January 3—Arrival of the Wise Men (Epiphany)
Isaiah 60:1-6 (the dispersed praise the Lord)
Psalm 72:1-14 (prayer for the king)
Ephesians 3:1-12 (ministry to the Gentiles)
Matthew 2:1-12 (Wise men from east visit)
Theme: The wise men
January 10
Isaiah 43:1-7 (Do not fear, I am with you)
Psalm 29 (the voice of the Lord)
Acts 8:14-17 (Simon tries to buy HS)
Luke 3:15-17,21-22 (the baptism of Jesus)
Theme: Jesus’ baptism.
January 17
Isaiah 62:1-5 (Zion’s wedding to her builder)
Psalm 36:5-10 (the Lord’s love)
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (the “love chapter”)
John 2:1-11 (the wedding at Cana)
Theme: God’s love
January 24
Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10 (the law read)
Psalm 19 (God’s glory in creation and the law)
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a (the Body with many members)
Luke 4:14-30 (Jesus teaches & is rejected in Nazareth)
Theme: The Body of Christ.
January 31- No GGH
Children will join their families upstairs for worship
December 6—2nd Sunday of Advent (Peace candle)
Malachi 3:1-2 (sending my messenger ahead)
Luke 1:57-66 (John the Baptist’s birth)
Luke 1:67-79 (Zechariah’s song)
Luke 3:1-18 (John the Baptist’s message)
Theme: Person—John the Baptist. Who was John the Baptist? Talk about his call for repentance and the response to repentance: justice. All of this leads the way for the arrival of Jesus, whom we anticipate.
December 13—3rd Sunday of Advent (Joy candle)
Zephaniah 3:14-20 (song of joy- the Lord is in your midst)
Isaiah 12:2-6 (praise- in your midst is the Holy One)
Philippians 4:4-7 (rejoice in the Lord!)
Luke 1:39-55 (Mary visits Elizabeth & sings praise)
Theme: Person—Mary. Mary, like all Jewish people of her time, was waiting for the arrival of the Holy One (Messiah). Imagine her JOY to hear he was finally coming… and that she would play a part in it. Do we have joy in the arrival of Jesus? What part do we play in his arrival to others? (How do we carry the JOYful news of Jesus to others?)
December 20—4th Sunday of Advent (Love candle)
Micah 5:2-5a (out of Bethlehem comes one who will rule)
Isaiah 9:1-7 (Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God…)
John 1:1-4, 14 ; 3:16 (The Word became flesh & encamped among us)
Luke 2:1,3-20 (Jesus is born!)
Theme: Person—Jesus! Let’s celebrate his arrival! Jesus, God made flesh (what does that mean?) came to dwell among us.
December 27 (Christ candle)
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 (Samuel grew in stature & favor)
Psalm 148 (All creation praises the Lord)
Colossians 3:12-17 (God’s chosen ones clothe yourselves…)
Luke 2:22-38 (Jesus presented at the Temple)
Theme: People—Simeon and Anna. Simeon and Anna were both old. They’d spent their entire lives worshiping the Lord and waiting for the Holy One. No one else in the Temple recognized Jesus for who he was. Only Simeon and Anna did, because they were prepared to see him. Do we recognize Jesus? Do we recognize him in those around us? Are we prepared to see him?
November 1- All Saints Day
Isaiah 25:6-10 (Lord will swallow up death)
Psalm 24 (The earth is the Lord’s…)
Revelation 21:1-6a (new heaven/new earth, death will be no more)
John 11:1-44 (Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead)
Key theme: In the Lord, we have hope! We can celebrate the lives of those who, in Christ, have gone before us (died), because we know the end of the story! Where, o death, is your sting? (see 1 Corinthians 15) Who are “saints” who have been a part of your journey so far?
November 8
1 Kings 17:8-16 (Elijah & the widow of Zarephath)
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9:24-28 (Christ’s sacrifice once for all)
Mark 12:41-44 (The widow’s offering)
Key theme: What is a widow? Why did (do) they need others to care for them? What does it mean for us that God is concerned with the situation of the widows? Why is the offering of this widow so incredible?
November 15
1 Samuel 1:4-20 (Hannah prays for a child)
1 Samuel 2:1-10 (Hannah’s song)
Hebrews 10:19-25 (confidence in Jesus to persevere)
Mark 12:28-34 (The greatest commandments) matt 22:34-40
Key theme: Totally committed. What does that mean? How was Hannah totally committed to the Lord? How did she show it? How does living out the greatest commandments show the Lord we are totally committed to him?
November 22
2 Samuel 23:1-7 (David’s last words)
Psalm 93
Revelation 1:4b-8 (peace to you from the Ruler of the kings of the earth)
John 18:33-37 (King of a kingdom not of this world)
Key theme: Christ is the King! What does the Kingdom of Jesus look like? How do we know he is a worthy King? What would it look like to live under the rule of a king? Many times, we try to lift up the idea of God’s reign, but it is not unusual for this Sunday to get lost between the celebrations of Thanksgiving and the preparations for Christmas.
November 29- 1st Sunday of Advent
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
Elementary children will join their families upstairs for worship today
September 6
Isaiah 35:4-7a
Psalm 146
James 2:1-10 (11-13), 14-17
Mark 7:24-37 (Jesus heals)
Theme: Jesus stepped across boundaries (race, gender, physical handicap) to touch and heal people considered in his culture to be “unclean.” If we are to be like Jesus, who do we need to reach out and show Jesus’ love to?
September 13
Isaiah 50:4-9a (the servant’s humiliation & vindication)
Psalm 116:1-9
James 3:1-12
Mark 8:27-38 (Peter confesses Messiah, Jesus foretells death & resurrection)
Theme: The Jews expected the Messiah to come in power and free them from Roman domination, but they did not expect him to suffer. When we confess Jesus as the “Chosen one”, are we ashamed of his humiliation? Of the life he asks us to live as we follow him?
September 20
Jeremiah 11:18-20 (Jeremiah threatened)
Psalm 1
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Mark 9:30-37 (Jesus foretells again, “Who is the greatest?” servant)
Theme: What does it mean to be a servant, to be humble and last, not first and powerful? Why should this matter to us? [don’t tell them the theme, but maybe have them line up for a surprise—and see if they “fight” to be in the front of the line. Then talk about serving others, putting them first]
September 27
Numbers 11:4-15, (31-35) (complaining in the desert)
Psalm 124
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50 (temptations to sin)
Theme: What does “temptation” mean? What are some things the Israelites complained about? What are some things we are tempted to complain about? What could be a better way to respond?
September 6
Isaiah 35:4-7a
Psalm 146
James 2:1-10 (11-13), 14-17
Mark 7:24-37 (Jesus heals)
Theme: Jesus stepped across boundaries (race, gender, physical handicap) to touch and heal people considered in his culture to be “unclean.” If we are to be like Jesus, who do we need to reach out and show Jesus’ love to?
September 13
Isaiah 50:4-9a (the servant’s humiliation & vindication)
Psalm 116:1-9
James 3:1-12
Mark 8:27-38 (Peter confesses Messiah, Jesus foretells death & resurrection)
Theme: The Jews expected the Messiah to come in power and free them from Roman domination, but they did not expect him to suffer. When we confess Jesus as the “Chosen one”, are we ashamed of his humiliation? Of the life he asks us to live as we follow him?
September 20
Jeremiah 11:18-20 (Jeremiah threatened)
Psalm 1
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Mark 9:30-37 (Jesus foretells again, “Who is the greatest?” servant)
Theme: What does it mean to be a servant, to be humble and last, not first and powerful? Why should this matter to us? [don’t tell them the theme, but maybe have them line up for a surprise—and see if they “fight” to be in the front of the line. Then talk about serving others, putting them first]
September 27
Numbers 11:4-15, (31-35) (complaining in the desert)
Psalm 124
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50 (temptations to sin)
Theme: What does “temptation” mean? What are some things the Israelites complained about? What are some things we are tempted to complain about? What could be a better way to respond?
Quick! Who can tell me what we should have on our feet?
Hint: Look at this Sunday’s scripture. First person (K-5th graders only!) to tell me the correct answer ON SUNDAY will win a prize!
bare feet??
August 2
Exodus 16:2-4,9-15 (manna)
Psalm 51.1-12 OR Psalm 78:23-29
Ephesians 4:1-16 (calling, unity and spiritual gifts)
John 6.24-35 (Jesus bread of life)
Theme: Option 1: God’s hungry people longed for the slave food of Egypt & he opened the doors of heaven and rained down manna. He feeds us with the bread of life, so we can taste eternal life and lead lives worthy of our calling (what is our calling?). Option 2: The gifts of God to each of us are for the purpose of building up the body of Christ in unity and love through Christ.
August 9
1 Kings 19.4-8 (God gives Elijah food)
Psalm 130 OR Psalm 34.1-8
Ephesians 4:25-32 (anger not sin, rules for new life)
John 6.35,41-51 (more Jesus bread of life)
Theme: The Bread of life taught us to put away bitterness and anger, and with tenderhearted kindness to share from our work with the needy, to not sin in our anger, and to forgive each other.
August 16
1 Kings 2.10-12,3.3-14 (Solomon asks for wisdom)
Psalm 111 OR Psalm 34.9-14
Ephesians 5:1-2, (6-14a)15-20 (live wise, make most time, give thanks all times)
John 6.51-58 (more Jesus bread of life)
Theme: The Bread of life is the giver of wisdom and true discernment; the Lord equips us to make the right choices, to make the most of the time.
August 23
Joshua 24.1-2a,14-18 (choose whom you will serve)
Psalm 84 OR Psalm 34.15-22
Ephesians 6.10-20 (armor of God)
John 6.56-69 (Jesus bread of life, spirit gives life)
Theme: Stand! Pray! Choose your sides in the battle! God equips us with what we need to stand.
August 30—children join family upstairs
Note for leaders & parents: Although we are focusing on what the early believers looked like and what they did, it is important to remember that there is not a “gap” between then and now, that these elements of the church did not stop at the end of Acts. Indeed, when we stand as part of the “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12.1), we will discover that these elements have been essential to the identity of the Church for the past 2000 years (although they may appear in different expressions in various cultures/times). These elements help us find our identity (together) in Christ, connecting us with fellow believers in different times and in different lands.
July 5: Prayer
2 Chronicles 6:10-40
1 Samuel 2
Daniel 9:1-19
Psalm 25
Matthew 6:9-13
[Acts 2:42]
Theme: Like the early believers, we need to devote ourselves to talking to & listening to God
July 12: Offering & Communion
offering:
Genesis 28:19-22
Leviticus 27:30-32
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
[Acts 2:44-45]
communion:
Exodus 12.1-3, 6-14, 24-27a
Mark 14.(12-)22-25 OR Matthew 26.(17-)26-29
1 Corinthians 11:23-26(-29)
[Acts 2:43]
Theme: Like the early believers, we need to give ourselves & what we have to God and receive/celebrate what God has given us through Jesus’ sacrifice
July 19: apostles’ teaching, evangelism, togetherness (fellowship/unity)
apostles’ teaching:
1 John 1:1-4
[Acts 2:42]
Lord added to their number (evangelism):
Matthew 28:16-20
Acts 8:26-40
[Acts 2:47]
Togetherness (fellowship, unity, etc.):
John 17:20-23
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
[Acts 42,44, 46]
Theme: Like the early believers, we need to listen to the apostles’ teaching (scripture), share the good news of Jesus with others, and be united through our relationship to Jesus
July 26: Worship
lots of Psalms
Psalm 95
Psalm 100
Colossians 3:12-16
Mark 14:22-26
[Acts 2:46-47]
Theme: Like the early believers, we need to stand before God and give him glory, honor and praise, for who he is, and what he has done (is doing) in the world
