Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Transfiguration of Jesus A: Finding God


There is an 2023 updated version of this post - see archive at left.

Bible Readings: Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 2 or Psalm 99, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9. Theme:Finding God

About the photo:
I took this photo in the Australian high country where it snows in winter. Sometimes the light up there is really amazing and the mountains seem to glow. Feel free to use this photo.
Kid's Story: Westlandia

By
Paul Fleischman (Author), Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator), Candlewick Press, ISBN 9780763600068 (pictured at right)
Discussion:
Share a time when you have experienced the presence of God?
Story: The Job Applicant
Found in In Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 126 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Story: The Boy and The Circus
In Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 56 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Listening Song: Shine
By Newsboys on their album, Going Public (pictured at left), or on WOW 1996.
Listening Song: Jubilate
By Robert Prizeman on the album, Libera (pictured on an earlier blog).
Adult Response:
Give every one a pencil and a card with a mountain pictured on it.
Suggest: Let's think of ways we can "climb the mountain" and put ourselves in places where God can reveal His presence to us.
Have a minute or so in silence.
Play a piece of thinking music - Jubilate (above) works really well.
Use the card to write a prayer, draw a picture, compose a poem or put down a resolution.
Not sure where I got this idea from = let me know if it's not mine.



Monday, January 14, 2008

Epiphany 3 A (January 27): Discipleship 101/Abandoning the Boats


There is an 2023 updated version of this post - see archive at left.

Bible Readings:
Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1,4-9, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23

Theme: Discipleship 101/Abandoning the Boats

About the Image:
Abandoned whaler on Norfolk Island - it's my photo so feel free to use it.
Discussion:
Was there a definable moment when you became a Christian?

What changed most for you if you did have a definable
moment?
Is conversion the end of the story?
Film Clip: Meet the Parents
Show the clip where Kevin shows off his carpentry skills and says he does it because he wants to follow in Jesus' footsteps. (about 55 minutes from the start)
Discussion: On Meet the Parents
What does it mean to be one of Jesus' disciples? WEill being a good carpenter do it?
2. What sshould we do to be good disciples?
Story: If Jesus Showed Up at Your School
Found in Could Someone Wake Me Up Before I Drool On The Desk by Kevin Johnson, Bethany House Publishers, 1995, ISBN 1556614160, pp11 (pictured at right)

Story: Soren Kierkegaard's Train Passengers
I don't know which book of his this is in but I
found reference to this illustration in Rivers in the Desert edited by Rowland Croucher, Albatross books, 1991, ISBN 086760137X, page 253.
Story: To Have It Within
Found in Speakers Source Book of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley, Word Publishing,1995, ISBN 0849936756, page 40
Story: Fishers of Men Part 2
In When You Walk by Adrian Plass
, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 1997, ISBN 0745935524, page 130-1.
Listening Song: Jesus Freak
By dc Talk on their album, Jesus Freak (pictured at left).
Listening Song: In the Light
By dc Talk on their album Jesus Freak
(pictured at left).
Meditation: We Did Not Want to Go
In
He Was in the World: Meditations for Public Worship by John Bell, Wild Goose, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, pp 87 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Mediation/Poem: Unnamed
By Philip Andrews and found
in Imaging the Word Volume 2 by Susan A. Blain, Sharon Iverson Glouwens, Catherine O'Callaghan, Grant Spradling (Eds.), United Church Press, 1995, ISBN 0829810331, page 125. (pictured in an ealier blog). I put images with this and used Look Back In by Moby from his album, 18, as backing.
Response Activity:
Display heaps of printed images and words around the worship space and ask people to choose a couple which most explain how they feel about or what they think in response to the Bible reading. Ask people to share why they chose the cards and or words which they did.
NB. www.innovativeresources.org make an amazing set of cards called Signposts which work really well with this activity.