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Title: Getting Away from It All
Theme: The need for rest and relaxation. Proper 11 (16) 8th Sunday after Pentecost
Objects: Some vacation photos
Scripture: The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. Mark 6:30-32 (NIV)
How many of you have taken a vacation? Would some of you like to tell us where you went? (Allow some time to share.) I have been on vacation too. I brought some pictures that I took while I was on vacation. We went to the mountains and I got a lot of beautiful pictures of trees, lakes, and rivers. It was so quiet and peaceful and I really enjoyed getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
We all need to get away, don’t we? Some people really have a hard time doing that. They think that when they go on vacation they have to take their cell phones and laptop computers so that they can check their voice mail and email, and maybe even get caught up on some work that they didn’t get finished before they left. They might as well stay at home!
Some people say that they think that children should go to school all around. I disagree. I think that even children need some time to get away and rest. It will help them to do better work when they start back to school.
Did you know that even Jesus recognized that we sometimes need to take some time off to get caught up on our rest? One day the disciples went to Jesus and told him how busy they had been teaching and ministering to the needs of people. “There have been so many people coming and going that we sometimes don’t even have time to stop and eat,” they told Jesus.
“Come with me to a quiet place so that you can get some rest,” Jesus said to the disciples. So the Bible tells us that they got in a boat and went away with Jesus to a quiet place.
Yes, we all need a time to get away from it all, but we can’t get away from it all if we try to take it with us!
Dear Father, we thank you for work, for play, and for school. We also thank you for those times when we can get away from it all — and get some rest. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. |
