{"id":3476172,"date":"2026-07-26T16:34:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T20:34:59","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-08-04T14:15:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T18:15:54","slug":"lesson-plans-proper-23-a","status":"publish","type":"lesson_plans","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/lesson-plans\/lesson-plans-proper-23-a\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesson Plans: Proper 23 (A)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Sunday between October 9 and October 15 inclusive<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_fe87ef-89\">Old Testament Lesson Plans: Focus on God Our Creator<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_b308e1-7a\">Scripture: Exodus 32:1-14<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Written by <strong>the Rev. Shannon Kelly<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moses has been on the mountain with God for 40 days and nights which means that the Israelites have been without either of their leaders.\u00a0 In their anxiousness they turn to Aaron who helps and encourages them create a calf and then to have a festival.\u00a0 As God sees what they are doing, God becomes angry and wants to get rid of them.\u00a0 Moses, however, steps in and asks for God\u2019s mercy, quoting God\u2019s promise from Genesis.\u00a0 This is a great risk for Moses, as he asks God to turn away from anger and remember the promises that were made to the people.\u00a0 God changes his mind and does not burn wrath upon the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-0f9c0b34-99d3-40df-a9e8-72eb928dc740\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Year_A_Proper_23_Old_Testament_Younger_Children.pdf\">Lesson Plan for Younger Children<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Year_A_Proper_23_Old_Testament_Younger_Children.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-0f9c0b34-99d3-40df-a9e8-72eb928dc740\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-dd917c35-c56e-46a1-8375-d5f4117cfa87\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Year_A_Proper_23_Old_Testament_Younger_Children-1.pdf\">Lesson Plan for Older Children<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Year_A_Proper_23_Old_Testament_Younger_Children-1.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-dd917c35-c56e-46a1-8375-d5f4117cfa87\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_ac2821-6e\">New Testament Lesson Plans: We Are Invited<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3476172_14ad7a-49\">Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><em>Written by <strong>the Rev. Shannon Kelly<\/strong><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the final parable that Jesus gives in the temple, and it is especially a difficult one for children and youth to understand. To explain the parable briefly, many sight it as being an allegory of salvation history. The wedding banquet is given by the king (God) for the son (Jesus). Many guests are invited ahead of time and say they will come, but on the day of the wedding, no one will come and some, in fact, abuse the slaves he sent to gather them. The king (God) is furious and sends troops to punish them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wedding banquet is still ready, so the king (God) tells the slaves to go and gather all who are in the streets, good and bad, to the banquet. They come, ready for the banquet \u2013 all except one, who is singled out and taken away. This final piece is said to be not about a physically being ready, but about leaving behind the old and being ready for the feast, being ready for God, presenting yourself to God in such a way as to say, I have prepared myself and am here. It is also good to note that in Jesus\u2019 culture, when one was invited to a wedding, there were robes given to the guests to wear and this man chose not to \u2013 he chose to keep his own clothes, thus not giving himself fully to God and to the feast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a difficult parable that has been used to exclude people and bully people into being a certain way to get into the feast. This is really about God inviting us to come, choosing to come, and welcoming us to be ready when we are invited. Jesus is urging us to come to the feast when we are invited and to put on the \u201cclothes\u201d that God has provided for us. We are all invited into the kingdom of heaven, it is our choice to accept and prepare ourselves or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-3453a444-ff86-420e-b2a4-f9568fd72eb4\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Year_A_Proper_23_Gospel_Younger_Children.pdf\">Lesson Plan for Younger Children<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Year_A_Proper_23_Gospel_Younger_Children.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-3453a444-ff86-420e-b2a4-f9568fd72eb4\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-c302d204-97c0-4326-bef3-858149ded88a\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Year_A_Proper_23_Gospel_Older_Children.pdf\">Lesson Plan for Older Children<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Year_A_Proper_23_Gospel_Older_Children.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-c302d204-97c0-4326-bef3-858149ded88a\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-2f84d481-4309-492b-9093-221c39b1fbec\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Year_A_Proper_23_Gospel_Adult.pdf\">Lesson Plan for Adults<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Year_A_Proper_23_Gospel_Adult.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-2f84d481-4309-492b-9093-221c39b1fbec\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sunday between October 9 and October 15 inclusive Old Testament Lesson Plans: Focus on God Our Creator Scripture: Exodus 32:1-14 Written by the Rev. Shannon Kelly Moses has been on the mountain with God for 40 days and nights which means that the Israelites have been without either of their leaders.\u00a0 In their anxiousness they&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3476747,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[25,52,33,3],"tags":[109],"class_list":["post-3476172","lesson_plans","type-lesson_plans","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lesson-plans","category-sermons-that-work","category-the-season-after-pentecost","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-proper-23a"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":25,"label":"Lesson Plans"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":33,"label":"The Season After Pentecost"},{"value":3,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":109,"label":"Proper 23A"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NEW-Lesson-Plans-Graphic-FB.png-15-1024x576.png",1024,576,true],"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lesson_plans\/3476172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lesson_plans"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/lesson_plans"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lesson_plans\/3476172\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3476200,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lesson_plans\/3476172\/revisions\/3476200"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3476747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3476172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3476172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3476172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}