Proper 19 B (September 12): Finding Wisdom/Taking Up Your Cross

 

Bible Readings: Proverbs 1:20-33, Psalm 19, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free Microsoft clipart image with my text added to it.

Upper Right: This is my photo, my hand, pen, lamp, desk etc so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.

Middle Left: This is a free image from Scripture Pics - the site seems to have disappeared off the web - can anybody can tell me where it has gone

Middle Right: This is a free image from Church Galleries - see my link column at left.
Lower Left and Right: These are my images. Please feel free to use them for worship and related activities.

Listening Song: Edge of the World

By Iona on their album, Beyond These Shores (pictured at left). This goes well with the Proverbs reading.

Kids Story: God's Greatness

Have a quick discussion about what proverbs are and what the word "wisdom" might mean and then ask them where wisdom comes from. Conclude by using Story 250 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 1993, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured at right).

Film Clip: Psalm 19a
By Sons of Korah

Dramatic Illustrated Reading:

This can be used as an introduction to the sermon or the reading or you can use the last line as the start of a discussion. Use two readers and illustrate what they are saying either with projected images or mimes. Make sure the readers read smoothly but with enough time for people to take in the image or mime action.

1. Think for a minute about wisdom

2. And foolishness.

1. Wisdom outshines foolishness

2. As light outshines darkness

1. The wise man has his eyes in his head

2. But the foolish man walks in darkness.

1. A wise man listens to advice.

2. But the way of the fool is right in his own eyes

1. The wise man trusts God.

2. The foolish man trusts only himself and takes pleasure in his own opinion

1. The wise man quietly holds back when he is annoyed and irritated

2. The foolish man lets everybody know about it.

1. So...

2. Tell us…..

Both: Where do we find true wisdom?

Story: The Subversive Cross
Found at http://www.elsalvadorperspectives.com/2009/11/subversive-cross.html
This story goes well with the Gospel reading. 

Quote:

"Wisdom consists of all God's ideas about how the world should be and how we should treat one another" - Carolyn Brown in Forbid Them Not: Year B, page 151 (pictured at left). Thanks for the info and source of this quote, Sandra.

Quotes, Cartoons and Film Clips by Leunig

Just about anything from the pen and mind and heart of Michael Leunig works well for this theme - particularly when you think of how we can recognise wisdom. If you don't know where to start, I suggest you look at the DVD Leunig Animated, Fruitcup Films, 2001 (pictured at right) or trawl through A Common Prayer: A Cartoonist Talks to God by Michael Leunig, Harper Collins, 1990, ISBN 1863717404 (pictured at left). Enjoy!!!

Meditation: Bearing the Cross II

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 92 (pictured at right). This goes well with the gospel reading.

Also:

Kids: Gabriella's Song

By Candace Fleming and Giselle Potter, Simon and Schuster,  with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 25 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Psalm reading.

Taize Service: Losing  Your Life

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 10 (pictured at right). This is based on the Mark reading.

Prayer Exercise: Praying in Nature

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 56 (pictured at left).  This is based on the Psalm reading.

Complete Service: Who do you say that I am?

Found in In this Hour by Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Desbooks, 2001, ISBN 094982433X, page 61ff. 

Sermon ideas: The Cross is the only Way to Glory

Found in Life on the Road by Athol Gill, Herald Press, 1992, page 58.  This is based on the Gospel reading. 

Drama: Tongue Twisted

This links with the James reading and is found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 19.

Service Starter: New Understanding

Based on the Mark reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 52

Who is Jesus?

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 176-7. This is based on the Mark reading.

Poem and Comment: Jesus

Found in Disturbing Complacency by Lisa Bodenheim, Wild Goose Publications, 2007, ISBN 978 1 905010 37 0, found under the second Friday of Advent.  This is a Christmas preparation book, but is very useful for other times of the year as well. This entry is based on the Mark reading.