As I write this, I am at Lake Junaluska learning how to be a District Superintendent. Through workshops about personnel, supervisory, and legal matters, small group coaching with other new DSs from around the connection, and presentations about adaptive leadership, I’m learning new vocabulary and new responsibilities. And I’m at the Lake, a place I have been many times over the years for youth and adult programming, for vacation, for conferences and festivals. The site of many late night walks to the cross with youth groups, walks around the lake for exercise and prayer, conferences (Did you know more bishops have been consecrated in Stuart Auditorium than in any other place?) and concerts. A place where lives are changed, where faith is deepened and strengthened, even challenged at times.
During the month of August we have five readings from John 6 as our lectionary texts. Five. From one chapter. Granted, it’s a long and dense chapter, and to my mind and ears splitting up the chapter over this many weeks can rob us of the impact of the stories and how they tie together. If you have already taken your vacation this summer and find you will be in the pulpit for all five weeks, be at peace! Perhaps you can explore how the whole story unfolds, tackling one theme idea a week rather than trying to get the whole burrito in one go.
You might find it helps to bring people along each week with what has happened before the verses the lectionary gives us so that people can see the momentum building in the story.
There is the feeding of the 5000, with a small child’s lunch. (What’s in your basket?)
There is John’s version of the storm at sea while the disciples are in the boat. Jesus walks across the water to come to them with a word of peace. (What’s in your storm?)
Jesus escapes the crowds because they see in him a supplier of bread. (Where is your refuge?)
They find him anyway across the sea and ask for bread. (What have you done for me lately?)
He explains that he is the bread of life, the lechem l’chaim. (What constitutes the bread of life, the life that really is life?)
His teaching is hard and many leave. Jesus asks Peter, “Do you also wish to go away?” (Lord, to whom can we go?)
Ok that’s six questions – you can combine one or two if you need to.
Alternately, you might frame a series from the questions they ask Jesus:
- Where will we buy food to feed all these people?
- What good are loaves and fishes for a crowd like this?
- Rabbi, how did you get here?
- What must we do in order to accomplish what God requires?
- What miraculous sign will you do, that we can see and believe you?
- Isn’t this Jesus, Joseph’s son, whose father and mother we know?
- How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
- This message is harsh; who can hear it?
- Lord, where would we go?
I’m way ahead of you; this is nine questions. Multiple choice!
Blessings on your time at the Lake with Jesus in John 6!
Grace and peace,
Claire