Proper 11 B (July 18): Building Bridges/Rest

Bible Readings:

2 Samuel 7:1-14, Psalm 89:20-37, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-56

About the Images:

Upper Left: Free Microsoft clipart with my text.

Upper Right: Hampden Bridge: This is my photo and you are welcome to use it for worship and related activities. The bridge was built out of sandstone in the 1890's and is Australia's oldest suspension bridge. It is located in the picturesque Kangaroo Valley in New South Wales. For more info about this area, please visit www.kangaroovalleytourist.asn.au/dir/aboutkv

Middle Left: This is the free gospel drawing for the week from the Cerrezo Barrado - see my link column at left

Middle Right: This is a corner of the Singapore Orchid gardens. It reminded me of Jesus' words in the gospel reading to come aside and rest a while.  This is my image so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Lower Left:  This comes from the free Heartlight site - see my link column at left. 

Lower Right:  Free image from Unsplash by Aaron Burden.

Listening Song: Come Together

By Third Day on their Come Together album (pictured at right) . This goes well with the Ephesians reading.

Kids: God is Never too Busy

The Gospel reading stands alone as great story to show that God is never too busy. Use a good story teller. It makes all the difference! 

Film Clip: Burst

This is a brilliant short film (total length:7 minutes) about reconciliation, forgiveness and freedom which came second in the Sony Tropfest 2006: The World's Largest Short Film Festival. For copyright details and permission contact www.tropfest.com

Discussion Questions for Burst

2. Who is the peacemaker, reconciler, forgiver?

2. Who does the God things?

Film Clip: One Cross, One Body

This film clip, based on the Ephesians reading, is available from The Work of the People - see my links column at left.

Drama: The Bridge

This links with the Ephesians reading and is found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 14 (pictured at left).

Discussion Starter:

Share an experience of being excluded.

Share an experience of being included.

Sermon Ideas and Prayers: Ah, Wilderness. 

Linked to the gospel reading, these can be found in The Abingdon Preaching Annual 2009 edited by David N Mosser, Abingdon Press, 2008, ISBN 9780687651955, page 233 ff (pictured at right)

Story: The President and the Little Boy

Links well with the idea of coming to God through Jesus and is found in More Hot Illustrations by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, page 140 (pictured at left).

Poem: Mother Teresa

Found in The Two-Way Clock: Poems by Sydney Carter, Stainer and Bell, 1974, page 127.

Response Activity and/or Prayer of Confession: The

Wall

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2000, ISBN 1859994652, page 51 (pictured at right). This goes well with any of the readings as a confession, but is particularly relevant to the Ephesians reading, in any context.

Meditation:

Ask people to sit comfortably with their eyes shut.

Give them time to relax and then read the following slowly:

Think about God.

Think about the barriers in your life:

maybe a personal relationship which has gone wrong,

maybe it is an injustice you see in the community which alienates some people

maybe it is a division or disagreement within your congregation. Whatever it is, talk to God about it. .....

Ask God what your role is in healing the situation you have talked about.......

Meditation: The Coming of Jesus

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 63 (pictured at left). This goes well with the gospel reading.

Also:

Prayer Exercise: Singing our Prayers

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 68 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Psalm reading.

Complete Service based on all the readings: Gathering Together

Found in In this Hour by Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Desbooks, 2001, ISBN 094982433X, page 99ff. 

Blessings

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 149. This activity is based on the Psalm.

Reading: The Song of the Crowd

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 53ff.  This is based on the Mark reading.