Lent 1 C: Trusting God/Wilderness Times

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Bible Readings: Luke 4:1-13
Theme: Trusting God, Wilderness Times

About the photo: Lightning Ridge - northern New South Wales, Australia
Drama: A Very Reasonable Man
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 29 (pictured).
Introductory Discussion Questions: About the drama and any pictures you can show of the devil
How have the artists portrayed the devil? Why?
In the drama, what sort of voice does the devil have? Why?
Story: The Indian and the Rattlesnake
Second last story on the temptation page at www.sermonillustrations.com
Story: Don't Forget to Look After Me
By Max Lucado in the conclusion of his book, In The Grip of Grace, Word Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0849911435 (pictured).
Prayer: Stone Prayers
Give everyone a stone which they can hold comfortably (size wise) and which has both smooth and rough surfaces. Encourage them to shut their eyes in prayer. Ask them to feel the rough surfaces and to think of the rough (hard) areas in their lives at the moment. Encourage them to silently ask God for help with regard to these areas. Then ask them to feel the smooth surfaces and to think of the things in their lives that they are grateful for - the things that make them happy and give them joy. Encourage them to pray silently thanking God for these things.
NB 1. Depending on where you live - enough suitable stones might be hard to find. I dug up a bit of our gravel driveway! Sometimes plant nurseries sell stones but they are often too smooth - you may have to search though the bags to find a suitable lot.
NB 2. I did this first six years ago and met a lady just recently who keeps the stone from that service on a shelf which she passes each morning as soon as she gets up. She still starts each day with a "rough" help prayer and a "smooth" thank you prayer :-)

Transfiguration of Jesus C: Reflecting God's Light

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Bible Readings: Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99, 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, Luke 9:28-43a. Theme: Reflecting God's Light About the Photo: Norfolk Island sunset Decor of the worship space: Decorate the focal point of your worship space with any combination of heaps of lit candles, spotlights, and white and gold material. Listening Song: Great Light of the World By Bebo Norman on his album, Myself When I Am Real, 2002, or on WOW 2004 Kid's Story: I have a collection of large cards with dinner plate sized round faces drawn on them - each face reflecting a different emotion; eg tired, scared, surprised, sad, happy, excited, puzzled etc etc. The transfiguration lends itself very much to a retelling of the story using these cards to reflect the emotions of the disciples. You can either hand out the faces and get kids to hold up the one they have when they think that is how the disciples must have felt or you can hold up a relevant card at the relevant time and ask the kids (and the congregation?) to reflect the same face. It can be lots of fun. Film Clip: Amelie Show the clip where Amelie walks the blind man across the road. As she does so, she begins to detail all the things around him so that she gives him his sight. Discussion Questions: For the film clip or as stand alones To think about by yourself: When have you felt closest to God's glory? Brainstorm: How did it make you feel? Together: Why do you think God sometimes is revealed in these ways? How has the experience impinged on your daily life? How are we able to reflect god's glory on to other people? What happens when we do? Drama: We Can't Tell You Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 61 Story: A Candle in the Darkness Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 17 (pictured in an earlier blog). Story: Reflected Son-light Index 2166 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990 Story: Wouldn't He stick Out? Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 203 (pictured in an earlier blog). Poem: Transfiguration By Bruce Prewer and found his site at www.textweek.com (see my links at left) under Prayers, Prefaces, Litanies, etc. on the Transfiguration C page. Response Activity: Project or give everybody a copy of 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 and ask them to underline the part that gives them the most hope. Be generous with time to do this - make it a spiritual exercise. Then ask them to share their response with two other people. Response Activity: Give each person a small candle or tea light and ask them to light it at their main meal each day this week to remind themselves of God's love for them and that they are reflectors of God's light. Response Activity: Brainstorm ideas on how your congregation can be a light in the community? As each idea is suggested, write it on a separate piece of paper. Put them around the walls. Give everybody three stickers each and ask them to put a sticker on the three which excite them the most. After the service, give the six with the most dots to a member of your church council or leadership team :-) !!

Epiphany 4 C: God's Messengers

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Bible Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30 Theme: God's Messengers. Kids: Flat or ....? Tell the story of the Jeremiah reading using a balloon - first he was flat: too young, no confidence, didn't have the words etc; then when God reassured him he was like an inflated balloon: full of life and energy, confident. Film clip: Cocoon Cocoon is a film about the elderly who are treated like the living dead but who discover they still have lives to live and something to offer. There are plenty of scenes which relate to the psalmist who is an old man who still knows he has something to say and a way to say it. Drama: Home Town Sermon Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Resource Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0901557642, page 189 (pictured in an earlier blog) Quote: Unknown "I intend to stay alive for the whole of my life." Quote: By a British Politician "When we assumed office four years ago we stood on the edge of the precipice. Since then, we have taken a giant leap forward". As quoted by Prime Minister Tony Blair during a White House Toast on 5th February 1998. Quote: Martin Luther King Jnr. "When I speak of love, I am not speaking of some sentimental and weak response, I am speaking of that force which is ... the supreme unifying principle of life". Story: Seeing Things from God's Perspective Index No 1629-1631 in Bible Illustrator for Windows 1.0d, Parson's Technology Inc., 1990 Discussion and/or Questions to Ponder: What encouragement is there is this/these readings for us? What warning is there in this/these readings for us? What is God asking you to do and what excuses are you using? Discussion Questions for the Jeremiah reading: What are Jeremiah's two excuses for not being God's messenger? What is God's response to these excuses? Response Activity: Ask all the ministers present to stand up - should, of course, be everyone!

Christmas 1 C: Transformation, Going Deeper, Changing Direction

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Bible readings: Luke 2:41-52, Colossians 3:12-17 Theme: Transformation, Going Deeper, Changing Direction Drama: One Day in the Temple Found in Let's Make A Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 9, (pictured in an earlier blog) Kid's Discussion: Based on above drama What is the thing you like doing best? What new thing have you recently learnt to do? Point: Because Jesus was a kid growing up and learning new things too, God knows what it is like to be a kid. Discussion: To share with your neighbour: What is your earliest understanding or memory of God? To think about in silence: How much has changed since that earliest memory? Story: Who Am I? Found in The Youth Bible, Word Publishing, 1991, ISBN 0849909252, page 1006 (pictured) Story:What Do We Expect? Can't source this story - think I found it in an email..... A ten year old girl went with a group f family and friends to see the Christmas lights at various locations in her tow. At one church they stopped and got out to look at a beautiful nativity scene. "Isn't that beautiful?" said the little girl's grandmother. "Look at all the animals, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus." "Yes, Grandma," replied the grand daughter. It's really nice. But there's one thing that bothers me. Isn't baby Jesus ever going to grow up....he's the same size he was last year!" Poem: Coming of Age By Bruce Prewer in Beyond Words, Joint Board of Christian Education, 1995, ISBN 1864070722 Prayer: Thank you for the Life of Our Brother By Bruce Prewer in Brief Prayers for Australians, Open Book Publishers. Response Activity: Transformation Ask: How can we respond to God's call to be continually transformed? The ask people to: 1. come out and light a candle as a symbol of their willingness to be transformed by God, to grow deeper and to continue on their faith journey this coming year, 2. light their candle from the Christ candle to show that this is a journey they make with Jesus beside them, and 3. place the candle with everyone's elses as a sign that this is a journey they make together.

Blue Christmas C: For Those Who Find Rejoicing Hard Work

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Bible Readings: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Luke 2:1-7, Romans 8 Theme: For Those Who find Rejoicing Hard Work Gathering Music: Paint the Sky with Stars by Enya on her album, Paint the Sky with Stars, 1997. Listening Song: I Still Cry For Baby Jesus by Kasey Chambers on her album, Barricades and Brick Walls, 2001 (pictured) Response Activity: Ask people to light a candle in memory of a loved one or a sad situation in their lives or in the lives of those they know. Leaving Listening Song: Vespers by Aled Jones on his album, Aled, 2002 (pictured) 

Advent 3 C: Sharing the Christmas Message

Sorry folks, but no resources this week - we are too busy preparing our place for oncoming bush fires. The photo was taken yesterday afternoon from our front veranda.

There is a 2024 version of this blog with lots more resources - see my archive at left

Jenee from textweek.com reminded me that advent 3 is about waiting in hope and preparing so I have added this photo as well. I took the photo as the fire front was approaching Omeo three years ago when I was working up there as a pastoral visitor to fire beseiged families. I think anyone who can put their washing out to dry in the face of an oncoming fire shows great hope - also the clothes prop shapes a cross in the middle of the picture. There is a lull in the proceedings here and I think we (and our house) are ready for any eventuality so....... Bible Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20, Isaiah 12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7 Theme: Sharing the Christmas Message Listening Song: When You Say Nothing at all By Ronan Keating on his album, When You Say Nothing At All. This goes very well with the Zephaniah reading where it says that God "silently shows that us his love". (pictured) Poem: First Coming by MadeleineL'Engle in Imaging the Word, United Church Press, 1994, ISBN 082980716, page 85 (pictured i an earlier blog) Kid's Story: Wombat Divine by Mem Fox and Kerry Argent, Omnibus Books, 1995, ISBN 1862913021. Brilliant!!!! Everybody has a role to play when it comes to Christmas. Youth Story: Safe Under the Falls Find this story in the The Youth Bible, Word Publishing, 1991, ISBN 0849909252 on page 631 After telling the story, read Isaiah 12:2-6, and use it to re-asssure them in the times when they are fearful or reluctant to share the Christmas story. Story: Even Now the Taste Found in The Speaker's Source Book of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley, Word Publishing, 1995, ISBN 0849936756, page 38. Fits with Philippians 4:4 Story: Pillsbury Doughboy Wanted for Attempted Murder Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes by Jim Burns and Greg Mckinnon (eds.), Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 41 (pictured in an earlier blog). Fits with Philippians 4:6. Poem: The Faithful are Fearless Found In Due Season by Herbert F. Brokering, Augsburg Publishing House, 1966 in the winter section. Response Activity: Give each person a small card with the words: rejoicing, gentleness, prayer and peace written on one side. Ask people to write the name of a person they would like to share the message of Christmas with on the blank side of the card. Ask them to turn the card over and look at the four words and then ask: How can you share the Good News of Christmas best with the person you named; is it through rejoicing, through gentleness, through prayer, through peaceful words or actions. Give time for silent prayer.

Advent 2 C: God's messengers

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About the Image: John Bell says that in many ways we have handed the Nativity story over to children. Using adults for the Nativity plays gives a more realistic and true perception of the story to everyone. Alma (may she rest in peace), a wonderful lady who belonged to a church I once served in, made a fantastic Gabriel. It is my photo.  Alma was, and I am, very happy for you to use this photo for worship and related activities. 

Bible Readings: Luke 1:68-79, Baruch 5:1-9, Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:3-11 Theme: God's Messengers Responsive reading: The Luke 1:68-79 makes a good responsive reading. Drama: Lucky Day Found in Cloth For the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Group Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 38, (pictured in last weeks blog) Poem: Zechariah's Pride Found in Outback Christmas by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Lutheran Publishing House, 1990, ISBN 0859105628, page 18 (pictured in last week's blog). Film Clip: Little Women Show the scene near the beginning where the girls share their breakfast with the poor family and the lady of the house calls them angels (messengers) from God. (pictured) Discussion and Activity: Bible study Print the latter four bible readings above onto A4/letter sized paper - a different colour for each reading - and have enough printed so that each person receives one page only, not all four. Project the four questions below or have the questions printed on the bottom of each reading: 1.What is the good news in this reading? 2. How is this message helpful to christians/believers? 3. How is this message helpful to those with little or no knowledge of Jesus? 4. The name "Malachi" (one of the readings) means messenger - do you see yourself or this congregation as a messenger? How? Get people to sort themselves into same paper colour groups of five or six, maybe more, and encourage them to discuss the questions in the light of their particular reading. Ask each group to present to the congregation the thing that impacted on them the most as they discussed the questions. Encourage them to present their finding via a homemade poster, a skit, a song, a poem, a diagram, a clay sculpture etc etc. They will be limited only by the resources and spaces you provide for them to work in. Allow at least 20 - 30 minutes for this whole process. Meditation: Provide/project some images of the world and your local area. Ask the Bill Easum question from Leadership on the Other Side, Abingdon, 2000, ISBN 0687085888 (pictured) : What is it about your relationship with Jesus that the world cannot live without knowing? Give people a quiet space to think about this question. Poem: Unknown!! I don't know where I got this from - either a book or a web site - it would be great if somebody could help me source it.

Do you know, do you understand that you represent Jesus to me? Do you know, do you understand that when you treat me with gentleness, it raises the question in my mind that maybe he is gentle, too? Maybe he isn't someone who laughs when I am hurt. Do you know, do you understand that when you listen to my questions and you don't laugh, I think, "What if Jesus is interested in me, too?" Do you know, do you understand that when I hear you talk about arguments and conflict and scars from your past that I think, "Maybe I am just a regular person instead of a bad, no-good, little girl who deserves abuse?" If you care, I think maybe he cares -- and then there's this flame of hope that burns inside of me, and for a while, I am afraid to breathe because it might go out. Do you know, do you understand that your words are his words? Your face, his face to someone like me? Please be who you say you are. Please, God, don't let this be another trick. Please let this be real. Please. Do you know, do you understand that you represent Jesus to me?