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 Commom 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. 

Proper 7 A (21st June 2026): Deserts and Wells/Fear Not/Discipleship

 

 

Bible Readings: Genesis 21:8-21, Psalm 86:1-10, Romans 6:1b -11, Matthew 10: 24-39.

About the Images:

Top Left: This is my photo with words from The Little Prince (see below). Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities. 

Top right: This is an Imagebank image (see my links column at left) with words from The Little Prince.
Upper Left: This is a Microsoft free clipart background with my text.

Upper Right: This is a free Heartlight image - see my link column at left.

Middle Left: Another free image from Heartlight - see my link column at left.

Middle Right: And another free image from Heartlight! - see my link column at left.

Lower Left and Right: These images are both from the wonderful Sundaygrapx site.

Listening Song: God is In Control
By Twila Paris on her album, Beyond a Dream  (pictured at left) or on WOW 1996. This song goes very well with the Genesis reading.

Listening Song: You're Here
By Sixpence None the Richer on the album, City on a Hill, 2000 (pictured at right). This song goes very well with either the Genesis reading or the Gospel reading.

Kid's Story: The Very Worried Sparrow
By Meryl Doney, Anzea Publishers or Lion Publishing, 1978, ISBN 858920948 (pictured at left). This story is based on the Gospel reading.

Film Clip: The Incredibles
(pictured at right) Show the scene contained in the first 15 minutes where Mr Incredible is blamed for doing good. This fits in very well with the Gospel reading.

Discussion: On The Incredibles
1. When was Jesus treated in a similar way?
2. When were the disciples treated in a similar way?
3. When do we, as Christians, have to put up with similar treatment and what can/should we do about it?

Story: Names or Numbers
Marvin Rosenthal tells about a mother who was asked by a census taker how may children she had. She said, "Well, there's Billy and Harry and Martha and--" "Never mind the names," the man interrupted. "Just give me the number!" The mother indignantly replied, "They haven't got numbers, they've all got names." Sorry, can't source this other than I think it may have come from a magazine.

Story: Bonhoeffer
The story of Bonhoeffer's imprisonment and death fits very well with the cost of discipleship mentioned in the gospel.

Quote: The Little Prince
(pictured at left but there are so, so many editions of this wonderful little book that you will have not trouble finding it) "What makes the desert beautiful", said the Little Prince, is that somewhere it hides a well..." .... The Little Prince added: "But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart".

Discussion:
Brainstorm desert experiences and wells.
How do we find wells in our desert experiences?

Poem: The Candle

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170441, page 78 (pictured at right).  The poem goes really well with the gospel reading.  

I matched it with images and backed it with Dark Night of the Soul by Loreena McKennitt on her CD, the Mask and Mirror (pictured at left).

Response Activity:
Give each person a small card with a desert and a well pictured on it. Ask people to write down a situation that can make their life a bit of a desert on the desert picture and then on the picture of the well, ask them to write something God has provided to help them survive. This links in with the Genesis reading.

Response Activity:
Give everyone a key tag and a choice of three pictures which you have pre-made to fit the key tags - I linked this with the Matthew reading so I had pictures of hair, candles and sparrows.   On the back I encouraged people to write: God cares for me. I encouraged people to attach these to personal items so as to remind themselves of God’s love and care.  I got the key tag idea for this from a children's activity in the Mediacom Whole people of God Beginners notes for 2002.  

Also:

Poem/Meditation: Songlines for Sarah and Hagar
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 24 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Genesis reading.

For Children and Families: God is Faithful

Found in Rewind by Beth Barnett, SU Victoria, 2011, ISBN987098710035, navigate from page 5 (pictured at right). This is based on the Psalm. 

Drama: BAP

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 60 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the Romans reading.

Discussion Questions: What is a Soul?

Found in Chapter 5 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 right).  These questions are based on the Matthew reading.

Opening Prayer for a Season of Sorrow

By Jamie Norwich McLennan 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 55 (pictured at left). Based on the Genesis reading.

Proper 6 A (14th June 2026): Taking the Plunge

Bible Readings: Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35 - 10:8, 9-23.

About the images:
Top Left: A combination of two microsoft free clip art and my text.
Top Right:  A free heartlight image - see my link column at left.
Upper Left: A free Cerezo Barredo image - see my link column at left.
 

Upper Right: A free Hermano Leon image - see my link column at left.

Middle Left:  This is a free clip art from the Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.

Middle Right and Lower Left: Free from the Sundaygraphix site

Listening Song: You Move Me
By Susan Ashton on A Distant Call and Nothing But Pop (pictured at left)

Kid's Story: Abraham
Found in The Picture Strip Bible by Felicity Henderson and Chris Saunderson, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994970, page 12 (pictured at right).

Drama: Sarah
By Judy Gattis Smith 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 224, (pictured at left).

Film Clip: The Princess Diaries
(pictured at right) Show the clip where Mia is quite obviously nearly invisible to everyone. Finish the clip when she says "someone sat on me again".

Discussion: On The Princess Diaries
1. Who are the invisible people in our community who feel like Mia or are like the people Jesus saw in Matthew 9:36?
2. How can we help?

Story: Save the Starfish
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 151 (pictured at left). An oldie but a goodie.

Story: Shipwreck
Found , I think, in Robert E Coleman's The Heartbeat of Evangelism, NavPress, 1985, ISBN-10: 0891094008.

An artist, seeking to depict on canvas the meaning of 
evangelism, painted a storm at sea. Black clouds filled the sky. 
Illuminated by a flash of lightning, a little boat could be seen disintegrating under the 
pounding of the ocean.  People were struggling in the swirling waters, their 
anguished faces crying out for help.  The only glimmer of hope appeared in the 
foreground of the painting, where a large rock protruded out of the water.  There, 
clutching desperately with both hands, was one lone seaman. It was a moving scene. 
Looking at the painting, one could see in the tempest a symbol of humankind's 
hopeless condition.  And, true to the Gospel, the only hope of salvation was "the 
Rock of Ages", a shelter in the time of storm. But as the artist reflected upon his 
work, he realized that the painting did not accurately portray his subject.  So he 
discarded the canvas, and painted another.  It was very similar to the first:  the 
black clouds, the flashing lightning, the angry waters, the little boat crushed by the 
pounding waves, and the crew vainly struggling in the water.  In the foreground the 
seaman was clutching the large rock for salvation.  But the artist made one
change:  the survivor was holding on with only one hand, and with the other hand 
he was reaching down to pull up a drowning friend. 

Also:

Poem and prayer: summoned and sent.

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.

Response Activity: The Lost Sheep

Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year A by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2010, ISBN 9780949656919, page 106-7 (pictured at right). This is based on the Gospel reading .

Poem/Meditation: Song-lines for Sarah and Hagar
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 24 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Genesis reading.

Various Ideas: Training Manual for Messengers

Found in Multi-Sensory Message by Dave Maclure, Scripture Union, 2008, ISBN 9781844272730, page 24 (pictured at right). Connected with the Matthew reading. 

Eating Together

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 50 (pictured at left). This activity is based on the Genesis reading. For a few reasons that sadden me, Messy Church activities are often moved out of regular church services into their own little niche service.

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 right).  These questions are based on the Romans reading.

Litany of Laughter

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 107 (pictured at left). Based on the Genesis reading.

Listening Song: Psalm 116

By Sons of Korah on their album Light of Life, Wordsong, 1999 (ictured at right)

Activity: House Plan

Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1 84427 166 8, number 38 (pictured at left). This is based on the Genesis reading.

Sermon and Worship Suggestions: Fighting the Battle of Unbelief

By Robert J Morgan and Joshua D Rowe in Nelson's Annual Preachers Source Book, Thomas Nelson, 2008, ISBN 1 4185 2536 7, page 293.  These resources are based on the Genesis reading.