In times together and times apart, we are on a six-week journey toward Easter.

Lent is a time to re-orient towards God and care for one another and Earth. It is a time when we might give something up or take something on as we explore themes of life, love, community and remembering. This week, as a psalmist praises and delights in God, we consider how we faithfully relate to God and each other.

March 7 – Faithful Living Together

Psalm 19 praise and delight in God
Read Psalm 19 or listen to the audio story “How Beautiful Is God’s Creation” or gather around as someone tells the story “God Is Amazing!” that is in this week’s children’s activity leaflet.

Psalm 19 reminds us of those mornings when we find the sky above so beautiful, with its blue colour, puffy white clouds, and yellow sunshine. We know there are scientific explanations – laws of nature – that tell us how the sky becomes blue, different types of clouds form, the sun enters, shines and then leaves as night falls and the moon and stars take their turn. These laws explain why no rain falls on a day like this. They also explain how people are part of nature, doing things that contribute to climate change.

A young boy named Mashkoonce (meaning Little Elk in his First Nations language) who lives in Ontario, Canada, used to think about nature as his grandmother took him to school. Every day they went past some water. They began to talk about the importance of clean water in their lives. They spoke to the water as they walked past it each day. They said, “Water we thank you; water we love you; water we respect you.”

They said this in English, and then Mashkoonce wanted to say the words in his language.

  • Talk about what nature you see on the way to school or work or as you go about daily life. What parts of nature make you thankful for God’s beauty? How do you express your thankfulness?
  • Repeat the words that Mashkoonce and his grandmother spoke to the water; say them substituting a part of nature you love.
  • Learn to say Mashkoonce’s words in his Ojibwemowin language: Ne-be Gee Zah-gay-e-gooGee Me-gwetch-wayn ne-me-gooGee Zah Wayn ne-me-goo
    You can listen to these words in the Nibi (Water) Song

Watch the beautiful images as you listen to Louis Armstrong sing “A Wonderful World.”

Decorate a stone Psalm 19 concludes with the phrase, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O God, my rock and my redeemer.” When something is your “rock,” it is solid, reliable and supporting.

1. Decorate a stone as a symbol of what supports you in your life.
2. Prompt your creativity by reflecting on what keeps you going.
3. Carry this stone in your pocket this week to remind you that God is your rock. Touch it when you need strength to keep going.

Print this week’s children’s activity leaflet, which includes the story “God Is Amazing,” instructions to make sun streamers, and an activity.

During the week

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O God.” (Psalm 19:14)
It is easy to fire off an e-mail or Facebook update or Twitter “tweet” or text message without thinking much about it.
Challenge yourself to be mindful of your words in these contexts. Take a deep breath before you respond to anything, and make space in your heart before typing.
Notice how this mindfulness affects your sense of connection to others.

Visit Lection Connection, March 7, for current events that connect with this week’s scriptures.

Prayer for each day

Dear God, we love the beauty and wonder we find in the world. We know how awesome you are when we experience it.
We want to live in ways that take care of your creation
and protect it forever. Please help us remember this every day. Amen.


Sing the song “To You O God”