caused some fear in you to try again or try new things. Maybe it has caused you to feel bad about yourself. After you have thought of these things, remember that Jesus too has been rejected and that rejection is a “chance for a new start!”
- Malcolm McLaurin
Faith at Home
Reflect: Can you imagine Jesus, or even his disciples, showing up in your town? What would it be like to welcome them into your town? What things would you want to show them? What about inviting them into your home? Where would they sleep? What would you make them to eat? Who would you want them to meet? Why? How would it feel if they were there to help someone who was sick? Jesus sent out his disciples to go and heal, anoint, and help others just like we are called to do.
Respond: There are many ways that you can help in your neighborhood. You can pick up trash at a park. You can donate food to a food pantry. You can visit with your neighbors and see if they need any help. Animal shelters need help walking and playing with their dogs or feeding and petting their cats. You can make cookies to give to the fire department, police department, or nursing homes. You can hold the door open for someone at the store. Throughout the week, see how many ways you can go out and help your neighbor.
- Kelly Benz
Adult and Elementary
Read: Mark 6:1-13
Reflect: Have you ever been rejected? Have you ever tried really hard to do something only to be told “No!” Rejection is hard. I remember trying out for the basketball team in middle school. I really wanted to make the team so I tried my very best, but I still did not make the team. I was incredibly disappointed and sad. The rejection made me feel like I was not good at anything.
Rejection is always a risk with anything that we do. Sometimes we will hear “yes” and sometimes we will hear “no.” Even Jesus was rejected, but he didn’t let it keep him from trying. There is a line in a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer that says, “help [me] to take failure, not as a measure of [my] worth, but as a chance for a new start.” (Book of Common Prayer, For Young Persons, p.829)
Respond: Spend some time this week thinking about ways you have experienced rejection. Maybe this rejection has caused some fear in you to try again or try new things. Maybe it has caused you to feel bad about yourself. After you have thought of these things, remember that Jesus too has been rejected and that rejection is a “chance for a new start!”
- Malcolm McLaurin
Faith at Home
Questioning
Connecting with our lives
Engage in dialogue:
Teaching points that can be incorporated into your discussion:
PrayerClose 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.
Engage in dialogue:
- Why was Jesus teaching?
- Why were the people surprised by Jesus’ teachings?
- What do you think surprised them the most about Jesus and his teaching?
- Where was the attention of the people (who were astonished by his teaching) focused?
- Who did Jesus focus on in his ministry?
- What did their comments communicate about what they thought of Jesus?
- How did Jesus respond?
- In what ways did their doubt and comments affect Jesus’ ministry?
- Why do you think Jesus continued to do his ministry?
- When have you felt like people didn’t pay attention to what you could do or doubted your abilities?
- How did you react or respond?
- When have you felt like others didn’t understand why you were doing things that were pleasing to God?
- What kept you doing God’s work?
Teaching points that can be incorporated into your discussion:
- Today’s text is one that can evoke an array of human emotions. It is a reminder that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. He experienced human emotions just as we do.
- In this story, it is not Jews and Romans in general who are surprised by what Jesus can do. The “they” in the story are the people who grew up with and knew Jesus from his hometown — friends and family.
- While their attention was elsewhere, Jesus emerged as a great prophet and teacher. He spread the Good News of God’s love and grace in new ways that were indeed astonishing. Some may have even found it upsetting because his message was not what they were used to hearing.
- No matter what Jesus felt, he continued to do the work God gave him to do. He taught, he healed, he preached, he called disciples to follow him and he sent them out to spread the Good News. He did not let his emotions or the opinions of others stop him from being faithful.
- Jesus paid attention to those whom others ignored or didn’t see — people who were without power, those who were poor or pushed aside, those considered “unimportant” — because to God everyone is important and valuable. Jesus saw them and treated them as if they were the most important and valuable.
- It is not just Jesus who had work to do on behalf of God. God has given each of us an assignment — a ministry we are to do to continue Jesus’ work. We don’t have to do it alone. We are not supposed to do it alone. But sometimes people will not understand why we are doing
PrayerClose 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.
Connecting
Connecting through story
Watch as this wordless story, “Sidewalk Flowers,” unfolds — pay close attention to each scene.
Watch as this wordless story, “Sidewalk Flowers,” unfolds — pay close attention to each scene.
- What is the father doing?
- Where is his attention?
- What is the little girl doing?
- What does she see and then do?
- Who are the recipients of her gifts of flowers?
four minutes Sidewalk Flowers
PRAYground is Open Every Sunday
PRAYground last Sunday
PRAYground last Sunday
Our Prayground moves inside this Sunday and for this Summer
Q&A on what a Prayground is and discussion
Q&A on what a Prayground is and discussion
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 Lindsey Gabler:
"I’m a second-year student at University of Georgia and I've worked in Palma Ceia’s Nursery for the last five years. In my free time I like to spend time with my friends or play lacrosse. I also enjoy reading and watching movies with my family. Working with kids is so much fun as they’re always energetic and creative. I enjoy playing with them and being silly. Children make me laugh! When the children are tired, I like to read books to them. Working in the nursery exposes me to many different kids and I feel as though I learn something new every day! I’m looking forward to being back with the children of Palma Ceia this Summer!" |
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." |