Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Psalm 14, John 6:1-21, Ephesians 3:14-21
For the Samuel Reading: When things Get Out of Hand
For the John Reading: We all Have Gifts
Listening Song: Day by Day
By dc Talk on their album Jesus Freak (pictured above)
Kid's Story: Little big gifts
Drama: Who Do Say That I Am?
Story: The Smallest Power Bill
Story: Power
About the Images:
Upper Left: When Things Get out of Hand: Although we checked this river for depth we missed a hole and got out of our depth - in a car without a snorkle! - needless to say it has one now :-) This photo was taken near the eastern edge of the Baw Baw National Park in the Aberfeldy River. For more info on this area, please visit http://www.australianalps.environment.gov.au/parks/baw-baw.html
Upper Right: We All Have Gifts: Church members using their gifts - a toilet is installed/replaced at Seldom Seen in the bushfire ravaged Victorian High country. The work party came from Lara, eight hours drive from Seldom Seen. Both these photos are mine so please feel free to use them for worship or related activities.
Middle Left: This is a free image from the Heartlight site - see my link column at left
Middle Right: This is a wordle I created on Jesus' words in the gospel reading. Please feel free to use for worship or related activities.
Lower Left: Another free image from Heartlight - see my link column at left
Middle Left: This is a free image from the Heartlight site - see my link column at left
Middle Right: This is a wordle I created on Jesus' words in the gospel reading. Please feel free to use for worship or related activities.
Lower Left: Another free image from Heartlight - see my link column at left
Lower Right: Free powerpoint stock image - dogs always know when things are getting out of hand.
Bottom Left: Another brilliant image from Cerezo Barredo - see my link column at left.
Bottom Left: Another brilliant image from Cerezo Barredo - see my link column at left.
For the Samuel Reading: When things Get Out of Hand
Listening Song: In the Light
By dc Talk on their album, Jesus Freak (pictured at right)
By dc Talk on their album, Jesus Freak (pictured at right)
Kids story: When things got out of hand
Tell a story from your own childhood when you tried to cover up what went wrong and things got worse! We all have these stories and kids just love to hear adults tell honest stories about their own childhood. Ask the kids what went wrong and what you could have done to improve your situation. Then link your story to David and the way he tried to cover up what he had done and how each time he tried to cover up, there was more to explain away and cover up.
Found on The Amazing Adventures of Mr Bean Volume 1, Tiger Television 1990.
Discussion questions: For Mr Bean and David
What went wrong?
What could he have done instead?
How does he let things get out of hand?
What could he have done instead?
How does he let things get out of hand?
How can we avoid the same mistakes?
What do we know that gives us hope?
Drama: No Big Deal
What do we know that gives us hope?
Drama: No Big Deal
NB I wrote this about ten years ago to fit with the above clip. I notice now that there are lots of "Australianisms"; so, if you come from somewhere other than Australia, please feel free to adapt the script accordingly.
B: Well, g'day, this is Radio Triple B’s Talk-back Help Line and our first caller this morning is….
D: King David.
B: Good morning …. umm, you’ll have to speak up a little. I didn’t quite catch your name. David King was it?
D: Yeah, that’ll do.
B: Well, what’s your topic for discussion this morning?
D: I think I’m in a bit of a mess and I can’t work out just how it happened.
B: Perhaps you’d like to tell us about it.
D: Well, it all started when the army went off without me.
B: Without you? Isn’t that slightly irregular?
D: Well, I just thought I’d hang around home for a few more days. It was no big deal really. They’re very capable, you know. Joab is a fine leader. They can get on without me. Anyway, late one arvo after I’d had a nap, I went out onto the balcony to get a little fresh air…… and that’s when I saw her.
B: Saw who?
D: Bathsheba (though I didn’t know her name then). She was having a bath and she was so beautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
B: You didn’t think that your peeping Tom behaviour was rather inappropriate?
D: Aw, it was no big deal. I was just having a bit of a look – who was it hurting? Anyway, I sent one of my servants over to find out who she was.
B: Why?
D: I just wanted to find out who she was! It was no big deal. Anyway the servant came back and not only told me who she was but also told me that she was married to one of my soldiers, Uriah Hittite. So, I got my servant to nick back and invite her over.
B: You invited her over when you knew she was married?
D: Yeah, I just wanted to see her close up. It was no big deal. …… She was so beautiful ….. Anyway, one thing led to another and we ….
B: Yes, yes, we can all imagine what happened next.
D: Actually, (sounds puzzled) this is where things seem to start going really haywire because after a few months she arrives on my doorstep to announce that she's pregnant! I couldn’t believe my bad luck! Then I had this brilliant idea. I’d just call her husband, Uriah, back from the war front and nobody would be any the wiser.
B: And Uriah would think the baby was his?
D: Yeah, I just wanted to keep everything nice. It was no big deal. Trouble was that Uriah is so blinking honest – he didn’t want to sleep with her while all his mates were back at the front fighting and risking their lives so he slept down at the barracks. Would you believe it!!!!? Bit odd if you ask me.
B: So…..?
D: So I came up with another even more brilliant idea. I’d invite Uriah over for drinks and dinner and get him so drunk he’d forget all about his mates and be off home like a shot.
B: Wasn’t that rather dishonest?
D: Not really. Think about it! I wasn’t going to do the drinking. I was just being a wonderful host – it’s not my fault if my guests over indulge. It’s no big deal. Anyway (sigh) it didn’t work. He got drunk alright but he still went and slept at the barracks.
B: Hmm. So this is your “bit of a mess” is it?
D: Well, actually that’s not the end of the story. Seeing that all my well-intentioned plans had failed, I decided that the only thing left to do was to actually get rid of Uriah once and for all. So, I arranged for him to take a letter back to Joab instructing Joab to put him where the fighting was thickest. I knew Uriah wouldn’t read it because, as I said, he’s just so blinking honest! I was so tired of it all. I just wanted to be finished with the whole silly business. It was no big deal really. Uriah had been putting his life on the line at the war front for years. We all knew that his luck would run out one day. I just made it sooner rather than later. It’s no big deal.
B: You keep saying that.
D: What?
B: It’s no big deal.
D: Well, it’s not. Uriah has died a hero. I’ve married Bathsheba and we’re very happy …….. (trails off)
B: So why did you ring?
D: Because, because ….. (sort of breaking down) it’s all such a terrible mess. To tell the truth, it’s a nightmare!!
D: King David.
B: Good morning …. umm, you’ll have to speak up a little. I didn’t quite catch your name. David King was it?
D: Yeah, that’ll do.
B: Well, what’s your topic for discussion this morning?
D: I think I’m in a bit of a mess and I can’t work out just how it happened.
B: Perhaps you’d like to tell us about it.
D: Well, it all started when the army went off without me.
B: Without you? Isn’t that slightly irregular?
D: Well, I just thought I’d hang around home for a few more days. It was no big deal really. They’re very capable, you know. Joab is a fine leader. They can get on without me. Anyway, late one arvo after I’d had a nap, I went out onto the balcony to get a little fresh air…… and that’s when I saw her.
B: Saw who?
D: Bathsheba (though I didn’t know her name then). She was having a bath and she was so beautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
B: You didn’t think that your peeping Tom behaviour was rather inappropriate?
D: Aw, it was no big deal. I was just having a bit of a look – who was it hurting? Anyway, I sent one of my servants over to find out who she was.
B: Why?
D: I just wanted to find out who she was! It was no big deal. Anyway the servant came back and not only told me who she was but also told me that she was married to one of my soldiers, Uriah Hittite. So, I got my servant to nick back and invite her over.
B: You invited her over when you knew she was married?
D: Yeah, I just wanted to see her close up. It was no big deal. …… She was so beautiful ….. Anyway, one thing led to another and we ….
B: Yes, yes, we can all imagine what happened next.
D: Actually, (sounds puzzled) this is where things seem to start going really haywire because after a few months she arrives on my doorstep to announce that she's pregnant! I couldn’t believe my bad luck! Then I had this brilliant idea. I’d just call her husband, Uriah, back from the war front and nobody would be any the wiser.
B: And Uriah would think the baby was his?
D: Yeah, I just wanted to keep everything nice. It was no big deal. Trouble was that Uriah is so blinking honest – he didn’t want to sleep with her while all his mates were back at the front fighting and risking their lives so he slept down at the barracks. Would you believe it!!!!? Bit odd if you ask me.
B: So…..?
D: So I came up with another even more brilliant idea. I’d invite Uriah over for drinks and dinner and get him so drunk he’d forget all about his mates and be off home like a shot.
B: Wasn’t that rather dishonest?
D: Not really. Think about it! I wasn’t going to do the drinking. I was just being a wonderful host – it’s not my fault if my guests over indulge. It’s no big deal. Anyway (sigh) it didn’t work. He got drunk alright but he still went and slept at the barracks.
B: Hmm. So this is your “bit of a mess” is it?
D: Well, actually that’s not the end of the story. Seeing that all my well-intentioned plans had failed, I decided that the only thing left to do was to actually get rid of Uriah once and for all. So, I arranged for him to take a letter back to Joab instructing Joab to put him where the fighting was thickest. I knew Uriah wouldn’t read it because, as I said, he’s just so blinking honest! I was so tired of it all. I just wanted to be finished with the whole silly business. It was no big deal really. Uriah had been putting his life on the line at the war front for years. We all knew that his luck would run out one day. I just made it sooner rather than later. It’s no big deal.
B: You keep saying that.
D: What?
B: It’s no big deal.
D: Well, it’s not. Uriah has died a hero. I’ve married Bathsheba and we’re very happy …….. (trails off)
B: So why did you ring?
D: Because, because ….. (sort of breaking down) it’s all such a terrible mess. To tell the truth, it’s a nightmare!!
C. Ann Scull
For the John Reading: We all Have Gifts
Listening Song: Day by Day
By dc Talk on their album Jesus Freak (pictured above)
Kid's Story: Little big gifts
Retell the gospel story and ask the kids whether they thought the little boy offered his lunch to Andrew or whether Andrew saw him with it. Discuss how difficult or easy they find it is to offer help to adults. Attach a gift rosette to each child in church to encourage them to see themselves as special gifts to everybody - give them extra rosettes to hand out to those adults they sit near so that they see that we are all gifts to each other.
Interesting Quote:
“It is hard to b be brave” said Piglet, sniffing slightly, “when you’re only a Very Small Animal”.
Rabbit, who had begun to write very busily, looked up and said:
“It is because you are a very small animal that you will be Useful in the adventure before us”
“It is hard to b be brave” said Piglet, sniffing slightly, “when you’re only a Very Small Animal”.
Rabbit, who had begun to write very busily, looked up and said:
“It is because you are a very small animal that you will be Useful in the adventure before us”
A.A.Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh, Methuen, 1928, page 84 (pictured at right)
For the Ephesians reading: The Church
Kid's Time: Awesome God
In Fun Group Devotions for Children’s Ministry, Group Publishing,1993, page 14 (pictured at left)
Film Clip: We Were Soldiers (2002)
You need a DVD for this because the scene, entitled "The Church" is in the Special Features: Deleted Scenes chapter. It is a compelling scene and links in very well with the reading
Drama: Who Do Say That I Am?Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 31 (pictured at right).
Story: The Smallest Power Bill
The story web site where I originally got this story from has disappeared and I can no longer source it. If somebody knows where it comes from could they please let me know.
'The story is told of a Welsh woman who lived in a remote valley in Wales. She went to a great deal of trouble to have electrical power installed in her home. They noticed she didn't use very much electricity at all. In fact, her usage was minuscule. They sent a meter reader out to check on the matter. The man came to the door and said, "We've looked at the amount. Don't you use electricity?" "Oh yes" she said. "We turn it on every night to see how to light our lamps and then we switch it off again."'
Story: PowerFound in Your Point Being by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch, 2003, Story 196 (pictured at left)
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, page 145 (pictured at right)
Story: Jesus is in My Heart
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, page 77 (pictured at right).
Meditation/Response Activity:
Either ask people to shut their eyes or give each person a piece of self hardening clay and while they work at making a symbol of what their congregation means to them, ask them to think about the following:
Think of a person that you love very much.
Meditation/Response Activity:
Either ask people to shut their eyes or give each person a piece of self hardening clay and while they work at making a symbol of what their congregation means to them, ask them to think about the following:
Think of a person that you love very much.
Thank God for this person.
Remind yourself that God loves you far more than you love that person.
Thank God for loving you.
Now think of a person, maybe in this congregation, who you find very annoying - maybe to the point where you do not even like them.
Now think of a person, maybe in this congregation, who you find very annoying - maybe to the point where you do not even like them.
Remind yourself that God loves them as much as God loves you.
Pray for this person.
Also:
Prayer Exercise: Sacred Prayer Postures
Beautiful Illustrations of John's Gospel connected to the Australian Outback
Complete Service based on all the readings: Add to Our Life
Found in Let's Make a Scene for..... by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 58 (pictured at right). This goes well with the John reading.
Also:
Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 28 (pictured at left). This is based on the Ephesians reading.
Found in The Gospel According to John Illuminated by Fiona Pfennigwerth, Tien Wah Press, Singapore, 2013, ISBN 9780646912462, page 21 (pictured at right).
Found in In this Hour by Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Desbooks, 2001, ISBN 094982433X, page 854ff (pictured at left).
Drama: Fish and Loaves
This links with the Gospel reading and is found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 71 (pictured at right).
Drama: A Bring and Share Lunch with a Difference
This links with the Gospel reading and is found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 73.
Service Starter: David: A King Who Goes Wrong
Based on the Matthew reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 46 (pictured just above right).
Meditation: Testimony and Prayer of Three Anonymous Children
Found in He Was in the World by John L. Bell, Wild Goose Publications, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, page 74 and based on the John reading.
Found in He Was in the World by John L. Bell, Wild Goose Publications, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, page 74 and based on the John reading.
Drama: We Want Food!
Found in Let's Make a Scene for..... by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 58 (pictured at right). This goes well with the John reading. Drama: You Never Know When
Found in Let's Make a Scene for..... by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 62 (pictured at right). This goes well with the John reading.
Symbolic Action: Testimony and Prayer of Three Anonymous Children
Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 111ff. This is based on the John reading.
Poem and Painting: Picnic at the Races
Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0 7270 1758 6, page 16. These are based on the John reading. This could also be used for Proper 23, 14 or 15 B.
Call to Worship
By Anna Shirey 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 107. Based on the John reading.
Kids: Fish Loaf Lunch
This is another brilliant book by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2023. This goes with the John reading. The great thing about these books is that they only around $A8 and for a further $A12 or so (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.
Offering Prayer
By Priscilla L Denham 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 197. Based on the John reading.
Poem and Comment: Money
Found in Disturbing Complacency by Lisa Bodenheim, Wild Goose Publications, 2007, ISBN 978 1 905010 37 0, found under the first wednesday of Advent. This is a Christmas preparation book, but is very useful for other times of the year as well. This entry is based on the 2 Samuel reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment