Monday, May 05, 2008

Pentecost A (May 11): Enough for Everyone



THERE IS AN UPDATED VERSION OF THIS BLOG UPDATED IN 2023 - SEE MY ARCHIVES IN THE FAR COLUMN AT LEFT


Bible Readings: Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30, Psalm 104:24 -35, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21, John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39
Theme: Enough for everyone


About the Image:

Public domain.

Listening Song: Holy Spirit

By Third Day on their self tit
led album.

Kids Story: Webster the Preacher Duck
By Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2007, ISBN 9781921229084 (pictured at right).
Thanks to Sandra Houghton for introducing me to this brilliant new series for young and old. Laugh and learn - and as it says on the title page "Any similarities between the characters in this book and the old ducks in your church is purely coincidental".

Drama: Pentecost Photos
Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 73 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Drama: What's A Holy Spirit?
Found in Let's Make Another Scene For...by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 77 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Film Clip: Edward Scissorhands
Show the clip where Edward trims the bushes into a dinosaur - everyone has a gift. (pictured at left)

Story: The Lifeboat
Found in In Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 139 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Story: Too Helpful
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 161 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Illustration: The Use of Power
Power can be used in at least two ways: it can be unleashed, or it can be harnessed. The energy in forty five litres of petrol, for instance, can be released explosively by dropping a lighted match into the can. Or it can be channeled through the engine of my Nissan 300ZX in a controlled burn and used to transport me well over 450 kilometres. Explosions are spectacular, but controlled burns have lasting effect, staying power. The Holy Spirit works both ways. At Pentecost, she exploded on the scene; her presence was like "tongues of fire" (Acts 2:3). Thousands were affected by one burst of God's power. But Goid also works through the church -the institution God began to tap the Holy Spirit's power for the long haul. Through worship, fellowship, and service, Christians are provided with staying power.
The source of this illustration is unknown.

Poem: Acts 2:1
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 in the Summer section.

Quote: William H Willimon
The Holy Spirit is the engine that drives the church out into the world.

Quote: William Blake
Unless the eye catch fire, God will not be seen.
Unless the ear catch fire, God will not be heard.
Unless the tongue catch fire, God will not be named.
Unless the heart catch fire, God will not be loved
Unless the mind catch fire, God will not be known.

Response Activity: Pentecost Celebration
Parts of this can be done at various times during a service however it makes a great conclusion. It was written by Uniting Church minister Coralie Ling - for full details visit
http://thebillabong.info/otm_pcost/otm55_p25.html

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've recently discovered your blog and am interested in trying some of your ideas in our church. I would be curious about how you order/go about going some of the awesome things you have listed. Any thoughts on how to do this?

The Fridge Elf said...

You have a Nissan 300ZX!? Please invite me to work at your church :)