Advent 1 C: Hope, Waiting and Watching

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Bible readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Luke 21:25-46, ! Thessalonians 3; 9-13, Psalm 25:1-10 Theme: Hope, Waiting and Watching About the Photo: This is watch tower built on the south east coast of Australia at Boydtown near Eden by Benjamin Boyd in the 1840s as a lighthouse and as whale lookout. It was never completed and was never used as an official light house, however generations of whalers used it for spotting whales. Reading: And this Shall Be A Sign to You By Robert A. Raines in Imaging the Word Volume 1 by Kenneth T. Lawrence, Jann Cather Weaver and Roger Wedell (Eds.), United Church Press, 1994, ISBN 0829809716, page 78. (pictured in an earlier blog) Prayer: Blessings Prayer Found in Seasons of Celebrations by Patricia Mathson, Ave Maria Press, 1995, ISBN 0877935661, page 19. Confession: Use bits of the Jeremiah reading and the psalm. Kids: Hope Ask the kids if they have ever planned something that didn't work out the way they intended it to. Share a story from your own life which will illustrate this and show them if possible (mine is a quilt which went horribly wrong between the planning and the completing!!!) Tell them that Advent is the time when we remember all of God's terrific promises to us that everything will work out because jesus is the one who brings us ...... Have huge letters H O P E stuck up in random order around the worship space. Ask the kids to help you sort them into a word they know. Discuss with them what the word means and how it relates to Christmas. Advent Angels: an advent version of secret buddies Encourage or organise people (in the sense that you pair people up somehow without them knowing - like you do for secret buddies or Chris Kringles) to be advent angels ie where people do unexpected favours or give unexpected encouragement or praise anonymously to others in the congregation. Story: Some Things are Immovable Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and greg Mckinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 47 (pictured in an earlier blog). Meditation: Waiting From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 20. (pictured) Discussion: In pairs or threes. What do you think has gone wrong with the world? How do you think it should be? What do you think has gone wrong with our local community? How do you think it should be? What do you think has gone wrong with our church? how do you think it should be? Talk about waiting for change and about changing back or changing forward. Then discuss: What are you waiting for? What are we as a church waiting for? What is this particular congregation waiting for? Film Clip: The Man in the Egg Found on Leunig Animated, Madman, 2001 Poem: Accept surprises that upset your plans shatter your dreams, give a completely different turn to your day and - who knows? - to your life. It is not chance. Leave the Father free himself to weave the pattern of your days. By Dom Helder Camara in A Thousand Reasons For Living, ISBN 0800606647. Prayer for Others; Pinning Our Hopes on Jesus (i) Found in Cloth For The Cradle, page 54 - see above Adult Response: Pinning Our Hopes on Jesus (ii) Found in Cloth For the Cradle, page 56 - see above Prayer/poem: The Coming Bushman Found in Outback Christmas by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Lutheran Publishing House, 1981, ISBN 0859105628 (pictured) Fridge magnets: Give everyone a small (laminated maybe) card with the words of Psalm 25:4-5 on it attached to a small fridge magnet.

Christ the King B: Who's in charge?

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Theme: Christ the King, Who's in charge? 

 

Bible readings: Revelation 1:4-8, John 18:33-37, 2 Samuel 23:1-7 

About the photo: Photos of sunsets and sunrises always remind me of the power and reign of God - they are so big and awe inspiring and beautiful. They lift me up but also remind me of my insignificance - a bit like looking at the stars at night. I took this photo out the front of our place VERY early one morning. It is a part of Duck Arm (taken from Banksia Peninsula) in the Gippsland Lakes near Paynesville in Australia - Google any of those place names or look them up on Wikapedia if you are interested in this little bit of the world.

Film clip: Chariots of Fire Show the clip where Eric Liddell talks with the Prince of Wales en route to the Olympic Games. Eric had a God space in his week that he was not prepared to give up. His allegiance to Jesus and his heavenly kingdom was more important than his allegiance to his King and country (pictured). 

Discussion Questions: Story: The Kingdom of God story No 363 in 750 Engaging illustrations by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured in an earlier blog) 

Sermon Help Notes and Response Activity: Revelation by Song 

Can't remember where I got this idea from - maybe out of my head but I am not sure - please let me know via email if you can source it for me. Give everyone a strip of paper with the words of Revelation I:8 printed across it. Under these words, print three pictures entitled as follows: Picture 1: a cradle and the words "who is" Picture 2: a spider and the words "who was" Picture 3: music notes and the words: "who is to come". 1. The God who Is. Sing Rock a Bye Baby together. Note that the song does not say "if" but "when the bough breaks". Life is full of surprises - not all of them good - but God is acting and moving in our world. Ask them to talk to the person next to them about how they see God at work in the world today. 2. The God Who Was. Ask people to sing Ipsy Whipsy Spider together. Note that the song is very like human kind - we repeat our mistakes as nations, as communities, as families and as individuals but we keep plugging away. And "out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain". God repeatedly over history heals, restores, loves and forgives us. 3. The God who is to come Sing the hymn "Joyful, joyful we adore you" to Beethoven's Ode To Joy. Note that because God is yet to come, the way we live makes a difference. Adult Response: In verse 6 we are all called to be ministers. Ask people: In order to be a minister, where do you need God the most: healing your past, with you in your present, or being your future? Fold your strip of paper in three so that the one you need is uppermost and take it home that way. 

Listening Song: For the Glory of Your Name By Michelle Tumes on her album, Heaven and Earth or on WOW 2000 (pictured)

Proper 28 B: God can be trusted/The Challenge of our Times

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Bible Readings: Hebrews 10:13-25, I Samuel 1:4-20, Mark 13:1-8 Theme: God Can Be Trusted, The Challenge of Our Times About the photo: Another piece of street art from the laneways of Melbourne, Australia Kid's Story: Won't You Help Me Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 35. (pictured in an earlier blog). Introduction: The Challenges of our Times 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. Skit: The End of the World is Coming Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0959109186, page 51 (pictured in an earlier blog). 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? 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. Story:God’s Trustworthiness, Story 592 in 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching by Michael P Green, Baker Books, 1989, ISBN 0801063302 (pictured in an earlier blog) Story: God's Care Story 98 in Your Point Being by Graham Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929 (UK). Film Clip: Nottinghill Show the scene in Nottinghill 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. (pictured) 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. Listening Song; Bearers of the Light by Michael Card on his album Poiema. (pictured) 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.

Proper 24 B: Looking at the Bigger picture

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Bible Readings: Job 38:1-7, 34-41, Mark 10:35-45 Theme: Looking at the Bigger Picture About the photo: This is Australia Rock near Narooma in New South Wales, Australia. Unless you stand in front of the Australia shaped hole you cannot see the bigger picture -the sea beyond. From the side, one can mostly see just a rock wall. Nobody is quite sure how the hole was made but it is known that ships used to tie up here in the early days. For more info about Narooma visit www.visitnarooma.com Kid's talk: God is Here Have each letter of the words "God is Here" on separate cards and scatter them about the worship space. Get a couple of people to adlib a conversation about the whereabouts of God and their difficultly working out just where God is - especially when things go wrong. Have a third person join the conversation by noticing the scattered cards. Together, with the help of children in the congregation, sort out the cards so that they spell out the words "God is here" and then work out how these words apply to the conversation about the whereabouts of God in difficult times. Story: True Greatness Found at http://elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+4537 Story: A Lesson in Servanthood Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, Page 151 (pictured in an earlier blog). Listening Song: You Then Me by Rebecca St James on her album, God, 1996.(pictured) Quote: God does not always give us all the answers ... God gives us himself. - Frederich Buechner. Response Activity: Ask people to form inward looking circles of around eight to ten people. Tell them that each circle represents the church. Get each circle group to discuss and reform in any way and in any shape that they like in a way which they think, as a group, best represents the way the church should be. Closing Prayer: By Michel Quiost in Gentle Darkness by Rowland Croucher(Ed.), Albatross Books, 1994, ISBN 073241007X, pages 421-422. (pictured).

Proper 22 B: Sticking up for Others

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Bible readings: Psalm 26, Mark 10:2-16 Theme: Sticking up for Others About the Photo: I took this photo of my kids 20 years ago. I wanted to take a photo of Kate without the teddy bear (oddly named "Winter") and, as you can see if you look closely or click on the photo to enlarge it, her eyes filled with tears at the very thought. Jared, her big brother, flew to the defense of Winter being included and to comfort Kate. So I photographed them all :-) Listening song: People Putting People Down By Bob Dylan on his Hardest to Find album, 1996 Psalm 26: The Prayer of the Innocent Believer Often called the above name for obvious reasons - works well if you ask different people to read a verse or two each. Get them to read from where they are sitting in the congregation and choose the readers from a variety of ages and gender, different ethnic backgrounds and various disabilities etc etc. Kid's Story: Jesus loves kids I can't source the original idea for the story about James, but it pops up in various places and in various forms when Googled eg http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au where Moira Laidlaw uses it for a similar purpose. Take along a large photograph of one of your children or a child who is special to you and, if possible, take a camera and take a photo of the kids as they come and sit around the front. Discuss with them about how photographs are a good (sometimes!) record of what a person looks like. Hold up your photo - say that its not a bad likeness of the child you love. Tell them that even though the child's face is imprinted on your heart you still like to have a few photo's around as well. Then tell the following little story (from the internet). Three years old James was visiting his grandparents and he was playing in the garden just outside the back door whilst his grandmother was making tea. It was getting pretty dark and stormy and she was just going to call James indoors when there was a flash of lightning. Thinking that James would be afraid, she rushed to the back door just as he came running in, filled with excitement - "Guess what, Gran," he shouted "God just took my photo!" Well, we know that lightning is not really God taking photos of James or anyone else. Do you know why? Because God doesn't need to take our photo because God is with us all the time. And we know what God is like because we know from the Bible what Jesus is like. So, that's almost as good as a photo. And while we haven't any photos of Jesus either, we have enough words written about him to know what he was like. Tell the gospel story for today of the children coming to him. Then ask the kids to put on badges that say "I am one of God's beloved children" and if there is time and availability of badges, ask them to distribute one to every member of the congregation - alternatively, they could make the badges during the service to distribute to everyone just before the benediction. Discussion: Mark 10:13-16: Who is being hurt or put down or rejected? Who is doing the hurting? - why? How does Jesus respond to those doing the hurting? How does Jesus respond to those who have been hurt? Film Clip: A Colour Purple Show the clip where Shug Avery comes back to reconcile with her father and he walks out on her. Ask the same four questions as above replacing the word "does" with "would". Film Clip: The Preacher's Wife Show the clip where the Rev. Henry Biggs prays for help and Dudley, the angel, arrives in answer to his prayer. Unfortunately, Biggs puts the angel (God’s help) down by thinking it’s all a bit of a joke and drives off. Drama: Out of the Mouths of Babes In Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.) Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859100186, page 58 (pictured in an earlier blog) Further Discussion: Our Community What sections of our community here in .....(put in the name of your own community) do you think our church may hurt or put down or reject? How? How would Jesus respond to these sections of the community? How would Jesus respond to us? Response Activity: Give everyone a business card with a clip art drawing or sketch of two people hugging - this works best if one person is larger than the other. Also give everyone a pencil. Encourage everyone to use this card and the pencil as a conversation starter with God. Ask: Is there someone you need to reconcile with? Do you need to put your arms around someone who you have hurt? Then colour in the larger figure? Or do you need a hug this morning, do you need Jesus arms around you today? Sometimes we sit on the other side of the fence like David in Psalm 26. Sometimes it is us who are hurt, sometimes it is us who suffer some sort of put down or rejection. Then colour in the smaller figure? Either way, don't show it to anyone - it is for you and God alone. Listening song: I Am By Jill Phillips on her self titled album. I have suggested this song before but it fits beautifully as something that can be listened to either after or during the above activity. Meditation and symbolic action: Testimony and Prayer of Three Anonymous Children From Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 2002, ISBN 0901557642, page 111 (pictured in an earlier blog)

Proper 19 B: Wisdom's Invitation

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Bible Readings:Proverbs 1:20-33 Theme: Wisdom's Invitation Kids's Story:God's Greatness Have a quick discussion about what proverbs are and what the word "wisdom" might mean and then ask where wisdom comes from. Conclude by using Story 250 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 1993 - ISBN 0801091551 (pictured). Dramatic Illustrated reading: This can be used as an introduction to the sermon or the reading or you can use the last line as the start of a discussion. Use two readers and illustrate what they are saying either with projected images or mimes. Make sure the readers read smoothly but with enough time for people to take in the image or mime action. 1. Think for a minute about wisdom 2. And foolishness. 1. Wisdom outshines foolishness 2. As light outshines darkness 1. The wise man has his eyes in his head 2. But the foolish man walks in darkness. 1. A wise man listens to advice. 2. But the way of the fool is right in his own eyes 1. The wise man trusts God. 2. The foolish man trusts only himself and takes pleasure in his own opinion 1. The wise man quietly holds back when he is annoyed and irritated 2. The foolish man lets everybody know about it. 1. So... 2. Tell us….. Both: Where do we find true wisdom? Quote: "Wisdom consists of all God's ideas about how the world should be and how we should treat one another" - Carolyn Brown in Forbid The Not: Year B, p.151 (Thanks for the info on this quote, Sandra) Quotes, Cartoons and Film Clips: Leunig Just about anything from the pen and mind of Michael Leunig works well for this theme - particularly when you think of how we can recognise wisdom. If you don't know where to start, I suggest you look at the video Leunig Animated, Fruitcup Films, 2001 (pictured in an earlier blog) or trawl through A Common Prayer: a Cartoonist talks to God by Michael Leunig, Harper Collins, 1990 - ISBN 1863717404 (pictured). Enjoy! Listening Song; Edge of the World By Iona on their album Beyond These Shores (pictured in an earlier blog)

Proper 16 B: Grace of God or Prayer or God's Armour

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Bible Readings: Psalm 84, Ephesians 6:10-20, 1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43. Theme: Grace of God or Prayer or God's armour Resources for the Psalms Reading: Story: The Grace of God Story No 1445 in Parsons Bible Illustrator for Windows. Dramatic reading of Psalm 84: I think Rosemary Broadstoack and I wrote this one six years ago and we used three versions to do it. However if the idea is not ours, please let me know and I will duly acknowledge the source. Psalm 84 as a call to worship: The readers come from their places in the congregation. As they come to the centre front, they join in the repeated chorus stopping close to the seats: All: (repeat) Lord God all-powerful, being with you is so lovely. With everything inside me, I long to be here; 1: (moves up to the table as he/she speaks) How I love your church, God! How I like to be here! I go all weak at the very thought of it. My heart and body explode with joy when I’m with you! I want to sing. 2: (joining him/her) Even sparrows find a home here and swallows build nests here to raise their young. You bless everyone who stays close to you. 3-6: (remain near the seats) 3: How privileged are those who live in your house; 4: and they sing your praises. 2: (taking a step towards the other four and beckoning them to join him/her) Lord, Those who have tapped into your strength have got it made. The highway to heaven begins within them; a direct route to your holy presence. 1: (joins in beckoning the others forward) Come and be welcome. He will give you everything you need to come to him – food, drink, faith, strength, endurance. You will get stronger as you come nearer. Come on! As 3-6 arrive they are welcomed by 1 and 2 1 and 2: They will see God! All: Lord God all-powerful, tune in to our prayer. 2: You are the shield that protects your people. One day spent in your presence beats a thousand nights in a five star resort. 3: I’d rather scrub floors in your house, O God, than rub shoulders with the rich and famous beneath the flashing lights of greed and corruption. 4: O LORD our God, you are the sun that shines on us and the shield that keeps us safe. 5: You shower us with generosity and honour, 6: You never refuse any good thing to those who trust you. All: O LORD, ruler of all, everyone who trusts in you has got it made! (all look at each other in amazement and shout) All: We are blessed!!!!! (and run off back to their seats except 1. who hesitates) 1: Thanks God – for everything!! Bible verses from C.E.V. Living and ©2000 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net Resources for the Kings reading: Kids Story: Where Does God Live? Written by August Gold and Matthew J. Perlman, Skylight Paths Publishing, 2001.(pictured) Resources for the Ephesians Reading: Kids: Armour Drama: Be melodromatic about this one and please feel free to change to suit your congregation/culture/whatever. A person stands all alone looking a bit miserable. One at a time, six people come out of the congregation and hit him/her with a balloon while saying the words below - you could even write the words on the balloon if you like. They then stand back smirking; looking tough and unbeatable. The person who is hit flinches back each time and, each time, asks the kids to help find a piece of armour that will help him/her. When the kids find the matching piece of armour with the suitable message, he/she puts on the piece of armour, unpins the message and pricks the tough person’s balloon. The tough person shrieks, “Arrrggghhh, Curses! Foiled again!” and runs back to their seat. As the miserable person gains more and more armour and foils more and more tough balloon weilding meanies, he/she becomes increasingly more confident and relaxed and happy.

Nasty balloon weilding meanies enter and are foiled as follows:

Nasty balloon: Nobody in this group likes you. Go and play with someone else! Piece of Armour: Belt Armour message: God loves me!! Nasty balloon: Come on, let’s grab their footy. They’ll be too scared to do anything about it. Piece of Armour: breastplate Armour message: No, I‘d rather play with them than mess up their game. Nasty balloon: How dumb! Do you really go to church?? Piece of Armour: Shoes Armour message: Come with me and find out how much God loves you. Nasty balloon: Ha ha ha, I got you into trouble. Piece of Armour: Shield (umbrella) Armour message: At least God knows I was right. Nasty balloon: You can’t have any, you don’t deserve it ! Piece of Armour: helmet Armour message: God gives me heaps of great gifts. Nasty balloon: You’ll never be good enough to join our group. Piece of Armour: sword-bible Armour message: There are heaps of messages in here which tell me how special I am. Talk it through with the kids... Written by Rosemary Broadstock and Ann Scull. Story: Men Story 426 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002 Discussion questions: There is much talk in this reading of evil forces and the stuff the devil throws at us. 1.How are these forces demonstrated in our lives? 2.How do they infect our church? 3. How do they infect our community – our social and political structures? Film Clip: Romero Show the scene where Archbishop Oscar Romero goes to the village that is under martial law and confronts the soldiers who have transformed a church into a barracks - start the scene where he first arrives and end it when he is leading the service. Discussion on film Clip: How is Romero able to withstand evil with such strength? Response Activity: Project a picture of the armour complete with labels and give everybody a 1 cm or so cube of self hardening clay. Ask: I wonder if there is a piece of God’s armour that you use less than you could? A piece going rusty or a piece that until today you never knew God had given you. With the small cube of clay which you have been given, model that piece of armour and while you model, talk to God about how you can use that piece of armour better. Resources which suit all three readings above: Music video clip: My Will By dc Talk on their The Supernatural Experience video.(pictured) This song does not appear to be on any of dc Talk's cd’s. However, it is one of their best. It talks about depending on God’s strength to do the things he has called us to do and it acknowledges that our own discipline, knowledge and will may fail us from time to time but that God never will.

NB. for more info on this song and where to find it, click on the comment posted at the end of this week's blog - thanks to "anonymous" for helping me out with this.

Listening song: Breathe Your Name By Sixpence None the Richer on their album, The Best of Sixpence None the Richer or their album Divine Discontent or on the album WOW 2004.

Response Activity: As people arrive, ask them to write their name on a small square of paper - even better, make business cards with a photo or clip art of praying hands leaving enough space for people to write their name on the card. Collect all the cards. During the last hymn or song, ask some helpers (kids like to do this) to distribute the cards, making sure that no person receives a card with their own name on it and making sure that everybody receives a card. Encourage people to take home the card and pray for the person who is named on their card over the next week/month/year.