Growing In God’s Love
Growing in God’s LoveA Story Bible CurriculumUnit Overview and Connecting page written by Elizabeth F. CaldwellSessions written by Cathy C. HoopCreationIntroductionUnit OverviewIntergenerational and Home Ideas234How God MadeEverythingGenesis 1:1–2:4a8We Were AllFarmers OnceGenesis 2:4b–2222When the WorldStarted Over AgainGenesis 6–928The free At-Home Kit Guide provides instructions andsuggestions for at-home faith formation. Download itat www.pcusastore.com/StoryBibleCurriculum lum.Click on the unit title, and then click on the download buttonfound at the bottom of the product page for this unit. 2020 Westminster John Knox PressFirst editionPublished by Westminster John Knox PressLouisville, KentuckyAll rights reserved. Except where permission to photocopy isexpressly granted on the material, no part of these materialsmay be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,or by any information storage or retrieval system, withoutpermission in writing from the publisher. For information,address Westminster John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon Street,Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396.Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from theNew Revised Standard Version of the Bible, 1989 by theDivision of Christian Education of the National Council ofChurches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.In some instances, adaptations have been made to make thelanguage inclusive. Scripture quotations marked CEB are fromthe Common English Bible, 2011 by Common English Bible,and are used by permission.Every effort has been made to determine whether texts are undercopyright. If through an oversight any copyrighted material hasbeen used without permission and the publisher is notified ofthis, acknowledgment will be made in future printings.Printed in the United States of America
We Were All Farmers OnceConnectingGenesis 2:4b–22Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 22g Goal: To hear the second story of creation and learn how dependent we are on the earth.Connecting with the Biblical TextThis is the second story of creation, and it inviteschildren to hear how another writer explained thebeginnings of the world. This time we hear from awriter who was more concerned with the connectionbetween humans and the land, the fertile soil of theearth, and less concerned with the daily order ofcreation and the idea of humans as in charge of andresponsible for creation. This writer is referred to asthe Yahwist writer because they use the term Yahwehfor God. This ancient writer wanted the Israelitesto remember that this rich, dark soil from whichhumans were created was the same rich, dark soilthat sustained their daily life via food. Rather thanbeing placed in charge, the Yahwist writer wants usto remember that we are dependent on the land.We need to take care of the land so that all livingthings can thrive. These stories of creation show howtwo different voices describe beginnings, each onedifferent and each valued by their original audienceand by modern hearers of this text.If you would like to read a short commentary articleon this text, go to bit.ly/Genesis2Commentary. Foradditional background on this text, read the notes inthe CEB Study Bible (Common English Bible, 2013)./find-your-local-foodbank) or the Society ofSt. Andrew (www.endhunger.org).They bothwork to provide food for those in need. Whatvolunteer opportunities are there for yourchurch?Connecting with the Spiritual Lives of ChildrenWhat’s more fun for a young child than playing indirt or a mud puddle? Feeling the texture of dirtand watching earthworms move in and out helpingto aerate the soil is a wonderful introduction toGod’s beautiful land. Going to pick strawberriesor blueberries in the summer and apples in the fallor planting and tending a garden is a great familyor congregational activity and provides a way toconnect this story about land and the first farmersto our lives today. “Thank you, God, for giving us somany things we like to eat” is a simple prayer to usewith children of any age. Older children can see howour life on this earth also means we can share, in somany ways, with those whose food is not as plentiful.Appreciating the land and all it provides for us andbeing involved in sharing food with others certainlycontribute to a child’s spiritual formation.Connecting with the Spiritual Lives of AdultsConnecting with the Worldg Are there working farms in your community thatyou could visit?g Do you know anyone who has a farm or growsvegetables or herbs in their yard? Could youinvite them to talk with your children about theirconnection to the land and food?g Are there opportunities for gleaning? Whatgroups in your community help combat hunger,such as Second Harvest Food Bank (check forlocal food banks via www.feedingamerica.org“We hit the ground running”—a common phrasewe use to describe the nature of our lives today.When do you stop and think about the ground youwalk on? Perhaps you like to garden in the summer,tending flowers or vegetables or herbs. You notice therichness of the soil or the dryness of the earth, andyou learn when to water or feed, when to sow seedsor plants, and when to harvest. Many of us are farremoved from the food we eat. How can you becomemore connected with the rich, dark soil that Godcreated to grow the plants that feed all creation?God, we thank you for the land you have provided for us—for our food and for our enjoyment.Help us to remember how much we are dependent on it for our very life. Amen.EnterReadPauseEngageWe Were All Farmers Once 2020 Westminster John Knox PressWrestleBless 21
LeadingGathering SuppliesBased on your choices, you will need:g Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bibleg Floor pillows, cushions, or beanbag chairsg Cloth or scarfg Glass jar or bowl filled with dirtg Vegetablesg Pot of herbsg Battery-operated candleg Internet-connected deviceg Glory to God hymnalg Newspaper or plastic tableclothg Small plastic or terra-cotta potsg Potting soilg Vegetable or flower seeds or small plantsg Spoonsg Various colors of dirtg Cupsg Large sheets of white paperg Food coloringg Disposable plastic glovesg Paint shirtsg Resource Page 1 for list of soup ingredients andrecipePreparing to LeadRead the story in Growing in God’s Love: A StoryBible (p. 22) and in your Bible. Consider using theCommon English Bible. It is a recent translation(2013), and the translator of Genesis in the CEB,Theodore Hiebert, also wrote this story, “We Were AllFarmers Once.” As you read, notice how this writerhas a different approach to telling the story of creationthan the writer of Genesis 1. It’s not ordered andrepetitive like the first story written by the priestlywriter. The focus of the creation story in Genesis 2 ison the land, “the best, richest, darkest, thickest soil”and the connection humans have with it.In what ways do you engage with this story?g What did this writer want us to know about Godand creation?g What are the actions of God in this story?g How is God’s life breath alive in you?g What was the role of humans in this story ofcreation?Review the names of the children you will be teaching.Keep their names before you this week, and keepthem in your prayers as you prepare to greet them.22 Have a gathering space for the beginning of classready to go, with pillows for the floor, cushions, orbeanbag chairs. Have a small table with a cloth orscarf on it. Place the following objects on or aroundit: candle, glass jar or bowl filled with dirt, somevegetables, and a small pot of herbs.For children struggling with transitions, set clearexpectations and let them know how long activitiesshould take. Give them a prompt to help them moveinto the next part of the session.Enter into sacred space together.Invite children into the seating space and turn thelights off in the room. Tell the children that when theworld began, God brought in light, and we do thatnow to remember how much God loved the world.Turn on the candle.In the previous session, the children learned therefrain to the song “Lord, Listen to Your ChildrenPraying,” available in Glory to God, #469 or at bit.ly/LordListenRefrain. You can also choose to listento the YouTube video “Ken Medema—Lord, Listento Your Children Praying” (bit.ly/LordListenSong,4:58). Invite the children to sing along with the song.You will sing this song in each session of this unit.Invite the children to think about how theirexperiences with the land, earth, and dark, fertilesoil. Wonder together:g Where does your food come from? (If necessary,try to follow the food chain back to the earth.)g Have you ever grown vegetables, herbs, orflowers? What was that like?If your group has children who are part of farmingfamilies, wonder together what their experience offarming the land is like.Read a story of God’s people.It’s easier for some children to listen if they havepaper and pencil with them for making notes oreven doodling. Provide paper and pencils for thosewho want to do that while listening to the story.Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible Curriculum — Creation 2020 Westminster John Knox Press
LeadingSince the previous story is connected to this story,invite children to share what they remember ofthe story “When God Made Everything” (Genesis1:1–2:4a). Remind the children, if necessary, that theBible begins with two different stories of creationthat were written by two different writers wanting tohighlight something that was important to the story.Tell them that in the first story in Genesis, the writertells us what was created day by day for six days untilthe seventh day, when God rested. Explain that thestory of creation we will hear today is very different.Invite the children to see if they can tell how it’sdifferent and what parts are the same. Read “WeWere All Farmers Once” (p. 22).Invite children who like to read to help you by takingturns reading a paragraph at a time. Pause to let God’s Word enter intohearts and minds.Tell the children that sometimes the world we livein gets so noisy that we need just a few minutes ofsilence. Explain that you will watch the time for twominutes. Invite the children to think about how thedark, fertile soil helps you grow and live. Engage curiosity and imaginationwith God’s story.Have a conversation with the children about thestory.g What words did you hear repeated in this story?g How is this writer’s story about creation differentfrom the first story of creation? (You may wantto reread “How God Made Everything” [p. 20].)g Why did God create humans?Choose one or both options:o Farmingg This story talks a lot about land and farms.Wonder together about the children’s experiencewith farms. What is a farm like? What do you see, smell, or notice on a farm? Have you ever been to a farmer’s market andtalked with the farmers who are there? What kinds of food did you buy? What did you see, hear, or notice at a farmer’smarket?g Watch one or more of these YouTube videosabout farming: Harvesting Wheat—from ‘ bee bright—Outand About on the Farm—Incredible Crops!(bit.ly/HarvestingWheat, 9:40) “Planting & Harvesting Vegetable CropsVideo” (bit.ly/VegetableCrops, 2:34) “A Year on Our Farm” (bit.ly/AYearOnOurFarm, 5:42)g Engage the children in conversation using thefollowing questions: In the story “We Were All Farmers Once,” weread how God realized that one farmer can’tdo all the work alone. Who is involved infarming in the video(s) we watched? In our story today, God said we need to takecare of the soil and the farms so that there willbe enough food for everyone. How do youthink that farmers take care of the soil andtheir farms?o Plantingg Talk together about what’s involved in planting,tending, and harvesting. Cover a table withnewspaper or a plastic tablecloth, or workoutdoors, if possible. Provide small plastic orterra-cotta pots, potting soil, spoons, water, andseeds or small plants (flowers or vegetables).g Show the children the seeds and plants that youhave, and invite them to choose something theywould like to plant. Some may want to plantseeds and watch them grow. Others may wantto plant a small plant that is already growing.Follow the instructions on the seed packets orplant cards regarding how deep to plant the seedsor plant. Help the children understand how tocare for their seeds and plants. Tell the childrenthat they are good gardeners whenever they dowhat God wants for God’s creation, whether theyare tending to their seedlings or helping oneanother grow in God’s grace.We Were All Farmers Once 2020 Westminster John Knox Press 23
LeadingWrestle with our place in God’s story.Read the first three paragraphs of the story again.Wrestle together with the following questions:g What are some ways we can be good to the soil?g If we could see God’s breath today blowingaround us, what do you think would happen?g What have we learned about farming since thisstory of creation was written?g What can we do to make sure everyone hasaccess to the food that they need to survive?o Making Soupg Wonder together where different vegetables aregrown. You may know that some states grow acertain kind of crop and some vegetables comefrom far away due to growing seasons. Considertogether how vegetables get from the place theywere grown to your room today. Count up howmany people and places may have had a hand inraising those vegetables.g Tell the children that you are going to make asimple vegetable soup together while thinkingabout the food we eat and giving thanks for thosewho grow it and get it to us. Use a vegetable soupstock as your base. Explain that even though it isin a container, it, too, contains vegetables fromthe earth. Show the children the vegetables andherbs that you have brought to make the soup.Comment that though some may be in cans(tomatoes and beans), frozen (peas and corn), ordried (herbs), they all were grown by farmers forour benefit.g Determine what the children in your group cando: peel and cut carrots, chop onion and garlic;measure frozen vegetables; add ingredients; addseasonings; stir the soup; set the table; and soforth. Use the recipe on Resource Page 1 to makethe soup.g Serve and enjoy, giving thanks for the goodnessof the earth and the farmers who provide for us.24 Bless one another with God’s grace.Have the children move back to the gathering spacewhere you began at the start of this session. Remindthe children that the author of this story of creationwanted us to imagine how God breathed God’s ownbreath and created a world and humans and animalsand everything we need to live and thrive. Invitechildren to think about their response to the prompt,“God’s breath in me helps me . . .” Begin by turningto the person on your right and saying, “God’s spiritis in you.” That person responds, “God’s breath inme helps me . . .” and completes the sentence. Theythen turn to the person on their right and blessesthem with, “God’s spirit is in you.” Continue aroundthe circle until everyone has been blessed and had achance to respond.Grow with more.o Paint with Mudg Invite the children to get their hands dirty!Cover a table in newspaper or plastic tablecloths.Have the children put on paint shirts. Show thechildren the different colors of dirt you havegathered. Invite the children to scoop some ofthe different types of dirt, each in their owncups, and add water until the dirt forms a thicksoupy consistency. They may add a few dropsof food coloring, if they desire, and mix it in tothe mud. Have them fingerpaint with their mud.When they have finished their paintings, havethem title them, “We Are a Part of the Earth.”Display the paintings.Some children may not like getting their handsdirty or will dislike the texture of the mud. See ifdisposable plastic gloves may help, or suggest thatthey may want to use watercolors or markers tomake a picture with dirt and mud colors.Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible Curriculum — Creation 2020 Westminster John Knox Press
We Were All Farmers OnceResource Page 1Simple Vegetable SoupMakes about 7 cups.Takes about 15–20 minutesSupplies:Large soup pot with lidLarge microwave-safe bowlLarge spoonLadleKnivesCutting boardMeasuring cups and spoonsStove topSmall bowls or cupsSpoonsIngredients: (feel free to add or substitute vegetables)4 cups low or no-sodium vegetable broth½ tsp salt1 (28 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes¼ tsp black pepper1 Tbsp olive oil1 (15.5 oz) can white kidney (cannellini) beans1 cup sliced carrots1 cup frozen peas1 cup trimmed and chopped (about 1") green1 cup frozen cornbeans (or use frozen)½ lemon1 small onionFresh or dried basil1 clove garlicDirections:1. Pour the vegetable broth and diced tomatoes into the microwave-safe bowl and cook on highfor 6 minutes.2. While the broth and tomatoes are cooking, add oil to a large soup pot and place over mediumheat. Add the carrots. Stir and cover.3. Add the green beans. Stir and cover.4. Peel and chop the onion. Add to the pot. Stir and cover.5. Peel and mince the garlic. Add to the pot. Stir and cover.6. Add salt and pepper. Stir and cover.7. Drain the white kidney beans. Add to the pot.8. Add the peas.9. Add the corn. Stir and cover.10. Carefully add the hot broth and tomato mixture. Stir and cover. Increase the heat to high.11. Cook to boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Stir occasionally until the carrots and green beans aretender, about 2–3 minutes.12. Juice ½ lemon.13. Remove soup from stove. Stir in lemon juice.14. Serve. Garnish with fresh basil or sprinkle dried basil over the soup.Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible Curriculum — Creation 2020 Westminster John Knox Press
g Newspaper or plastic tablecloth g Small plastic or terra-cotta pots g Potting soil g Vegetable or flower seeds or small plants g Spoons g Various colors of dirt g Cups g Large sheets of white paper g Food coloring g Disposable plastic gloves g Paint shirts g Resource Page 1 for list of soup ingredients and recipe Preparing to Lead
I. Is LOVE AN ART? II. THE THEORY OF LOVE 7 1. Love, the Answer to the Problem of Human Existence 2. Love Between Parent and Child 3. The Objects of Love a. Brotherly Love b. Motherly Love c. Erotic Love d. Self-Love e. Love of God III. LOVE AND ITS DISINTEGRATION IN CONTEM-PORARY WESTERN SOCIETY 83 IV. THE PRACTICE OF LOVE 107File Size: 1MBPage Count: 148Explore furtherThe Art of Loving by Erich Fromm - Goodreadswww.goodreads.comThe Art of Loving According to Erich Fromm - Exploring .exploringyourmind.comThe Art of Loving - Kindle edition by Fromm, Erich. Health .www.amazon.comRecommended to you b
from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved
God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:16-19 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the
Savior draw us into even greater love in word and deed. For God is love. Advent peace, God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16 † Advent Peace
obey God because we are afraid of punishment by God —this is living under the law of God and not the love of God. It is not burdensome to obey God when we know God loves us and we love God and love to obey God because we truly love God and want to bring G
very young age that the greatest love isn’t what she sang about in that song. She knew that the greatest love greatest love of all is God’s love for us. Let’s read about the Greatest Love in 1 John 4:7-16: Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
the Lord your God [and] love your neighbor as yourself." We are able to love God, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). We are secure in Him and His love is in us (1 John 4:15-16). Yet, we often love other things, more than God. We turn away from the love of God, because we aren't satisfied with what we have, and turn toward something .
of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have condence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear
