Worship Tools

Worship Outline

Additional Scriptures

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; John 1:43-51; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Preparation

For All Are Called have coloring sheets and crayons or pastels ready to distribute. Online search the words: “Hannah Samuel Eli Coloring Sheet Creative Commons license.” Then search for coloring sheets you can use with a Creative Commons license, being sure to provide credit as requested and following other terms of the license.

Prelude

Welcome

Call to Worship

Leader: All-knowing God, we gather this day in your name to worship you. 

We give thanks that there is a small spark of God within each of us.

People: We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Leader: Enduring God, we gather this day in your name to worship you. 

We celebrate your loving presence in our lives.

People: You knit us together in the womb. Wonderful are your works.

Leader: Supporting God, we gather this day in your name to worship you. 

We rejoice that you teach us about love and forgiveness.

People: You discern our thoughts and search out our paths. You know our ways.

Leader: Understanding God, we gather this day in your name to worship you. 

We praise you for all that is fearfully and wonderfully made.

People: May your loving presence be a strong influence in our lives. May we remember that you are always with us.               

—Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, adapted

Hymn Seeking Justice

“Lift Every Voice and Sing” CCS 555

OR “We Shall Overcome” CCS 261

OR “Senzeni Na?” CCS 200

Prayer for Peace

Light the peace candle

Prayer

Fount of Love and Well of Peace,

We thirst for your presence as we wander in a violent desert land. As children are gunned down and nations war, we cry for your peace. You have beautifully created us all, we are fearfully and wonderfully made: all sizes, shapes, and personalities. What blasphemy kills based on the differences you have created? What iniquity terrorizes through the barrel of a gun? Will warring madness never cease? We raise a petition for peace in your presence. Oh God, let us carry the banner of your peace with holy courage to the rulers of the nations. Hear our prayer and inspire our actions in accordance with your divine will, we pray. Amen.

Ministry of Music OR Community Hymn

“Sing of Colors/De colores” CCS 332

Encourage participants to sing in a language other than their own.

OR “Till All the Jails Are Empty” CCS 303

OR “All Are Called” CCS 606

All Are Called Guided Meditation

Pause or ring a chime between each statement

Assume a comfortable position with your feet on the floor and upright posture. Focus on deep relaxed breaths. Rest your hands on your lap or other comfortable position. Pay attention to your breath and listen to the words of guided meditation…

Here I Am, God…

Here I Am…

I Hear Your Call…

Your Call to All…

I Hear Your Call…

Here I Am…

Here I Am, God…

All Are Called Coloring Sheets

Distribute crayons and coloring sheets portraying Hannah, Samuel, and Eli from the 1 Samuel scripture. Crayons can be handed out individually or a small basket or small sandwich bag containing several crayons can be handed out for small groups to share.

As we continue in worship today, these coloring sheets help illustrate two stories about Hannah and Samuel. As Community of Christ, we uphold the enduring principle All Are Called. The story of Samuel is a foundational story for the nation of Israel. As we share in these stories, consider how people of all nations, all genders, all orientations, all races, and all social statuses are called by God to respond to God’s love. We are all called to respond to God’s love: Here I Am!

Hannah’s Story Based on 1 Samuel 1:1—2:36

There once was a woman in ancient Israel named Hannah who prayed for a son. She vowed that if she were given a son, then she would give her son to God as a servant in the temple. She prayed silently, only moving her lips. Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk and reprimanded her. But she explained that she was deeply troubled and was praying. Eli said, “Go in peace; the God of Israel will grant the petition you have made.”

Hannah eventually had a son and named her baby Samuel which means “I have asked him of the Lord.” Eventually, as promised, she took her young child to the temple to serve God under the priest Eli who would raise him. Hannah continued to be blessed by God and had more sons and two daughters. Little did she know, Samuel would eventually take up the prophetic mantle.

Eli’s Story

It was then revealed that the sons of the priest Eli, who were also priests, were using their office to advantage by demanding meat from those who intended it for burnt offerings. 1 Samuel 2:12 refers to them as scoundrels who “had no regard for the Lord.” Although Eli spoke to them about it, he did not do enough to stop them. A man of God came to visit Eli and prophesied against him and said that God would raise up a faithful priest.

Hannah’s and Eli’s stories provide several lessons:

• Turn to God in prayer during a time of need.
• Acknowledge thankfulness.
• Keep your commitments to God.

A Mother’s Hymn

“A Mother Lined a Basket” CCS 239

OR “How Long, O Lord” CCS 201

OR “Uthando Lwam’ Kuwe/My Love for You Will Remain” sing twice CCS 82

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.

Prayer of Repentance

Forgive us, O God, when like Eli’s sons we do not listen to your call and elicit privileges we have not earned. In a world where people too often are judged by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character, privilege is too often afforded based on the false divisions of race. In a world where women, especially women of color, are marginalized by systemic discrimination, opportunity is meted out based on the false dichotomies of gender. We repent of false labels of every kind. We repent of privilege. Help us instead God to listen to your voice. In holy listening, may we find faith to respond. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Samuel’s Story

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-20

Hymn of Calling

“God Is Calling” CCS 172

OR “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” CCS 581

OR “Deep in the Shadows of the Past” CCS 64

Morning Message

Based on 1 Samuel 3:1-20

Disciples’ Generous Response

Responsive Reading

Leader: God is good! God Is great!

People: Like Hannah, we know prayers have been answered. 

Like Samuel, we sense God’s call.

Leader: Give thanks to our God!

People: Our lives are blessed by the good news!

All: Let us respond and give our whole lives to God!

Statement

It is only when we first receive God’s grace that we can in turn respond with our own generosity. A disciple practices generosity as a spiritual discipline in response to God’s grace and love. The life that Jesus lived combined the work of sage, rabbi, teacher, healer, and seeker of justice. A disciple is faithful in response to Christ’s ministry. What we give and how we give is highly personal. Some place alms in the offering plate, others give online. A disciple’s financial response, while specific to individual circumstances, expresses love of God, neighbor, creation, and oneself.

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes

Hymn of Commission

“I, the Lord of Sea and Sky” CCS 640

OR “For Such a Time” CCS 376

Benediction 

Sending Forth: Doctrine and Covenants 164:5 

Postlude 

Sacred Space: Small-Group Worship Outline

Gathering

Welcome

Prayer for Peace

Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.

God, you are the still point of the circle within which all creation is found. I yearn to connect with your spirit of peace and experience the companionship of your presence in this moment. May I abide in the center of creation’s circle with you?

Pause.

Creator of horizons, help us draw the circle wider to include those I know and love, and even those I struggle to understand and accept. Fill this circle with the gifts of forgiveness, mercy, compassion, and peace. Give us the desire to include all whose paths cross ours into a place where acceptance is offered freely. Draw our circle wider.

Pause.

Giver of dreams, let the peace we’ve dreamed of expand to embrace all your children. We remember all nations, including Saudi Arabia, the country we pray for today. Within this circle may we see the other as brother and sister, and act as mutual stewards of one another. You call us to live without borders that exclude. Help us to draw the circle wider still.

Pause.

God of all living things, your world longs to be whole and in harmony. The dream of shalom includes caregiving for the water, earth, air and all that has life in one great family. You created us with interdependencies. Give us mutual respect and tender care for all. Let this be our song: Nothing on your created Earth stands alone, but lives in shalom with all other living things. Draw the circle wide open.

Pause.

Architect of life and peace, may we be blessed by your vision of shalom this day. May our minds, hearts, and spirits be wide enough for all to find a home. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, God’s shalom. Amen.

Spiritual Practice

Blessing of Loving Kindness

Today we will experience a blessing of Loving Kindness. I will say a phrase aloud. I invite you to silently repeat the words after each spoken phrase.

As we begin, take a few moments of quiet to center yourself. If you are comfortable doing so, close your eyes.

Allow the words of blessing to resonate in your heart and mind. I will pause at the end of each phrase allowing time for your silent repeat of the words. 

May I be blessed with loving kindness.                                             

Pause.

May I be blessed with health.                                                             

Pause.

May I be blessed with true happiness.                                                

Pause.

May I be blessed with peace.                                                              

Pause.

Think of someone who is beloved to you. Visualize the person as you pray. You may insert the persons name into the prayer in your mind.

May my beloved be blessed with loving kindness.                            

Pause.

May my beloved be blessed with health.                                           

Pause.

May my beloved be blessed with true happiness.                              

Pause.

May my beloved be blessed with peace.                                            

Pause.

Now think of a close friend. Visualize the person as you pray silently.

May my friend be blessed with loving kindness.                               

Pause.

May my friend be blessed with health.                                              

Pause.

May my friend be blessed with true happiness.                                 

Pauses. 

May my friend be blessed with peace.                                              

 Pause.

Think of someone with whom you are in conflict or harmed you. Visualize this person. Breathe deeply and lovingly pray this blessing.

May the one who harmed me be blessed with loving kindness.        

Pause.

May the one who harmed me be blessed with health.                        

Pause.

May the one who harmed me be blessed with true happiness.          

Pause.

May the one who harmed me be blessed with peace.                        

Pause.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 

Sharing Around the Table

1 Samuel 3:1-20 NRSVue

3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

² At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; ³ the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. ⁴ Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” ⁵ and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. ⁶ The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” ⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. ⁸ The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹ Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰ Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” ¹¹ Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. ¹² On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. ¹³ For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. ¹⁴ Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.”

¹⁵ Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. ¹⁶ But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” ¹⁷ Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” ¹⁸ So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”

¹⁹ As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. ²⁰ And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.

—1 Samuel 3:1-20 NRSVue

In the early hours of the morning, God calls three times to Samuel. He hears this voice three times, but he thinks it must be his mentor, Eli the priest. Eli tells Samuel that he did not call him and tells him to go back to bed. After the third time, Eli sends Samuel back to bed with the instruction that if he hears the voice again to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 

When God calls Samuel for the fourth time Samuel responds as suggested by Eli. Samuel learns that God is calling him to speak up and call out the wickedness of the priests and the people who were abusing their position of leadership. 

Today injustices and abuses are being heaped on those who are poor, powerless, and marginalized. The environment is being abused with significant consequences. Who will be the person, people, or community that hears and says, “Speak Lord, for we are listening?”

In Community of Christ we use the six lenses of discerning God’s will—scripture, continuing revelation, common consent, tradition, personal and community experience, and knowledge and reason. With the help of the Holy Spirit we too, can hear God’s call.

Questions

1. God communicates with each of us differently. How have you “heard” God speaking to you?
2. What are the practices that help you to pay attention to the Spirit’s call?
3. There are those in our own communities who are poor, powerless, marginalized, and abused. What is God calling you to say and do? How will you respond?

Note: If you are using “Thoughts for Children,” make time for them to share their drawings at this time. 

Sending

Generosity Statement

Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint.

—Doctrine and Covenants 163:9

The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing small-group ministries as part of your generous response.

The offering prayer for Epiphany is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:

Revealing God, may we always be generous. You have gifted each of us with boundless grace and unending love. May our response to that love and grace be humble service to others, and may generosity be part of our nature. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

CCS 586, “The Summons”

Closing Prayer

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Optional Additions Depending on Group

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Choose one scripture to read from this selection: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:7–39.

Invitation to Communion

All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others may have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

We share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let’s sing from Community of Christ Sings (select one):

515, “In These Moments We Remember” 

516, “Coming Together for Wine and for Bread”

521, “Let Us Break Bread Together”

525, “Small Is the Table”

528, “Eat This Bread”

Blessing and serving of bread and wine.

Thoughts for Children

Christ’s Mission, Our Mission

Materials: poster board, markers, coloring supplies.

Before your meeting, write “Christ’s Mission, Our Mission” in the center of a poster board. 

Say: In today’s scripture story, God called Samuel’s name and asked him to deliver a message. When Samuel heard God call his name he responded and did what God asked him to do. Today, God invites us to use our unique gifts and talents to create a better world. 

Hold up the poster board.

Say: We call the things we do to create a better world Christ’s Mission. When we use our gifts and talents in this way, Christ’s Mission becomes Our Mission. God lets us choose whether or not to participate in Christ’s Mission. Just like we sometimes raise our hand to volunteer, we want to be prepared to raise our hand when God calls and say, “Here I Am!”

On the poster board, trace each child’s hand and arm (up to the elbow) with their fingers spread apart. Explain that they are going to decorate their hand in a way that reflects how they can respond to God’s call. If participants need ideas, encourage them to draw a picture of what they think God wants the world to look like and include something they can do in the picture. 

Note: Allow time for children to share what they drew following the group lesson, “Sharing Around the Table.”

Sermon Helps

Exploring the Scripture

The scripture text tells the story of God’s call to Samuel, who was a young boy. The nation of Israel had had strong leaders in Moses and Joshua as it moved from captivity and through the wilderness into the “Promised Land.” The Israelites then had judges who ruled over them, but tribal loyalty was always in play. Life was not perfect in the Promised Land, and “the word of the Lord was rare” (v 1), and “all the people did what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

In the early hours of the morning, God speaks! God calls three times to Samuel. He hears this voice three times and responds by saying “Here I am” but he thinks it must be his mentor, Eli the priest. Eli at first tells Samuel that he did not call him and tells him to go back to bed with the instruction that if he hears the voice again to say, “Speak, Lord for your servant is listening” (v 9). Therefore, God calls Samuel for the fourth time, and Samuel responds this time as suggested by Eli. Then God says to Samuel “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of anyone who hears it tingle” (v 11). Samuel learns that God is calling him to speak up and call out the wickedness of the priests and the people who were abusing their position of leadership. Samuel responded, and God’s voice was heard again.

God consistently calls people to speak up for justice. When those who are poor, marginalized, or powerless, and when creation is being abused, God “weeps” because of the division in humanity. The Divine is speaking and calling us today to hear the voice that “echoes across the eons of time and yet speaks anew in this moment. Listen to the Voice, for it cannot be stilled, and it calls you once again to the great and marvelous work of building the peaceable kingdom, even Zion, on behalf of the One whose name you claim” (Doctrine and Covenants 162:1b).

What does it mean to hear the call of God? Do we miss hearing the call because we do not recognize it, or are we too busy and not paying attention? The call can come to us as individuals, but it also can be for us as a community. In Community of Christ we use the six lenses of discerning God’s will—scripture, Continuing Revelation, common consent, tradition, personal and community experience, and knowledge and reason. With the help of the Holy Spirit we can hear the call.

God is speaking! God is calling! Today the injustices and abuses are being heaped on those who are poor, powerless, and marginalized, and our environment is being used and abused with significant consequences. Who will be the person, people, or community that hears and says, “Speak Lord, for we are listening” and then acts on that call?

Central Ideas

1. God is always speaking and calling—and God calls the most unexpected people.
2. The divine Voice calls when those who are poor, powerless, or marginalized are abused.
3. We may not recognize the Voice at first, but we can learn to listen and to act.

Questions for the Speaker

1. Why does God want to communicate with us? Why does the Divine want this relationship with us?
2. How can we learn to pay attention to hear the Divine call?
3. How is the Divine calling you, or your community? What is God calling you to say and do, and to whom? Why?
4. How can you respond?

Lessons

Adult Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

1 Samuel 3:1–20

Lesson Focus

God consistently calls people to speak for justice.

Objectives

The learners will…

• identify their experiences with being “called” for specific purposes.
• examine the symbolism in the story.
• recognize God calling throughout the ages for justice in communities.
• prepare to understand when God calls through discernment.

Supplies

• Bible
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)

Note to teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 1 Samuel 3:1–20 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: Old Testament, pp. 34–35, available through Herald House.

Gather

Note to teacher

Review the birth of Samuel in 1 Samuel 1:1–2:11 to set the context of the story. Read the information about Shiloh online.

• When have you experienced a calling from God? What were you being called to become or do?

Sing together “Open My Heart,” CCS 171, then invite a class member to open class with a prayer.

Engage

Eli was the prophet at Shiloh. Although it was the center of worship for the Israelites, there were still tribal divisions and disputes. Eli’s sons had rights to become the prophet, but they were corrupt and not suited to God’s purpose of justice. God called a young boy to succeed Eli as prophet at a time of spiritual desolation. The Philistines are threatening. The Israelites were turning their backs God.

Read 1 Samuel 3:1–20.

Discuss the following to deepen understanding of scripture:

• What is the significance of the description in verse 1?
• It was a practice of the time to sleep near the Ark of the Covenant in order to hear God’s word. How does this tradition contribute to information in verse 1?
• Discuss the meanings of the reference to Eli’s dim eyesight in verse 2.
• Why do you think God called a young intern to become the prophet?
• How have you been stretched in your callings?
• When have you been reluctant to bring difficult or bad news?

Respond

This scripture reminds us that God is present in the beginnings and the endings. This scripture is about ending. There is despair because of the corruption and lack of leadership. There is rivalry between tribes and the threat from the Philistines. Yet there is hope that corruption and oppression do not have to be. God weeps at these divisions and calls persons to lead into a more just community.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 162:1b.

Listen to the Voice that echoes across the eons of time and yet speaks anew in this moment. Listen to the Voice, for it cannot be stilled, and it calls you once again to the great and marvelous work of building the peaceable kingdom, even Zion, on behalf of the One whose name you claim.

Discuss:

• What other times in scripture does God call for a correction of people who have strayed away from God’s purposes?
• How has your response to God’s call brought justice to another?
• Not all calls are as dramatic as Samuel’s call. In what ways does God speak to you?
• How do you deliver the words God has spoken to you?

Send

Samuel slept near the Ark of the Covenant to guard it but also to be ready if God spoke. God’s words were rare.

• What do you do to prepare to hear God calling you?

Bless

Summarize the three points of this lesson.

1. God calls and often we fail to recognize the call.
2. God is constantly present in our beginnings and endings.
3. We speak God’s message with human words. The community then seeks to discern the message for their time.

Read or sing the words to “God Is Calling,” CCS 172.

Youth Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

1 Samuel 3:1–20

Lesson Focus

We are called to participate in Christ’s Mission.

Objectives

The learners will…

• explore what it means to be called by God.
• examine the injustices God would call out in our world.
• imagine and discern what they are called to do as part of Christ’s Mission.
• apply their specific gifts and talents in responding to God’s call.

Supplies

• Scripture passage from The Message Bible
• Legal-size paper (8.5 x 14 in or 22 x 36 cm)
• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
• Poster board
• Scissors
• Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, Herald House, 2018
• Strips of paper (approximately 2 x 11 in or 5.08 x 27.94 cm)

Note to teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 1 Samuel 3:1–20 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: Old Testament, pp. 34–35, available through Herald House.

Gather

Most students will be familiar with the term “ghosting.” Ghosting someone means that you stop communicating with them without any warning or reason given. This often is used to end a relationship after a couple of dates. Ask students what they know about ghosting. This should generate entertaining discussion among the group. After everyone has had opportunity to share, ask the following questions to connect the discussion to today’s lesson:

• Have you ever been ghosted? How did it feel?
• What happened to your relationship with the person who ghosted you? Were you able to remain friends?
• Have you ever ghosted God? What happens when we ghost God? What opportunities are missed?

Engage

Explain that today’s scripture passage is about Samuel, a young boy who decided NOT to ghost God.

Invite students to participate in the spiritual practice Dwelling in the Word. Lead them through the exercise as follows:

Say: I will read today’s scripture passage aloud. As you listen, allow words, images, or phrases to come to your mind. Try not to focus on them. Simply allow them to rest in you. After a moment of silence, I will read the excerpt a second time. As you hear the excerpt again, listen for how God’s Spirit calls you or captures your attention.

Read 1 Samuel 3:1–20. With this passage especially, it is helpful to use The Message version.

Pause and then say: As I read the passage again, consider the question, “How does God’s Spirit call to you or capture your attention?” Read the excerpt a second time.

Invite group members to share responses to these questions:

• What words, phrases, or images came to mind?
• What do you think God is saying to you?
• What sometimes gets in the way of us hearing God?
• Eli helped Samuel know that God was talking to him. Who in your life can help you listen for God?
• Why do you think God chose to speak to Samuel?

Often when God asks us to share a message with people it is good news. However, in this passage, God is asking Samuel to deliver a harsh message, one that calls out injustice. Sometimes, what God is asking us to say will not be received well by others. Discuss the following thoughts and questions to deepen understanding of scripture:

• In Community of Christ, we affirm All Are Called. God has uniquely gifted each person. We are called to follow Jesus by becoming disciples. We do our best to listen and respond to God’s call. How does this Enduring Principle relate to Samuel’s experience? How does it have application in your life?
• Samuel shared God’s message honestly, he didn’t try to sugar coat what he was saying. At the same time, the passage does not indicate that Samuel was cruel or judgmental in his delivery. How can we share God’s message with love, grace, and peace?
• How did Eli receive the message? How can we receive hard truths shared with us by God and others?
• What injustices in the world is God asking us to speak against today?

Respond

Before class, write “Christ’s Mission, Our Mission” in the center of a poster board.

Explain that as we listen for God’s call in our lives, it is important to prepare to respond by reflecting on God’s vision for the world and on how we might contribute to making that vision a reality. Just like we sometimes raise our hand to volunteer, we want to be prepared to raise our hand when God calls and say, Here I Am!

Give each student a piece of legal-sized paper and ask them to trace around their hand and arm (up to the elbow) with their fingers spread apart. Explain that they are going to decorate their hand in a way that reflects how they can respond to God’s call. Students will decorate each part of their hand and arm with a specific purpose in mind. They can use words or pictures to do so but they should take their time and intentionally fill the space.

Arm: the arm should represent God’s vision for creation. It is a good idea to discuss with students what this might include. It might also be helpful to have Sharing in Community of Christ available as a resource.

Fingers: each finger should represent a different gift or talent the student possesses.

Hand: just as the hand connects the fingers to the arm, the hand should represent how each gift or talent included on the fingers could be connected or used to help bring about God’s vision for creation portrayed on the arm.

Once everyone has finished their piece have them cut out around their outline. Invite them to glue their arm to the poster board around the message written in the center. Hang this somewhere in the building as a reminder that all are uniquely gifted and called to participate in Christ’s Mission.

Send

Sometimes we are hesitant to respond to God’s call because of our fears and doubts. Give each student a strip of paper and something to write with. Ask them to reflect on the question “What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail?” specifically in relation to bringing about God’s vision for creation. Once they have had time to reflect, ask them to write their response on their slip of paper. Ask them to fold the paper and keep it somewhere they will find it often (a wallet or a coat pocket) so that they might be reminded of their call and encouraged to respond.

Bless

Ask students to join you in a circle. Go around the circle taking turns completing the phase “I am called to…”. Encourage students to base their responses on their unique gifts and talents and on how they can bless the world.

Close with a prayer asking for the students to hear and be ready to respond. Alternatively, close with the Mission Prayer (below).

God, where is your Spirit leading today?

Help me be fully awake and ready to respond.

Grant me courage to risk something new,

And become a blessing of your love and peace.

Amen.

Children’s Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

1 Samuel 3:1–20

Lesson Focus

God calls to the boy Samuel.

Objectives

The learners will…

• learn about ways that God and Jesus have called people to follow them.
• consider that they have choices every day to follow God.
• reflect on ways they can respond to God’s call.
• identify talents, treasures, time, and testimony as whole-life stewardship.

Supplies

• Examples of invitations
• Activity Sheet “Whole Life Response”
• Copies of the Mission Prayer on cardstock or heavy paper for each student
• Bibleor Lectionary Story Bible, Year B, by Ralph Milton, illustrated by Margaret Kyle (Wood Lake Publishing, 2008, ISBN 9781551455648)
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)

Note to teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 1 Samuel 3:1–20 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: Old Testament, pp. 34–35, available through Herald House.

Gather

Ask students if they have ever received an invitation. What was the invitation for? How was the invitation shared? (a card, personal invitation, email, or phone call) How did they respond to the invitation?

People are given invitations to follow Jesus. Each person must make a choice. How are some of the ways that people might find out about Jesus? (reading the scriptures, hearing someone talk about Jesus or God, going to church) Share that in today’s lesson, they will hear about people who were given an invitation and then made their decision to follow God.

Engage

Read “God Calls Samuel,” the story of Samuel responding to God’s call, in the Lectionary Story Bible, Year B, pp. 131–132. Stop after Eli tells Samuel to answer God and Samuel says he is listening.

• Ask the students how they would feel if they heard someone calling their name at night. Have they ever felt God calling them? Asking them to do something? Help them think of times when they might have felt an urge to talk with someone at school who was alone or help someone in need. Sometimes the voice of God is very quiet and inside their heart or head.

Continue the story. Remind students prophets often had to give bad news to people. Have they ever had bad news they didn’t want to share? (bad paper at school, something was broken) Why didn’t they want to share?

• Discuss how Eli helped Samuel know that sharing the bad news is part of following God, and that a prophet also helps people hear what God wants them to do. Then people always have a choice about what they would do. The news made Eli sad, but he knew that what God told Samuel was true.

Jesus also invited people to follow him. The story “Jesus Finds Some Friends” in the Lectionary Story Bible, Year B, pp. 50–51 tells of Jesus inviting Philip and then Nathanael to follow him.

• Discuss how Jesus invited them.

Respond

Samuel responded to God completely. He gave his life to God and helped others know what God wanted. As with many prophets, it was not easy to tell people the bad news when they were not following God. But Samuel spent his life following God’s call to share with the people around him. This is called whole-life response.

Instead of pondering what we will return to God, whole-life stewardship asks how we generously use everything for God’s purposes. It is not just about what we return to God through tithing of our time, talent, treasure, and testimony. It is also how we use what we keep in a way that remains faithfully focused on God’s purposes.

—Choose Generosity: Discovering Whole-life Stewardship, Herald House, 2019, p. 15

Time and Talents

How we spend our time, the gifts and talents we have, our belongings, and our story of Jesus in our lives is our response to the invitation to follow Jesus. We are not called to only give part of our life to God but to have every aspect focused on the mission of Jesus Christ. Not just during church hours but in all hours of our lives.

Choice is involved. Each of us has the same amount of time in a day, but how that time is spent is up to each person. The same is true with how we use our talents.

• What talents do they see in themselves?
• What talents do they see in the other students in the class?
• How can those talents be used to show others of God’s love?

Treasure

For many people, treasure means money. Many of the students may have little money except for what they earn or are given by others (allowance for chores, birthday money, etc.). Help them think about what they do with the money they receive and discuss other things that could be considered their treasure.

Testimony

A testimony is a way to share the story of Jesus in our lives.

• Ask about testimonies they have heard at church. How did they feel after hearing them?
• Ask if they have shared their story with anyone.
• Does a testimony always have to be words?
• Have them think of someone at church or in their community who has helped them. How did they feel? Did that person give a testimony through action?
• How can their lives be a testimony for others to see?

Give each student a copy of the “Whole-Life Response” sheet. Have them write or draw pictures in each section, showing what they have to offer. Then discuss that their response will grow and develop as they learn more about God and about themselves.

Share the Mission Prayer. Go through each line and discuss the meaning of the words. Explain that the meaning will change as they grow in their discipleship. Encourage them to put the prayer somewhere they can see it each day and to read it regularly.

Send

Read together the refrain of “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky” CCS 640. Ask how these words fit with the story of Samuel. (He was called but at first wondered what he could do as he was so young.)

Then read through each stanza, pausing after the first two lines to discuss how God sees the people:

• Stanza one: they are in the dark and sinning.
• Stanza two: they are in pain but turn from God. (This could be considered the bad news that a prophet often has to share by letting the people know how they are not following God’s ways.)

But God loves all people. Because of that, each stanza ends with good news:

• Stanza one: their darkness will be brightened.
• Stanza two: their hearts will be turned to love.

Stanza three is somewhat different. The poor and lame may have been oppressed or hurt through life. In this verse, the good news again is that God will provide for them through the love shown to all people.

Read the final line of each stanza:

• Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?
• I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send?
• I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send?

Remind students that God’s work on earth is done by people, people who will share their testimonies and their love. Reread the refrain, thinking of how they are the ones being called in the night. They are the ones to hold God’s people in their hearts.

Bless

Close by reading the Mission Prayer together:

God, where will your Spirit lead today?
Help me be fully awake and ready to respond.
Grant me courage to risk something new, and
become a blessing of your love and peace.
Amen.

Going Deeper: Have older students read through “Send Me Forth” CCS 651. As a prayer to God, the words of the hymn are asking for help to do the things that they are called to do. Have them choose the phrases that most matter to them. End by reading the refrain, sharing the promise is there to work together hand in hand.