Sunday, November 03, 2024

Proper 27 B (November 10): Breaking Down the Barriers/What's Really important

 























Bible Reading: Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17. Psalm 127, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44

About the above images:
Upper Left: My text on an free image from www.freeimages.co.uk
Upper Right: This a my photo  of Aussie money - you might prefer to take a photo of your own currency, however the face on the $20 note is that of John Flynn, missionary to the Outback, Australian pioneer, early aviator, explorer and founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. This is my image so please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities.
Middle Left:  This is a scale model of the Temple where the gospel reading is set today. This is my image so please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities.
Middle Right: This is my image with words from the Psalm.
Lower Left: Free photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash
Lower Right: A free clipart from Cerezo Barredo. See my link column at left.
Bottom Left: Copyright permission: Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) Attribution: Agmon, Ruth. Ruth and Naomi - the Dialog, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55327 [retrieved November 3, 2024]. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeevveez/5798290125/.

Listening Song: Psalm 127: Unless the Lord Builds the House
By Sons of Korah on their album Shelter (pictured at right).

Kid's Story: A Penny is Everything
This story, based on the Gospel reading is by Walter Wangerin Jr, (one of my all time favourite authors - if you can find anything by him, either for children or adult, it is well worth the read) and Jack Glover, Arch Books, 1974, ISBN 0570060842 (pictured at left).

Kid's Story: A Story For Obed
This story, based on the Ruth reading, is by Anne Jennings and Vaccaro Associates, Arch Books, 1974, ISBN 0 570 06082 6 (pictured at left). An oldie but still fun. 

For Youth or as an Introduction to the Gospel Theme:
"Mr. Bagwell dropped a check into the plate and thought, Boy, I hope next week when they announce the promotions, God remembers that I gave this money.
Mrs. Bagwell watched their hard-earned money go into the plate and prayed silently: God; thanks for blessing us like you have. Please use this gift to reach more people with the gospel.
Andrew Bagwell reluctantly contributed fifty cents out of his five-dollar pocket money and thought, Why does Mum make me do this? I need this more than the church does!
Little Jessica waited until the plate was right in front of her, then she got out her coin purse and dropped in her five cents. Looking around, she noticed several people staring at her. She got all embarrassed because she just knew she had put in the smallest amount."
From Life Application Family Devotions by Len Woods, Tyndale House, 1997, ISBN 0842337504, page 272 (pictured at right).

Encourage people to answer the following question:
What is important to each of these people?
A discussion on this question goes particularly well if you divide the groups into ages that are roughly the same as the four people in the story - in our case, I divided people up into men, women, teenagers, and kids. To free child carers up, I sat in with the kids. 

Film Clip: Hook
(pictured at left) Show the scenes at the beginning when the father (Robin Williams) is too busy to spend time properly with his kids. This clip goes very well with the Gospel reading. 

Discussion: Hook
What is important to the various characters in the clip?
What is important to you?

Film Clip: 39 Pounds of Love
(pictured at right) Show the scene where Ami talks about his weight being equivalent to that of a large turkey and how he uses just a finger on his left hand to make beautiful animations. I found this clip at www.wingclips.com and I found some really thought provoking comments about the film, and this clip in particular, at www.movieministry.com. It links well with the gospel reading.

Discussion: 39 Pounds of Love
1. What is important to Ami?
2. How does he make the most with what he has?

Film Clip: Two Copper Coins
By Work of the People - see my link at left

Drama: The Shirt off Your Back
In Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.) Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859100186, page 25 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading. 

Quote:
When Bart Cummings' horse was scratched in a Melbourne Cup around the time of the Bali bombing, his words were: “Bali is a tragedy, this is just a disappointment”.

Poem: His Widow Complex
By Joseph G Donders in Imaging the Word, Volume 1, Uniting Church Press, 1994, ISBN 0829809708, page 64 (pictured at right). I have put various images related to the gospel reading with this poem and backed it with Look Back In by Moby on his album, 18.

Offering:
Mention that it is not only money that we can give to God and the church. Talk about our time and talents .... Encourage people to hold the collection plate for a little while longer than they usually do (you may need to use more plates for this if your congregation is large and you want to finish in a reasonable time) and name in their minds something other than money or material possessions that they have that they can give to God and share with their community.

Communion: Nano- Communion
Roddy Hamilton's nano-communion for the 12 November 2006 is excellent and links in with the gospel reading beautifully. You will find it in his Mucky Paws archives (see link above left).

Australian Floral Illustrations and Links:
Found in The Scrolls Illuminated by Fiona Pfennigwerth, Bible Society, 2011, pages 30, 33 and 34-35 concentrate on the Ruth reading. Stunning!!  Images may be used for such purposes as church services, with acknowledgement of the artist. 

Also:

Kids: Let the Celebrations Begin
By Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas, Box Press (pictured at left) with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 55 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Ruth reading.

Service Outline: The World's Best Seller
Based on the Psalm  reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 114 (pictured at right).

Service Starter: Good Harvest
Based on the Ruth reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 39 (pictured at right).

Poem: The Widow's Gift

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170411, page 92 (pictured at left) and based on the gospel reading. 

Ruth
Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 136 (pictured at left). This activity is based on the Ruth reading. For a few reasons that sadden me, Messy Church activities are often moved out of regular church services into their own little niche service. 

Meditation: Disciples of Christ
Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 76ff (pictured at right).  This is based on the Mark reading.

Poem and Comment: Money
Found in Disturbing Complacency by Lisa Bodenheim, Wild Goose Publications, 2007, ISBN 978 1 905010 37 0, found under the second Wednesday 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.  







Sunday, October 27, 2024

Proper 26 B (November 3) : Feeling Like an Alien/Choosing to Love

 














 
 














Bible Readings: Ruth 1:1-18, Psalm 146, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34

About the Images: 
Upper Left: It is so natural to turn to your Father when things go pear-shaped. This is my image so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Upper Right: This is a www.heartlight.com free powerpoint background with words I took from one of those emails which does the rounds of all our computers from time to time (see Useful Quotes below).
Middle Left: The land of Moab today (part of present day Jordan). This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Middle Right: This is a Microsoft free clipart image with my text.
Lower LeftPhoto by Matthew Henry on Unsplash
Lower Right: A free clipart from Cerezo Barredo. See my link column at left. 
Bottom Left: a free image from the Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.

Listening song: Alien
By Third Day on their album, Conspiracy No 5 (pictured at right) This song fits in well with the Ruth reading.

Invocation
By Elaine Miller 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 127(pictured below right). Based on the Ruth reading.

Kid's Story:
Tell story of Ruth and Naomi as an example of Mark 12:30-31 in that Ruth loves God enough to follow God, and loves Naomi enough to follow and be with her,
and/or
Hide the individual words of Mark 12: 30-31 in the congregation on big individual red hearts. Get the kids to find them, and put them in order to work out what the verse says.

Kid's Story: The Runaway Hug
By Nick Bland and Freya Blackwood, Scholastic Australia, 2011, ISBN 9781865044057 (pictured at left).  A delightful story-book which fits in beautifully with the gospel reading.  Thanks to Miranda Walker for suggesting this book.

Youth Time: When you don't fit in.
Do you ever feel like an alien – like a misfit, like you don’t belong?
Tell a story from your own teen years when you felt like you didn't fit in (we all have at least one!). Relate it to Ruth and Naomi and how hard it must have been to live in a strange place and amongst foreigners/strangers.

Voice drama for congregation: Not enough
One: I am a good Christian.
Many: What do you mean?
One: Well, I go to church every Sunday.
Many: That is not enough.
One: I visit my parents.
Many: That is not enough.
One: Well, I’ve never stolen anything, and I’ve certainly never killed anyone.
Many: That is still not enough.
One: What then? What is enough?
Many: You must love God. We must love God. With our hearts. With our minds. With our bodies. With our souls. We must love our neighbors. We must love ourselves.
ALL: Let us put our love into motion as we worship the One who’s taught us to love.
Written by Crystal Sygeel-Lystlund, Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Richmond, Virginia. Excerpted from Homiletics, Nov. 2, 1997: Mark 12:28-34.

Useful Quotes: About Love:
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your chips without making them give you any of theirs."
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."
"Love is when you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't love you any more. But then you get surprised because they love you even more."
"Love is when you tell a boy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."
"God could have said some words to make the nails fall off the cross, but .............. He didn't. That's love."
"Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love others as much as you love yourself." -Jesus
"Love God and do as you like" - St Augustine

Pew Discussion:
Would you rather be known for your goodness or your love? Share your answer with the people on each side of you.

All Saints Prayer Flags: 
Ask each person to decorate a prayer flag
1.    in memory of a person who you have known and loved who has died, or
2.    in thankfulness for a person who still has the light of God shining through them or
3.    as a symbolic statement of your own intent to live as a saint. 
Decorate the outside of your church with the prayer flags. 

Benediction: Based on an African Version
Project the following words:
The Good News: You are loved
The Challenge: To love
The Invitation: To follow 
Ask everybody to choose the line that means the most to them.
Stand at the door and have the first person who leaves tell you what line they chose and you then tell them what you chose. Ask that person to stand beside you. Have the second person to leave tell you which line they chose and you tell them which you chose, and then have them do the same with the person standing next to you. The second person then stands next to the person standing next to you. Have the third person to leave .......and so on.
When you do this with a whole congregation it takes a bit of time and you end up with a sort of human snake spilling out the door of your worship space; but it is a great end to a service and has literally everyone talking to everyone!

Benediction: Based on an African Version for All Saints celebrations
Do as above but get each person to say "I see you, Saint (and the name of the person they are facing)" and the person they are facing responds with  'I see you, Saint (person's name)"

Also:

Kids: Let the Celebrations Begin
By Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas, Box Press,  with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 55 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Ruth reading.

All Sorts of Useful Stuff: Grape Expectations
By Ian Birkinshaw in Multi-Sensory Parables, Scripture Union, 2006, ISBN 9781844272310, page 56 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Gospel.
Drama: Just a Load of Garbage
Found in Mega Drama 3 by Verona Johnson (ed) Openbook, 2002, ISBN 0859109178 (v.3), page 11 (pictured at left) . This drama is based on the Hebrews reading. 

Service Outline: Have a read of this!
Based on the Ruth reading this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 86 (pictured at right).

Service Outline: Ruth: God's Answer
Based on the Ruth reading this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 94 (pictured at right).

Service Starter: Shoulder to Shoulder
Based on the Ruth reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 38 (pictured at right).

Ruth
Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 136 (pictured at left). This activity is based on the Ruth reading. For a few reasons that sadden me, Messy Church activities are often moved out of regular church services into their own little niche service. 

Confession
By Anna Shirey 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 103 (pictured at right). Based on the Mark reading.

Responsive Reading - A Beatitude
By Kristie McLaughlin 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 127(pictured at right). Based on the Psalm reading.

Australian Floral Illustrations and Links:
Found in The Scrolls Illuminated by Fiona Pfennigwerth, Bible Society, 2011, pages 26-27 and 34-35 concentrate on the Ruth reading. Stunning!!  Images may be used for such purposes as church services, with acknowledgement of the artist.