Proper 23 B (October 10): Let God Sort It/Treasure Chests

Bible Readings: Job 23: 1-9, 16-17, Psalm 22:1-15, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31

About the images:
Upper Left: The needle image comes from Wickimedia Commons, and the camel from Microsoft free clipart.  

Upper Right: This is my photo - please feel free to use it for worship and related activities. I see this as a choices picture - the world often reflected in the window of our faith. 

Middle Left:  This is a free image from Church Galleries - see my link column at left.

Middle Right: This is a free image from the Hermano Leon site - see my link column at left. 

Lower Left: A free image from Cerezo Barredo - see my link column at left

Lower Right: A free image from Heartlight. - see my link column at left.

Listening Song: What Good
By Third Day on their album, Time (pictured at left). This songs matches in well with the gospel reading.

Film Clip: Home Movie

Make a home movie of random people in your local area - not necessarily church people but mix a few in.

Ask them all the same questions:

1. What does being rich mean to you? and

2. How do you get to have eternal life?

Ask the congregation to then discuss these same two questions.

Film Clip: Schindler's List

Show the scene near the end of the film  when Schindler is leaving and all the people he has saved crowd around to thank him, however, all he can think about is the ones he didn't save and he looks at his wealth with new and despairing eyes. If you can watch this without weeping, you are tougher than me.  I suggest you watch it a few times before showing it in church so you don't end up a crying mess in the pulpit.

  

Quotes: Millionaires:

Andrew Carnegie: Millionaires seldom smile.

John Jacob: I am the most miserable man on earth .

John Rockefeller: I have made many millions but they have brought me no happiness.

W.H. Vanderbilt: The care of $200 million is too great a load to bear. There is no pleasure in it.

Discussion Questions: Millionaires

In pairs or threes:

• What do you like to think is in your treasure chest?

• Evaluate what Jesus would think of your treasure.

Meditation: Four Changed Lives

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 2002, ISBN 0901557642, page 183, (pictured at left). This goes well with the gospel reading.

Prayer for Others
Make a powerpoint presentation of pictures from your local newspaper of war, famine, accident, murder, ... (the hard and sad things that we read about) to some contemplative music and allow people to pray either during or after the presentation.

Prayer: Child, I am Here
By Michel Quoist in Prayers of Life, Macmillan, 1965, ISBN: 0717101584 (pictured at right). This goes well with the gospel reading.

Also:

Story Plus Other Stuff: Some Very Hard Homework

Found in Wally the Dodgy Trolley and other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 70 (pictured at left).

Poem/Meditation: Follow Me

By Ruth Burgess in Dandelions and Thistles: Biblical Meditations from the Iona Community by Jan Sutch Pickard (ed.) Wild Goose Publications, 1999, ISBN 1901557146, page 48 (pictured at right). This goes well with the Mark reading.

Worship Activity: The Presence of God

By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN, 0830724044, page 83 (pictured at left).  This is based on the Psalm.

 

Prayer Exercise: When God Seems Distant

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 35 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Psalm.

Kids: The Little Gate

By Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen and found in their book, Stories Jesus Told, Candle books, 2005, ISBN 101859855881 (pictured at left).

Sermon ideas: Keep an Eye on the Camels

Found in Life on the Road by Athol Gill, Herald Press, 1992, page 90.  This is based on the Gospel reading (pictured at right). 

Drama: Just a Prayer Away

Based on the Hebrews reading and found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.) Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859100186, page 47

Opening Prayer

By Molly Phinney Basquette and found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirrabassi (Eds), Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 978 0 8298 1750 8, page 117. Based on the Mark reading.

Poem and Comment: Bible

Found in Disturbing Complacency by Lisa Bodenheim, Wild Goose Publications, 2007, ISBN 978 1 905010 37 0, found under the second Tuesday 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.