Proper 16 A (23rd August 2026): Who is this Man/Five Courageous Women

 

 

Under construction....

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: Exodus 1:8 -2:10 or Isaiah 51:1-6, Psalm 124, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20. 

About the Image: 
Upper Left: A free microsoft clip art cropped and offset with my text added. 
Upper Right: This is an image of reeds along the edge of the Nile river in Egypt.It is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship or related activities. 
Middle Left: This is an image of mud brick walls along the edge of the Nile river in Egypt. It is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship or related activities. 
Middle Right: This is a free clipart from Heartlight - see my link column at left.
Lower Left: Another of my photos so please feel free to use it for worship or related activities. 

Lower Left: This is an image of the edge of the Nile river in Egypt. It is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship or related activities

Lower Right: This is a free Cerrezo Barredo image - see my link column at left for more of his excellent illustrations. 

 
Introduction to Gospel reading: 
Ask people to turn to the person on their right and say one positive thing about that person; then ask them to turn to the person on their left and say one positive thing about themselves. 

Worship Outline: Women at the Water 
By Katherine Low and found in Before the Amen: Creative Resources for Worship by Marin C and Maria I Tirabassi (Eds), The Pilgrim Press, 2007, ISBN 9780829817508, pages 163ff (pictured at right). This is based on the Exodus reading and includes preparation of the worship space, prayers, and scripted readings. Excellent stuff! 

Kids: The Baby in the Basket                  
Found in The Picture Strip Bible by Felicity Henderson and Chris Saunderson, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 18599964970, page 26 (pictured at left) 

Film Clip: If You Had not been with us
This comes from the excellent site, The Work of the People and can be accessed via my links column at left. It is based directly on the Psalm.

Drama: Wake Up and Shake Up 
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 44 (pictured at right). This story goes well with the Romans reading. 

Poem/Prayer: Was He Cracked, Crooked or Correct? 
Found in God Thoughts by Dick Williams, Falcon Books, 1969, ISBN 854915214, page 48 (pictured at left). This goes well with the gospel reading. 

Poem/Prayer: Moses 
By Roddy Hamilton and found in his archives under 1st August 2008 on his Mucky Paws site (see my Links column at left). I put images with this poem and backed it with the Lisa Gerrard music mentioned immediately below. 

Listening Music: The Promised Womb 

By Lisa Gerrard on her album, The Best of Lisa Gerrard (pictured at right). 

Quote: CS Lewis 
"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I am ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' This is one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else He would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." From his book Mere Christianity, too many editions to list but the front of my copy is pictured at left!! 

Sermon Ideas: Who Are Our Pharaohs? 

Found in Resources For Preaching and Worship Year A by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild (Eds.) Westminster John Knox Press, ISBN 066422507, page 224 (pictured at right).

Also:

Film Clip: Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker 
(pictured at left) Show the clip where he escapes from the car crusher. It matches beautifully with the Psalm and goes pretty well with the Exodus reading as well. I found this clip on the Wingclips site - see my links column at left or watch it for yourself: Car Escape - Movie Clip from Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker at WingClips.com 

Poem/Meditation: Remember the Rock from which you were hewn.
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 15 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Isaiah reading.

Poem/Meditation: Pharaoh's Daughter
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 25 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Exodus reading.

Poem/Meditation: Rock and Stumbling Block
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 64 (pictured above at left). This goes well with the Matthew reading and also could be used next week.

Kids: The Pig in the Pond

By Martin Waddell and Jill Barton, Walker Books,  with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 35 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Romans reading.

God's Family, Our Family: Moses

Found in Lucy Moore, Messy Church, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 978 1 84101 503 3, page 87ff

Prayer: Offerings

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 21 and based on the Romans reading.

Proper 15 A (16th August 2026): Getting Along/Building Bridges, Not Walls

 

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 45:1-15, Psalm 133, Romans 11:1,2a,29-32, Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28. 

About the Images:
Top Left: This is a free Microsoft clipart image .
Top Right: This is also a free Microsoft clipart image. I added the words from Bruce Prewer's version of Psalm 133 which can be found at http://home.alphalink.com.au
Upper  Left: This is a free clipart from Cerezo Barredo  You can find a link to this site at the left in my Links column.
Upper Right: This is a free clip art from the Hermano Leon site. See my link column at left. 

Middle Left: This is my photo of Banksy art on the eight metre high Separation Wall between Israel and Palestine. Please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.

Middle Right: I found this delightful image of a small Jewish boy and a small Palestinian boy in the Creative Commons collection.  It has no other copyright information with it, so please let me know if I should not be using it.  The word in green as "salaam" (peace).

Lower Left: This is a Hermano Leon image on a Church Gallery background. Neither site is functioning these days.

Introduction: Gathering 
Found in Ideas for Worship, June to July 1996, JBCE, page 16 (pictured at left) . This introduction is based on the gospel reading.

Listening Song: What You Need 
(pictured at right) By Audio Adrenaline on their self titled album. This song goes well with the gospel reading.

Listening Song: Turn 
(pictured at left) By Paul Colman Trio on their album, New Map of the World. This goes well with the psalm.

Object Lesson: The Words We Speak: Constructive or Destructive
Found in Fresh Ideas Volume 2 by Jim Burns and Mark Simone, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 083718842, page 66. This goes well with the gospel reading.

Kid's Activity During the Service
Give everyone in the congregation a length of streamer and get them to each put their name on the streamer. Ask the kids to collect them and then ask whether the individual streamers are representative of a church community united or not. Ask for ideas as to how this could occur (fish for the "making a chain out of them" answer). Have them make the streamers into a chain during the service and use it as a decoration near the end of the service. This goes well with the idea of family unity and reunion in the Genesis reading and acceptance of difference in the gospel reading.

Activity for Psalm 133
Ask people to complete the sentence "when people get along it is better than....."

 Film Clip: Music of the Heart
(pictured at left) Show the clip where the little disabled girl thinks she is too weak to play and her teacher (Meryl Streep) tells her that she is strong on the inside. Relate it to the Caananite woman in the gospel who, to all appearances, starts off in a weak position.

Film Clip: Men in Black
(pictured at right). Show the clip about 25 minutes in when the recruits begin their exam and finish when all the recruits are sitting staring at Edwards. This is a great clip which shows what happens when we do our own thing instead of building community.

Film Clip: Taika Waititi on Racism

Find this excellent clip at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1YS-yDW2Y8

Drama: Faith
Found in Parable Performing by Kristin Etscheid, Hodder and Stoughton, 1985,ISBN 0340336676, page 36 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: Clouded Thinking
Narrator: Reads Psalm 133 and then says "The best part of life is knowing God is loving me and blessing me". Two people standing back to back have the following conversation:
1: Sometimes I don’t feel as good as that….particularly when I remember what happened.
2: I can’t get over it…I’ll never forgive her! I must keep my self-respect. 
1: Sometimes the anger just burns me up.
2: I feel so depressed …… I don’t know what about…just feels like I have a big rock inside me weighing me down.
1: I miss her so much
2: I think I’ll really let her have it. I’ll tell her exactly what I think of her.
1: I know I was right and that’s all that matters to me.
2: What have I got to lose…she doesn’t like me anyway. Everything she says hurts me…
1: I’m so lonely.
2: She can do it my way or not at all.
1: Nothing’s going to change until she apologises.
2: If only we were friends again.
1: If only she liked me….(sigh) no wonder she doesn’t like me.
2: I’m an idiot.
1: Now I’m angry with everyone. I’m starting to dislike people on sight. I don’t even know if Jesus is there any more
2: And now it’s finished. Is that what I wanted? 
Copyright: Ann Scull

Discussion: Re above drama
1. What is happening in this skit?
2. Do you see a connection with the Genesis story?
3. How could this situation be resolved?

Discussion: On the Matthew reading
1. In what ways does this story confront your traditions and prejudices?
2. When has an outsider challenged or helped your faith?
3. How do we prevent ourselves becoming insular or exclusive as a congregation?

Story: Me Too!

Found in Still More Hot Illustrations For Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1999, ISBN 0310224640, page 115  (pictured at right).

Story: Acceptance
Story No. 2 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers edited by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured at left) .

Prayer: My Souls Desire
Found in Celtic Prayers by Robert Van de Weyer, Bridgewater Book Company, 1997, ISBN 1856082814, page 37 (pictured at right). This fits well with all the readings. 

Also:

Drama: When Two Or More
Found in All-age Sketches for the Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 101841014583, page 44 ff (pictured at left). This is based on the psalm reading. 

Meditation: The Peacemakers

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 89 (pictured at right). This goes well with the Psalm 133 reading.

Drama: Crumbs

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (editor), Open Book Publishers, 2001 ISBN 085910916X, page 80 (pictured at left).  Based on the Matthew reading. 

Brilliant Comments on the Gospel

Found in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey, SPCK, 2008, ISBN 9780281059751, pages 217-226 (pictured at right).

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 left).  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Drama: Racist or Redeemer

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 99ff (pictured at left).  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Drama: When Two Or More

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 44ff.  This is based on the Psalm reading.

Proper 14 A (9th August 2026): Faith IS a Risk!

 

 

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 37:1-4, 12-28 or 1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b, Romans 10:5-10, Matthew 14:22-33 

About the images:

Top Left: This is my image with the biblical text. The image can be used for worship and related activities. The photo was taken at Narooma on the southern coast of New South Wales, Australia. For more info on this area go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narooma,_New_South_Wales.
Top Right: This is a free clipart from Cerrezo Barredo.  You can find a link to this site at the left in my Links column.
Upper Left and Middle Right: These are free Heartlight images.  See my link column at left.
Upper Right, Middle Left and Lower Left: These are free Hermano Leon images.  See my link column at left. 

Listening Song: Deep Water
(pictured at left) By Serene and Pearl on their album, Crazy Stories. This song goes very well with the Gospel reading.

Kid's Story: Miracles by the Sea

By Catherine Store and Chris Molan, Methuen Australia, 1983 (pictured at right)

Kid's Story: Joseph the Favourite                   

Found in The Picture Strip Bible by Felicity Henderson and Chris Saunderson, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 18599964970, page 18 (pictured at left).

Film Clip: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
(pictured at right) Show the scene near the end of the movie where Indiana Jones has to step out in faith trusting that the bridge, that he cannot actually see, is there.

Discussion: On Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1. What does this clip teach us about risk and faith?
2. What does the gospel reading teach us about risk and faith?

Drama: A Midsummer Canaanight's Dream
Found at http://www.dramatix.org/archive/Biblestories/midsummer_canaanites_dream.html. This drama is based on the Genesis reading.

Drama: Joseph and his Brothers

Joseph: Hey, guys! Guess what? I had another one of those dreams last night. It was so cool - well, actually I was so cool. I was the star of the whole show - and famous! It was unreal. Woh, I am just so excellent!
1: You little pain.
2: You never stop, do you? 
3: You are just so full of yourself. 
4: Go play with your toys and leave us alone.
5: Hey, hang on a minute! You've been dobbing on us again too, haven't you? 
2: Yeah, Dad got stuck into us for not watching the sheep properly again. 
3: And who'd be the one to tell him, eh?
Joseph: But, I've seen you. You just hang around checking out all the girls. I have every right to tell him if you're not doing your job properly. At least I'm a responsible good son.
4: That'll be the day.
5: Come on then and get your hands dirty for a change - do an honest days work.
Joseph: Oh well actually I can't today. New coat , ya see. I might get it all dirty and sheepy.
1: It's an R.M Williams (or insert current famous desired-for name brand)!
3: How'd you score yourself an R.M Williams?
4: All we get is each other's hand me downs.
5: By the time they've gone through six or so of us they're wrecked. 
1: How come Dad gets you all the name brand stuff, anyway?
2: You spoilt little brat. 
4: Daddy's boy!
5: You're such a show-off. 
1: Come on, leave him alone. There's work to do for the real men!
Later, out in the paddocks with the sheep- all put on Akubra's:
2: (shading eyes) Hey, get a load of this. Here comes the hero, the dreamer.
3: (shading eyes) You could spot that coat from a mile away. 
5: I bet the old man's sent him out to check up on us.
1: You know what? - this is the perfect chance to get rid of him once and for all. 
2: How? ( a bit thick)
1: If we kill him and throw him into one of those pits over there we could easily con everybody into thinking a wild animal got him on the way out here. 
3: And nobody'd be any the wiser. 
4: Hang on a minute, let's not get too carried away. Just chuck him in the pit and leave him there.
Joseph arrives.
All: Right grab him! Grab him! Get his coat! Get his coat! Heave!
Throw Joseph into the pit.
2: Sweet dreams, Joe baby. Now let's have some lunch. 
3: Hey, what's that over there in the distance? 
4: It's just a truck convoy. 
5: You know what, we could make some big bucks out of this situation. 
2: How?( a bit thick)
5: Those truckies are always after workers, no names, no papers. Wink,wink, nudge, nudge. Let's sell Joseph to them! 
3: It'd be better than killing him - after all, he is our brother even if he is a pain. 
4: And we'd be a little more financial.
1: Excellent!
All: Yeah.

Copyright: Ann Scull. Change wording as you think it fits with your congregation and culture.

Story: Cash the Cheque
Found in Index 3118 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990 or http://www.focusongod.com/Romans-15.htm. This story is based on the Romans reading.

Poem and prayer: walking on water.

Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 48 (pictured at left). These are based on the gospel reading.

Response Activity: Meditation on the Gospel
Where do I feel that God is asking me to "get out of the boat" right now:
a.in the work that I do
b. in my family or in my relationships
c. in my spiritual life with God
d. something else.

Also (but not road tested):

Listening Song: Call My Name                               

By Third Day on their album, Revelation (pictured at left) or on the album WOW 2009. This song goes very well with the Romans reading. 

Poem: Joseph the Dreamer
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170411, page 30 (pictured at right).

Kids Talk: In a Hole

Found in Life Plus Ideas For Worship, JBCE 1996, ISBN 1864071079, page15 (pictured at left).

Discussion: Favouritism
Found in Life Application Family Devotions by Len Woods, Tyndale House, 1997 ISBN 0842337504, page 105 (pictured at right).

Poem/Meditation: Elijah's story
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 18 (pictured at left). This goes well with the 1 Kings reading.

Drama: Stiller of Storms

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (editor), Open Book Publishers, 2001 ISBN 085910916X, page 77 (pictured at right).  Based on the Matthew reading. 

Poem: It is the fullness of time
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (pictured at left) in the Autumn section and based on the Romans reading.

Sermon ideas: Have You Tried walking On Water

Found in Life on the Road by Athol Gill, Herald Press, 1992, page 274 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Gospel reading. 

God's Family, Our Family: Joseph

Found in Lucy Moore, Messy Church, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 978 1 84101 503 3, page 78ff (pictured at right).

fidelity

By William B Jones 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 110. Based on the Matthew reading.

Responsive Confession and Assurance

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 111. Based on the Matthew reading.

Litany of God's Voice

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 111. Based on the 1 Kings reading.

Thanks

Found in Welcome Mat:  A Resource for Opening the Bible with Children, Families and Teens by Beth Barnett, Scripture Union, Victoria, 2010, pages 78 (small group resources), 115 (preschool resources), 130 (adult resources), 164 (dramas).

Based on the Matthew reading. 

Sharing Stories: Family Fragments

Found in Welcome Mat by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 97. These are based on the Matthew reading.