Proper 10 A (12th July 2026): Sowing Seeds/Choices, Promises, Perspectives

 

 

Bible readings: Genesis 25:19-24, Psalm 119:105-112, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9,18-25. Psalm 65

About the Images:
Top Left: The Sower: painted by Vincent Van Gogh and taken from Wikimedia Commons - a public domain site.
Top Right: This is a free clip art from the Hermano Leon site - see a link at left in my links column.
Upper Left and Lower Left: These are free Heartlight images.  See my links column at left.
Upper Right: Sketch of the sower by Van Gogh photographed by me at the amazing Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities. 

Middle Left and Right: These are Sundaygraphicx free images based on the Psalm reading. See my link column at left. 

Listening Song: Joy in the Journey
By Michael Card on his album, Joy in the Journey (pictured at right). This song fits in well with all the readings but fits particularly well with the gospel reading. 

Listening Song: Never Alone
by Barlow Girl on their album, Barlow Girl (pictured at left) or on the album WOW 2005. This song goes well with all the readings - I put it with the gospel reading. 

 Prayer of Confession: Thistles
This is an activity prayer and is found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271668, page 12 (pictured at right). It is based on the gospel reading.

Object Lesson: Irish Spring and the Word of God
Found in Fresh Ideas Volume 2 by Jim Burns and Mark Simone, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 083718842, page 64 (pictured at right) . This is based on the psalm.

 Film Clip: The Neverending Story

(pictured at right) Show the conversation about the story not being safe and link it with Bible is good news but that it is also not safe in the sense that it always presents us with a challenge.

Film Clip: Chicken Run
(pictured at left) Show the scene quite near the beginning where the hens are all planning their escape and becoming demoralised about the whole idea when one of them says "the biggest fences are inside your heads".

Discussion: Chicken Run
1. What things make you feel spiritually uncomfortable?
2. When do we have fences inside our heads when it comes to thinking about God and what God calls us to be or to do?

Film Clip: Pirates 3: At World's End

(pictured at right) Show the clip where Will asks Elizabeth to marry him in the middle of a gigantic sword fight/battle.  

Discussion: Pirates 3: At World's End
1. Why is it a bad time for Will to ask Elizabeth to marry him?
2. What sort of things distract us from following God?

Drama: Seeds

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 69 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: Lamps R Us

Found in Creative Worship Ideas by Lois Keffer, Group, 1993, ISBN 1559450991, page 58 (pictured at right). This drama is related to the psalm.

Drama: Psalm 119
Found in Life Plus Ideas For Worship, JBCE 1996, ISBN 1864071079, page 7 (pictured at left).

Drama: Genesis 25:19-34
Found in Life Plus Ideas For Worship, JBCE 1996, ISBN 1864071079, page 6 (pictured at left).

Discussion:
Where do Jacob and Esau fit in the gospel parable: are they seeds on the path, on the thin soil, amongst the thorns or in good soil?
What helps us to have deep roots in good soil?

Story: The Native American and the Cricket

Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 123 (pictured at right). This story goes well with the gospel reading.

Prayer For Others: Reminders (Version 3: Mixed Nuts)
This is an activity prayer and found in Multi-sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 47 (pictured at left). This goes quite well with the gospel reading.

Poem: Living Hearts

Found 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 240 (pictured at right). This goes well with the gospel. I used images with this poem and the music of Tony O'Conner's track, Memories, from his album, Rainforest Magic.

Meditation: A Sower Went to Sow
Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 2002, ISBN 0901557642, page 165.  This goes quite well with the gospel reading.

Also:

Story Plus Other Stuff: Seeds

Found in Wally the Dodgy Trolley and other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 55.

Poem/Meditation: The Cheerful Unrepentant Weeds
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 13 (pictured at left). 

Kids: The Tiny Seed 

By Eric Carle with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 7. This goes well with the gospel.

Responsive Reading:
By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN, 0830724044, page 25.  This is based on the Psalm. 

All Sorts of Useful Stuff: The Parable of the Sower:

By Ian Birkinshaw in Multi-Sensory Parables, Scripture Union, 2006, ISBN 9781844272310, page 7.  This is based on the Gospel. 

Drama: Say it, Say it So I Hear it

Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book Publishers, 2001, ISBN 0859109151, page 54 . This drama is based on the psalm.

Psalm 119

Found in The Psalms: An Artist's Impression by Anneke Kaai and Eugene Peterson, Piquant, 1999, ISBN 0 9535757 0 5, page 36. 

Meditation: A Sower Went to Sow

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 165ff.  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Prayer: Reminders

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 47 and based on the Matthew reading.

Kids: The Sower and the Seed

By Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2021, ISBN 9781925036657. This goes with the Matthew reading. Absolutely the best story series around for kids and adults. My whole congregation is delighted every time we use one of these wonderful books. 

Worship Activities: Seeds and Soil

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 75. These are based on the Matthew reading. 

Listening Song: Psalm 65: Praise Awaits You

By Sons of Korah on their album, Resurrection, Wordsong Artists, 2005 (pictured at right). 

Activity: Thistles

Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1 84427 166 8, number 8. This is based on the Matthew reading.

Proper 9 A (5th July 2026): Sharing the Burden/Travelling into the Unknown/Open Doors

 

Bible Reading: Genesis 24: 34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Psalm 45: 10-17 or Song of Songs 2:8-13, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30.

About the Images:
Top Left : This is a microsoft free clipart onto which I have put the Biblical text.
Top Right: This is a free image from Heartlight (you will find a link to Heartlight in my links column at left).
Upper Left and Lower Left and Right: These are free images from www.sundaygraphx.blogspot.com. It makes a great background slide for the Romans reading and comes in three languages: english, spanish and portuguese (I think).  
Upper Right: This is my image of an ancient well in Beersheba similar to the type mentioned in the Genesis story.  Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities.

Middle Left: This is a free image from Heartlight (you will find a link to Heartlight in my links column at left).

Middle Right: This is my image of the Strezlecki Desert (https://www.touristlink.com/australia/strzelecki-desert/overview.html) with words from the Jars of Clay song Much Afraid mentioned below. 

Listening Song: Much Afraid
By Jars of Clay on their album, Much Afraid (pictured at left). This song fits quite well with the Matthew reading.

Listening Song: A Noble Theme Psalm 45
By Sons of Korah on their album, Hand on the Plough, Wordsong, 2001 (pictured at right).

Call to Worship
Found in Life Plus Ideas For Worship, JBCE 1996, ISBN 1864071079, page 4 (pictured at left). This is based on the Gospel reading.

Kids Time: Liturgical stole and Good Intentions
A good explanation about both which links well with both the Matthew and the Romans reading can be found in Forbid Them Not Year A by Carolyn C Brown, Abingdon Press, 1992, ISBN 068713255X, page 129 (pictured at right).

Film Clip: Wall-e
(pictured at left) Show the trailer in which you see Wall-e bored and lonely .

Discussion: Wall-e
What two things are making Wall-e sad?
What do you think would make him happy?

Film Clip: Les Miserables
(pictured at right) Use the clip right near the end when Javert and Valjean have a conversation by the river and Javert lets himself fall into the water. This is a great illustration of the Romans reading when we can paint ourselves into a corner if we do not acknowledge our need for a Saviour. I used a Wingclips film clip for this - you can visit their site via my link column at left. 

Discussion on the Matthew reading
In what areas would you like to be more closely yoked with Jesus as a church?

Drama: A Load of Rubbish
Found in Let's Make Another Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 17(pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Discussion for A Load of Rubbish
What are some of the burdens we carry around with us?

Drama: All Messed Up
Found in Life Plus Ideas For Worship, JBCE 1996, ISBN 1864071079, page 4 (pictured above). This drama is based on the Romans reading and can be adapted for puppets or people.

Story: Too Polite

Found in Still More Hot Illustrations For Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1999, ISBN 0310224640, page 88 (pictured at right).  This story is based on the gospel reading.

Story: Pulling Together
Index 3894-3899 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990. This story is also found at http://www.churchchrist.net/Sermons/Ministry.htm and is called Pulling Yoke Together.

Story: The Flying Wallandas
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialities, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 96 (pictured at left). This story is about trusting God. This goes with both the gospel reading and the Genesis reading.

Story: The Civil War of the Soul
Found in In the Grip Of Grace by Max Lucado, Word Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0849911435, pages 139ff (pictured at right). Lots of stories and discussion questions (at the back) based on the Romans reading.

Poem/Meditation: Prisoner
Found in The Electric Bible: Poems For Public Worship by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170411, page 100 (pictured at left). This poem is based on the Romans reading. I put an image up for each stanza and read it out loud with a pause between each verse. 

Response Activity:
Give everyone a business card with a picture of two yoked bullocks and the words "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.....For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light - Jesus". (see image above and feel free to use). Ask people to think about the words and write on the back of the card either a burden they are carrying which they need to share with Jesus or a job that Jesus is asking them to do with his help.

Response Activity: Burdens
Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 54 (pictured at right).

Also:

Poem and prayer: beyond the breakers.
Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 43 (pictured at left). These are based on the gospel reading.

Response Activity: Kindness

Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year A by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2010, ISBN 9780949656919, page 112ff (pictured at right). This is based on the Gospel reading.

Lots of Useful Stuff
Found in The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual by Jenee Woodard (Ed.), Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2013, page 144ff. 

Prayer Exercise: Giving Up Control

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 38.  This is based on the Gospel reading.

Drama: Big Al

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 9. This drama is based on the Gospel reading.

Reading: A Glutton and a Drunkard

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 17.  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Prayer: Burdens

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 54 and based on the Matthew reading.

Prayer: Let Your Lights Shine

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 50 and based on the Romans reading.

Prayer/Action: Rest

Found  in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 124 and based on the Matthew reading.  

Reflection and Prayer: 
Found in Advent Readings from Iona by Brian Woodcock and Jan Sutch Pickard, Wild Goose Publications, 2005, ISBN 1901557332 . These are based on the Matthew reading and found under the heading: December 10 - I know these are reflections for Advent but they are lovely and so often adapt to other times of the year as well.

Activity: Abstract Art Bible Pictures

Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1 84427 166 8, number 30. This is based on the Song of Songs reading.

Proper 8 A (28th June 2026): Discipleship = Hospitality/Restoring the Sparkle in our Eyes

 

N.B.  You will find a search engine to the left if you do not follow the Revised Common Lectionary. Just pop in a Bible reference or a topic and it will take you to a relevant post.

Bible Readings: Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 13, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 

About the images:
Top Left: This is a free image from Hermano Leon Art with my text - see my links column at left.
Top Right: This is a free image from Image Bank with my text - see my links column at left.
Upper left: This is a free Bing image with text from Psalm 13
Upper Right: This is a free image from Heartlight - see my link column at left.

Middle Left and Right: These are free cliparts from the now sadly defunct Sundaygraphicx site. These two are based on the Genesis reading.

Lower Left: This is another free image from Heartlight - see my link column at left.

Kid's story: Nobody's Granny
By Tess Brady and Kay Stewart, Ashton Scholastic, 1989, ISBN 0868964344 (pictured at left). This story goes beautifuly with the Matthew reading - it is about all kinds of hospitality and about how hospitality grows hospitality in others. 

Film Clip: Chocolat 
(pictured at right) Show the priest's sermon right at the end of the film.

Discussion: On Chocolat
1. What should we be embracing?
2. What should we be creating?
3. Who should we be including?

Response Activity: Chocolat
After singing a serving song, give everybody a disposable white cup (or some other symbol of hospitality) and something to write with. Ask them to write their personal answers to the three Chocolat questions.

Film Clip: Babette's Feast 
(pictured at left) Heaps of clips from this film fit the bill for today's readings - in fact I have shown the whole thing interspersed with time for discussion, prayer, bible readings and dinner - that was the service.

Introductory Activity for The Psalm: Fried Eggs
Found in 40 devotions That Work With Youth by Geraldine Anderson (Ed.), JBCE, 1983, ISBN 0858194147, page 12 (pictured at right). This works just as well for adults as for teens and children.

Story: Whose Duty is It
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 155 (pictured at left). This story links in well with the gospel reading.

Poem: Old Gaelic Rune
Found 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 233 (pictured at right). This poem fits well with the gospel reading. I found A Million Stars by Iona on their album, Open Sky (pictured at left), made great backing for this poem. 

NB: About using poetry in worship
Reading poetry, unless done very well, does not go down well in this day and age.  I always project the words with images and matching music and basically turn the poems into meditations. If there are copyright issues with the words, then still project images and play the music but read the words as a voice over. If there are copyright issues with the music, browse the Free Music Archive.  People respond well to these poem/meditations and they are often the most requested and talked about part of my services. They are the "worship of choice" for the young people in our congregations.

Poem and prayer: envoy

Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 40 (pictured at left). These are based on the gospel reading.

Meditation: Meeting God

Found in He Was in the World by John L. Bell, Wild Goose Publications, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, page 64 (pictured at right). This goes with the Genesis reading and I will probably use just the bit that is relevant and save the whole meditation for another time.

Also

Reflect/Pray/Act: Lament on God's Steadfast Love
You will find useful ideas for reflecting, praying, and acting based on Psalm 13 which can be easily incorporated into a worship service on page 48 of Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage - Participants Book (part of the The Way of Pilgrimage series) by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, 2007, ISBN 9780835898362 (pictured at left).

Drama: Guilty as Charged

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, 33 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the Romans reading.

Discussion Questions: When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Found in Chapter 4 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 Psalm.

Drama: How Clean is Your Mind?

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 58ff (pictured at right).  This is based on the Romans reading.

Psalm 13: How Long?

Found in Australian Psalms by Bruce Prewer, Lutheran Publishing House, 1979, page 53 (pictured at left). This book is an oldie but a goodie.    

Activity: Connections Web

Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1 84427 166 8, number 25.

Praying Laments

Found in Words to God, Words From God by Howard Neil Wallace, Ashgate, 2005, ISBN 0 7546 3692 5 PBK, page 79ff. This uses the Psalm.