The Holy Sherlocks, week of November 1, 2020

This is our lesson for our Holy Sherlocks group (grades 4 – 6) and anyone else who would like to learn a little bit more!

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In times together and times apart, we celebrate God’s presence in all creation,in stories of our past and dreams for the future, our despair and praying.

November 1 – On the Right Road

Matthew 5:1–12 Those who follow Jesus up the mountain, both disciples and crowd, can hardly be faulted for being reminded of Moses. He helped shape a motley crew of wandering ex-slaves into a community of liberation. Biblical scholars point out the many ways the gospel of Matthew helps make the connection between Jesus and Moses. It is on this mountain that Jesus offers an inaugural sermon akin to Jesus’s inaugural message at Nazareth, which is recorded in the gospel of Luke. In both Nazareth and on the mountain, Jesus sets forth the identity, purpose, and direction of his ministry.

Read Matthew 5:1–12 or Listen to the audio story “Teaching on the Mountain” or gather around as someone tells the story “Blessed by God.”

The Beatitudes – the blessed and the not so blessed. In these verses, Jesus asks us to re-think, re-imagine, what the world has taught us about the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots, the powerful and the powerless. This is no small feat, given the way we see the wealthy and the powerful portrayed in today’s society where we measure being “blessed” by what we accumulate and acquire. And it’s up to us to be sure that Jesus’ teachings are realized in the here and now. It’s our job to be the liberators for those oppressed by society’s notions of “blessed.”

*Look closely at the way the media and pop culture portray the “blessed” in today’s world. For every news item you read about society’s blessed find a story about Jesus’ blessed.

Make a bookmark to encourage a “saint” in your life.
Today is All Saints Day, a day to celebrate people of faith who, following in the way of Jesus, work for love, justice, equity, and a healthy planet.

Select someone you know who is a saint of God, and print their name on one side of the bookmark.
On the reverse side, print. “You are a saint of God.”
Punch a hole near the top of the bookmark.
Put pieces of ribbon through the hole and tie in place.
Send your bookmark to the person.

Looking for a pattern for your bookmark? Type “free printable bookmark templates” into your computer’s search engine and download the pattern of your choice.

Print this week’s children’s activity leaflet, which includes the story “Blessed by God,” an activity page, and song.

During the week

Celebrate the saints

Choose a tree or potted plant for a faith family tree to celebrate the saints in your church community or the wider community who work for love and justice, equity and a healthy planet. Who are these saints, and how do they inspire you?
Throughout the week, add names to the tree. With each name, write a few words about what makes this person vital to your faith or church community.
Each day, find time to sit by or under the tree. Choose one or more of the saints and give thanks to God for their witness.

Listen and sing along to the song “Be God’s” (available here for purchase and download). Play the song throughout the week until everyone is joining in.

Visit Lection Connection, November 1, for current events that connect with this week’sscriptures.

Prayer for each day

Gracious God,
Jesus has shown us what you require of us:
to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with you.
Enliven our spirits with your Spirit to love you more dearly and to serve you more fully. Amen.