Proper 13 A (2nd August 2026): More than Enough/ No Holding Back/Struggling with the God-stuff

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION....

Bible Readings: Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 17:1-7, 15, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21

About the Images:
Top Left: This is my photo - you have permission to use it for worship purposes and related activities.
Top Right: This is my photo (you have permission to use it for worship purposes and related activities) taken at the back of our place at Mason's Bay, part of the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria (for more info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gippsland_Lakes)
Upper Left: This is my image and I think it goes well with Psalm 17:5 - you have permission to use it for worship purposes and related activities. 
Upper Right and Middle Left: These are free images from the Hermano Leon site - see my link column at left.  I love the mosaic.  It comes from the floor of the Tabgha Church of the Multiplication on the Sea of Galilee.  You will notice there are only four loaves of bread - that is because the fifth one is assumed to be on the communion table above this mosaic -ready to share!

Middle Right: Another wonderful free Cerrezo Barredo image - see my link column at left. 

Lower Left:

Listening Song: From a Distance 


by Bette Midler on her album, Some People's Lives (pictured at left). Compare this song's idea of God with the gospel reading's idea of God. They are very different. 

Listening Song: Wake Up Dead Man

By U2 on their album, Pop (pictured at right). This goes with the Genesis reading.

Listening Song: Peace on Earth

By U2 on their album, All That You Can't Leave Behind (pictured at left). This also goes well with the Genesis reading.

Listening Song: Psalm 17: Apple of Your Eye

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

Film Clip: Ray

(pictured at left) Show the scene where Ray's Mum lets him struggle to find his way around after he goes blind so that he will be a strong person able to take responsibility for himself. It shows her struggle as well as his. This clip goes very well with the Genesis reading and I found it at Wingclips - see my link column at left.  

Discussion: Ray
1. What is happening here?
2. How can our struggles be helpful?
3. When do we struggle with God? 

Drama: The Feeding of the Twenty Five

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 74 (pictured at right). This story goes well with the gospel reading.

Reflective Drama: Night of the Long Struggle
Found in Life Plus Ideas For Worship, JBCE 1996, ISBN 1864071079, page12 (pictured at left). This is a great take on the Genesis reading and can be used as is or as the basis for a sermon.

Story: Here, Take What You Need!
Found in Pulpit Resources, August 4th, 2002 by William H. Willimon 

Story: Love and the Cabbie
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 111 (pictured at right). This story fits well with the gospel reading.

Poem: Oversupply
By Bruce Prewer and found at http://home.alphalink.com.au/~nigel/DocA/47SUN18.htm

Prayer: It's Me in That Struggle
By Carter Heyward and 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 253 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Genesis reading.

Also:

Taize Service: Loaves and Fishes

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 24 (pictured at right). This is based on the Matthew reading.

Poem: Jacob

And if you didn't use this in Proper 11 A ......Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 28 (pictured at left).  This poem is based on the Genesis reading.  

Poem: Enough

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 83 (pictured above left).  This poem is based on the Matthew reading.  

Prayer: Walkabout

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 14 (pictured at right) and based on the Psalm reading.

Worship Activities: Feeding Our Understanding of Justice

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 79. These are based on the Matthew reading. 

Prayer/Action: St Simon Stylites

Found in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008, page 130 and based on the Matthew reading.  

Proper 12 A (26th July 2026): Be Alert/ Signs of God at work

 

 

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 29:15-28, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 

About the Images:
Top Left: This is a free microsoft clipart image on which I have placed the Biblical text.
Top Right: This is a free Cerezo Barredo image - see my link column at left. 
Upper Left and Right: These are free Heartlight images - see my link column at left. 

Middle Left and Right: Based on the Romans reading and free from Sundaygraphix - http://sundaygraphx.blogspot.com

Lower Left: Free graphic based on the Matthew reading from the Hermano Leon site

Listening Song: Father of Lights
By Randy Stonehill on his album, Thirst (pictured at left) or on Nothing But Pop. This makes a great response to the gospel reading. 

Object Lesson
Give everyone in the congregation two binder rings (a tad hard to find these days but still available in large stationary shops) locked together and ask people to see if they can pull them apart without undoing them. Unless you have Samson (complete with hair) in your congregation, nobody should be able to do it. Relate this to us and God - God sticks with us. 

Kid's Story: The Precious Pearl 
By Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen, found originally as an individual book (pictured at right), Marshall, Morgan and Scott, 1986, ISBN 0551012781; and lately in Stories Jesus Told (pictured at right) by the above authors, Candle books, 2005, ISBN 101859855881.

Drama: Mustard Seeds and mountains
Found in Let's Make a Scene by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, page 42 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Story: A Solitary Life
Just google the title and you will come up with hundreds of versions of this story, however a useful and succinct one is found at http://www.allsaintsmtka.org/worship/Sermons/2002/2002-07-28.cfm

Story: The New Narnia

Found in The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis, Penguin, 1964, page 154 (pictured at right) or last page of chapter 15 in other editions.

Story: The Art Auction
Found in Still More Hot Illustrations For Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1999, ISBN 0310224640, page 120 (pictured at left). This story goes well with the gospel reading.

Story: View of the High Country
Found in When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado, Word, 1996, ISBN 0849913241, page 191 (pictured at right). Lucado links this story with the Romans reading. 

Discussion:
What are the special promises which God makes to us that will get us through tough times?

Response activity:
Give everyone a small card with a mustard seed (or a pearl if you are rich enough ;-)) attached and the relevant verse printed out and ask people to write on the back of the card the characteristic of God's realm that they cannot live without.

Also:

Drama: Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love
Found in Welcome Mat by Beth Barnett, Scripture Union Victoria, page 176 (pictured at left). The book gives no more publishing details that I can share with you;  however it is excellent and packed full of resources for all age worship and can be bought from Scripture Union Victoria, Australia.

Kids Stories

Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259 (pictured at right) has heaps of services connected to children's books. Below are three.....

Kids: The Magic Saddle

By Christobel Mattingly and Patricia Mullins with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 2 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Matthew reading.

Kids: The Tiny Seed 

By Eric Carle (pictured at right) with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 2 (pictured at right above). This goes well with the gospel.

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 right above). This goes well with the Romans reading.

All Sorts of Useful Stuff: Finders Keepers

By Ian Birkinshaw in Multi-Sensory Parables, Scripture Union, 2006, ISBN 9781844272310, page 17 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Gospel. 

Drama: The Pearl

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 72 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the Gospel reading.

Drama: Whe Do You Say That I Am
Found in Lets Make Another Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 31 (pictured at right). This drama is useful for the Romans reading.

Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 194. This is based on the Romans 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 third 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 Matthew reading.  

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 Romans reading.

Proper 11 A (19th July 2026): Small story, Bright Idea

 

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 28:10-19a, Isaiah 44:6-8, Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24, Psalm 86:11-17, Romans 8:12-25, Matthew 13: 24-30 36-43

Images: 

Top Left and Right: Free images from the Heartlight site. See my link column at the left.

Upper Left: Free image from the Hermano Leon site. See my link column at the left.

Upper Right: Free image from the Cesaro Barredo site. See my link column at the left.

Middle Left and Right: Free images from the Heartlight site. See my link column at the left.

Lower Left and Right: Free images from the Sundaygraphx site. See my link column at the left.

Listening Song: Live for You

Found on the CD Live for You by Rachel Lampa, Word, 2000 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Genesis reading.

Listening Song: I've Always Loved You

By Third Day on their album, Time, Essential Records, 1999 (pictured at right). This fits well with the Psalm.

Kids: Jacob's Ladder Paper Chain

Instructions for this are found at www,sermons4kids.com, Copyright 2001-2020. 

Film Clip: Shrek

Show the film clip where Shrek sees the Princess as herself and loves her.  What matters to the Princess... and to Shrek? God sees us as Shrek sees the Princess when she is herself.  This goes well with the Genesis reading.

Prayer: A Silent Thankyou

Ask people to thank God for something good they know about the person sitting on their right and then on their left.