Bible readings: Genesis 1:1-2:4a, Psalm 8, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20
About the images:
Top Left: From http://www.sacredise.com/files/images/free/Trinity2.jpg.
Top Right: Trinity found at http://www.servicioskoinonia.org/cerezo/indexAgraf.html
Upper Left: This is an Imagebank free image - see my link column at left.
Upper Right: This is a free Heartlight image - see my link column at left.
Middle Left: This is a free image from a website which seems to have disappeared - sadly. They went under a few names, but "Clarentine Publications: used to find them.
Middle Right: This is a free image from the Hermano Leon site.
Lower Left and Right: These are free images from the excellent sundaygraphx site - see my link column to the left. Call to Worship:
Ask everyone to go outside or bring something in which reminds them of God's creation to place on the communion table.
Listening Song: Creation Calls
By Brian Doerksen on the album, Light the Fire (pictured at right). Illustrate this song with images from your own local area for greatest impact. It does have rather American connotations with the words but I found that it was quite to fit local pictures from my area and still maintain a truth to the words.
Show the clip at the very beginning straight after the credits and finish when Z says "I'm insignificant with attitude". This clip includes the credits and a minute or so after Z's statement but it work best if you edit it to stop at his statement.
Discussion: on the film clip of Antz.
1. Why does Z feel insignificant?
2. In what sort of situations can we feel like this?
3. Matthew 28:19 says: "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples". What do you think of this verse? How does it make you feel?
4. What reassures you that this is not too big an ask of us ...or is it?
Kids story: The Blind Men and the Elephant
This old, old story makes a good lead in to a discussion on God, three in one, not only for children but for adults as well.
Drama: In the Beginning
Found in When You Walk by Adrian Plass, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 1997, ISBN 0745935524, page 321 (pictured at left). This is a lovely analogy of the Trinity and I once used it as the basis of my service and sermon.
Story: The Life Saving Station
Story 155 in 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching by Michael P Green, Baker Books, 1989, ISBN 0801063302 (pictured at left). This illustration shows us the different ways the Holy Spirit can act in our lives.
Story: Through Thick and Thin
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks Book 4 by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 2001, ISBN 0310236193, page 39 (pictured at right).
Found as story No 226 in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch, 2003, ISBN 1854245929. This story matches up well with the 2 Corinthians reading.
Prayer For Others: Circles
Response Activity:
I gave people a choice of three responses (see below). I used the words of 2 Corinthians 13:13, Matthew 28:19 and "Our God is complex, dynamic, relational, ever-reaching, ever seeking, ever creating, ever loving, and ever speaking" (William Willamon: Preaching Resources, Trinity Sunday, 2005) as the basis for all three responses. The choices were
1. Meditation: I used the words as a visual meditation with a powerpoint presentation and music by Moby from his album, Play. I used two tracks: "Inside" and "Guitar, Flute and String".
2. Discussion: I gave people the words on a handout and asked them to discuss the words.
3. Modelling: I gave people the words on a handout together with a small piece of self hardening clay and asked them to model a response to the words.
Response Activity: Relationships
Also:
By Ruth Burgess in Dandelions and Thistles: Biblical Meditations from the Iona Community by Jan Sutch Pickard (ed.) Wild Goose Publications, 1999, ISBN 1901557146, page 13 (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.
Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 42. This is based on the Psalm reading.
Kids: Cecil and Psalm 8
This is another brilliant book by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2017. This goes with the Psalm. The great thing about these books is that they only around $A7 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.
Kids: The Image of God
And another another brilliant book by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2017. This goes with the Genesis reading.
A chapters of resources for Trinity Sunday:
By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 199ff.
Various Ideas: Te Great Commission: Getting the Message Out
Found in Multi-Sensory Message by Dave Maclure, Scripture Union, 2008, ISBN 9781844272730, page 30. Connected with the Gospel reading.
Various Ideas: Creation - the Message of Love
Found in Multi-Sensory Message by Dave Maclure, Scripture Union, 2008, ISBN 9781844272730, page 7. Connected with the Genesis reading.
Drama: Prepared to go
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book Publishers, 2001, ISBN 0859109151, page 36. This drama is based on the gospel reading.
Drama: Our Good Fridge
Found in Mega Drama 3 by Verona Johnson (ed) Openbook, 2002, ISBN 0859109178 (v.3), page 43. This drama is based on the Genesis reading.
Drama: It's Contagious
Found in Lets Make Another Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 28 (pictured at right). This drama is useful for the Matthew reading.
Found in Lets Make Another Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 28 (pictured at right). This drama is useful for the Matthew reading.
Service Starter: Proving Beyond Doubt
Based on the Matthew reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 42.
Meditation: When the Time was Right
Found in He Was in the World by John L. Bell, Wild Goose Publications, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, page 55 and based on the Genesis reading.
Found in He Was in the World by John L. Bell, Wild Goose Publications, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, page 55 and based on the Genesis reading.
Drama: The Great Commission
Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 70 This drama is based on the gospel reading.
Poem: God's Week
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 14. This poem is based on the Genesis reading.
Poem: In God's Image
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 19. This poem is based on the Genesis reading.
Activity: Pavement Artists
Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 93. This activity is based on the Genesis 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.
Messy Baptism
Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 191. This is based on the Matthew reading.
Drama: Three Become One
Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 131ff. This is based on the Matthew reading.
New Life: Creation
Found in Lucy Moore, Messy Church, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 978 1 84101 503 3, page 140ff
Prayer: The Hazelnut
Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 14 and based on the Genesis reading.
Prayer: God Be With Me
Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 24 and based on the Matthew reading.
Prayer: Circles
Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 33 and based on the 2 Corinthians reading.
Worship Activities: Go Disciple!
Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 85. These are based on the Matthew reading.
Sharing Stories: Change!
Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 95. These are based on the Matthew reading.
Sharing Stories: The Bigger Family
Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 98. These are based on the Matthew reading.
Prayer/Action: Wassailing
Found in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 115 and based on the Genesis reading.
Prayer/Action: The Seasons
Found in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 124 and based on the Genesis reading.
Opening Prayer
By Anne G Cohen 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 157. Based on the Genesis reading.
Poem and Comment: Spirit
Found in Disturbing Complacency by Lisa Bodenheim, Wild Goose Publications, 2007, ISBN 978 1 905010 37 0, found under first Sunday 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 Genesis reading.
You're Always Welcome
Found in Welcome Mat: A Resource for Opening the Bible with Children, Families and Teens by Beth Barnett, Scripture Union, Victoria, 2010, pages 84 (small group resources), 118 (preschool resources), 131 (adult resources), and 166 (dramas).
Based on the Matthew reading.
Activity: Trinity Hand Symbol
Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1 84427 166 8, number 22.
Creator, Creation and Human Kind
Found in Words to God, Words From God by Howard Neil Wallace, Ashgate, 2005, ISBN 0 7546 3692 5 PBK, page 157ff. This uses the Psalm.
