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

 

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

Under Construction.....

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free Microsoft clipart image .
Upper 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
Middle  Left: This is a free clipart from Cerezo Barredo  You can find a link to this site at the left in my Links column.
Middle Right: This is a free clip art from the Hermano Leon site. See my link column at left. 

Lower 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.

Lower 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).

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.

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.  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.  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. 

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

 

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 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, Middle Left and Lower 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. 

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 Mat by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 79 (pictured at left). 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 (pictured at right) and based on the Matthew reading.