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Giving
thanks for God’s gift of teachers
Last week we
brought our Sunday School year to a close. It’s time to give our
teachers a well-deserved break and begin our summer schedule.
Before doing so, however, we need to thank God for those who
answered the call to teach, thus putting to use the special
ability that the Lord has given to them.
The Lord loves
a cheerful giver, one who is willing to step forward with a
"yes" when God calls. The Sunday School committee loves
such persons also. Sometimes it gets downright discouraging to
hear the word "no" again and again, instead of
"yes," when seeking out teachers or other willing
workers. We thank God for you who replied with a "yes"
to this task!
A funny thing
happens along the way of answering God’s call. God give the
ability. "What do I know about teaching?" we may wonder.
"I’m too old or too young," we might think. "I’ve
done my time," or "I have no time," we may assert.
"Others need to step forward," we might say, even though
we know that we cannot answer the call for somebody else. It
begins with us.
So, we are
especially thankful for the "here I am, send me"
response of (and as I read your name, would you please
stand)
list names of teachers .
Thank you for the time and effort you put into this task this
year. I hope, as I’ve heard it said by many teachers, that you
learned more of God and the Bible and faith from the task of
teaching than you would’ve had you not answered "yes"
to this call.
As you have
led us in learning this year, would you now lead the rest of us in
the responsive reading found on the back of the bulletin. Perhaps
others will be inspired to answer "yes" in the coming
months when the Sunday School committee calls... Teachers, would
you please read the portions identified by the word
"One." The rest of us will fllow your lead with the
"All" parts. We begin with you teachers:
God’s Call -- God’s
Promise
A responsive reading
One: Many years ago God called to Abram:
"Go . . .
leave this country;
Go to a land that
I will show you."
All: Today, and every day, God calls to
us"
"Come,
and follow me,
to new
places and new opportunities."
One: God gave a promise to Abram and Sarai:
"I will make
of you a great nation,
and I will bless
you."
All: God’s promise to us is just as sure:
"You
are my people, part of my family;
I have
blessed you, and I will bless you."
One: God also promised them:
"You will be
a blessing; through you,
all the families
of the earth will be blessed."
All: May we hear and accept God’s promise:
"You
are my blessing—each one of you,
through
your love and compassion, you bless my world."
One: Trusting God’s promise, they followed God’s call;
In a new land,
they made their home;
Then they built
an altar and worshiped God.
All: Let us trust God’s promise and follow
God’s call.
Like Abram
and Sarai, wherever we dwell,
Let us
worship our God with praise and thanksgiving.
by June Adams Gibble, interim
hospice chaplain Elgin, Illinois
Church of the Brethren Living Word
Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word
Series"
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