Week by week content

26 September - 2 October 2009

Proper 21

Esther 7.1–6,9-10; 9.20-22

Context

The Book of Esther is found between Nehemiah and the Book of Job in the Old  Testament and it is one of the few books to bear a woman’s name. It is a story about the Jewish exiles living in Persia and forms the basis of the Jewish festival of Purim, about which we shall learn today.

Common thread – A people of God (Esther 7.1–6, 9–10, 9.20–22)

The ROOTS resources this week use the story of Esther to explore the nature of ethnic identity and what it is like to be a people with a particular identity and faith living within another culture. This is also an opportunity to experience the story genre in Old Testament writing.

These resources were first published in Issue 43 September/October 2009.

Lectionary Bible readings for RCL Proper 21 Year B
Esther 7.1–6,9-10; 9.20-22 Psalm 124 James 5.13-20 Mark 9.38-50

This week's session plans

Ready-to-go complete sessions

Find more resources on these readings

  • Proper 21 focused around Mark 9.30-37 (2006)
  • Proper 21 focused around Mark 9.30-37 (2003)