Epiphany 5 A (February 05): Shine!/ Daring to have a go.

Bible Readings: Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), Psalm 112:1-10, 1 Corinthians 2:1-12(13-16), Matthew 5:13-20

About the images:

Upper Left and Right and Lower Left and Right: These are free Heartlight images. To visit the Heartlight site, please go to my Links column below left.

Middle left: This is a Microsoft free clipart with my text.

Middle Right: This is a free sample clip art from Church galleries which is not in operation at the moment.

Listening Song: Shine

By the Newsboys on their album, Shine: The Hits (pictured at left) or on WOW 1996. This song uses words from the gospel reading.

Discussion:

1. Salt and light have lost their preciousness in many ways to the Western world. What might Jesus say to us today if he was talking to us? You are like........
2. How do we shine God's light onto those around us?

Brainstorm:

Brainstorm definitions of the word "disciple".

Kids' Story: The Tawny Scrawny Lion

by Kathryn Jackson, Little Golden Book (pictured at right).  This goes well with the 1 Corinthians reading for both last week and this week.  It also goes well as a bit of a lead in conversation with kids about bullying.  I used it for both reasons at church today seeing that we celebrated the kids start of the school year here in Australia.  

Film Clip: True Fasting

This clip is from Work of the People - see my link column at left.  It goes well with the Isaiah reading: go to https://www.theworkofthepeople.com/true-fasting

Story: Why the Potatoes Sprouted

This story can be found at

http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyctr/books/1801-1900/HDM1876.pdf Story No. 1430. It is based on the gospel story.

Story: Thermometers and Themostat

Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 198 (pictured at right). This story is based on the Matthew reading.

Also:

Poem and prayer: salt and light.

Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 14 (pictured at left).  These are based on the gospel reading.

Response Activity: Shout aloud!

Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year A by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2010, ISBN 9780949656919, page 40ff (pictured at right). This is based on the Gospel reading and the Old Testament reading.

Lots of Useful Stuff

Found in The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual by Jenee Woodard (Ed.), Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2013, page 39ff (pictured at left). 

Worship Activity: Prayer Lights

By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN 0830724044, page 43 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Matthew reading. 

Worship Resources: What's Wrong with the World?

Found in Multi-Sensory World by Craig Borlase, Scripture Union/Tear Fund, 2008, ISBN 9781844272662, page 15 (pictured at left). This is based on the Old Testament reading. 

Drama: The Colours of the Rainbow
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 0859109151v1, page 24 (pictured at right). This has been written for the gospel reading.

Sermon ideas: There is No End to the Work

Found in Life on the Road by Athol Gill, Herald Press, 1992, page 171 (pictured at left).  This is based on the Gospel reading. 

Drama: How Many Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb

Based on Acts 12 and found in Let's Make a Scene for..... by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 23 (pictured at right). This goes well with the Matthew reading. 

Drama: Candles in the Bin

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 51ff.  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Prayer: Salt

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 29 and based on the Matthew reading.

Prayer: Let Your Light Shine

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 50 and based on the Matthew reading.

Worship Activities: Salt and Light

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 46. These are based on the Matthew reading. 

Discussion: Love and Justice, Salt and Light

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 136. These are based on the Matthew reading. 

We Are Salt and Light: 

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 37. Based on the Matthew reading.

Kids: The Lampstand 

This is another brilliant book  by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2023. This goes with the Matthew reading.  The great thing about these books is that they only around $A8 and for a further $A12 (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.

Prayer for Healing 

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 221. Based on the Matthew reading.

Epiphany 4 A (January 29): Paradox/Turning the World Upside Down

 

Bible Readings: Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12

About the Images:

Upper Left: This is a microsoft free clipart image with my text.

Upper Right: This is a free Heartlight image. To visit the Heartlight site, please go to my Links column below left.

Middle left: This is a Microsoft free image with text from the song "God's Own Fool" (below).

Middle Right: This is another free Heartlight image. To visit the Heartlight site, please go to my Links column below left.

Lower Left: And another free Heartlight image! To visit the Heartlight site, please go to my Links column below left.

Lower Right: A creative commons image to which I added BE :) Gives a bit of room to preach around the beatitudes.

Listening Song: God's Own Fool
By Michael Card on his album, Joy in the Journey (pictured at left). This goes well with the gospel reading and with the 1 Corinthians reading.

Kid's Story: The Lion and the Mouse
This is an Aesop fable and can be found almost anywhere on or off line.  It goes really well with the gospel reading and the Corinthians reading.

Film Clip: The Beatitudes

This clip is found on the Work of the People site (see my links column at left).

http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/the-beatitudes

Drama: I Believe Congratulations Are In Order
By Tick Brereton and found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.) Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916X, page 17 (pictured at left). This is a dramatic reading that looks at the Beatitudes and different approaches to what they really mean. I made this the basis of my sermon and added a couple more voices to each section who related directly to the struggles in our own community and lives and added prayers of reflection after each section as well.

Response Activity:
I gave everyone a copy of the Mega Drama (above) version of the Beatitudes and gave them a space to read them over and then underline the one that they do best in one colour and the one that they need most help with in another colour. We then prayed together and for each other.

Also:

Taize Service: Beatitudes

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 38 (pictured at left). This is based on the Matthew reading.

Drama: World Wise
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 0859109151v1, page 9 (pictured at right). This has been written for the 1 Corinthians reading.

Brilliant Comments on the Gospel

Found in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey, SPCK, 2008, ISBN 9780281059751, pages 65-90 (pictured at left).

Drama: Blessed are the Poor

Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 41 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the gospel reading. 

Poem: O That Land

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 44 (pictured at left).  This poem is based on the Micah reading.  

Blessings  

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 149 -150 (pictured at right). This is based on the Matthew reading.

Drama: Fair's Fair

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 84ff.  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Worship Activities: God Blesses Those People

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 45. These are based on the Matthew reading. 

Sharing Stories: The Family Framework

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 99. These are based on the Matthew reading. 

Discussion: Transforming Values

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 132. These are based on the Matthew reading. 

Confession and Assurance of Grace

By Wesley Brian Jamison 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 Micah reading.

Reflection and Prayer: 
Found in Advent Readings from Iona by Brian Woodcock and Jan Sutch Pickard, Wild Goose Publications, 2005, ISBN 1901557332 (pictured at right). These are based on the 1 Corinthians reading and found under the heading: December 14th. This fits with next week also. 

Prayer/Action: Suffering

Found  in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008, pages 108 and based on the 1 Corinthians reading. 

Prayer/Action: Peace on Earth

Found  in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 112 and based on the Matthew reading. 

Prayer/Action: The Lord of Misrule

Found  in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 120 and based on the 1 Corinthians reading. 

Reading: God's Rainbow People

By Ann B Day 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 218. Based on the Micah reading.

Epiphany 3 A (January 22): Discipleship 101/ Abandoning the Boats/God Confidence/One Heart, One Hope, One Love

 

Bible Readings:

Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1,4-9, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23

About the Images:
Above Left: Abandoned whaler on Norfolk Island - it's my photo so feel free to use it for worship related activities. If you want to know more about Norfolk Island please visit http://www.norfolkisland.com.au

Above Right: This is a microsoft free clipart image with text from the unnamed poem by Philip Andrews (see below under Meditation/Poem).

Middle Left:  The words from the psalm with an image I have on paper from 40 years ago - I have no idea who to attribute this to - if anyone knows the artist, please let me know.

Middle Right: This is a free image from Imagebank (see my link column at left).
Lower Left: This is a free image from the amazing Heartlight site - see my link column at left.

Lower Right: This is my image.  Please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.  It is an image of the Separation Barrier built by the Israelis between Palestine and Israel which appropriates large areas of Palestinian land, separates families and shuts down businesses - a perfect example of what the Corinthians reading encourages us not to do. 

Listening Song: Jesus Freak
By dc Talk on their album, Jesus Freak (pictured at left). This song is about discipleship.

Listening Song: In the Light

By dc Talk on their album Jesus Freak (pictured at left). This song goes well with the Corinthians reading.

Listening Song: One

By U2 on their album Achtung Baby, 1991 (pictured at right)

Kids Story: Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
By Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury, Penguin, 2009, ISBN 9780143503583 (pictured at left). This story is just a delight and goes very well with the Corinthians reading.

Film Clip: Oh My God
This clip seems to have disappeared off the web however one of the major speakers, Rabbi Froman, is part of a new film about to be released, called A Third Way - a film about Israeli and Palestinians working together. Any clips you can access on this topic fit in beautifully with the Corinthians reading and if you can watch any of them without tearing up then you are better than me.

Film Clip: Meet the Parents

(pictured at left) Show the clip where Kevin shows off his carpentry skills and says he does it because he wants to follow in Jesus' footsteps. (about 55 minutes from the start)

Discussion: On Meet the Parents

1. What does it mean to be one of Jesus' disciples? Will being a good carpenter do it?

2. What should we do to be good disciples?

Discussion:
1. Was there a definable moment when you became a Christian?
2. What changed most for you if you did have a definable moment?

3. Is conversion the end of the story?

Drama: Leftovers

By Eric Stapleton and found at http://www.dramatix.org/archive/family/Leftovers.html This drama fits in well with the Corinthians reading.

Story: If Jesus Showed Up at Your School
Found in Could Someone Wake Me Up Before I Drool On The Desk by Kevin Johnson, Bethany House Publishers, 1995, ISBN 1556614160, pp11 (pictured at left) This is a story about youth and discipleship.

Story: Soren Kierkegaard's Train Passenger

I don't know which book of his this is in but I found reference to this illustration in Rivers in the Desert edited by Rowland Croucher, Albatross books, 1991, ISBN 086760137X, page 253 (pictured at right). This story is based on the gospel reading.

Story: To Have It Within
Found in Speakers Source Book of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley, Word Publishing,1995, ISBN 0849936756, page 40 (pictured at left). This story is based on the Psalm.

Story: Fishers of Men Part 2 

In When You Walk by Adrian Plass, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 1997, ISBN 0745935524, page 130-1 (pictured at right). This story is based on the gospel reading.

Meditation: We Did Not Want to Go

In He Was in the World: Meditations for Public Worship by John Bell, Wild Goose, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, pp 87 (pictured at left). This meditation is like the song Jesus Freak above and centres on our unwillingness sometimes to be a disciple because we foresee difficulties.

Meditation/Poem: Unnamed
By Philip Andrews 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 125. (pictured  at left). I put images with this and used Look Back In by Moby from his album, 18 (pictured at right), as backing. This is connected with the Psalm.

Response Activity:
Display heaps of printed images and words around the worship space and ask people to choose a couple which most explain how they feel about or what they think in response to the Bible reading. Ask people to share why they chose the cards and or words which they did.
NB. www.innovativeresources.org make an amazing set of cards called Signposts which work really well with this activity.

Also:

Poem and prayer: repent - turn around.

Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 12 (pictured at left).  These are based on the gospel reading.

Response Activity: Invited to Bring the Light
Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year A by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2010, ISBN 9780949656919, page 36ff. This is based on the gospel reading.

Lots of Useful Stuff
Found in The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual by Jenee Woodard (Ed.), Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2013, page 26ff. 

Drama: Gone Fishing - at the Mall
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 0859109151v1, page 34. This has been written for the gospel reading.

Psalm 27

Found in The Psalms: An Artist's Impression by Anneke Kaai and Eugene Peterson, Piquant, 1999, ISBN 0 9535757 0 5, page 18.    

Prayer: Sand

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 38 and based on the Matthew reading.

Sharing Stories: Families Working Together

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 90. These are based on the Matthew reading. 

Prayer/Action: Light

By Neil Paynter and found in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 106 and based on the Psalm reading.