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)

Easter 4 C: Good Shepherd Sunday/Lives Full of "God Stuff"!

Bible Readings:Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30
Theme: Lives full of "God Stuff"/Good Shepherd Sunday


About the Photo:
Sometimes in rural Australia, we have occasions where we literally help shepherd the sheep!
Listening Song: The Lord is My Shepherd
By John Bell, sung by the Cathedral Singers with Mhairi Lawson on their album, Psalms of David, Songs of Mary (pictured at left)
Kid's Story: Herbert and Harry
By Pamala Allen, Puffin Books, 1986, ISBN 0140567836 (pictured at right)
Skit: And Then There Are Shepherds Found in Let's Make A Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 24 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Discussion Questions:
NB: These questions can be used randomly through the service or in pairs.
What is your definition of a shepherd when you hear Jesus or God referred to as one?
Brainstorm: How do the verses John 10:37-29 make you feel?
Think to Yourselves: How have you experienced God's healing in your life?
With Your Neighbour: What was the result of this healing for others around you?
Story: Christ: As Shepherd
Index 3264-3267 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990.
Story: Overcoming Mediocrity Means Living Differently
Index 11015-1017 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990.
Introduction to the Acts story: Bubbles
Found in Living Stones: The All Age Resource for the Common Worship Lectionary Year C by Susan Sayers, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1840030097, page 103
Discussion on the Acts story:
Is this story....
a miracle story
a definition of a disciple
a blueprint for a subversive new world order
an indicator of hope.
Adult Response for the Acts reading:
Project or distribute the following:
This story tells us that God is.......
protector of the vulnerable,
defender of the persecuted,
comforter of the broken hearted, and
giver of new life.
Ask: Look at the slide. Do you fit any of these categories or do you know somebody who does? Use this time of silence to either pray for yourself or for someone you know.

Easter 3 C: Resurrection Impact

Bible Readings:Acts 9:1-20, John 21:1-19
Theme: Resurrection Impact

About the photo:
The Australian church still likes to meet around an open fire from time to time. This is a Uniting Church Presbytery area meeting at Wulgulmerang in Far East Gippsland.
Kids: Believing is Seeing
Found in Object Lessons by Edward C. Grube, CPH St Louis, 1994, ISBN 0570046483, page 60 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Poem: Come Share a Damper With Me
Found in A Bloke called Jesus by Normal Habel and Pro Hart, page 46 ( I think - am checking this one further - pictured).
Story: The Cliff
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 60 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Story: Jump!
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 98 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Listening Song: Hands of God
By Rex Carroll on his album, The Rex Carroll Sessions (pictured)
Discussion Questions:
1. Can you relate to the way the disciples felt after Jesus' death and resurrection?
2.What do you do when life is tough?
3. Have you ever given up on God or thought about giving up on God?
4. How does God call us back?
Monologue: Peter
I've made some big mistakes in my time! ........ but nothing like the ones I made on the night when Jesus was arrested. It all started to go wrong when the soldiers came to arrest him. I couldn't believe it was happening! I jumped in like a real life rambo and took a swipe at one of the arresting soldiers - but I only managed to remove his ear and before I could have another go, Jesus reached out and healed him. I was astounded. And as the crowd started to snigger, I felt big and stupid and clumsy. So I stood and watched them lead him away as it hit me that after three years I still didn't really understand what he was on about. But I couldn't abandon him. I followed the soldiers at a distance till they reached a courtyard. I tried my best to blend in but it was difficult. They all recognised me. The servant girl. The gatekeeper. And a big bloke who was a relative of the soldier whose ear I had removed! He recognised me in a flash!! And if they didn't recognise my face then my Galilean accent gave me away. They were all having a go at me - trying to make me admit I was one of his friends. But I couldn't do it. Three times I denied that I even knew him! I was so scared of what they would do to me. I caved in like a house of cards.
But that's not the worst of it. Jesus knew what I was doing! As the soldiers led him away he looked straight at me, our eyes locked through an open doorway.... and I could tell. He knew all right. And ....and there was nothing I could do! And I remember his words telling me I would do this awful thing. I felt ill just thinking about it. I ran outside and cried like a baby. It was as if my heart was breaking. In a matter of minutes, my whole world was in shatters.
After he was crucified, strange things happened. I was one of the first to see his empty tomb. He appeared to us all one Sunday when we met together in secret. But for me, life became even more difficult as the dark cloud of my denial of him spoilt any of the joy. It was as if there was a wall between us - a wall which I had built - which I didn't know how to remove. I was dying to speak to him but it was also the thing I dreaded most.
So I went back to my boats and the fishing. What else could I do? I didn't have the heart for it any more but it kept my hands busy. I conned a few of the others into fishing with me. And one morning as we returned home, there was Jesus - on the beach. I was so intent on speaking to him that I couldn't wait for the boat - instead I dived straight in and swam to shore. But I was tongue- tied. I couldn't say all the things that were on my heart. Instead I ran around doing everything he asked with all the enthusiasm I possessed. And my business and eagerness hid the wall between us - but could not break it down.
After brekky, he took me for a bit of a walk along the beach. I didn't know what he was going to say. The weight of my guilt blotted out any other thought. I couldn't think how to even start to say all the things I wanted to say. If I had tried to say that I loved him it would have sounded trite and hypercritical after all that had happened. But I didn't have to. Instead he asked me if I loved him! Three times I had said he was not my friend on that terrible night. Three times on the beach he asked me if I loved him. Three times I said yes with my whole heart. And I knew he believed me because he gave me a job to do - to look after his followers for him - a job that proved to me that he trusted me and that the past was forgotten and that the wall between us was gone.
© Ann Scull
Response Activity:
Choose from two(or one or three or four depending on time – five minutes for each) of the following stations: Ask: What do you need? Who are you like? Are you like......
1. Paul and his need for a new direction
Think about how God has grabbed your attention in the past.
Think about your current directions.
Are you travelling in the direction God wants you to go?
As you think about these questions fill in the picture (as artistically or as unartistically as you want to) and mark the top pointer with the direction you think God is calling you and the bottom three with the directions you sometimes would rather go.
Pray as you work.

2. Ananias and his need for courage

Read together the CS Lewis quote from Mere Christianity found in Imaging the Word Volume 1 by Kenneth T Lawrence (ed.), United Church Press, 1994, ISBN 0829809716, page 195 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Discuss:
Who has ever played the role of Ananias for you?
What do you do when it looks like God is going to ask you to do something really hard?
Has it ever seemed so hard that you walked away from Jesus or thought about doing so?
How does Jesus call us back?

3. The disciples and their need for a new perspective
Smell Trail Script 9 found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271668, page 67

4. Peter and his need for forgiveness

Find a quiet place and become aware of the gentle rhythm of your breathing. Read Not...Do You Promise to be Good prayer slowly – as many times as will fit in the time you have. Leave a space between each reading to sit and listen to what God is saying to you. This prayer can be found in Found in Present on Earth by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 20028, ISBN 0901557642, page 199 (pictured in an earlier blog)

Easter 2 C:Love in Spite of the Shadow of a Doubt

Bible Readings: Psalm 150, John 20:19-21
Theme: Love in Spite of the Shadow of a Doubt

Drama: The Visit
Found in The Dame Cecily Spume Drama Notebook by Nick Page, Minstral, 1990, ISBN 1854240978, page 105
Drama: Blessed Are They
By Darryl McCollum found at www.dramatix.org
Illustration: Doubt
Index 1223-1224 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990
Discussion Activity:
Give out or project the following four statements:
1. I know Jesus is alive because I can feel in my heart that he loves me. Sometimes Jesus feels very close to me.
2. Jesus' love was too strong to die. When people love each other they show that Jesus' love is still alive in the world.
3. I am not sure what happened when Jesus died. I do know that whatever happens to us when we die, we will always be with God.
4. Jesus died, then God raised him to life again. People saw him and talked to him. Jesus spirit is still present in our world today.
Ask people to choose the statements that best suit what they believe and talk with others who feel the same way. (You may need to specify four areas to meet in). Encorage them to address the following questions in their discussion:
1. Why did you choose this statement - what did you like about it?
2. What would you like to change or add?
3. What difference should this view of the resurrection make to our lives?
4. How can we help each other to do this?
Have the four groups report back when you reassemble as one group.
Discussion Activity:
Divide people into a number of groups and have them discuss the "My Own Story" questions from the Serendipity Bible on John 20: 19-21.
Story: John Wesley's Last Words
Found in Rivers in the Desert by Rowland Croucher (Ed.), Albatross, 1991, ISBN 086760137X, page 34
Story: Christian in Doubting Castle
Found as above, page 35.
Story: Obedience
Found in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, story no. 179 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Listening Song: With every Breath
By Leigh Nash and Dan Haseltine on City on a Hill or WOW 2002. This song links well with Psalm 150.
Prayer:
Think to yourself one way the resurrection of Jesus makes a difference in your life.
In the silence, talk to God about how you will realise the difference and make it an obvious part of your life.

Easter Day C: Easter Dreaming

Readings: Isaiah 65: 17-25, Psalm 118, Luke 24:1-12
Theme: Easter dreaming

About the photo: Buds shoot from the bark (epicormic shoots) of eucalypt (more commonly known as gum) trees devastated and defoliated by the 2003 bushfires in the Australian High Country.

Some Particularly Useful Stuff for a Dawn/Sunrise Easter Service
Location:
Have this service near a lake or beach if possible - if you live inland, then choose a high point - if you live inland on a plain then find a nice river -if you live inland on a plain in a desert (most of Australia) then you will have plenty of beautiful places to choose from.
Easter candle:
Have a camp fire or a fire pot instead.
Prayer: Jesus We Greet You
Found in Stages on the Way by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 188 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Prayer: Lord God, Early in the Morning
Found in Stages on the Way as above, page 184 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Meditation: Prayers That Jesus Hears
Found in Present on Earthby The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 20028, ISBN 0901557642, page 95 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Response Activity
Cook fish over the fire and serve with warm bread

Easter services at a More Reasonable hour;
Call to Worship:
Silence. Then play Anthem Part 3 from the album, Powaqqatsi, (1988) while showing six 20 second Good Friday images. When the music reaches the fanfare show an Easter day image. Then dim the music enough so a reader can read Isaiah 65: 17-25
Call to Worship: King of Glory
Play King of Glory by Third Day found n their album, or on WOW 2001. For each verse show an image of the crucifixion and for each chorus show a picture of the resurrection. show a resurrection picture for the last verse and then as the choir begins to back the Third day singer, dim the music to a background level and have somebody read the Psalm.
Call to Worship Activity:
If you had an old wooden cross in the church for Good Friday, give everybody a streamer or coloured ribbon as they enter and ask them to decorate the cross before sitting down.
Kids: Butterflies and Flowers
Tell the Easter story using the cocoon and butterfly, seed and flower analogies. Have a dead branch at the front of the church and either have them make paper flowers or butterflies to decorate the branch with. This works very well as a congregational activity. Alternately have the kids give everyone in the congregation a tiny butterfly or flower sticker - people really run with this and wear them immediately putting them on lapels, collars, watch faces, spectacle frames etc etc.
Drama: What's Easter All About
Found in Mega Drama 3 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109178, page 87 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Video Clip: Fantasia
The segment in the Firebird Suite after the fire when everything greens up again.
Discussion on video clip:
How does Easter bring new life to the world?
Story: Stephen's Egg
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 159 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Story; Nikolai Church and the fall of the Berlin wall
This story can be found often and easily by googling.
Story: Easter
Found in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, page 51 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Listening Song: Early in the Morning
By David Meece on his album, Once in a Lifetime.
Listening Song: Libera
By Robert Prizeman on his album, Libera.
Pass the Peace;
Give every one a balloon to blow up. Toss them, catch a new one and pass the peace using Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Response Activity:
In groups or individually get people to name their easter dreams for the world, for their church, for themselves and to use these as starters for a prayer time.

Good Friday C:

Bible readings: John 18 and 19
This service needs to be a more sombre occassion than usual , not just because Jesus died - we celebrate his resurrection on Sunday when it is all said and done - but because of the immensity and the implications of what God has done for us through and in Jesus.
About the photo: View of the Australian High country
Introductory Meditation: Now I Let Go
Show about a dozen images Depicting Jesus' life and ministry. Use Now I Let Go by Moby on his album Songs (pictured in an earlier blog) as background music - you may have to play it twice because the track is quite short. An alternative track could be Barber's Adagio for Strings by William Orbit on Open Space 1.
A Note of Explanation:
I have listed the resources for Good Friday below under story/Scripture/station headings. Please don't use them all or you will be at church all day. One option is to use the symbolic actions as station activities if you don't mint people moving around from station to station. I would provide the readings on printouts and some visual media to go with each station if I was doing it that way. If people are seated I often use a tubular bell and a Taize sung response to divide the readings.

1. John 18:1-14 The Arrest
Symbolic Action
Light a lantern or a candle

2. John 18:19-23 The Questioning/The Trials
Symbolic Action
Place a crown of thorns on the cross
Poem: My Baby
Found in Clearing Away the Rubbish by Adrian Plass, Minstral, 1989, ISBN 1854240250, page 93. If you are going to use this, read it over a few times first because it emotionally difficult to read. I should have put the same warning on The Ragman story two weeks ago.

3. John 18:15-18, 25-27 The Denial
Symbolic Action
Give everyone a feather
Poem: A Prayer at Burger King
By John Shea. Can't source this any further - I have a copy somebody gave me.
Story: The Death of Bishop Romero
Found in numerous books and on the web

4. John 18:28-40 Pilate
Story: Gerry Conlan
Found in A Hell of a Life by John Dickson, Matthias Media, 1997, ISBN 1875245626, page 85ff.

5. John 19:1-16 Death Sentence
Symbolic Action:
Throw a purple or black cloth over the cross.
Symbolic Action:
Pass around a bowl of horse shoe nail crosses and ask everyone to take one.

6. John 19: 17-27 Crucifixion
Symbolic Action:
Give everyone two pieces of white ribbon, a pencil and two twigs. Ask people to write a prayer on the ribbons and use them to make the twigs into a cross.
Reflection Idea: Three Crosses
Can't remember where this comes from but it goes like this
Rebellion: the mocking thief
Repentence: the other thief
Rescue: Jesus
Story: Freedom
Found in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, story no. 88 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Story: Back to the Future
By Adrian Plass in Cabbages For The King, Fount, 1993, ISBN 0006276687, page 158

7. John 19: 28-37 Death
Symbolic Action
Have the communion table set up before hand with a white cloth, bread and wine. Rip (and I mean rip!) the bread in half and knock over or pour out the wine on to the white cloth.
Symbolic Action:
This can be done here or for the burial. Pass around a shallow dish/es of salt water and ask people to trace a cross on their own cheek or on that of the person sitting next to them.
Symbolic Action:
Snuff out he candle
Prayer for Others: When Jesus Died
Found in Stages on the Way by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 168 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Poem: Jesus Dies on the Cross
By Michel Quoist in Prayers, Sheed and Ward, 1985, ISBN 0934134464, (pictured left)

8. John 19:38-42 Burial
Symbolic Action:
Hang the stained communion cloth over the black or purple cloth already hanging on the cross. Alternately, rip the white cloth in half.
Prayer: Lord Where Are You Now
Found in Stages on the Way, as above, page 166

Conclusion of the service:
Play a piece of quiet music and encourage people to sit and think/pray and to leave when they are ready to. You could provide small blank cards for people to write or draw their response to Good Friday - encourage people to take these home with them. Suitable music: Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor, Pachabels Canon (particularly the Cleo Laine/James Galway version because the words fit the mood exceptionally well)

Maundy Thursday C

Response Activity:
This works well as a change or when there are congregational members who have mobility difficulties. It also takes a while to do so have some meditative music playing in the background.
Pass a peeled onion around and talk about how raw onions leave a nasty reminder behind. As each person takes a turn to hold the onion ask them to think of a disappointment, a hurt or an action that they have suffered or caused.
Then pass a box of scented disposable towelettes around and ask each person to wash the hands of the person on their right. As they do so, ask them to pray for that person asking God to remove the pain or disappointment or hurt in that person's life.