√ For the art project you will need clay or playdough or cardboard; string or a necklace chain; markers or a tool for carving in clay.
√ You may also want a children’s Bible that tells the story of Exodus 1. If the story of the midwives saving Hebrew babies is not included in your children’s Bible, you can adapt the reflection to focus on Miriam saving baby Moses.
√ You may also want a children’s Bible that tells the story of Exodus 1. If the story of the midwives saving Hebrew babies is not included in your children’s Bible, you can adapt the reflection to focus on Miriam saving baby Moses.
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Take a moment to centre yourselves and arrive together. If you have small children, you might specifically invite them to take five deep breaths.
Light a Candle
Opening Prayer
Spirit of Love, you are with us always. We ask for open hearts and open minds as we seek to live in a way that honours the earth and all her children. Amen.
Spirit of Love, you are with us always. We ask for open hearts and open minds as we seek to live in a way that honours the earth and all her children. Amen.
Song: God Bless Every Step
Bravery is represented by the bear. The mother bear has the courage and strength to face her fears and challenges while protecting her young. The bear also shows us how to live a balanced life with rest, survival, and play. To face life with courage is to know bravery. Find your inner strength to face the difficulties of life and the courage to be yourself. Defend what you believe in and what is right for your community, family, and self. Make positive choices and have conviction in your decisions. Face your fears to allow yourself to live your life (The Seven Grandfather Teachings: Bravery, Uniting Three Fires Against Violence).
Gallery Paintings
Take time to explore the art entitled “Bravery” in the online exhibition. Sift through the artist reflections as the age and stage of any children present allows.
What do you notice about the artwork? What do you wonder about the artwork?
Bible Reflection
The word “brave” isn’t very common in the Bible. But the Hebrew people are encouraged regularly to be “strong and of good courage” (for example Deut. 31:6), often in the context of remembering God is always with them. We see examples of this in many of the stories of the Hebrew Bible. One example of this kind of bravery is the story of the midwives of the Hebrew people when they were enslaved in Egypt.
Exodus 1:8-21
Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. 9 He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. 13 The Egyptians subjected the Israelites to hard servitude 14 and made their lives bitter with hard servitude in mortar and bricks and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them. 15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this and allowed the boys to live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, [God] gave them families.
Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. 9 He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. 13 The Egyptians subjected the Israelites to hard servitude 14 and made their lives bitter with hard servitude in mortar and bricks and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them. 15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this and allowed the boys to live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, [God] gave them families.
In the New Testament, we are told that “the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, [the] Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7, Good News Translation). Bravery here seems to come through connection to power and love inspired by the Spirit as well as a commitment to living in a good way, a form of strength that comes with self-control, thoughtfulness and good judgment. We can perhaps see these traits in Shiphrah and Puah. The midwives feared or respected God more than Pharaoh and so were brave enough to refuse his violent command in order to live in a good way. Shiphrah and Puah seem to be good students of bear as they “face fears and challenges” to protect the gift of new life.
In this context, bravery seems like a very serious thing! But bear also seems to remind us that we need to rest and play. Perhaps one way to think about the balance bear suggests is to remember to ‘discern,’ or prayerfully consider, when bravery is necessary. If, in the Christian tradition, strength and courage comes from self-control, love, and power, perhaps being brave in a balanced way is always rooted in prayer and a sense of the Spirit’s guidance.
Reflection Questions
When have you been asked to be brave?
What helped you to be brave?
How do you know when it is a good time to be “playful and rest”?
Art Activity
Make a courage token. You can use clay as suggested, playdough, or cardboard. You might consider writing rest or play on the other side of the token. Find out more here.
In this context, bravery seems like a very serious thing! But bear also seems to remind us that we need to rest and play. Perhaps one way to think about the balance bear suggests is to remember to ‘discern,’ or prayerfully consider, when bravery is necessary. If, in the Christian tradition, strength and courage comes from self-control, love, and power, perhaps being brave in a balanced way is always rooted in prayer and a sense of the Spirit’s guidance.
Reflection Questions
When have you been asked to be brave?
What helped you to be brave?
How do you know when it is a good time to be “playful and rest”?
Make a courage token. You can use clay as suggested, playdough, or cardboard. You might consider writing rest or play on the other side of the token. Find out more here.
Song: Don't Be Afraid
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Explore another page of the Home Engagement Resource rituals.
Simply click on the word/teaching you want to pursue.
Closing Prayer
May we journey with a balance of bravery and rest until we meet again. Amen.
May we journey with a balance of bravery and rest until we meet again. Amen.
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Explore another page of the Home Engagement Resource rituals.
Simply click on the word/teaching you want to pursue.