Lydia

Light a candle and remember the presence of God is with you.

Cut out the pieces to help you tell this story.

There are times and places when women are treated as less important than men.

This is not right. God loves us all. (Pause.)

Yet, my name is still a part of God’s story.

Your name is also a part of God’s story. (Draw a heart with your finger.)

My name is LYDIA.

Place Lydia in front of you.

My story is found between the stories of Jesus and the letters at the end of the Bible.

Take time to look at the Bible timeline at the bottom.

Many people know that my favorite color is purple. Purple cloth is very expensive. 

Purple was not an easy color to make. It is not easy to create the purple dye.

My hands were often stained with purple dye.

On Sundays we would spend time worshipping by the river.

My friends and I loved God.

One special Sunday, a group of strangers joined us and told us about Jesus. They told us about how he was God’s son. One of those people was a man named Paul.

My understanding of God got bigger that day! I chose that
moment to be baptized in the river next to me.

Other friends followed my lead.

I invited Paul and his friends to stay at my home while they needed a place to rest.

I wanted to learn more about Jesus.

I was able to share and lead my friends and family in knowing more long after Paul and the others had left.

My name is Lydia. I am part of God’s story.