Year B: December 24, 2017
First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11;16
Where Does God Live? By Holly Bea
(Written for ages 4-10)
Comment: On the morning of Christmas eve, the Old Testament reading is the passage of David’s promise to build a house for God. David is moved to make this promise as he sees the difference between his home and God’s home. God tells David that a house is not necessary. God is not contained by a house. Every child at one point asks, “Where does God live?” My 4 year old has been asking this question for at least a year in many different forms. When Hope in Where Does God Live? asks her mother the question, she is not completely satisfied with the answer, so she begins to ask the question to birds, frogs, fish and her grandmother. Each time she ask the question, she receives a different answer. After talking with her grandmother, Hope learns that God lives among God’s creation. God lives everywhere.
Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27
Let’s Make Rabbits By Leo Lionni
(Written for ages 2-6)
Comment: In Lets Make Rabbits, a pencil and scissors make a rabbit. Each rabbit is reflecting its creator. The pencil rabbit is a black outline, and the scissors rabbit is a collage of patterns. The rabbits come across a real carrot. They know it is a real carrot, because it has a shadow. After eating the real carrot, both rabbits notice they have shadows. The rabbits filled themselves with a real carrot and became real. What we fill ourselves with helps shape what we are. The passage from Romans this morning reminds us that we are strengthened by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we fill ourselves with the teachings and commandments of Jesus, we reflect Jesus in our living. The rabbits learned this as they ate a real carrot and became real. We reflect Jesus as we fill ourselves with his Gospel.
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38
The Stone Hatchlings By Sarah Tsiang
(Written for ages 4-8)
Comment: Mary is able to hear the message Angel Gabriel brings to her. At first she struggles to understand and accept what is being said, but as she hears more her eyes are open to what is about to happen. Mary is filled with joy. Abby in The Stone Hatchlings has found two stones which she pretends are eggs. She does everything she can to hatch and care for her chicks. Her parents struggle to see beyond the stones. As time goes on, the birds began to withdraw and Abby is worried. She does everything she can to cheer them, until one day she knows what they need. Abby had to make a tough decision. It comes with loss and joy. Mary doesn’t know exactly how things will change and is filled with joy. She is willing to accept the changes as they come.
Thanks to Union Presbyerian Seminary alumna Elizabeth Boulware Landes for writing the Revised Common Lectionary Links this week.