Bible Readings: Job 38:1-7, 34-41, Psalm 104:1-9,24,35, Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45
About the images:
Left image: This is a Microsoft free clip art image to which I have added the Bible text.
Right image: This is Australia Rock near Narooma in New South Wales, Australia. Unless you stand in front of the Australia shaped hole you cannot see the bigger picture - the sea beyond. From the side, it appears to be a solid rock wall. This is my image so please feel free to use it. It goes well with the Job reading. Nobody is quite sure how the hole in the rock wall was made but it is known that ships used to tie up here in the early days of Australian white settlement. For more info about Narooma, visit www.visitnarooma.com
Middle Left and Right and Lower Right: Three free cliparts from the Heartlight site - see my links at left.
Lower Left: This is a free Microsoft clipart with a line from the Audio Adrenaline song below.
Lower Left: This is a free Microsoft clipart with a line from the Audio Adrenaline song below.
Bottom Left: An excellent image from Cerezo Barredo - see my link column at left.
By Audio Adrenaline on their album, Underdog (pictured at left). This song fits in well with both the gospel reading and with the Job reading.
Listening Song: You then Me
By Rebecca St James on her album, God, 1996 (pictured at right). This song fits in well with the Mark reading.
Kid's talk: God is Here
Have each letter of the words "God is Here" on separate cards and scatter them about the worship space. Get a couple of people to adlib a conversation about the whereabouts of God and their difficultly working out just where God is - especially when things go wrong. Have a third person join the conversation by noticing the scattered cards. Together, with the help of children in the congregation, sort out the cards so that they spell out the words "God is here" and then work out how these words apply to the conversation about the whereabouts of God in difficult times.
Kid's Talk: Fighting The Green Eyed MonsterFound in Fun Group Devotions For Children's Ministry by various authors, Group Publishing, 1993, ISBN 1559451610, page 75 (pictured at left). This fits in well with the disciple's reaction to the request by James and John in the gospel reading.
Film Clip: Psalm 104
This clip is from the excellent Work of the People site. These clips are not free but they are very good and worth the dollars.
Film Clip: Psalm 104
This clip is from the excellent Work of the People site. These clips are not free but they are very good and worth the dollars.
Drama: What is a Servant
Based on the gospel reading and found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.) Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859100186, page 23 (pictured at right).
Story: ServanthoodStory 623 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 1993, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured left). This also suits the gospel reading.
Story: A Lesson in Servanthood
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 151 (pictured at right). This story fits in well with the gospel reading.
Quote: Fredrich Buechner
"God does not always give us all the answers.......God gives us himself." This quote links to the Job reading.
Quote: Nelson Mandela
It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory, when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.
Poem/Prayer: This Aching World
By Janet Morley and found in Resources For Preaching and Worship Year B compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002, ISBN 100664224776, pages 244. Goes well with the Gospel and the Job readings.
Response Activity:
Ask people to form inward looking circles of around eight to ten people. Tell them that each circle represents the church. Get each circle group to discuss and reform in any way and in any shape that they like in a way which they think, as a group, best represents the way the church should be.
Closing Prayer:
By Michael Quiost and found in Gentle Darkness by Rowland Croucher (Ed.), Albatross Books, 1994, ISBN 073241007X, pages 421-422 (pictured at right). This fits well with the gospel reading.
Also:
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 63 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Mark reading.
Lots of Useful Stuff: Portrait of the Artist
Poem: Clouds and Prophets
Found in Multi-Sensory Together by Ian Birkinshaw, Scripture Union,2005, ISBN 1844271641, page 20 (pictured at right). Based on the Psalm reading.
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 46 (pictured at left). This poem is based on the Psalm reading.
Poem: Life, Beauty Love
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 67 (pictured at left). This poem is also based on the Psalm reading.
Poem and Comment: Creation
Found in Disturbing Complacency by Lisa Bodenheim, Wild Goose Publications, 2007, ISBN 978 1 905010 37 0 (pictured at right), and found under the first Monday 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 Job reading.
Poem and Comment: Spirit
Found in Disturbing Complacency by Lisa Bodenheim, Wild Goose Publications, 2007, ISBN 978 1 905010 37 0 (pictured at right), and found under the fourth Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and 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 Psalm.
