Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 1:4-20, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Psalm 16, Hebrews 10:11-25, Mark 13:1-8,
About the images:
Upper Left: A free microsoft image with my text.
Upper Right: Uluru with words from 1 Samuel 2:2. This is my image so please feel free to use this image for worship or related activities.
Middle Left: Another piece of street art from one of the laneways of inner city Melbourne, Australia. For more info on the laneways, Google Melbourne and see the page on "Melbourne laneways" under "About Melbourne" or "Welcome to Melbourne". This is my image so please feel free to use this image for worship or related activities.
Middle Left: Another piece of street art from one of the laneways of inner city Melbourne, Australia. For more info on the laneways, Google Melbourne and see the page on "Melbourne laneways" under "About Melbourne" or "Welcome to Melbourne". This is my image so please feel free to use this image for worship or related activities.
Middle Right: A free heartlight image - please see my link column at left.
Lower Left: This is my image so please feel free to use for worship and related activities - it is an image from Beit Shean in Israel.
Lower Right: Pretty sure this is a microsoft free clipart with my text - please let me know if it is not
Listening Song: Bearers of the Light
by Michael Card on his album Poiema (pictured at right). This song enhances the Hebrews reading.
Film Clip: NottinghillShow the scene in Nottinghill (pictured at right) where the characters, in the intimacy and safety of their shared meal together, all share their secret fears and insecurities to illustrate Hebrews 10:25.
Film Clip: 2018 Social Revolution
Produced by The Social Media College and available on Youtube this is three years out of date; nevertheless, this is a great way to introduce the helpful hints contained in the Hebrews reading for living in our fast paced world
Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (ed.) Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0959109186, page 51 (pictured at left). This drama fits with the gospel reading.
Introduction: The Challenge of Our Times
Can't remember the source of the following info - probably the web :-)
Can't remember the source of the following info - probably the web :-)
"Did you know that....
There is more than one mobile phone per head of population in Finland.
My ordinary car has more computer power than the rocket that took Neil Armstrong to the moon.
Our computers at home are out of date the moment we buy them.
The World Wide Web puts people in touch with each other like never before … and simultaneously isolates them.
The miracles of modern science have not eliminated pain and grief and loss and family breakdowns."
Link this to the Hebrews reading.
My ordinary car has more computer power than the rocket that took Neil Armstrong to the moon.
Our computers at home are out of date the moment we buy them.
The World Wide Web puts people in touch with each other like never before … and simultaneously isolates them.
The miracles of modern science have not eliminated pain and grief and loss and family breakdowns."
Link this to the Hebrews reading.
Discussion Questions:
Do you think we are in times of turmoil and collapse today – in the world, in our society, in our church?
At such times, what sort of things do people place their faith in?
Do you think we are in times of turmoil and collapse today – in the world, in our society, in our church?
At such times, what sort of things do people place their faith in?
Story: The Power of Our Words
Found in Illustrations, Stories, and Quotes to Hang Your Message On, (as above) page 169 to illustrate Hebrews 10:24.
Found in Illustrations, Stories, and Quotes to Hang Your Message On, (as above) page 169 to illustrate Hebrews 10:24.
Story: God's Care
Story 98 in Your Point Being by Graham Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929 (pictured at left). The story sits well with the Samuel reading.
Story 98 in Your Point Being by Graham Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929 (pictured at left). The story sits well with the Samuel reading.
Adult Response:
Ensure that everyone has a small candle and is standing and that you have a lit a large Christ candle that everyone can see. Read Hebrews 10:24-25 and explain that we are now going to live out these verses by giving each other the light and hope and encouragement. Light your candle from the Christ candle. Explain that you are going to light one person's candle and at the same time tell them something encouraging. That person will do the same to someone else until everyone in the room has a lighted candle. Tell them that when their candle is alight and when they have lit someone else's and encouraged them, they should sit down with their lighted candle.
Ensure that everyone has a small candle and is standing and that you have a lit a large Christ candle that everyone can see. Read Hebrews 10:24-25 and explain that we are now going to live out these verses by giving each other the light and hope and encouragement. Light your candle from the Christ candle. Explain that you are going to light one person's candle and at the same time tell them something encouraging. That person will do the same to someone else until everyone in the room has a lighted candle. Tell them that when their candle is alight and when they have lit someone else's and encouraged them, they should sit down with their lighted candle.
Adult Response:
Make tiny (20 will fit on an A4 or letter size) cards/photos/drawings/whatever of the symbols of God found in the Samuel reading - make a total of three times as many as there are people in your congregation. Ask people to select one for themselves and one to give somebody else.
Make tiny (20 will fit on an A4 or letter size) cards/photos/drawings/whatever of the symbols of God found in the Samuel reading - make a total of three times as many as there are people in your congregation. Ask people to select one for themselves and one to give somebody else.
ALSO:
Based on the 1 Samuel reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 16 (pictured at right).
Drama: It's Them!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzokeYwlybXhff4Pbc2CWfrVl2G9rk0fvk8ALB_9Hehx0JZaip-Zx2DnqEFGXAL2y_Yi937unDFKbgs1MquRpPPVvhWopbXlP-WA5sZW2ivB4owTmU6IgAtBv2ikY0Jbqiewp/w88-h105/Let+make+a+scene+for.jpg)
Hannah
Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 145. This activity is based on the 1 Samuel 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. \
Prayer Response
Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 154. This activity is based on the second 1 Samuel reading.
Prayer: Absolution
Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 39 and based on the Hebrews 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. Based on the 1 Samuel reading.
Confession
By Rachel G. Hackenberg 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 105. Based on the Samuel reading.