On the journey with God

​November is mission month. Help us celebrate what God is doing in the world and how God calls us to share the good news with others. Here are some tools to plan a Mission Sunday celebration. Below, you’ll find a
sermon starter,
children’s story ideas, and
worship songs and readings. We hope you’ll find them helpful.

Lectionary Readings

November 12, 2017, Proper 27 (Year A)

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25; Psalm 78:1-7; Matthew 25:1-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Sermon starter

By Stanley W. Green

The lectionary readings for Mission Sunday may at first seem disparate and disjointed. A closer, more careful reading, however, uncovers a coherent thread. The readings manifest a simple sequence that offers reinforcement for those who seek to flourish and support others on their journey with God. The various elements in the sequence follow the progression of the textual record, and may be encapsulated in four movements:

Choose,

Catechize (teach/instruct),

Cultivate and

Comfort. 

On the eve of his impending death, Joshua reminds the Israelite pilgrims that their identity is grounded in God. For it is only when we discover our true identity in Christ that we begin to live. The essence of the identity of the people who are about to cross the Jordan River is not geographical or tribal. They belong to God and are formed as a people by the call into relationship that came to Abraham. Joshua reminds them who, or whose, they are. Their true identity is in God. Joshua recounts their origins when their ancestors lived in the land beyond the River Euphrates. Joshua goes back to Abraham’s father, Terah, during whose time their ancestors served other gods (24:2). God, however, took Abraham from that place and led him into a new land where God became his God and the God of his descendants.

That relationship of belonging brings about transformation and a deep intimacy with God. It is a reminder and a promise regarding the providence, protection and love of God. Are we living in fear of the future, or in the reassurance and security that we belong to God and exist as the objects of God’s love and care?

In face of this certainty, Joshua then invites them to make a choice and to a renewal of covenant with this God who has been faithful, "…
choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the
Lord" (Joshua 24:14-15). How do we

choose  – God, or the gods of our age, such as materialism, individualism, addictions, violence, etc.?

Having made our choice, the psalmist cautions that within the covenanted community it is imperative that we teach (catechize) the generations after us about the story that has shaped us:

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds, but would keep his commands."
Psalm 78:4-7

The psalmist counsels that it is important that we share our stories about what God has done in our lives with the generations that follow us. We must tell our children what God has done for us. We must recount the stories of God’s providence and salvation. Our stories of faith and life with Jesus Christ are to be grounded in our understanding of who, or whose, we are.

As they witness our faith and experience our relationship with God, we pray that they, too, will set their hope in God. They, too, will own an awareness of God and seek a relationship with Jesus Christ. Are we consciously and intentionally instructing (in word and deed) our children about the God whom we serve?

In the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), Jesus reminds the covenanted, or committed ones, of the need to

cultivate  a spiritual preparedness, or a state of readiness, for Jesus’ promised return. He tells a story about a party of virgins, perhaps bridesmaids, chosen to participate in a wedding. Each of the 10 virgins carries an oil lamp as they await the coming of the bridegroom. They expect that he will come at some time during the night. Five of the virgins are wise and have brought oil for their lamps. Five are foolish and have insufficient oil for their lamps. At midnight, all the virgins hear the call to come out to meet the bridegroom. Upon realizing their lamps have gone out, the foolish virgins ask the wise ones for oil. They are refused by the wise virgins who observe that there will certainly not be enough for them to share. While the foolish virgins are away trying to get more oil, the bridegroom arrives. The wise virgins then accompany him to the celebration. The others arrive too late and are excluded. Are we

cultivating a spiritual readiness by being with Jesus in the world, sharing the good news of God’s healing and hope?

In the final reading (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), Paul responds to the concern among living believers about Christ’s return. Paul’s purpose is to reassure them regarding the Parousia (vv. 15-17). (A common understanding of Parousia refers to the second coming of Christ, but in the Greek language, it means presence.) In these verses, Paul doesn’t emphasize spiritual geography. He doesn’t talk about going to heaven, but, rather, being "with the Lord forever." Paul brings

comfort to the Thessalonian believers, and to us, with the reassurance that this is our true destiny — being with the Lord. This, too, was Joshua’s, the Psalmist’s and Jesus’ concern: that we and our children will be with God wherever our journey takes us.

Children’s story and giving project

In the Psalm reading, the writer encourages adults to tell the story of God’s faithfulness. But regardless of age, we all can tell stories about how God has been faithful! In the recent Ecuador mission bank materials, 18-year-old Sierra Ross Richer recounts the way God provides for life in the Amazon rain forest. Sierra lives with her parents, Jane and Jerrell Ross Richer, who serve with Mennonite Mission Network in Ecuador.

Mission Network supports a variety of ministries in Ecuador. One of the primary ways that mission happens is by sharing the good news of Jesus through friendships and loving our neighbors. In Ecuador, this happens by showing and teaching peace to children. When you give, you help other children learn about Jesus in many different ways. Did you know:

$5 a Sunday helps provide Sunday school materials for children in Quito.

$15 helps the church buy supplies for one of the peace workshops for children.

$25 a month helps
Vida Juvenil provide homework support for children.

$50 a week helps provide a safe place for refugee families to come and receive help.

Gift designation. All gifts to support ministries in Ecuador should be sent to Mennonite Mission Network, PO Box 370, Elkhart, IN 46515-0370. Please indicate that the funds are for "Mission Bank — Ecuador" or "Project #1724."

For more activities and stories, view the Ecuador mission bank materials.

Worship songs and readings

Gathering

HWB 17 We gather together

HWB 21 All praise to our redeeming Lord

HWB 36 God of our strength

SJ 2 Hamba nathi (Come, walk with us)

SJ 124 Litany for candle lighting

Praising/adoring

HWB 46 I sing the mighty power of God

HWB 51 Let the whole creation cry

HWB 79 Lord, with devotion we pray

SJ 17 Halle, halle, hallelujah!

SJ 19 I will call upon the Lord

Confessing/reconciling

SJ 131 Litany with silence

SS 148 Prayer

Proclaiming

HWB 162 The God of Abraham praise

HWB 165 A mighty fortress is our God

HWB 188 Sleepers, wake!

HWB 638 God is working his purpose out

HWB 809 Scripture reading of Joshua 24:14-18

SJ 35 O Breath of Life

Affirming faith

HWB 326 O Love of God

HWB 565 My faith looks up to thee

HWB 570 We walk by faith

SJ 44 The love of God

SS 55 Love the Lord your God

Praying

HWB 359 Lead us, O Father

HWB 439 I want Jesus to walk with me

HWB 725 Praying

SJ O breathe on me, O breath of God

SJ 138 Responsive reading

Offering

HWB 383 God, whose giving

HWB 389 Take my life

SJ 60 Lord of all good

Witnessing

HWB 400 Santo, Santo, Santo

HWB 481 O God, your constant care

SJ 61 How can we be silent

SS 113 I will stand in the congregation

SJ 117 How can I say

Sending

HWB 419 Lead on, O cloud of Presence

SJ 156 Litany prayer

SJ 96 I’m pressing on the upward way

SS 118 Keep your lamps trimmed