Proper 28 B: God can be trusted, The Challenge of our Times

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Bible Readings: Hebrews 10:13-25, I Samuel 1:4-20, Mark 13:1-8 Theme: God Can Be Trusted, The Challenge of Our Times About the photo: Another piece of street art from the laneways of Melbourne, Australia Kid's Story: Won't You Help Me Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 35. (pictured in an earlier blog). Introduction: The Challenges of our Times Can't remember the source of the following info - probably the web :-) "Did you know that.... There is more than one mobile phone per head of population in Finland. My ordinary car has more computer power than the rocket that took Neil Armstrong to the moon. Our computers at home are out of date the moment we buy them. The World Wide Web puts people in touch with each other like never before … and simultaneously isolates them. The miracles of modern science have not eliminated pain and grief and loss and family breakdowns." Link this to the Hebrews reading. Skit: The End of the World is Coming Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0959109186, page 51 (pictured in an earlier blog). Discussion Questions: Do you think we are in times of turmoil and collapse today – in the world, in our society, in our church? At such times, what sort of things do people place their faith in? Story: The Power of our Words Found in Illustrations, Stories, and Quotes to Hang Your Message On, (as above) page 169 to illustrate Hebrews 10:24. Story:God’s Trustworthiness, Story 592 in 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching by Michael P Green, Baker Books, 1989, ISBN 0801063302 (pictured in an earlier blog) Story: God's Care Story 98 in Your Point Being by Graham Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929 (UK). Film Clip: Nottinghill Show the scene in Nottinghill where the characters, in the intimacy and safety of their shared meal together, all share their secret fears and insecurities to illustrate Hebrews 10:25. (pictured) Adult Response: Ensure that everyone has a small candle and is standing and that you have a lit a large Christ candle that everyone can see. Read Hebrews 10:24-25 and explain that we are now going to live out these verses by giving each other the light and hope and encouragement. Light your candle from the Christ candle. Explain that you are going to light one person's candle and at the same time tell them something encouraging. That person will do the same to someone else until everyone in the room has a lighted candle. Tell them that when their candle is alight and when they have lit someone else's and encouraged them, they should sit down with their lighted candle. Listening Song; Bearers of the Light by Michael Card on his album Poiema. (pictured) Adult Response: Make tiny (20 will fit on an A4 or letter size) cards/photos/drawings/whatever of the symbols of God found in the Samuel reading - make a total of three times as many as there are people in your congregation. Ask people to select one for themselves and one to give somebody else.