June
28 – Fourth after Pentecost
Lectionary
Lectionary readings from Vanderbilt Divinity Library online
(http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BPentecost/bProper8.htm)
David’s
lament for Saul and Jonathan.
Out
of the depths, I cry to God.
Excel
in generosity.
Young
girl raised; hemorrhaging woman healed.
Spark
Provide
a display of books and pamphlets about grief for people to peruse and/or
borrow.
With Children
In today’s reading from 2
Samuel 1:1 and 17–27, we hear of David’s sadness. King Saul and his son
Jonathan have been killed in a war. Jonathan was David’s best friend. David had
known King Saul for a long time, but Jonathan was very special to him. David
has become famous in the land, and the people will want a new king to replace
Saul.
So you think David could be
the king? What could he include in his résumé/qualifications?
- He kept sheep.
- He killed a
bear and a lion that attacked sheep.
- He was
anointed by Samuel.
- He killed
Goliath with his sling and stones.
- He was very
brave.
- He played music for King Saul and wrote many
psalms.
- He became a famous soldier and hero.
Sermon Starter
(a focus on Psalm 130)
We
have a long history as people who seek redemption. In ancient writings,
redemption is about an inheritance, which could include freeing a family from
slavery, or rescuing a firstborn son with a payment.
In
the Hebrew scriptures, God initiates a relationship that is about redeeming
people. This act of God may be called atonement, or a form of ransom.
In
our search for freedom and our attempts to discover the meaning of life, why do
we have a profound human need for deliverance? Is our life in the community of
faith grounded on ideas of alienation and bondage? The Creator becomes the
Redeemer through the example of incarnated love in Jesus. Does our
understanding of redemption include all of creation?
Hymns
VU
288 “Great is thy faithfulness”
MV 12 “Come
touch our hearts”
MV 106 “I
am the dream”
VU 417 “God,
as we rise to leave”
VU
622 “Your hands, O Christ”
MV
132 “Great sorrow prodded
Jairus”
MV 161 “I
have called you by your name”