In Romans we are challenged to break down the separations we put up to divide ourselves from others. We are encouraged to not look at others with an awareness of what is wrong with them, but with a desire to see people as God sees them, with love. More and more, as we see people with God’s love, we then join with God’s work in the world of loving others. This leads us to work toward justice for all of God’s people.
Light a candle, take some deep breaths, or sing a song, to draw your attention to God’s presence. Say this prayer together or read it to yourself.
You can also listen to a recording here.
While we might believe salvation is achieved through faith, not works, in practice we have turned “having faith” into a work itself. We think that when we achieve “having faith in Jesus” and keep “having faith in Jesus,” then we have earned our individual salvation. Worse, we can end up using “having faith in Jesus” to separate ourselves from others and create harmful divisions. In Romans 3 we are reminded that it is not our faith IN Jesus which brings salvation, rather it is the faith OF Jesus Christ which that saves the world. The prayer coming from this sermon is that we would have a longing for a more mature faith that does not look to others with an awareness of what is wrong with them, but that looks to Jesus with a desire to see Jesus’ love for all people.
Read Romans 3: 21-31 aloud together three different ways and discuss the corresponding questions.
Discuss the following questions:
Many Indigenous people in Canada have experienced injustice and been seen as separate, often at the hands of the Church. Orange Shirt Day, or National Truth and Reconciliation Day takes place annually on September 30. This national day honours the children who lost their lives from residential schools and lifts up the survivors as well as their families and communities.
Here is an article from Tsleil-Waututh Nation with idea how to walk alongside Indigenous communities toward reconciliation.
The North Shore News has an article with events happening around the North Shore to mark TRC Day this year.
Close this time of worship by reading this blessing.
Child and Adult Small Churches are spaces where children and adults learn and grow in faith together. Bible stories are shared in simple, engaging ways that connect with children’s understanding, followed by questions and activities that spark curiosity and conversation. Kids and adults explore faith side by side through fun, hands-on experiences, allowing natural discipleship to take root within families.
This rhythm creates a worship space where faith is nurtured in child-centered language and activities, while honouring the gifts of all generations learning together.
Light a candle, take some deep breaths, or sing a song, to draw your attention to God’s presence. Say this prayer together or read it to yourself.
Eden means “Abundance, plenty, fullness.” The Tigris and Euphrates rivers are named in the description of Eden in Genesis 2. Flowing through a vast desert, these two rivers still provide water for drinking, crops, and transportation today.
There is so much more to the creation stories than we can include today. Today we are only focusing on God’s creation the world, all it’s creatures and the first humans, Adam and Eve. The story of Adam and Eve continues on in Genesis, and is one story we can use to discuss sin and separation from God. While we aren’t discussing this topic today with Adam and Eve we will be discussing it next week using another story, Noah’s Ark. We encourage you to continue to read all the different stories with your children (both the Old Testament and New Testament) and see what you can learn about God and our relationship with our Creator.
Adam and Eve
5-7 At the time God made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground—God hadn’t yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)—God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul!
8-9 Then God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.
10-14 A river flows out of Eden to water the garden and from there divides into four rivers. The first is named Pishon; it flows through Havilah where there is gold. The gold of this land is good. The land is also known for a sweet-scented resin and the onyx stone. The second river is named Gihon; it flows through the land of Cush. The third river is named Hiddekel and flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.
16-17 God commanded the Man, “You can eat from any tree in the garden, except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don’t eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you’re dead.”
18-20 God said, “It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.” So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn’t find a suitable companion.
21-22 God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man.
23-25
The Man said, “Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh!
Name her Woman for she was made from Man.”
Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh.
The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame.
You may want to incorporate a feelings wheel when going through these questions.
Further Discussion for Adults and Older kids:
This is a good world. God made wonderful and beautiful creation (including us!). And yet, we know that we mess up and do things that we shouldn’t do, and there are things that aren’t perfect in the world.
God’s redeeming love continues to reach out to us and the world, even when we make mistakes. We can join in with God helping to share reconciling love, working to be in better relationships and connected with other people and creation.
Complete in response to the story as a group
In the story of Eden, God took the dust and the mud and formed Adam. Now it is your turn to create. Try this fun version of Play-doh Pictionary.
Instructions:
Share this with the group before the children move to free-play time.
God the world is so big, when we look at the stars, we’re amazed at how wonderful Your creation is and how big Your love is. As we look up at the night and trace our fingers over the stars, imagining shapes and stories, we are reminded how connected our world is-how connected we are to You, to our family, and to our neighbors.
We may not see the stars during the day, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. We can remember that even when we can’t see you, You are with us.
Help us to be on the lookout for good, beautiful things so we can tuck them in our pockets and remember them when we feel sad, afraid, or overwhelmed. Help us to remember that your light shines, even when we can’t see it. Help us to remember just how connected we are. Amen.
By Kayla Craig, from Every Season Sacred
As the children play together, continue the conversation with the adults.
Read the following summary of the sermon on Romans 3 from last Sunday. Then discuss the following question.
While we might believe salvation is achieved through faith, not works, in practice we have turned “having faith” into a work itself. We think that when we achieve “having faith in Jesus” and keep “having faith in Jesus,” then we have earned our individual salvation. Worse, we can end up using “having faith in Jesus” to separate ourselves from others and create harmful divisions. In Romans 3 we are reminded that it is not our faith IN Jesus which brings salvation, rather it is the faith OF Jesus Christ which that saves the world. The prayer coming from this sermon is that we would have a longing for a more mature faith that does not look to others with an awareness of what is wrong with them, but that looks to Jesus with a desire to see Jesus’ love for all people.
To mark the end of this worship time, gather everyone together and share the following blessing.
