Epiphany 6 C / Proper 1 C (February 13): Like a Tree/ Choices

 

Bible Readings: Jeremiah 17:8-10, Psalm 1, Luke 6:17-26, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

About the Images:

Upper Left and Right: These are free images from the Hermano Leon site. See my link column at left.

Middle Left and Right: These are free images from the Heartlight site - see my link column at left.

Lower Left: This is my image.  You are free to use it for worship and related activities. These are cabbage tree palms and other trees growing in the Finke River Gorge in Central Australia. This is desert country but the trees grow in and beside the river bed whether there is water on top or not. They send their roots down deep.

Lower Right: Water lilies are not just pretty faces - they can restore the purity of a water hole via their root system as well as doing other good stuff (look them up).  This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities. Good for the Psalm. 

Listening Song: Like a Tree

by Chris Falson on his album, A Tree by the Water, 2006 (pictured at left). 

Film Clip: Life of Brian

(pictured at right) Show the blessed are the cheesemakers scene, however stop it just before the swearing if you have a sensitive congregation. This scene can be related to the Luke reading and leads into a discussion about how we are prone to hearing only what we want to hear.

Discussion: on the Luke reading.
Divide the congregation into groups and give each group a different pair of blessings and woes ie verses 20 and 24, 21a and 25a, 21b and 25b,

22-23 and 26. Ask each group to determine what their blessing and woe is about and write out in one sentence what each mean to us today. Ask groups to share their answers with the whole congregation. If you want to sum up after each one, here are some handy quotes etc:

Poor or Rich Quote: "Jesus Christ is precisely God become poor". Gustavo Gutierrez.
Poor or Rich Poem: Blessed

By Louis Evely in Imaging the Word Volume 1 by Kenneth T Lawrence (ed.), United Church Press, 1994, ISBN 0829809716, page 135 (pictured below).

Hungry or Well Fed poem: Sunday Dinner?

Found on Bruce Prewers site at www.textweek.com (see my links at left) under Prayers, Prefaces, Litanies, etc. on the Epiphany 6C page.
Hungry or Well Fed Quote:
"If you are striving for spiritual fulfilment and knowledge, God will be there for you, but if you think you know all the Christian answers then you are shutting God out of your life." Group of teenagers.
Weeping or Laughing Quotes:
"A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing." Martin Luther.
"You can't say you can sail until you have weathered a storm." Sailors proverb.

Unpopular or Popular Story: The Visit
Bits of this story by Adrian Plass found in his book of short stories, The Final Boundary, Monarch,1990, ISBN 1854240935, (pictured at right) are very helpful.

Response Activity:

Have a photo or a picture or a large branch or even a real tree at the front of your worship space. Give each person a cut out green leaf. Ask them to write on the leaf what it is they need to do to flourish and grow as one of God's people. Have them stick the leaf on the tree. Play quiet music while this is happening.

Alternately:

Make each blessing and woe pair into a station. Ask people to move from station to station and have the quotes, poems etc there for them to read and think about while quiet music plays. Have a response activity at each station for them to complete before they move on eg. rich and poor - a piece of modelling clay which people can model into a gift they have (material or non material) which can be shared with the world; hungry and well fed - invite people to take a piece from a loaf of bread and dip it in a cup of wine and eat it before moving on, weeping and laughing - have a shallow bowl of water to represent tears and ask people to trace a one word prayer on the surface of the water; unpopular and popular - the response activity above fits well here.

Prayer: Rest in my Wings
By Colleen Fulmer in Imaging the Word Volume 1 by Kenneth T Lawrence (ed.), United Church Press, 1994, ISBN 0829809716, page 133 (pictured at left).

Also

Kids: Tina the Tree

This is another brilliant book  by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2012 (pictured at right). This goes with the Psalm reading.  The great thing about these books is that they only around $A5 and for a further $A10 (or instead of) you can buy on line the story in any format you need to project the pictures in church.  There are also free activity sheets and for a cost activity books for both teachers and children.  Visit www.lostsheep.com.au to check out all the excellent resources.

Lots of Useful Stuff: A Leaf from God's Book

Found in Multi-Sensory Together by Ian Birkinshaw, Scripture Union,2005, ISBN 1844271641, page 15 (pictured at left).  Based on the Psalm reading.

Service Starter: Solomon Moves Out

Based on the Psalm reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 50 (pictured at right).

Drama: A Reading Group

Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 11 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the 1 Corinthians reading.

Psalm 1

Found in The Psalms: An Artist's Impression by Anneke Kaai and Eugene Peterson, Piquant, 1999, ISBN 0 9535757 0 5, page 6.   

Psalm 1: Happiness

Found in Australian Psalms by Bruce Prewer, Lutheran Publishing House, 1979, page 19. This book is an oldie but a goodie.                                                                       

Epiphany 5 C (February 6): Surprise, Surprise/No Experience Necessary/You Are Not Alone in This

 

Bible Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 138, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11

About the Images:

Upper Left: God takes all sorts of ordinary people by surprise in these readings. I thought a surprise slide would be appropriate so I took a Microsoft free clip art to pieces and put it back together again.
Upper Right: This photo is of fishing boats at dawn in Duck Arm as seen from our jetty, Gippsland Lakes, Victoria, Australia. For more info on this area (considered the centre of the universe for those of us who live here :-) ) please visit http://www.discovereastgippsland.com.au/gippslandlakes.asp

Middle Left: A Hermano Leon graphic - please see my link column at left.
Middle Right: A Heartlight graphic - please see my link column at left.
Lower Left: Another Heartlight graphic - please see my link column at left.

Lower Right: I found this image on the following page which is a brilliant help page for those who live with dementia, however the image is applicable to all sorts of situations and to considering God's presence with us:   https://mydementedmom.com/2013/01/06/youre-not-in-this-alone/

Prayer: Syriac Prayer 

Found in  2000 Years of Prayers by Michael Counsell, Canterbury Press, Norwich, 1999, page 57 (pictured at right).
Thanks to Diane Wookey for sourcing this for me. 

To God: be glory.

To the angels: honour.
To Satan: confusion.
To the cross: reverence.

To the church: exultation.
To those who confess: forgiveness.
To the sick and the hurting: recovery and healing
To all the corners of the earth: peace and tranquility
On us who are weak and sinful: may God's mercy come and overshadow us forever!

Amen

Prayer: Brighten My Heart

Found in Celtic Prayers by Robert Van De Weyer, Hunt and Thorpe, 1997, ISBN 1856082814, page 43 (pictured at left). This is a great call to worship and/or opening prayer not just for this particular week but for any week.

Choral Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

Found in Building Worship Together by Martha Keys Barker and the Fisherfolk, Celebration,1983, ISBN 0906309212, page 38 (pictured at right).

Film Clip: Psalm 138
By the Work of the People - see my link column at left.

Kids: Peter the Fisherman 

This is another brilliant book  by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2006 (pictured at right). This goes with the Luke reading.  The great thing about these books is that they only around $A5 and for a further $A10 (or instead of) you can buy on line the story in any format you need to project the pictures in church.  There are also free activity sheets and for a cost activity books for both teachers and children.  Visit www.lostsheep.com.au to check out all the excellent resources.

Story: Understanding God's Heart

Found in The Youth Bible, Word Publishing, 1991, ISBN 0849909252, page 623 (pictured at left)

Discussion:
What was it that first impressed you about God?
What is it now that impresses you most about God?

Film Clip Stations: Engaging with the Luke Reading
You will need three separate areas all with the capability of showing a film clip and the relevant questions printed out for everyone. You may also need a little info printed out about the context of each film clip. Divide the congregation in to three groups and allow each group ten minutes at each station:

Station 1:Simon Birch: (pictured at right)

Show the clip where Simon talks with his minister about his call.

Questions:

How does both the Luke reading and the film clip affirm that God can use each one of us? How does Jesus' response to Peter differ from that of Simon's minister to Simon.
What can we learn from the two responses?
Why is a deepening relationship with God important for determining God's plan for us?

Station 2: The Matrix (pictured at left)
Start the clip where Neo's call comes via his phone and stop the clip when he is caught just after his inability to take a great leap (of faith?).
Questions:
Both Neo and the disciples are called while at work. Share some personal experiences of call. Neo messes up his call; how does following Jesus out in to the deep water feel to you?

Station 3: The Truman Show (pictured at right)
Show the clip where Truman Burbank escapes. Questions: Truman leaves everything behind; the disciples drop everything to follow Jesus. Do we do have to do the same? How hard is it topush out into the deep water like Peter, or go through the door like truman? Peter got fish, Truman got a new life. What will we get?

Response Activity:
To think about:
Where is God asking you to go?
What is God asking you to do?

Have you been meeting God face to face lately?
Is their a gap between God and you at the moment?
How do you think God could bridge this gap for you.
One option here is to give everyone a paper cut out of a fish and have them write their answers on the fish and then place their fish in a fishing net.
Another option is to give everyone a piece of self hardening clay to mould into a fish whie they are thinking of the above questions and their responses to them.

Response Activity: What shall we say to you, our God -
By Huub Oosterhuis and found in Imaging the Word Volume 1  by Kenneth T. Lawrence (ed.), United Church Press, 1994, ISBN 0829809716, page 165. 

For those Starting/Returning/to Kinder/School/Uni/Work

A southern hemisphere event - it is around the time of the new school year here - if you leave it until after school has started you can easily include the Uni students as well.

Kids' Story: The Rainbow Fish

By Marcus Pfister, 1992, ISBN 1558580093 (pictured at left). This book is basically about sharing but can also be about the fact that even if you feel like the little stripy fish at school, you will always belong to God and the church - and the church is full of rainbow fish.

Response Activity: Remembering Where You Belong:
Have a candle mould and small containers of various coloured pieces of candle wax. Encourage each starting/returning/ leaving for another place student of any age to select a piece of candle wax in their favourite colour. Encourage everybody else to also select a piece of candle wax. Ask students to come forward with their family and friendship groups so that they can all drop their pieces of candle wax into the mould. Don't forget those who have finished school and are starting new jobs. Pray for each group as they drop in their candle pieces. When the whole church has participated, pour plain melted candle wax over all the pieces. You should end up with a beautiful multi-coloured candle in which

the coloured pieces will remain relatively whole. Thanks to Rev. Rosalind Terry for showing me this moving and memorable activity.

Also:

Creative Ideas: Isaiah: The Royal Prophet

Found in Multi-Sensory Prophets by Mike Law, Scripture Union, 2007, ISBN 9781844272587, page 23. This is based on the Isaiah reading.

Lots of Useful Stuff: Gone Fishing

Found in Multi-Sensory Together by Ian Birkinshaw, Scripture Union,2005, ISBN 1844271641, page 36.  Based on the Luke reading.

Brilliant Comments on the Gospel

Found in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey, SPCK, 2008, ISBN 9780281059751, pages 135-146.

Poem: Grow
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (pictured at right) in the Summer section. Based on the Isaiah reading. 

Sermon ideas: They Left Everything

Found in Life on the Road by Athol Gill, Herald Press, 1992, page 23ff.  This is based on the Gospel reading. 

Drama: A Fish Story

Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 52. This is based on the gospel reading. 

Drama: Blessed Are The Cheesemakers

Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 54(pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Poem: The Prophets of God

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 51.  This poem is based on the Isaiah reading.  

Drama: Knock, knock, knocking

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 155ff.  This is based on the Luke reading.

Epiphany 4 C (January 30): God's Ministers/God's Messengers

Bible Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71: 1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

About the Images:
Upper Left: A free Microsoft clipart image over which I put the text.
Upper Right: This is my photo so feel free to use it for worship or related activities.

Middle Left: This is a free image from Cezzaro Barredo's site - see my link column at left.

Middle Right: This image comes from the awesome Church Galleries website which is not up at the moment.

Lower Left: Free clipart from the Hermano Leon site - see my link column at left.

Lower Right: Free clipart from the Heartlight site - see my link column at left.

Kids' Story: Flat or ....?

Tell the story of the Jeremiah reading using a balloon - first he was flat: too young, no confidence, didn't have the words etc; then when God reassured him he was like an inflated balloon: full of life and energy, confident.

Discussion Questions for the Jeremiah reading:
What are Jeremiah's two excuses for not being God's messenger?
What is God's response to these excuses?

Film Clip: Love is the Law

 
Film Clip: Cocoon

Cocoon (pictured at right) is a film about some elderly people who feel as if they are being treated like the living dead but who discover that they still have lives to live and something to offer. There are plenty of scenes which relate to the psalmist who is an old man who knows that he still has something to say and to offer and a way to say it.

Drama: Home Town Sermon

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Resource Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0901557642, page 189 (pictured at left). This is based on the Luke reading.

Story: Seeing Things from God's Perspective

Index No 1629-1631 in Bible Illustrator for Windows 1.0d, Parson's Technology Inc., 1990

 
Quote: Unknown

"I intend to stay alive for the whole of my life."

Quote: By a British Politician

"When we assumed office four years ago we stood on the edge of the precipice. Since then, we have taken a giant leap forward". As quoted by Prime Minister Tony Blair during a White House Toast on 5th February 1998 (I think).

Quote: Martin Luther King Jnr.
"When I speak of love, I am not speaking of some sentimental and weak response, I am speaking of that force which is ... the supreme unifying principle of life".

Discussion and/or Questions to Ponder:

What encouragement is there is this/these readings for us?

What warning is there in this/these readings for us?

What is God asking you to do and what excuses are you using?

Response Activity:
Ask all the ministers present to stand up - it should, of course, be everyone!

For those Starting/Returning/to Kinder/School/Uni/Work

A southern hemisphere event - it is around the time of the new school year here - if you leave it until after school has started you can easily include the Uni students as well. Two ideas:

1. Kids' Story: The Rainbow Fish

By Marcus Pfister, 1992, ISBN 1558580093 (pictured at left). This book is basically about sharing but can also be about the fact that even if you feel like the little stripy fish at school, you will always belong to God and the church - and the church is full of rainbow fish.

2. Response Activity: Remembering Where You Belong:
Have a candle mould and small containers of various coloured pieces of candle wax. Encourage each starting/returning/ leaving for another place student of any age to select a piece of candle wax in their favourite colour. Encourage everybody else to also select a piece of candle wax. Ask students to come forward with their family and friendship groups so that they can all drop their pieces of candle wax into the mould. Don't forget those who have finished school and are starting new jobs. Pray for each group as they drop in their candle pieces. When the whole church has participated, pour plain melted candle wax over all the pieces. You should end up with a beautiful multi-coloured candle in which

the coloured pieces will remain relatively whole. Thanks to Rev. Rosalind Terry for showing me this moving and memorable activity.

Also:

Meditation: Old Age

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 81 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Psalm.

Taize Service: Loving With Your Life

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 8 (pictured at right). This is based on the Corinthians reading.

Taize Service: Prophetic voices

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 42 (pictured at right). This is based on the Jeremiah reading.

Creative Ideas: Jeremiah: The Prophet of Judgement

Found in Multi-Sensory Prophets by Mike Law, Scripture Union, 2007, ISBN 9781844272587, page 29 (pictured at left). This is based on the Jeremiah reading.

Mission Manifesto

Found in Party On Together by Beth Barnett and Dr Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2010, page 86 (pictured at right) . This is based on the Gospel reading. This resource is also available in electronic form through the Baptist Union of Victoria website, www.buv.com.au. where it can be copied freely for non-commercial use. 

Brilliant Comments on the Gospel

Found in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey, SPCK, 2008, ISBN 9780281059751, pages 147-169 (pictured at left).

Sermon ideas: Working for the Poor and Oppressed

Found in Life on the Road by Athol Gill, Herald Press, 1992, page 180 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Gospel reading. 

Drama: You Don't Really Love Me

Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 18(pictured at left). This drama is based on the 1 Corinthians reading.

Mediation: Behold, the Lamb of God

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 21ff (pictured at left).  This is based on the Luke reading.

Drama: Home Town Sermon

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 189ff (pictured at left).  This is based on the Luke reading.

Prayer of Confession: 

By Maria I. Tirrabassi 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 31. Based on the 1 Corinthians reading.