During the Season after Pentecost, we are reminded of how much we can accomplish when empowered by God, but it is not uncommon to experience frustration and failure. After Jesus experiences rejection in his ministry, he leaves his disciples open to the same as he sends them out without him. Even in these times we are to act, trusting in God’s eternal faithfulness.

• Access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage.
• Read and prepare to discuss “Breakfast at Faithfulness” (Adult) story resource (p. 88).

• Digging Deeper: Responding to the Call (Adult) Called and Sent (Ages 15-18) a worksheet that helps to explore the scripture references that invite the sharing of faith.
  
  “…the world and the church desperately need [our] energy, imagination, passion, impatience, intelligence, and love…one of the great biblical themes is that God calls…all of us to walk into the future without knowing exactly where we are headed, to let go of old securities and certainties and trust the God who promises to be with us wherever we go.” ~ John Buchanan
   
• Option: Use the story, “Jesus’ Friends Become Apostles” (p. 153) based on Mark 6:1-13 from the Lectionary Story Bible, Year B; available as mp3 and projectable art downloads

Some of the many options for exploring our call to discipleship:

• Ages 3-5: footprint messages, walking sticks, or puzzle
• Ages 6-8: walking stick or seed messages
• Ages 9-11: sign language, walking sticks, or contemporary stories
• Multiage: skits, music, walking stick, or seed messages
• Ages 12-14: Bible research, discussion, song lyrics, or creating wooden discipleship staff
• Ages 15-18: music, discussion, song lyrics, messages of encouragement, or poetry
• Adult: scripture review, role play, poetry journal or making bookmarks

• Discipleship staff: Bring dowels and art supplies to decorate “staff” with words and symbols as reminders of the call to go out and proclaim God’s way of love.
• (Adult, Ages 15-18, Ages 12-14) Bring copies of the song lyrics for the songs: “Somlandela/We Will Follow” (p. 16) and “Children of the Spirit” (pp. 2-3) in the Seasons Songbook, Volume 7. Listen to and share the songs: “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” (Volume 1, #45), “Teach Me Wisdom” (#24), and “Children of the Spirit” (#4) on the Seasons Music CD, Volume 7 or available as mp3 downloads.

July 15: “Brought Together”

(Focus: Ephesians 1:3-14)

The readings recall ways in which God’s grace and Jesus’ love bring people together. The passage from Ephesians focuses on the unity of human relationships through Christ. How do we help those who gather in community to grapple with the frustration that can emerge from interaction with Christians whose viewpoints reflect deep-seated differences to ours? How can the reading from Ephesians inform our understanding of the unity of all people, even amid differences?

For SeasonsFUSION (which inspires worship in a setting for all ages) see the SeasonsFUSION blog and sign up to receive the SeasonsFUSION tip of the week.