Easter 5 C: God Plays No Favourites

Bible Readings: Acts 11:1-18, Psalm 148, Revelation 1-6, John 13:31-35
Theme: God Plays No Favourites

During the service:
I have done this at scattered intervals throughout a service one family or person at a time: Ask a number of families (include a single person, a single parent family, a nuclear family, a married couple with no kids, an empty nest family etc etc) the following questions:
1. Describe your family situation
2. What does belonging to the church mean to you?
3. Why?
Listening Song: I've Always Loved You
By Third day on their Time album.
Kids: Love Unlimited
Found in Fun Group Devotions for Children's Ministry by Varoius authors, Group Publishing 1993 ISBN 1559451610, page 118.(pictured in an earlier blog) .
Film Clip: Tuesdays With Morrie
c. Touchstone, 1999. A discussion on love starting around 1 hour 10 minutes and going for approximately 2 minutes. (pictured)
Discussion Questions on the Film Clip:
1. How would you define love?
2. What does belonging mean to you?
3. What do you think Morrie means when he says: "We must love one another or die"
Story: Love
Story 393 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551, (pictured in an earlier blog)
Story: When Do I Die?
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 223 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Story: Are You God?
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 36 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Drama: Love One Another
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910915, page 32 (pictured)
Discussion:
Who are the Cornelius's in our lives?
Who are the people missing from our church because we have not encouraged them in.
What are we going to do about it?
What does it mean for us to love people unconditionally?
Response Activity: Thank You For Being the Family We Choose to Have
Have a new photo album ready and print off a variety of frames with blank middles - enough for everyone to have one. Encourage people to draw, in their frame, the people who mean a lot to them, whether family or friends. Play meditative music while this is going on. At the conclusion of the activity put the drawings in the photo album. The kids love this job while the adults sing.
Response Activity: Candles
Dim the lighting. Give everyone a small thin candle and a one centimetre cube of self hardening clay. Play some meditative music. Ask people to think about the question: What does it mean for me to love people the way Jesus did, unconditionally? While they are thinking, encourage them to make a candle stand with their clay. Ask a few to come out and light their candle from the Christ candle and then share the flame around until everyone has a lit candle in front of them. Point out how the light is similar to God's love - it is spread by sharing. This adult activity is adapted from the kid's activity, Love Unlimited (above)