Hello, everyone! This is September’s Week 2 lesson of “Son of Laughter” which is found on pages 56-61 of your copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones.
   
Children: To review, please read the story out loud to an adult or out loud by yourself and check out all the pictures.
If you were asked to count all the stars in the sky, like God asked Abraham, what would be your first reaction? My guess is that you would say “Impossible!” And it would be! Even more impossible was that God promised Abraham and Sarah that He would make their family really big with more people than stars in the sky! In order to have a family, they would have to have a baby. At their age? Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 years old. They had already been waiting for a baby for FORTY years! What is the longest that you have waited for something that you really, really wanted?
     If you have questions or comments about this story, please hit Chat and share with Pastor Mary. She will respond!
 
Adults: This story of “Son of Laughter” is biblically referenced in Genesis 12-21.
Abraham is traditionally considered to be the first Jew and the first to have made a covenant with God. Because Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all recognize Abraham as their first prophet, those three religions are also called the Abrahamic religions. He is the traditional founder of the Jewish nation, spiritual ancestor of Christians, and a major Islamic prophet.
     Side thought - What would you do if you were 90 years old, and God told you that you were going to have a son? Laughter would not be my first response.
     This week’s prayer: I can trust God no matter what, but I must remember to be patient, Amen.
    
Goodbye for now!
Margo Greer

     Welcome back to this fall’s first lesson of Learning Together Sunday School after our summer break! Our Sunday School program is setup with three weekly online lessons about a particular Bible story and concludes with meeting after church on the fourth Sunday of the month to discuss that story and do a related craft.
     As in the past, you and your family are invited to listen and read and create and pray around the selected story of the month. September’s story is “Son of Laughter” and is found on pages 56-61 of your copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones.
    Children: Listen to the story read aloud to you in our Learning Together email. As you listen, you may want to follow along in your own book and look at the pictures. Of course, all members of your family are encouraged to listen and look together!
     When our story begins, God asks Abraham to count how many stars are in the sky, which is a rather silly question, but then follows that with an amazing promise. What was that promise? 
​After thinking about this story, you may have questions or comments to post on this blog. Pastor Mary will respond to all.
     Adults: The story of “Son of Laughter” is referenced Biblically in Genesis 12-21. This narrative of Abraham and Sarah revolves around the themes of descendants and land promised by God. Abraham is commanded by God to depart the house of his father, Terah, and move to the land formerly given to Canaan but which God now promises to Abraham and his offspring.
     God tells Abraham to depart his homeland for a land that He would show him, ensuring to "make of him a great nation, bless him, make his name great, bless those who blessed him, and curse "him" that curses him." Obeying God's call, Abraham brought his wife Sarah, his nephew Lot, and the wealth that they had acquired, and traveled to Canaan.
    ~This week’s prayer: Dear Lord, help me trust You even when I cannot understand what You are doing. Amen.
Have a safe and fun week, everyone!
Margo Greer