Proper 24 C (19 October 2025): Never Give Up/Persistence/Encouragement

 

Bible Readings: Jeremiah 31:27-34, Psalm 119: 97-104, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, Luke 18:1-8

About the Image:
Upper Left: This image comes from the Sunday Graphx site (http://sundaygraphx.blogspot.com/) and makes a good thematic background for your digital slides if you are concentrating on the Jeremiah reading.
Upper Right: The quill is from free Microsoft Clip art so feel free to use this image for worship and related activities.

MiddleLeft: This image is free from the the Heartlight site - see my link column at left.

Middle Right: This image comes from the awesome Church Galleries website which is down at the moment.  This particular one was free on the site.
Lower Left and Right: These images are free from the wonderful Heartlight site - see my link column at left.

Bottom Left: A free image from the now defunct Hermano Leon site. 

Listening Song: Written on My Heart

By Plus One on their album. The Promise or WOW 2001 (pictured at right). The words of this song are inspired by the Jeremiah reading.

Film Clip: Psalm 121 (an alternative Psalm for the day).

Found at http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/visual-liturgy

Film Clip: It's Not Your Fault

This clip is found in the film Good Will Hunting (pictured at left) and on YouTube under the above heading.  I hesitate to suggest this clip because you would have to be very careful where you showed it and how you showed it in the context of worship.  It has very many expletives - nevertheless if you have a bleeping system or whatever, maybe it would be a possibility. Be that as it may, I have never seen a clip which so obviously illustrates Jeremiah 31:29-30 and which has the ability to reduce me to tears every time I see it.

Discussion Questions: For the 2 Timothy reading                      

1. What should we persist with in our own personal faith?

2.What sort of things is Timothy encouraged to persist with?

3. What sort of things should we persist with together?

4. Are people fighting battles we know nothing about?

5. How deep does our commitment to each other go?
6. What scripture do you have written on your heart?
7. What does it mean for our congregation to live in confidence and hope?

Story: The Horse Trader
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 86 (pictured at right). I think this is a good introduction or a good youth story for the 2 Timothy reading.

Story: Forgiveness 

Found as story No 75 in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch, 2003, ISBN 1854245929 (pictured at left). This story matches up well with the Jeremiah reading.

Story: God, the Recreator.
I have a beautiful clock made by a man who makes all his clocks out of wood from houses which have been pulled down. For God, nothing is too far gone to be restored or recreated into something of beauty - God's promise in the Jeremiah reading.

Quote: Harold Kushner
"I read the Torah as Jews have read it and loved it for centuries. For example, I can tell you what is the middle word in the Torah. I can tell you what is the middle letter in the Torah. Over the generations Jewish scholars have read the Torah not as a novel to see how it ends, but as a love letter. For instance, ‘Why did he use this word instead of that word?’ ‘Why is there a space here?’ ‘Why a comma here instead of a period?’ That’s the way you read a love letter and wonder, ‘What did he or she mean by this word?’ We Jews have seen the Torah as not just a book of stories or law codes, but as a love letter from God." Comment by Rabbi Harold Kushner on VISN TV or in Questions of Faith.  Sorry I cannot source this any better as I have neither seen the TV program or read the book.  When I procure a copy of the book I may be able to give you more information. Nevertheless, it is a lovely quote to introduce today's Psalm 119 reading.

Response Activity:
Give everybody a red heart cut out of paper or cardboard and a pencil. Ask people to write a short prayer about faith and persistence.

Also:

Taize Service: A Great Help

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 44 (pictured at left). This is based on the Psalm reading.

Kids: The Bible Reader, the Question Asker and the Sorter-Outer

Found in Party On Together by Beth Barnett and Dr Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2010, page 79 (pictured at right). This is based on the Gospel reading.

Service Outline: The World's Best Seller

Based on the 2 Timothy reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 114 (pictured at left).

Service Starter: Letters to a Friend

Based on the 2 Timothy reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 31 (pictured at left). 

Drama: Through the Week With the Bible
Found in Lets make Another Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 15 (pictured at right). This drama is useful for the Psalm reading.

Drama: The Persistent Pensioner
Found in Mega Drama 6 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109208, page 34 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Luke reading

Discussion Questions: How We See the Bible

Found in Chapter 8 of The Gospel According to the Simpsons Leaders Guide for Group Study by Mark I Pinsky and Samuel F Parvin, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002, ISBN 0 664 22590 X (pictured at left).  These questions are based on the 2 Timothy reading.

Brilliant Commentary: Luke 18:1-8

Found in Through Peasant Eyes by Kenneth E Bailey, Eerdmans, 1883, pages 127ff (pictured at right).

Drama: An Unjust Judge

Found in From Advent to Emmaus by Jim Hayward, page 110 (pictured at left). This book is available in Print and Digital PDF versions, is based on Luke's gospel and is ideal for Lectionary Year C. For more information and/or to buy, visit the CMLA website - cmla.org.au.

Proper 23 C (12 October 2025): Living in the Present/Love where You Live

 

 

                    

Bible readings: Jeremiah 29:1,4-7, Psalm 66:1-12, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19

About the image:
Upper Left: This comes from a great free lectionary-based image site: Hermano Leon Clipart. You will find a link to this site in my link column at left. Well worth a visit if you can find it - appears to have disappeared.
Upper Right: The image comes from a now defunct free worship image site. I put the text onto it. 
Middle Left: This is a free image from Cerrezo Barredo - see his site in my link column at left.
Middle Right: This image comes from the awesome Church Galleries website which is down at present.  This particular one was free on the site.
Lower Left: This obviously fits with the Old Testament theme but you probably need to be living in the Knox area in Melbourne, Australia for the pictures to be relevant - but you get the idea :)

Lower Right: The St Paul's Cathedral sign in Melbourne fits in beautifully with the Jeremiah reading

Bottom Left: Another free image from the Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.

Prayer: Brighten My Heart
Found in Celtic Prayers by Robert Van de Weyer, Hunt and Thorpe, 1997, ISBN 1856082814 page 43 (pictured at left). This makes a lovely opening prayer.

Listening Song: Speechless
By Steve Curtis Chapman on his album, Speechless or on WOW 2000 (pictured at right). This goes very well with the Psalm reading.

Listening Song: Unspoken
By Jaci Valasquez on her album Unspoken or on WOW 2005 (pictured at left).  This song fits in very well with the Jeremiah reading.

 Listening Song: From a Distance
By Bette Midler on her album, Some People's Lives (pictured at right). This makes a great introduction to the following discussion linked with the Luke reading.

Discussion:
How do/What happens when we keep people at a distance?
How do/What happens when we keep God at a distance?

Video Clip: As Good As It Gets
(pictured at right). Play the restaurant scene which is about 1:35-40 minutes in.

Discussion: As Good As It Gets
1. Think of examples where Jesus met somebody and their whole life was transformed.
2. How does this happen?

Drama: Unclean, Unclean.
Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 2002, ISBN 0901557642, page 227 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: I'm At The Synagogue
Found in Let's Make a Scene by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, page 27 (pictured at right) . This drama is based on the gospel reading,

Story: Attitude of Gratitude
Found in The New Century Version Youth Bible, Word, 1991, ISBN 0849909252, page 1040 (pictured at left). This story is based on the gospel reading.

 Story: Faithfulness of God
Found in 750 Engaging Illustrations from Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Barker Books, 1993 (pictured at right). Story No. 200. This story is based on the gospel reading.

Who Am I? John Newton
Play a who am I game with John Newton as the subject: a man who came face to face with God.

Response Activity:
Ask:
1. What is it about your relationship with Jesus that the world cannot live without? (a Bill Easum question)
2. How can you share it this week....without words?!

Response Activity:
1. Project the poem Falling In love by Father Pedro Arrupe (attributed) line by line on a screen accompanied by images and music. You can find this poem at http://www.arrupe.org/pl/sentence.html
2. Hand out the poem printed on a sheet of paper and allow people time to sit and absorb the words.
3. Finally project the following questions at thirty second or one minute intervals.
a. Who are you in love with?
b. What fills your heart and your head and your time?
c. What seizes your imagination?
d. If God the Creator, Saviour, and Enabler does not figure largely in your answers, maybe it's time to return, like the Samaritan leper, to deepen your relationship with Jesus?
(I have lost the acknowledgements for this activity - not sure if it is mine or belongs to someone else. Let me know if you can source it).

Response Activity: For the Jeremiah reading
How do we work for the peace and consequent prosperity of the communities where we are? Give everyone a piece of A4 paper folded into three with each section labelled as follows: my church, my community, my world.
Encourage people to either discuss together or work alone in order to jot down practical ways they can work for peace in each of these three areas.

Also:

Meditation: Thanksgiving

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 21 (pictured at left).

Worship Activity: Thanks to the Lord

By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN, 0830724044, page 45 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Luke reading.

Creative Ideas: Jeremiah: The Prophet of Hope

Found in Multi-Sensory Prophets by Mike Law, Scripture Union, 2007, ISBN 9781844272587, page 37. This is based on the Jeremiah reading.

Drama: Were There Not Ten?
Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 16 and based on the gospel reading. 

Drama: Thankfulness
Found in Mega Drama 6 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109208, page 56 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Luke reading.

Reading: The Leper

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 216ff (pictured at left).  This is based on the Luke reading.

Drama: Unclean, Unclean!

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 227ff (pictured at left).  This is based on the Luke reading.

Drama: Ten Lepers

Found in From Advent to Emmaus by Jim Hayward, page 108 (pictured at right). This book is available in Print and Digital PDF versions, is based on Luke's gospel and is ideal for Lectionary Year C. For more information and/or to buy, visit the CMLA website - cmla.org.au.

Proper 22 C (5 October 2025): The Art of Lament, Mustard Seeds, Rekindle the Fire, When Things Get Tough

 

Bible Readings: Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26, Psalm 137 or 37, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10.

About the Images:
Upper Left: The image comes from the excellent Imagebank site and is therefore free for worship related activities (see my link in the column at left) and the words come from the quote below.
Upper Right: This is my image so feel free to use it for worship and related activities.

Middle Left: This free image comes from the Heartlight site - please see my link column to the left.

Middle Right: This image comes from the awesome Church Galleries website which is down at present.  This particular one was free on the site.   

Lower Left: This is my front yard and my photo which I thought went quite well with Lamentations 3:22-23. Please feel free to use for worship and related activities. 

Lower Right: It is World Communion Sunday this week - this image is from the Hermano Leon site. 

Bottom Left: This comes from the amazing Sundaygraphx site - see my link column at left. 

Listening Song: Rivers Of Babylon
This song is based on Psalm 137. There are plenty of versions of this song around - Boney M had a very famous one which is still on a number of their albums and Sinead O'Connor has two great versions (London and Dublin) on her Theology double album (pictured at right).

Kid's Story: Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going To Move.
By Judith Voirst, Robin Preiss Glasser and Ray Cruz, Scholastic,1995 (pictured at right). This story can get a conversation going about lament, being taken to a new place etc etc.

Kid's Talk: Don't Be Ashamed
Wear your footy team colours to church and ask the kids what team they barrack for or play the Grand Final winner team song in church and have a talk about how we are not ashamed to wear our favourite team colours and sing our team song. This connects very well with the Timothy reading for this week.

Dramatic Reading: Psalm 137

Found in Parable Performing by Kristen Etscheid, Hodder and Stoughton, 1985, ISBN 0340336676, page 12 (pictured at left).

Story/Quote: Devout Mothers

Index 1670 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990 or find it at http://www.webbiblia.com/SermonHelps/11543455/ Another similar story can be found at http://www.christianity.com/SermonHelps/11558052/ These stories both go well with the Timothy reading.

Discussion:
How did you come by your faith?
Was it a sudden conversion or a gradual dawning?
Where you helped by a member of your family, through a friend or member of a church, or did it come straight from God with no human intervention at all?
Share how you came by your faith with somebody sitting near you?
Is your faith actually yours?
Have you ever claimed your faith ..and how is it at the moment?
Has the flame been fanned as you have travelled through life or is it dying out?

Poem: A Grandmother's Faith

By Marie Livingstone Roy in Imaging the Word Volume 2 by Susan A. Blain Sharon Iverson Glouwens, Catherine O'Callaghan, Grant Spradling (Eds.), United Church Press, 1995, ISBN 0829810331, page 43. (pictured at right). This fits in very well with the Timothy reading

Poem: What Did I Dream?

Found in Resources for Preaching and Worship - Year C compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, Westminster John Knox Press, 2003, ISBN 066422508X, page 257 (pictured at left). This goes very well with Psalm 137.

Quote: J.B Phillips
"Every time we say "I believe in the Holy Spirit" we mean that we believe there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it."  An interesting quote to discuss if you have discussion groups and to get people thinking about how the Holy Spirit operates - the words "human personality" grate a little with me in the context of the quote - but therefore there are lots of opportunity to define words and meanings together. 

Also:

Creative Ideas: Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet 

Found in Multi-Sensory Prophets by Mike Law, Scripture Union, 2007, ISBN 9781844272587, page 34 (pictured at right). This is based on the Jeremiah reading.

Service Starter: Letters to a Friend

Based on the 2 Timothy reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 31 (pictured at left). 

Poem: A Prophet in Babylon

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 55 (pictured at right).  This poem is based on the Psalm reading.  

Drama: Faith to Move Teddy Bears
Found in Mega Drama 6 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109208, page 30 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Luke reading

Drama: One For the Ladies

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 68ff (pictured at right).  This is based on the 2 Timothy reading.

Australian Floral Illustrations and Links:

Found in The Scrolls Illuminated by Fiona Pfennigwerth, Bible Society, 2011, pages 39, 47-48 and 56-57 concentrate on the Lamentations reading Pictured at left). Stunning!!  Images may be used for such purposes as church services, with acknowledgement of the artist. 

Brilliant Commentary: Luke 17:7-10

Found in Through Peasant Eyes by Kenneth E Bailey, Eerdmans, 1883, pages 144ff.

Listening Song: Shine Like the Dawn

Based on Psalm 37 and is found on the Sons of Korah album, Shelter, Wordsong Artists, 2002 (pictured at left).

Listening Song: Be Still Before the Lord

Based on Psalm 37 and is found on the Sons of Korah album, Shelter, Wordsong Artists, 2002 (pictured at left)

Listening Song: Babylon

Based on Psalm 37 and is found on the Sons of Korah album, Redemption Songs, Wordsong Artists, 2000 (pictured at right).