There is an 2023 updated version of this post - see archive at left.Bible Readings: Exodus 32:1-14, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14
Theme: The Invitation
About the image:
Microsoft free clipart with my text.
Listening Song: Douchas (Hope)
By The Crossing on their album, Douchas (pictured at left).
Group Activity: Matthew 22:1-14
Give everyone a copy of the gospel reading. Divide the congregation into six groups. Give each of the groups a character or a group of characters out of the Matthew story: the king, the son, the servants, the first guests, the second guests, the people who were not dressed properly. Give each group the same questions to discuss:
1. Who are you? (just to make sure everybody in the group is on the same page)
2. What part do you play in the story?
3. Who do you think you might represent?
4. Why do you do what you do in the story?
5. How do you think you might feel about what happens in the story?
N.B. If you have heaps of people you may have to have multiples of each group.
Film Clip: Meet the Parents
This clip is found around 25 minutes into the film when Jack (father) asks Greg to say grace.
Discussion: Meet the Parents 1. Why do you think that Greg is uncomfortable praying? 2. What does it mean to be religious? 3. What does it mean to have a relationship with God? 4. What is the difference between the two?
Drama: The Mystery of the Missing Athletes
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916, page 58 (pictured in an earlier blog). This is the gospel story with athletes instead of wedding guests.
Drama: The Feast
Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 20 (pictured in an earlier blog). This is a conversation between two of the king's servants.
Story: Choosing Mary
In Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, page 64 (pictured in an earlier blog). This story works on the idea that God chooses/invites us.
Prayer for Others:
Ask everyone to think of a person or a place that God wants to invite to his party. Then have a time of silence when people can pray for that person or place.
Adult Response: Change
Screen the words of the poem Change by Charles Singer. I found it in in Imaging the Word Volume 3 by Susan A Blain, Sharon Iverson Gouwens, Catherine O'Callagan and Grant Spradling, (Eds.), United Church Press, 1996, ISBN 0829801862, page 49 (pictured in an earlier blog). I put images with
each line and played reflective music in the background. I used Missing by Vangelis on his album, Odyssey for the music (pictured at left). Towards the end, I projected the following words: "Which piece of clothing do you have in short supply?" and passed around cards with the various lines from the poem printed on them. People were asked to take the card they needed the most. This was followed by a time of silent prayer.
Film Clip: Meet the Parents
This clip is found around 25 minutes into the film when Jack (father) asks Greg to say grace.
Discussion: Meet the Parents 1. Why do you think that Greg is uncomfortable praying? 2. What does it mean to be religious? 3. What does it mean to have a relationship with God? 4. What is the difference between the two?
Drama: The Mystery of the Missing Athletes
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916, page 58 (pictured in an earlier blog). This is the gospel story with athletes instead of wedding guests.
Drama: The Feast
Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 20 (pictured in an earlier blog). This is a conversation between two of the king's servants.
Story: Choosing Mary
In Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, page 64 (pictured in an earlier blog). This story works on the idea that God chooses/invites us.
Prayer for Others:
Ask everyone to think of a person or a place that God wants to invite to his party. Then have a time of silence when people can pray for that person or place.
Adult Response: Change
Screen the words of the poem Change by Charles Singer. I found it in in Imaging the Word Volume 3 by Susan A Blain, Sharon Iverson Gouwens, Catherine O'Callagan and Grant Spradling, (Eds.), United Church Press, 1996, ISBN 0829801862, page 49 (pictured in an earlier blog). I put images with
each line and played reflective music in the background. I used Missing by Vangelis on his album, Odyssey for the music (pictured at left). Towards the end, I projected the following words: "Which piece of clothing do you have in short supply?" and passed around cards with the various lines from the poem printed on them. People were asked to take the card they needed the most. This was followed by a time of silent prayer.
1 comment:
The other film that is related to the banquet story is Babette's Feast: the story of a woman who gives her all to create a feast for people who at the beginning do not want it to happen ...
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