Worship Tools

Worship Outline

Additional Scriptures 

Psalm 78:1-4. 12-16; Matthew 21:23–32; Philippians 2:1–13  

Preparation 

Hand out a copy of the finger labyrinth to each person for use in the Focus Moment.  A pattern is provided after the service outline. 

Prelude 

Welcome 

Gathering Hymn 

“Come Now, You Hungry” CCS 227 

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own. 

OR “Come Away from Rush and Hurry” CCS 83 

OR “Gather Your Children CCS 77 

Opening Prayer 

Response 

Prayer for Peace 

Poem: Litter on the Labyrinth 

Turning, I saw, 

brittle on the path behind me, 

benign and without power, 

the same sticks and stones that 

once hurt my feelings, 

once made me doubt. 

Now beautiful in their restored innocence, 

reborn to the purpose of their creation— 

scaffolding for the peaceable estate, 

structure to shape the strata. 

Atoning for corruption of use 

as weapons of mass spiritual destruction— 

sticks, once sharp and threatening, 

now mere “kum-ba-ya” kindling, 

fine bones for weaving nests. 

Stones, once formidable and dense with guilt, 

now rolled away from a self-imposed tomb, 

exposing slices of forgiving light, 

now mine to freely emit. 

Bone-breaking stones will never again 

lessen my resolve, 

flatten my faith. 

I see them for what they are…. 

inventions of my imagination, 

detritus to trip me on my journey. 

I leave behind 

as litter on the labyrinth. 

No dragging the burden with me, 

obliterating the path, 

scattering the bread-crumb trail home. 

I will duck if I sense, once again, 

sticks pointed, 

stones hurled. 

“Oh, was that an insult, a criticism, a slight? 

I must have misunderstood! 

Forgive me.” 

—Lu Mountenay, Herald, June 2014, p. 31.

Lu wrote this poem after a walk on a labyrinth near her home in Independence, Missouri, USA. 

Light the peace candle 

Prayer 

Read stanza 1 of “When the Darkness Overwhelms Us,” CCS 314, as the prayer and add “Amen.” 

Disciples’ Generous Response 

Statement 

World Church funding supports Community of Christ World Hunger programs. People all over the world receive blessings from these grants. Danielle, 14, of Haiti, says,  

I love the food we get at school. We have rice, vegetables, and even meat! We never have meat at home. We cannot afford it. My parents are also pleased because they don’t have to spend so much money on food for me and my brother. Instead, they use that money to buy books for my education. 

—2015 Annual Report, Community of Christ 

Six spiritual practices of A Disciples’ Generous Response guide us in managing and sharing our resources: Receive God’s Gifts, Respond Faithfully, Align Heart and Money, Share Generously, Save Wisely, and Spend Responsibly.  

For Reflection: How have you faithfully responded to God’s gifts? 

Video: “Keep Tithing! Or Get Started!” at YouTube.

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes 

Scripture Reading: Exodus 17:1–7 

Music for Reflection 

“Nada te turbe” CCS 241 

Share the text meaning for this song (found at the bottom of the hymnal page) before listening to the vocal recording on Community of Christ Sings Audio Recordings, available from Herald House. 

OR ask a soloist or ensemble to offer this ministry. 

Sermon 

Based on Exodus 17:1–7 

Focus Moment: Finger Labyrinth 

See the end of the service for labyrinth

A maze is a puzzle with twists, turns, and blind alleys. A maze offers many choices and requires mathematical and logical thinking, a left-brain task. 

A labyrinth, on the other hand, as used for spiritual practice, is designed to focus the mind, not confuse it. It has only one path (unicursal); the way in is the way out. A labyrinth is a right-brain task. It involves intuition, creativity, and imagery. With a labyrinth there is only one choice: whether to enter or not. 

Life can feel sometimes like you are in a maze, just wandering, trying to find your way. 

• Do you wonder what you should do with your life, not just in the future, but now? 
• Do you wonder what you should do in a certain situation? 
• Wouldn’t it be nice to know you are on the right track and are moving forward aware of God’s blessings and guidance? 

The Labyrinth is an ancient symbol patterned from the sacred geometry of the natural world (spiral and circle). Though it is used in Christianity to depict pilgrimage and journey into God, its symbolism and meaning transcend religious and non-religious boundaries. The path in is the path out. Take a few minutes now on a journey with the printed Finger Labyrinth.   

A Rhythm for Finger Labyrinth 

Print or project this pattern and questions: 

Release: The journey in—what distractions or resistances are you called to shed as you journey deeper into God? 

Receive: The center—feel free to linger here. Rest into God’s presence. What is God’s invitation for you? 

Return: The journey out—what is God calling you to do in the world? Whom are you being called to become? 

Video: “The Long Journey” 

Mission is elemental. The direction is the same. It begins at the source. 

YouTube

Sending Forth Hymn 

“Rain Down” CCS 260 

OR “Praise the Lord Together Singing” CCS 642 

Divide participants and sing this several times in a two-, three-, or four-part round. 

Sending Forth: Doctrine and Covenants 164:9a 

Postlude 

Sacred Space: Small-Group Worship Outline

Gathering

Welcome

Ordinary Time runs from Pentecost to Advent. This part of the Christian calendar is without major festivals or holy days. During Ordinary Time we focus on our discipleship as individuals and as a faith community.

Prayer for Peace

Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.

Light the peace candle.

Troubled waters, O Lord.

You know what it is to walk through troubled waters. You are the one who stilled the storm just enough to invite disciples to walk on the waves. You work not through peaceful waters but through disruption. What does it mean to think that healing comes when the waters are troubled; healing comes in the midst and even through the troubled waters?

Help us to understand that waters still and stagnant are not the places to which we are called. We are called to serve in disruptive times, changing times, portentous times.

Help us come to peace with our role and calling, here and now. Not peace with a stop sign or red light. Not a quiet, still, and stagnant peace. Not a quiet reflecting pool kind of peace.

But give us the gift of green light peace—the kind that allows us to navigate, to bridge, and if necessary to swim. Give us the kind of peace that says go, knowing that Christ goes with us, and we go together. Allow us to walk on water in faith or make us strong swimmers together.

We wade in, knowing God is troubling the waters ahead of us, making a way where there seems no way. We wade in the waters together with so many for whom this is daily life. God’s going to trouble the waters. O Lord, trouble our waters, lead us to the river, bring us through.

Amen.

—Michele McGrath

Spiritual Practice

Prayer for Peace

Read the following to the group:

For today’s Enduring Principle we are focusing on the Pursuit of Peace (Shalom). Shalom for Community of Christ is defined as, “Led by the Holy Spirit, we work with God and others to restore shalom to creation.” By naming our Prayer for Peace for loved ones, the world, countries, and even those we disagree with, we are focusing our hearts on relationship and reconciliation.

Read the following prayer for peace by St. Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

Amen.

Read the prayer again, having the group say each line after you say it.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

Amen.

Invite group members to share about the hope they have for peace and reconciliation in their lives. Close with the following prayer:

Peace be to this house, peace be to all relationships, peace be to all the world. Amen.

Sharing Around the Table

Exodus 17:1–7 NRSVue

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do for this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

—Exodus 17:1–7 NRSVue

Two months after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and began their long journey, they camped in the wilderness near Mount Sinai. Their food supplies were gone. They were hungry, and they began to complain. In response, God sent quail and manna for them to eat. Later in their journey, when they had no water and became thirsty, they began grumbling. Moses became irritated. He asked them why they were testing the Lord by doubting God’s ability to care for them. They continued to complain and make accusations against Moses.

Moses usually prayed patiently for the people. This time, Moses complained to God about the accusations of his people. Then he followed God’s instructions. He went before the people with his staff to Mount Horeb. When he struck a rock there, water came forth. The scripture says God stood on the rock or was present with them.

The area has springs below the limestone rocks. One is called Massah, which means “test.” The other is called Meribah, or “quarrel,” to commemorate the way the Israelites quarreled with Moses.

The writer of Exodus presents the generation of Israelites in the wilderness in the worst possible light. People who are starving or dying of thirst naturally would cry out to God. Those whose future is uncertain naturally would despair and second-guess decisions they have made. Where is the line between negativity and legitimate concern?

In today’s world, grumbling and complaints are everywhere. People of faith often have as many complaints as those who do not know God. Yet God continues to bear patiently with humankind. God is present even in our frustration, loneliness, and despair. Such is the grace of God.

Questions

1. What events in your life reflect a wilderness journey? How have you felt God’s presence?
2. How does this story challenge people to change their negative attitudes and self-centered complaints? What does it say about desperate circumstances that prompt genuine lamentations and petitions to God?

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.

This offering prayer is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:

God of our discipleship, As we navigate our world of debt and consumerism, help us to save wisely, spend responsibly, and give generously. In this way may we prepare for the future and create a better tomorrow for our families, friends, the mission of Christ, and the world. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

CCS 49, “Wind upon the Waters”

Closing Prayer

Optional Additions Depending on the Group

• Communion
• Thoughts for Children

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Communion Scripture

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.

• 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”

Bless and serve bread and wine.

Thoughts for Children

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):

Say: Sometimes life is pretty hectic. It can make us feel sad or overwhelmed. When we feel that way it can help to spend time with God. Sometimes, this requires us to practice mindfulness. This means we are aware of our surroundings, realize how we are on the inside, and can calm our thoughts and feelings—even when things are crazy.

One way we can practice mindfulness is by grounding ourselves using our five senses. Does anyone know what our five senses are? Affirm all answers, making sure all five senses are named: sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing.

Let’s try the grounding exercise. As we go through each step, you won’t need to move around or say anything out loud. Instead, use your sense to find things around you and make a list in your head.

First, I want you to find five things you can see around you. Name those things in your head.

Next, I want you to find four things around you and imagine what they would feel like to touch.

Next, close your eyes. Without making any noises, I want you to listen for three sounds in your surroundings.

Next, I want you to find two smells in your surroundings. If you can’t smell anything right now, look around you for smells you can imagine (for example, if you have a Communion set out, imagine the smell of warm bread).

Next, I want you to think of one food you love to eat because it tastes so good. Name that in your head.

Finally, I want you to close your eyes and think of one thing you really like about yourself. Invite participants to share their one thing.

Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for time with God. Pray that everyone will feel God’s presence in their life even when things are scary or difficult.

Sermon Helps

Exploring the Scripture

Each of the Lenten scripture readings challenges hearers to inspect their lives to identify changes they can make. Today’s scripture passage is about grumbling and negativity, traits that plague every generation.

Two months after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and began their long journey, they camped in the wilderness of Sin between Elim and Mount Sinai. Their food supplies were gone. They were hungry, and they began to complain. In response, God sent quails and manna for them to eat. They moved on from the wilderness of Sin to Rephidim and suffered thirst. They began grumbling, and Moses was irritated. He asked them why they were testing the Lord by doubting God’s presence among them and God’s ability to care for them. They repeated their complaints. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” (Exodus 17:3). It was their usual accusation when life was difficult in the desert.

Moses usually prayed patiently for the people. This time, Moses complained to God about the accusations of his people. Then he followed God’s instructions. He went before the people with his staff to Mount Horeb. When he struck a rock there, water came forth. The scripture passage says God stood on the rock (v. 6). It is a way of saying that God was present with them.

The writer of Exodus is careful to point out the event took place in the presence of the elders of Israel as witnesses. The area has springs of water below the limestone rocks. The passage ends with an explanation of the names for some of those springs. One is called Massah, which means “test.” The other is called Meribah, or “quarrel,” to commemorate the way in which the Israelites quarreled with Moses. It’s interesting that neither name gives honor nor praise to God for the miracle. Both point to the negative behavior of the people.

The story of manna and this story about the gift of water provide a pattern that is often repeated as the Israelites journey through the wilderness toward the land of Canaan. They grumble and complain. They turn their frustration on Moses. Moses goes to God for help, and God patiently provides what the people need. The difference between grumbling and lack of faith by the people and the faithfulness and compassion of God becomes clearer with each repetition. Divinity and humanity stand starkly silhouetted against the backdrop of the wilderness.

The writer of Exodus presents the generation of Israelites in the wilderness in the worst possible light. People who are starving or dying of thirst would naturally cry out to God. Those whose future is uncertain would naturally despair and second-guess decisions they have made. Where is the line between negativity and legitimate concerns?

In today’s world, grumbling and complaints are everywhere. People of faith, unfortunately, often have as many complaints as those who do not know God. And yet, God continues to bear patiently with humankind. Such is the grace of God.

Central Ideas

1. The Israelites endured great hardship in their wilderness journey toward Canaan. God answered their complaints by providing consistently for their needs.
2. Difficulties in life often prompt people to blame others—frequently their leaders—for problems and tragedies, regardless of who might have been responsible.
3. God’s grace continues to bless us despite the difficulties of life and the human tendency to complain and grumble.

Questions for the Speaker

1. What complaints do you hear most often? What do you complain about? What is an alternative to complaining?
2. Consider the history of your congregation. What events reflect a wilderness journey? What events reveal God’s unconditional blessings?
3. How does this Lenten story challenge people to change their negative attitudes and self-centered complaints? What does it say about desperate circumstances that prompt genuine lamentations and petitions to God?

Lessons

Adult Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Exodus 17:1–7

Lesson Focus

It is likely that each person will encounter spiritual dry spells in their life that can be quenched by seeking the living water of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.

Objectives

The learners will…

• explore the focus scripture passage.
• compare the experience of the Israelites needing helpful intervention with their own experiences in difficult times.
• create a plan to actively seek to draw closer to the source of living water.

Resources

For background into Old Testament scripture the following resources may be helpful.

• International Bible Commentary, Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1998, 426–427
• Feasting on the Word, Year A, Vol. 3, Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010, 73–79
• Any lectionary commentary series for Year A, 2019–2020

Supplies

• Dark Night of the Soul picture (end of lesson)
• Bibles or copies of Exodus 17:1–7 for each class member
• Board or flip chart; chalk or markers
• Bookmarks, one for each class member. Print the following verse of scripture on one side of the bookmark: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink” John 7:37b, 38a.
• Pencils or pens
• Small paper cups (4-oz / 113.39 gm work well)
• Covered pitcher(s) of clean drinking water

Notes to teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Exodus 17:1–7 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: Old Testament, pp. 111–112, available through Herald House.

Gather

Toward the top of the worshiper’s path in the Temple in Independence, Missouri, just before passing the fountain of living water, is a sculpture called Dark Night of the Soul. The focus of the sculpture is a personal experience.

In today’s focus scripture passage, the wilderness-wandering Israelites have come to the end of the line emotionally and physically, in what for them was a dark night of the soul. The place they’d stopped to rest had no source of water or food for them or their herds, and they complained bitterly to Moses about it. They wondered once again if God was truly with them on the arduous journey toward the land promised to them. Hardship and apparent deprivation fostered doubt.

Share the image of this three-figure sculpture.

Engage

Before exploring the scripture passage, it would help to learn about a few of the terms used. The “wilderness of sin” is thought to mean an area near Mount Sinai and not a reference to a place where people fell into sinful behavior. Moses called the place where he was instructed to strike a rock for water Massah, which meant place of testing, and Meribah, place of quarreling. As we read the passage, listen for the words Massah and Meribah to figure out the context of those terms.

Distribute Bibles or scripture handouts.

Ask for volunteers to read Exodus 17:1–7 as drama.

The people (all class members)

Moses

The Lord

Narrator (read everything not in quotes)

Discuss:

• Whom did the people complain about? With whom were they really upset?
• What was Moses’ response?
• What was the significance of naming the place Massah and Meribah?
• Where was God in the narrative?

Respond

Sometimes each of us has probably felt like the Israelites, wondering where God is when we encounter roadblocks as we journey through life. Sometimes we probably feel like Moses, particularly if we serve in a leadership capacity in the congregation.

• Explore why you think it seems to be human nature to doubt that God is present when difficulties are encountered. Why do we tend to blame others?
• What might be a strategy to strengthen the spiritual connection between us and our creator, a connection to sustain us through the inevitable hardships we will face?
• Using the flip chart or board, list ways class members suggest they might be able to quench their thirst for a closer relationship with God. Remind them that spiritual disciplines would be a good place to start.

Send

Distribute bookmarks and pens or pencils. Ask class members to use the blank side to write an idea or a spiritual discipline they will commit to implementing in the next week as a means of “drinking living water.”

Bless

Place a small paper cup in front of each class member. Pour drinking water into the paper cups.

Explain that the clean water you have provided them to drink is a reminder that God is always present and can quench our thirst when we become parched from the daily challenges we each face. Christians refer to Jesus as the Living Water. Invite class members to take and drink, accepting the symbolic presence of God through Jesus Christ as living water in their lives.

Youth Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Exodus 17:1–7

Lesson Focus

God’s faithfulness to the Israelites even when they doubted

Objectives

The learners will…

• recognize how God provided for the Israelites despite their doubt.
• reflect on how God provides for and sustains them in their own lives.
• develop a plan to practice intentional gratitude.

Supplies

• Bible
• Printed picture of Moses striking the rock (Find one that includes more than just Moses.)
• Rocks (enough for each participant to have one or two)
• Paint pens
• Fan or blow dryer (to dry the rocks quickly)

Note to teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Exodus 17:1–7 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: Old Testament, pp. 111–112, available through Herald House.

Gather

Invite someone to offer an opening prayer for the class.

Engage

Show learners the picture of Moses striking the rock and water shooting out. Ask them to share what stands out to them in the picture and what they believe is happening in the picture. Tell the students that you will now read the scripture passage that tells the story of what is happening in the picture and you want them to pick a place in the picture to be while you read. Invite them to be creative; they can be a person or an object within the picture.

This passage tells of God providing the Israelites with water in the desert. The Israelites were arguing with and complaining to Moses demanding that he give them water. God instructed Moses to strike a rock with his staff and provided the Israelites with the water they demanded.

• Why do you think the Israelites were still concerned that their needs wouldn’t be provided for, even after God saved them from the Egyptians and provided them quail and manna?
• Has there been a time in your life when you were angry with God for not giving you something you needed? What was that like?
• Has God ever provided for you in an unexpected way? How did you respond?

Respond

Explain that the Israelites were constantly focused on what they didn’t have and failed to remember all the ways in which God had provided for them throughout their journey. Their concern about not having water was not unfounded. However, if they had remembered all they had received and been grateful for it, they would have realized that they didn’t need to worry at all.

Give each student a rock and provide them with a variety of paint pens. Ask them to decorate their rocks with words or pictures describing something for which they are grateful.

Send

Remind the class that the life of a disciple is not always easy, but God will always be with us as we journey. Doctrine and Covenants 155:8 reminds us,

The call is for workers in the cause of Zion; therefore, neither tarry, nor doubt that I am. I know your perplexities and I am aware of your uncertainties, but if you will call upon my name my Spirit will go before you into whatsoever place you are sent and I will continue to bless you as you have need.

Although discipleship is not easy, when we are intentionally aware of the ways in which God is present in our lives and grateful for them, we find it easier to continue journeying in faith.

Invite students to find a partner and share their rock(s). After they have shared, ask them to tell their partner where they plan to keep their rock(s). Encourage them to keep it somewhere they will be reminded of God’s grace and all they can be grateful for.

Bless

Sing the campfire song “My Lord, He Done Done,” and invite students to contribute suggestions to the song of what God has done for them.

My Lord (my Lord)

He done done.

My Lord (my Lord)

He done done.

My Lord (my Lord)

He done done.

He done did what he said he would do.

He said he’d give us (suggestion)

He done done.

He said he’d give us (suggestion)

He done done.

He said he’d give us (suggestion)

He done done.

He done did what he said he would do.

Repeat

Children’s Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Exodus 17:1–7

Lesson Focus

God continues to provide for the Hebrew people, even when they complain.

Objectives

The learners will…

• experience thirst—like the Hebrew people were thirsty while wandering in the desert.
• place events of the sacred story in the correct order on a timeline.
• recognize a pattern to the sacred story.
• brainstorm how this story applies to living as a disciple today.

Supplies

• Bible or Lectionary Story Bible, Year A, by Ralph Milton, illustrated by Margaret Kyle (Wood Lake Publishing, 2007, ISBN 9781551455471)
• Tag game variation suggestions Active For Life
• YouTube video for “God Is So Good” melody YouTube
• 1 Rock
• 1 Stick
• Large poster paper
• Black marker
• Timeline cards, cut out and mix up prior to class (end of lesson)
• Tape
• Drinking cups (one per student)
• Water or juice
• River stones or rocks (one per child)
• Colored Markers

Notes to teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Exodus 17:1–7 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: Old Testament, pp.111–112, available through Herald House.

Gather

Begin a game of tag; if the weather permits, bring the class outside. The purpose of the activity is to motivate the children to move around enough so that they become thirsty. Ideas for a variety of different tag games are listed on the following website: Active For Life

After about 5–10 minutes, gather the children back into your classroom space. If anyone asks, do not let them get a drink. Facilitate discussion with the following questions:

• Is anyone thirsty?
• What do you like to drink when you’re thirsty?
• How easy is it to concentrate on other things (like this class discussion) when you’re thirsty?

Do not allow children to get a drink until indicated in the lesson. If a child asks, just simply respond “trust me…you’ll get a drink later.”

Engage

Before today’s scripture passage, the Hebrew people complained of hunger and they doubted God. Today’s scripture lesson continues with the Hebrew people still following Moses as they wander around the wilderness. Ask if anybody can predict what happens in the story today. Allow children to share their ideas.

Begin reading excerpts below of Exodus 17:1–7, and from “We Want a Drink!” pages 209–210 in Lectionary Story Bible, Year A. Stop at various points in the story to ask the discussion questions below.

Read:

The people of Israel had been very hungry. But God had given them a special food called manna, which tasted really good. And God had sent some quail—birds that look like small chickens. They cooked the quail on a fire, and they tasted good, too.

Now the people had enough to eat, but they were thirsty. There was no water anywhere. They started complaining again. “Stop it!” said Moses. “Stop saying that God isn’t good to us.”

Stop and ask the following questions:

• What does it feel like to be really thirsty?
• What do you do when you’re thirsty?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you are really thirsty but there’s absolutely nothing around to drink?

Continue reading:

The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?”

Stop and ask the following questions:

• Do you ever complain about being thirsty? (Now is a good time to point out any child who might have been complaining about not getting a drink after playing tag.)
• People need water to live. Do you think the Hebrew people had a good reason for complaining?
• Should they have blamed Moses? Is there anyone to blame?

Continue reading:

So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff [stick] with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.”

Ask the following questions:

• Have you ever seen or heard of a rock giving water when it has been hit with a stick?
• Would you have questioned God when asked to hit a rock with a stick?
• If you had been in the desert, would you have done what God asked?

Say: “Ok let’s try!” Put the rock on the table in front of the class. Hold the stick in your hand and ask, “Do you think hitting this rock with a stick will give us water?” After children have replied, hit the rock with the stick. Then ask for volunteers; maybe it needs to be the right person. Then suggest maybe they haven’t been holding the stick the right way. Allow several more children to try different methods of holding the stick. After everyone has had a turn, ask the class why it wasn’t working. Then ask them to predict if it will work for Moses and the Hebrew people. Why or why not?

Finish reading:

So Moses hit the rock with his walking stick. Clean, pure water came running out of the rock.

Then Moses said to the people, “God is with us. Remember that. God is with us. God will never leave us. We are God’s people!”

But the people didn’t always remember. It’s hard to remember that God cares about you, when you are hungry and thirsty and tired and hot and homesick.

Respond

On large poster paper draw a thick line down the center with the black marker, creating a timeline. On the far left draw a hash mark and write the phrase “The Hebrews were slaves in Egypt.” Place the timeline cards on the table and ask the children to put them in order along the timeline. Hang the timeline somewhere easily visible in the classroom space.

Once completed in the correct order, help the children see the pattern that God always provides. Explain that this sacred story of Moses leading the Hebrew people out of Egypt reminds us that even people thousands of years ago experienced many hardships while following God. As disciples, we sometimes must face difficulties just as the Hebrew people did so long ago. Being a disciple isn’t always easy; sometimes we are faced with many challenges. Ask the following discussion questions:

• What are some difficulties people experience today?
• Have you heard people complain about something at church? At home? At school?
• When have you complained about something?
• Based on the story, what should we do instead of complain?
• Given the pattern on our timeline, what do you think is going to happen next in the sacred story?

Send

Give a cup to every child and fill it with water or juice. Thank the children for trusting you to provide something to drink. While they are drinking, give a rock or stone to each child and place the markers in a place for everyone to share. Tell them to write the phrase “God is always with us” or “God will never leave us” on their rock or stone. Allow them to decorate it in a way that will help them remember this sacred story.

Bless

Sing the campfire song, “God Is So Good” with the class. If you don’t know the melody, use the provided YouTube link to hear and learn. The adapted lyrics are provided below.

“God Is So Good”

By Paul Makai

Words adapted by Sarah Marolf

God is so good,

God is so good,

God is so good,

God’s so good to me.

God cares for me,

God cares for me,

God cares for me,

God’s so good to me.

God never leaves,

God never leaves,

God never leaves,

God’s so good to me.

God is with me,

God is with me,

God is with me,

God’s so good to me.

Timeline Cards

The Hebrew people complained about how bad their lives were as slaves in Egypt.	God helped Moses convince the Pharoah to let the Hebrew people go free by sending 10 different plagues.
The Hebrew people were freed from slavery and quickly fled, leaving so quickly they didn’t even have time for their bread to finish rising.	Pharoah’s army chased the Hebrews to the Red Sea. The Hebrews complained they were trapped and would be killed.
God answers Moses’ prayer by providing water flowing from a rock for everyone to drink.	The Hebrew people began complaining of hunger while wandering around in the wilderness.
God answered Moses’ prayer by providing manna and quail for everyone to eat.	The Hebrew people complained they were thirsty and blamed Moses for bringing them into the desert.
God helped Moses part the Red Sea so that the Hebrew people could escape Pharoah’s army by walking across. Once all Hebrews made it safely across, the waters came crashing down on Pharoah’s army.