A newer 2025 version of this post is now available with heaps more resources - see my archive at left Bible Readings: Acts 5:27-32, Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150, Revelation 1:4-8, John 20:19-31 About the Images: Upper Left : A Microsoft free clipart image with my text. Upper Right: My photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities. Middle Left: A free clip art from Cerrezo Barredo - see my link column at left. Middle Right: This image comes from the awesome Church Galleries website. Well worth the subscription!!! Visit the website at www.churchgalleries.com. Lower Left: Free clipart from the Hermano Leon site - see my link column at left. Listening Song: With Every Breath By Leigh Nash and Dan Haseltine on the album, City on a Hill (pictured at left) or on the album, WOW 2002. This song links in well with Psalm 150. Film Clip: John 20:19-31 From The Gospel of John by The Visual Bible Society -an excellent film streets ahead of any other similar film (pictured at right).
Film Clip: Doubting Thomas From the Work of the People - see my link at left. Drama: Blessed Are They By Darryl McCollum and found at www.dramatix,org This drama is based on the gospel reading. Drama: The Visit Found in The Dame Cecily Spume Drama Notebook by Nick Page, Minstral, 1990, ISBN 1854240978, page 105 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.
Illustration: Doubt Index 1223-4 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990. This goes well with the gospel reading
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 statement that best suits what they believe and talk with others who feel the same way. (You may need to specify four areas to meet in). Encourage 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 (pictured at right).
Story: John Wesley's Last Words Found in Rivers in the Desert by Rowland Croucher (Ed.) Albatross, 1991, ISBN 086760137X, page 34 (pictured at left). This goes well with the gospel reading Story: Christian in Doubting Castle Found as above, page 35. This also goes well with the gospel reading. Story: Obedience Found in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, story No. 179 (pictured iat right). This story goes well with the gospel reading. Prayer: Say something along the following lines: 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.
There is a 2025 version of this blog with lots more resources - see my archive at left
Readings: Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 118, John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12
About the Images: Upper Left: Buds shoot from the bark (epicormic shoots) of a eucalyptus (more commonly known as gum) tree devastated and defoliated by bush fires in the Australian High country. For more info on this area visit http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayobject.cfm/objectid.00034C30-86B8-1ED6-869180C476A90000/ This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities. Upper Right: The beach at dawn in Paynesville where the Mitchell River Parish hold their dawn service. For more info on this area visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gippsland_Lakes. This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities. Middle Left: This is an image of a replica of Jesus' tomb in found in the Garden Tomb complex in Jerusalem. This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities. Middle Right: This image comes from the awesome Church Galleries website. Well worth the subscription!!! Visit the website at www.churchgalleries.com. Lower Left: This is an Image bank free clipart. I have recently been told this site has closed down. Some Particularly Useful Stuff for a Dawn/Sunrise 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.
Call to Worship or.....:When The Inevitable is no Longer Sure Found at http://holdthisspace.org.au/when-the-inevitable-is-no-longer-sure/ These words could be used in all sorts of ways. This site can also be found in my links (above left) and is well worth a look. Cheryl Lawrie regularly blogs and her writing is excellent, relevant and creative. 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 at left)
Prayer: Lord God, Early in the Morning Found in Stages on the Way as above, page 184 (pictured at left)
Meditation: I Have Seen Jesus Found in Mucky Paws Volume 4 or in the April 2007 Mucky Paws archives (see my link above left - Roddy Hamilton writes excellent stuff)
Meditation: Prayers That Jesus Hears Found in Present on Earth by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 20028, ISBN 0901557642, page 95 (pictured at right) Response Activity Cook fish and middle eastern bread over an open fire or on a plough disc. A great pita bread recipe can be found at http://www.thefreshloaf.com/recipes/pitabread
Easter Services at a More Reasonable Hour
Call to Worship: A time of silence. Then play Anthem Part 3 from the album, Powaqqatsi, (1988) (pictured at left) while showing six 20 second Good Friday images. When the music reaches the fanfare, show an Easter Day image. Then fade the music enough so that a reader can read Isaiah 65:17-25. Call to Worship: King of Glory Play King of Glory by Third Day found on their album, Carry Me Home (pictured at right) or on WOW 2001. For each verse, show an image of the crucifixion and for each chorus show an image of the resurrection. Show a resurrection image for the last verse and then as the choir on the CD begins to back the Third Day singer, fade the music and have somebody read the Psalm.
Call to Worship: Change Found in Mucky Paws Volume 4 or in the April 2007 Mucky Paws archives (see my link above left). 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 at left). This drama goes with any of the readings. Video Clip: Fantasia 2000 Show the Firebird Suite segment after the fire when everything greens up. In the clip below which I have embedded so you can see how it works. You could easily start at around anywhere from the 4 or5 or 6 minute mark depending on how much time you have and how much you want to show.
Discussion: Fantasia 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 at right). 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 at left).
Biblical Reflection:
By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 32 - 38.
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. Prayer: Yes/No Found in the 21st March 2008 Mucky Paws archives (see my link above left) 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.
Also: Poem: Risen Also a great prayer and collect included on the same page. Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 150. To order a copy of this excellent book email jennie.gordon@billanook.vic.edu.au Sermon Thought: Forgiveness has Risen from the Grave Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year C by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2012, ISBN 9781921945083, page 64ff.
Words For Easter
Found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassians Maria I. Tirabassi (Eds), The Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 9780829817508, page 78-81.
Story Plus Other Stuff: Roxsanne Makes Good
Found in Wally the Dodgy Trolley and other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 37.
A Chapter of Resources for Easter Sunday:
By Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill in Eggs and Ashes, Wild Goose Publications, 2004, page 223-244 (pictured at left).
About the images: Upper Left: This image comes from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_-_The_Return_of_the_Prodigal_Son.jpg Upper Right: Abandoned cars in the Australian Outback are a bit like the Prodigal son. They sit there for years and then some car enthusiast comes along, takes them away and lovingly restores them to their former glory. The odd thing is that sometimes out in the outback you see the other son too. It is the car that looks all shiny and new on the outside but is pretty much wrecked on the inside. Even worse - sometimes there is nothing at all under the bonnet. Middle Left: This image comes from the awesome Church Galleries website.Well worth the subscription!!! Visit the website at www.churchgalleries.com. Middle Right: A free image from the Hermano Leon site. See my link column at left. Lower Left: A free image from the Heartlight site. See my link column at left.
Listening Song: Always Have, Always Will By Avalon on their album, In a Different Light or on WOW 2001 (pictured at right) This goes well with the gospel reading.
Listening Song: Prodigal Son By Steve Grace on his album, Children of the Western World (pictured at left). Obviously this fits well with the gospel reading :)
Kids' Story: Candelo One hundred years ago, Candelo, New South Wales, was a major wagon stop between the Monaro high country and the coastal shipping ports. The town's river crossing could be disastrous for heavily loaded wagons because river levels and the sandy river bottom were forever changing and there were often patches of quick sand. Crossing the river was particularly dangerous towards evening and in the dark. The town and bullockies together devised a system whereby when the bullockies arrived at the last rise before the town they would shout out candle-o. In response, the whole town would run down to the river with lights and line the sides of the safest place to cross and thus guide the bullock wagons safely into town for the night. Link this story with the way we leave a veranda light on when we are expecting visitors and the way God is always waiting with anticipation to welcome us.
Film Clip: Martian Child I used the trailer for this film (2007) which is readily available on the web and which has a great line linked with the gospel reading for this week. Discussion: Martian Child "There's nothing you can do that will make me change the way I feel about you" 1. How would you feel if someone said that to you?
2. Do you think God says that to us? Why?
Film Clip: The Prodigal Son
BY Aussie Brick Films - brilliant
Drama: The Prodigal's Mum Ask a mum of adult children to read the parable through a few times before the service and ask her to put herself into the role of the prodigal son's mother. This works better than having a script. During the service an interviewer asks her the following questions: 1. Who are you? 2. Your family has been in the news lately. What's the real story here? 3. What a drop kick of a son!! I bet you and your husband gave him the rounds of the kitchen when he came skulking back home? 4. So you followed your husband out to greet him!!!??? But at a more decorous pace as befitted a woman of your standing. 5. So what was with the party? Who threw that for him? 6. What a wonderful family! I suppose his older brother was just as pleased as you both were? 7. Well, did you finally convince him? c. Ann Scull - permission given for use in worship. Drama: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 1: No longer, then, do we judge anyone by human standards. 2. We don't? 3: Even if at one time we judged Christ according to human standards, we no longer do so. 2: What's made the difference? 1: When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new being;........ 2: A new being? A new being? Can I be a new being too? 1: ..............the old is gone, the new has come. 2: Who could possibly make me into a new being? 3: All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends............ 2: It'd be great to have God as a friend! 3: .............and gave us the task of making others his friends also. 2: So this isn't something I keep to myself, then? 1: Our message is that God was making all people his friends through Christ. 2: What about if people think they're not quite good enough to be God's friends? 3: God did not keep an account of their sins,.......... 2: That's a relief! 3: ................ and he has given us the message which tells how he makes them his friends. 1: Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. 2: It is a serious responsibility which we have been given. 3: We plead on Christ's behalf:........ 2: So what should we actually say? 3: ............let God change you from enemies into his friends! 2: OK......how? 1: Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God. 2: Wow! C. Rosemary Broadstock and Ann Scull - permission given for use in worship. Sermon: The Welcoming Church Found at http://petercorney.com/2009/09/01/being-a-welcoming-church/. A call to church communities to be like the welcoming father in the parable. Illustration: The Flushpools. Readabout the Flushpools in Adrian Plass's Sacred Diary quadrilogy (Volume 1 pictured at left) and you will find a modern example of the older brother from the Prodigal son story (and wet yourself laughing! - these are very, very funny books which help us to truthfully reflect on what it is to be a follower of Jesus today).
Story: Sheep Found at http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/s/sheep.htm This story goes with the gospel reading. Story: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming By Henri J.M. Nouwen, Darton, Longman and Todd, 1994, ISBN 023252078X. There is lots of useful stuff in this book but I found the Prologue very helpful for this weeks preaching (pictured at right).
Poem/Meditation: Listen To What God Is Saying To Us. By Henri J. M. Nouwen and found in Imaging the Word Volume 1 (pictured at left) by Kenneth T. Lawrence (ed.), United Church Press, 1994, ISBN 0829809716, page 165. I projected these words with multiple images of art works of the prodigal son story. There are plenty of free images of this story on the web. While the slides played through I backed them with the following piece of music: Monastery of Rabida by Vangelis on his album, Reprise (pictured at right). Quote: Meister Eckhardt We search for God in a far country while God waits for us at home. Response Activity Time of silence. Ask in the silence with spaces between each question or statement: Are you like the older or the younger son? What is the message and the challenge of the parable for you? Allow the Holy Spirit to read your heart and speak to you. Time of silence. NB: I have used these questions more than once over the years. Sometimes it does not hurt to use something more than once; because, at various times in our lives we will be like the younger son and at other times we will be more like the older son.
Response Activity: Put out as many postcard size pictures, advertising cards, whatever as you can find - I put mine around the communion table and I tried to put out about ten for every person present so that there were heaps to chose from (I am an avid collector of cards etc). I projected the following questions and left people to it for about five minutes.
Choose a picture that represents the Good News of this parable for you.
Choose a picture that represents the challenge of this parable for you.
As you choose, allow the Holy Spirit to read your heart and to speak to you.
At the end, encourage people to share their cards in groups of three and to share the reason why they chose the cards they did. I concluded this activity with the Nouwen poem/meditation above. Also:
Listening Song: Forgiven By Sons of Korah on their album, Redemption Songs. This song uses the words of Psalm 32(pictured at left).
Prayers and Poems: Prodigal Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 146 (pictured at right).
Response Activity: Love is a Relationship
Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year C by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2012, ISBN 9781921945083, page 54ff. This works well with all the gospel reading.
Lots of Useful Stuff Found in The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual 2016 by Jenee Woodard (Ed.), Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2015, page 46ff. These ideas are based on all of the readings. Story Plus Other Stuff: Wally the Dodgy Trolley Found in Wally the Dodgy Trolley and other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 5.
Kids: Way Home
By Libby Hathorn, Random House, with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 29. This goes well with the Luke reading.
Kids: Oi Get Off Our Train
By John Burningham, Random House, with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 42. This goes well with the Corinthians reading.
About the images: Upper Left and Right: They are both mine so please feel free to use them for worship purposesand related activities. The landscape is of sunrise near our place across Lake Victoria, part of the Gippsland Lakes in East Gippsland, Victoria Australia (for more info visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gippsland_Lakes). Middle Left: This image reminds me of Psalm 63 - You've let me see you in the sanctuary. This images is also mine. Please feel free to use all three for worship and related activities. Middle Right: This image comes from the awesome Church Galleries website.Well worth the subscription!!! Visit the website at www.churchgalleries.com. Lower Left: This image comes from the Heartlight site - see my link column at left. Listening Song: I Am Carried By Geoff Bullock on his Hands of Grace album, C.1997, Watershed Productions (pictured at left). This song goes particularly well with Gospel reading - we usually sing it but sometimes it is nice to sit and listen to it as well.
Listening Song: You're My God by Delirious? on their Glo album (pictured at right). This song goes well with the psalm.
Kid's Story: The Second Chance. You need to word up the actors for this beforehand, but make it all look fairly natural in that it looks like part of your normal service. Have the congregation start to sing a kid's song led by your choir or musicians or band or whatever. Have one of the choir or band sing or play so badly that everyone can hear their mistakes and then have that person spit the dummy! (translation for non Aussies: throw a tantrum, get angry at themselves, yell out "Oh, I can't do it" etc etc). You stop the singing and inform the person making the mistakes that you are fed up with their mistakes and that you no longer want them to participate in the music in church. They look crestfallen and a couple of the other musicians speak up for them and beg you to tell the kids a story while they give the mistake maker some help. You say its not really worth their effort and the mistake maker might as well quit now. The other musicians persist and you give in - if they are willing to give the mistake maker a second chance, maybe you can too. You tell the kids the gospel story about the fig tree. Ask the kids how they think the fig tree will go with the extra care. Then ask them how they think the mistake maker will go now that he/she has had some help from the others. Check with the musicians who all assure you that everything will be fine now. Sing the song through all together successfully. Conclude by linking what has just happened with the gospel story.
Kid's Story: Dead Plant A bit like the one above but less involved and can also be used to introduce the gospel reading. Have a nearly dead plant - somebody sees it and says "that's no good, chuck it out!". Another person comes along and says they will feed it and nurture it, re-pot it and give it another chance etc etc.
Kid's Story: The Giving Tree By Shel Silverstein, Harper Collins Publishers, 1992 (renewed from 1964), ISBN 0060256656 (pictured at left).
Film Clip: Pay It Forward (pictured at right) Show the clip at the very start of the film where the man who loses his car is given a brand new car to replace it. This clip goes very well with the gospel reading.
Questions for the Film Clip: Pay It Forward 1. Have you ever helped a stranger? What happened? 2. How can we tell if God is generous? 3. How can we be generous with each other?
Film Clip: Keep in Touch Any one of the series of New Zealand Telecom Commercials with the slogan "Keep in Touch" is terrific for this topic. Google them.
Questions for the Telecom Commercials 1. Why is it important to keep in touch with each other? 2. Why is it important to keep in touch with God? 3. How can we do this? Illustration: The Intimacy of Prayer. Found in Life at Its Best: A Guide Book For The Pilgrim Life by Eugene H Peterson, Zondervan, ISBN 0007111193, page 267 (pictured at left).
Story: Letter to Father Dudko Found in High Mountains Deep Valleys by Rowland Croucher and Grace Tomlinson (Eds.) Albatross Books, 1992, ISBN 086760090X, page 213 (pictured at right). This goes well with the gospel reading and the psalm.
Story: Wrong Way Reigels Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialities, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 228 (pictured in an earlier blog). This story goes well with the gospel reading or the psalm. Story: Brandon's Mess As above, page 58. This also goes well with the gospel reading.
Story: The Whisper Test
Found in 750 Engaging Illustrations by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal.. Baker Books, 2002,(pictured at right). Story No 259 goes with the gospel reading.
Story: God's Nickel (change nickel to whatever is relevant in your country). Found in Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1999, ISBN 1310224640, page 144 (pictured at left). Another story that matches up well with the gospel reading.
Story: Gratitude Found in Your Point Being? by Graham Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, story No. 112 (pictured in an earlier blog). This story goes well with the gospel reading.
Story: O Love That Will Not Let Me Go Found in Stories, Illustrations and Quotes by Robert J. Morgan, Thomas Nelson, 2000, ISBN 0785244793, page 356. It is a story of God's care for us.
Story: Remembering Found in Resources for Preaching and Worship - Year C compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, Westminster John Knox Press, 2003, ISBN 066422508X, Page 107. This story is based on the psalm.
Quote: Brother Laurence Those whose spirits are stirred by the breath of the Spirit of God, go forward even in sleep.
Discussion Questions: Think of a time when somebody has given you a second chance. "Well, he/she had it coming"...Why do we say this? Is it true? What is the point of the fig tree story and why does it follow the story of the men who dies and a call to repentance? What is God's grace?
Homework??!!: St John Chrysostom St John Chrysostom told people to read psalm 63 everyday. Encourage people to try doing so for a while and report back.
Response Activity: Leaves (based on the gospel reading). Give everyone a paper fig tree shaped leaf. Ask them to think about the following question and write the answer on their leaf. 1. If you had one more year, what would you need to help you turn your life around? or 2. What sort of fruit would you like your life to be producing by this time next year? 3. What help will you need to realise this dream? Either attach the leaves to a real branch or a sketch of fig tree. This activity should give you some idea of what your congregational needs are for the coming year.
Response Activity: Have about a half a dozen contemplative practices/spiritual exercises around the church for people to try - base each on the Bible reading you are concentrating on (I used the psalm) and give people plenty of time (maybe a VERY short reflection/sermon) and space to experience the discipline they have chosen. Encourage them to choose only one. The disciplines I used were: Mandalas, meditation, walking meditation, contemplating a work of art or a photo, journaling, and singing. Also: Prayers and Poems:The Fig Tree Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 145.
Response Activity: Cutting Remarks
Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year C by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2012, ISBN 9781921945083, page 52ff. This works well with all the gospel reading.
Meditation: Togetherness Around the Table
Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 90 (pictured at right). This goes well with the 1 Corinthians reading.
Meditation: Unity of the Family of God
Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 93 (pictured at right). This goes well with the 1 Corinthians reading.
Taize Service: Thirsting for God
Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 20. This is based on the Psalm reading.
g: With Every Breath
Film Clip: John 20:19-31
Drama: The Visit
Discussion Activity: 
: John Wesley's Last Words
