Shannon Kelly

Easter, Year B, Acts Lesson Plan

Scripture: Acts 10:34-43

During Eastertide, the Old Testament readings are replaced in the lectionary with passages from the book of Acts. Today’s passage is obvious and straightforward. Peter, who has been invited to the home of a Roman Centurion, named Cornelius, to proclaim the Good News. Before our excerpt for today begins, Peter arrives at Cornelius’ home and Cornelius falls to the ground, worshipping Peter. Peter tell him to get up and explains that he is only a human. Peter then asks why Cornelius has sent for him. Peter says that in the past he would not have come to speak to Cornelius and his compatriots because he would have considered Gentiles to be unclean. But God has opened Peter’s eyes to see that the Gospel of Jesus is for all people in all the world. Cornelius explains that he say in a dream that he should invite Peter to preach the Good News, so he has gathered his friends and is anxious to hear the story of Jesus. In this passage Peter literally tells the Good News of Christ Jesus from the baptism of John to the resurrection and forgiveness of sin.

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LPTW Easter, Year B, Acts, Younger Children
LPTW Easter, Year B, Acts, Older Children

Palm Sunday, Year B, Old Testament Lesson Plan

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-9a

In this section of Isaiah we hear what is sometimes called the third servant song. Isaiah 40-55 are passages that talk about the image of a suffering servant. The lectionary preparers likely chose this reading for Palm Sunday as a foreshadowing of the suffering Jesus was going to endure in Jerusalem. The servant illustrated in the servant songs is a wise and loyal follower of God who will have a gentle heart, a trained tongue, a listening ear, and the courage to love with sacrificial love. The way the passages are written invites the reader to imagine him/herself as the servant just as we so often try to insert the image of Christ into this servant role.

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LPTW Palm Sunday, Year B, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Palm Sunday, Year B, Older Children, Old Testament

Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year B, Old Testament Lesson

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34

In our reading from the prophet Jeremiah we return again to the plight of the Israelites in the wilderness. God sent the 10 Commandments to the people who were worshipping golden calves and disrespecting Moses and one another. The people heard the thunder of God’s voice and saw the tablets, but they still disobeyed. The people complained tirelessly for lack of food and the length of the journey and God, in God’s anger, sent the plight of snakes on the people. The people repented, and God sent the antidote. Here were learn of God seeing the need for a new way forward and God’s decision to make a new covenant with the people since the covenant made in taking the people out of Egypt has been broken by the people, themselves. In this covenant there will no longer be outward signs like the rainbow after the flood, the name changes of the patriarch and matriarch, or the tablets upon which the commandments were written. This new covenant would respond to the very way God made humans – God promised to write the knowledge and love of God onto their very hearts. In doing this, God ensured that the people could never stray too far from the Lord. This new covenant is one of love and mercy and it speaks to the very nature of the Almighty.

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LPTW Lent 5, Year B, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Lent 5, Year B, Older Children, Old Testament

Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year B, Old Testament Lesson

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9

Our scripture this week challenges us to listen for God’s goodness in a passage that is uncomfortable. Some claim that the God of the Hebrew Scriptures was an angry God and when Jesus came God became about Love, but that interpretation denies the eternal benevolence of God. In today’s passage we hear more about the Israelites whom God rescued out of slavery and is leading to the Promised Land. Last week God sent the 10 Commandments to help the people get back on track following a series of complaints and missteps. This week, we hear that the Israelites are, once again, complaining about God and feeling as though God is abandoning them. It would be easy to gloss over the arrival of the snakes only to focus on the anti-venom provided – but that does a disservice to the passage. In this passage we learn that the journey is what we make it to be. By complaining constantly and overlooking each blessing bestowed, the Israelites bring upon themselves more and more difficult hardships. However, God continues to provide the remedy for what ails them. Through this seemingly endless journey through the wilderness, the Israelites are starting to realize that the Promised Land is ahead of them, but might be for the next generation rather than those who started out of Egypt. God has made a covenant with the people – God has promised to take them out of slavery into the Promised Land; until the people trust God and the messengers God sends, they will not arrive. A covenant requires that both sides of the promise live into it, mutually.

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LPTW Lent 4, Year B, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Lent 4, Year B, Older Children, Old Testament

Third Sunday in Lent, Year B, Old Testament Lesson

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

We’ve all heard of the 10 Commandments. Many of the children who will be in class today will have at least heard of the phrase “The 10 Commandments,” but how many of them will know where they came from or understand what they mean for our lives today? Jerome Berryman calls his Godly Play lesson for the 10 Commandments “The 10 Best Ways” as a way of translating for young children the understanding that these rule were meant to instruct the people of Israel in a philosophy that would help them to live as their best selves. The people were wondering in the desert, following Moses out of slavery in Egypt, searching for the land flowing with milk and honey they had been promised. The people were getting tired of wandering and searching and started to rebel against Moses and against God. They had put up with enough and wanted to find immediate gratification for their needs. This made God sad and perplexed Moses, who felt ill equipped to get the people back on track. So God spoke to Moses and gave him these 10 straightforward, but deeply challenging rules to assist the people in following God and honoring the “dignity of every human being.”

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LPTW Lent 3, Year B, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Lent 3, Year B, Older Children, Old Testament

Second Sunday in Lent, Year B, Old Testament Lesson

Scripture: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

This week we travel further into the book of Genesis to learn about God’s covenant with Abraham and Sarah (Formerly: Abram and Sarai.) Abram and Sarai were faithful followers of God. For many years Abram and Sarai followed where God sent them. God promised to make Abram’s off-spring “as numerous as the stars in the heavens” (Genesis 15:5) but Sarai’s womb remained barren. Now, in their old age, God makes a new covenant with Abram. As a sign of the covenant God changes their names to Abraham and Sarah and, once again, promises that Sarah will have a child – a son. What we do not hear in this passage is that Abraham and Sarah laugh in response to God’s promise, they cannot believe that in their old age they will finally have the child they have desired so long. However, God is, indeed, faithful to this promise. This week we learn the importance of a name. Just as we are called by name at our baptism, God calls Abraham and Sarah by a new name before sending them into a new calling: to be the parents of a new nation.

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LPTW Lent 2, Year B, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Lent 2, Year B, Older Children, Old Testament

First Sunday in Lent, Year B, Old Testament Lesson

Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17

On this first Sunday in Lent we hear the end of Noah’s story. Most of us are familiar with the tale of Noah’s arc and the flood that covered the earth. The students in your class will have played with a toy arc and plastic animals before. This week, however, we leave out all of the destruction and fear and focus on the promise. God chose Noah and his family to survive the flood and continue the human race – but trusting a God who destroys all that has been created is a difficult prospect. In today’s passage we hear of the mercy of God and the promise of life in abundance to come. In this exert from Genesis God makes a covenant not only with Noah, but with all living creatures, that the world will not be wiped out again. And to remind them of this promise God sends the rainbow and tells Noah and his children that each time they see a rainbow it should serve as a reminder of God’s promise to them. God likes to give us signs and symbols to remind us of God’s goodness, we practice them in the Eucharist each week when we “do this in remembrance of [Christ.]” Seeing the rainbow in nature, then, becomes sacramental as we remember the goodness of God as exemplified in the colors in the sky.

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LPTW Lent 1, Year B, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Lent 1, Year B, Older Children, Old Testament

Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B, Old Testament

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-12

This is a story of the passing of leadership – from the great prophet Elijah to his disciple, Elisha. It has all the drama a prophet of God story needs, plus a heart-warming friendship. These men of God have become friends as well as teacher and disciple. Elijah is to be carried up to God and Elisha is to continue the work. Elisha asks for a double portion of the Spirit – something felt he needed to continue the ministry. The story, both the fiery drama of a chosen one, and the tender friendship of two faithful servants of God, can inspire our own relationships and ministry.

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LPTW Last Epiphany, Year B, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Last Epiphany, Year B, Older Children, Old Testament

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B, Old Testament

Scripture: Isaiah 40:21-31

The reading for today offers a poetic reminder of the glory of God, and of God’s constant presence and mercy. Even when life is challenging, God is already present with us, more powerful than we can imagine, and gathering us ever closer. We have as much need of this reminder as the people who first heard Isaiah’s words. It rights our perspective and cheers us on.

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LPTW Epiphany 5, Year B, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Epiphany 5, Year B, Older Children, Old Testament

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B, Old Testament

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-20

The relationship between God and the prophets of God is very close. The prophet is the key to the people getting back into right relationship with God. Prophets bring messages of doom and of redemption. They tell of the need to repent and the bring the hope of God’s love.

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LPTW Epiphany 4, Year B, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Epiphany 4, Year B, Older Children, Old Testament