Proper 18 A (September 7): Our God of New Beginnings and Second Chances

There is an updated 2023 version of this post with more resources - see my archive at left

Bible readings: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 149, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20 Theme: Our God of New Beginnings and Second Chances About the Image: Free and found at http://www.cruzblanca.org/hermanoleon/color/hl/si1cr04.jpg Listening Song: Just Like You By Keb Mo on his album, Just Like You (pictured at left). Drama: No Thumping Whatsoever Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916, page 21 (pictured in an earlier blog). Story: Don't Hire a Hit Man Found in Could Someone Wake Me up Before I Drool on the Desk by Kevin Johnson, Bethany House Publishers, 1995, ISBN 1556614160, page 49. Discussion: After reading the Romans reading and the gospel reading, divide into groups to discuss together and make a list together of the means by which a Christian community can live in harmony. Quote: Do It Anyway Probably written originally by Dr Kent M. Keith and adapted by Mother Teresa. Find the original and the adapted words at http://prayerfoundation.org/mother_teresa_do_it_anyway.htm Adult Response: Give everybody a piece of spring blossom. Tell everyone that the blossom is a sign of spring, new life and new growth. In the silence, encourage people to think of a broken relationship in their lives and encourage them to ask God to show them how to repair it. Adult Response: Give everyone a small piece of self hardening modelling clay (1cm cube is big enough for this) and 1. Ask people to mould their feelings about someone they disagree with in their faith community. 2. Ask them to mould the clay back into a ball 3. Ask them to mould the clay into a symbol of Jesus' love for them. 4. Encourage them to take home their symbol as an example of relationship. Father's Day (Australia - and maybe some other places?) Resources: Listening song; Butterfly kisses By Bob Carlisle on his album of the same name (pictured at right)

Proper 16 A (August 24): Who is this man?

There is a 2023 version of this blog with heaps more resources - see my archive column at the left

Bible Readings: Exodus 1:8 -2:10, Psalm 124, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20. Theme: Who is this man? About the image: A free microsoft clipart image which I have cropped and offset with my text added. 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. Drama: Wake Up and Shake Up Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916, page 44 (pictured in an earlier blog). 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). 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!!