Proper 24 C (21 October 2007): Never Give Up

There is a 2025 updated version of this post - see archive at left.

Bible Readings: Jeremiah 31:27-34, Psalm 119: 97-104, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, Luke 18:1-8 Theme: Never Give Up

About the Image:
Quill is from Microsoft Clip art so feel free to use.
Listening Song: Written on My Heart
By Plus One on their album. The Promise or WOW 2001.
Discussion Questions:
What should we persist with in our own personal faith?
What sort of things is Timothy encouraged to persist with? What sort of things should we persist with together? Are people fighting battles we know nothing about? How deep does our commitment to each other go?
What scripture do you have written on your heart?
What does it mean for our congregation to live in confidence and hope?
Story: Never Give Up
Found at http://www.tribforces.com/lofiversion/index.php/t17017.html
Story: The Horse Trader
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 86.
Story: Forgiveness
Found as story No 75 in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch, 2003, ISBN 1854245929 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Story: God, the Recreator.
I have a beautiful clock made by a man who makes all his clocks out of wood from houses which have been pulled down. For God, nothing is too far gone to be restored or recreated into something of beauty.
Response Activity:
Give everybody a red heart cut out of paper or cardboard and a pencil. Ask people to write a short prayer about faith and persistence.

Also:

Taize Service: A Great Help

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 44 (pictured at left). This is based on the Psalm reading.

Proper 19 C (16 September 2007): In the Shadow of God's Wings

A newer 2025 version of this post is now available with heaps more resources - see my archive at left.

Bible Readings: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, Psalm 14, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10
Theme: In the Shadow of God's Wings

About the image:
Microsoft free clipart
Skit: The Lost Coin Found in Let's Make A Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 22
Listening Song: Your Love O Lord
By Third Day on their album, Time (pictured in an earlier blog)
Film Clip: The Holy Man Show the clip where G tells everybody that even making a difference in one person's life is a big deal. Start at around 1hr 1 -2 minutes with the words "ok, ok, here's the teleprompter....when the red light goes on. .." Discussion Questions for the Film Clip:
When you hear the starfish story, how does it make you feel?
How does the story relate to you?
Describe someone who has made a difference to you. What did he/she do?
What could we do together to make a difference?
What does it mean to be connected to God?
Story: It's a Big Ocean to be Lost in
Found in the Parables of Jesus by H.H. Staton
Adult Response:
Give everyone a coin (I used chocolate ones) and ask:
Do you believe that there are parties thrown in heaven just for you?

Proper 17 C (2 September 2007):Hospitality

NB: There is an updated 2025 blog for these readings with more resources.

Bible Readings: Jeremiah 2:4-13, Psalm 81:10-16, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14.
Theme: Hospitality

About the photo:
My daughter Kate and her friend Adrian from Singapore giving each other cross cultural cooking tips.

Listening Song: Come to the Table
by Michael Card on his album, Joy in the Journey, 1984.

Story: Take As Much As You Can
Index 1602 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990

Story: Robert Coles meets Dorothy Day A great story which explains the gospel reading beautifully. Found in Dorothy Day: A Radical Devotion by Robert Coles, Addison-Wesley, 1987, ISBN-10: 0201079747

History: The Early Church in Rome
A story about the generosity of the early Roman church written by William Willimon and found in Pulpit Resources, July September, 2001, page 41.

Film Clip: Les Miserables
The clip at the very beginning of the film where the bishop invites Valjean in and treats him as an honoured guest.

Proper 9 C (8 July 2007): Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

There is a 2025 version of this blog with lots more resources - see my archive at left

Bible Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30, Galatians 6:1-16, Luke 10:1-11,16-20.
Theme: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

About the photo:
After a ten year drought and the worst bushfires in history, the heavens opened this week and the rain came down. Because of the extended dry, trees could not cope,crashed to the ground and blocked roads everywhere, roads disintegrated and the flood water rose until whole towns were inundated. The floods are at record levels and the water is contaminated with forest debris, ash from the fires and soil from the burnt ground which has not yet recovered because of the drought. But these readings this week have come to life in the extraordinary efforts of ordinary people. We had a tiny congregation yesterday - people were either flooded in or exhausted from long hours sandbagging, red crossing, cooking for volunteers, clearing roads or helping in a thousand other little ways. The photo above was taken at 8:30 at night; it was freezing cold, very windy, and drizzling but this little girl begged her Mum "just one more bag" each time they filled one. Two of the primary school kids from our Church Adventure Club told me they bagged 120 bags of sand in one afternoon - that is a lot of sand for two little people!
Just for interest: the photo below is of the town: Paynesville, population 3500, where the church is located. It is one of many Gippsland towns (area: 13600 square miles 0r 35200 square km) affected by floods.










Film Clip: The Long Walk Home
Miriam Thompson is a proper Southern lady, wife to a socially ambitious husband. Odessa Cotter is Miriam's black housekeeper. They both know their place - and they both speak out and change their society forever. There are heaps of good clips in this movie that exemplify ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Quote: Helmut Thielicke
A church is in a bad way when it banishes laughter from the sanctuary and leaves it to the cabaret, the night club and the toastmasters.
Kid's Story: Giraffes Can't Dance
By Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees, Orchard Books, 2000, ISBN 1841215651 (pictured)
Story: The Little Girl and the Piano
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 143 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Story: Sharing Faith
Found in The New Century Version Youth Bible, Word, 1991, ISBN 0849909252, page 1022.
Discussion: On the 2 Kings Reading
Divide your congregation into five groups. Each group will represent one of the following characters in the story: the slave Girl, Naaman's wife, Elisha's servants, Naaman, the King of Israel.
Ask each group to discuss the following questions:
1. Describe the person according to their accepted job role.
2. How has this/these persons acted out of character.
Adult Response:
Give everyone a business card sized sketch of a candle. Ask them to write on the candle the name of someone that in the world's eyes is quite insignificant but who has helped them on their faith journey. On the other side write what they think God is calling them to do despite their feelings of inadequacy.

Proper 8 C (1 July 2007): Freedom, Discipleship, Memory

There is a 2025 version of this blog with lots more resources - see my archive at left

Bible Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, Luke 9:51-62
Theme: Freedom, Discipleship, Memory.

Listening Song: Edge of the World By Iona on their CD, Beyond These Shores (pictured in an earlier blog). A song about discipleship.
Listening Song: Libera
By Libera on their CD, Libera. A song about God's presence.
Listening Song: Free
By Ginny Owens on Without Condition, 1999 or WOW 2001.
Kid's Story: Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge
Written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas Omnibus Books, 1984, ISBN 1862913471. (pictured) It is about memory so goes well with Psalm 77.
Video Clip: Home Alone
The scene where Kevin discovers that he is home alone - the freedom he discovers is his and his celebration of that.
Discussion: On "Home Alone".
What does freedom mean to Kevin?
What does freedom mean to you?
Does physical freedom necessarily mean true freedom? Why or why not?
Quote: Karl Barth
To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world. Quote: John Ruskin
He who offers God second place offers God no place.
Drama: The Robbery
Found in Let's Make A Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 44 (pictured in an earlier blog). Based on Galatians 5:22.
Discussion: On Luke reading
What are the things that distract us today from following Jesus?
Poem: When I Became a Christian
Found in Clearing Away the Rubbish by Adrian Plass, Minstral, 1989, ISBN 1854240250, page 175ff. A poem about discipleship.
Story: The Testimony of Wing Commander Edward Howell
Found in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, story no. 270 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Adult Response:
Have enough fruit shaped lollies (candy) or stickers with fruit on them for everybody in the congregation to have one. Put them in easy reach of people but do not give them out. Ask everybody to look at the list of the fruit of the Spirit again. Ask them to chose the one from the list that they most need in their life at the moment. Read out the list one more time but with long pauses between each fruit of the Spirit. Ask people to take a fruit lolly or a sticker when you get to the one they want. Ask the rest of the congregation to pray for those people as they eat their lolly or stick their sticker somewhere obvious (lapel? forehead? cheek? whatever?)

Proper 6 C (June 17): God's Generous Love

There is a 2016 version of this blog with more stuff - see my archives at left.

Bible Readings: 1 Kings 21: 1-21a or 2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:10, 13-15, Psalm 5:1-8, Galatians 2:15-21, Luke 7:36-8:3
Theme: God's Generous Love


About the image:
Re permission for use: I used Microsoft free clip art to make this image.
Listening Song: His Love Was Reaching
By David Meece on his album, Odyssey.
Listening Song: Gather at the River
By Point of Grace on their album, The Whole Truth and WOW 2001 (pictured)
Listening Song: Dr Jekyll and Mr Christian
By Whiteheart on their album, Souvenirs.
Discussion Questions: For Dr Jekyll and Mr Christian
What groups in society do we find it hard to accept and to love?
Which groups do we condemn?
Which groups do we avoid?
What is the challenge for us in both the gospel reading and this song?
Listening Song: Fat Boy
By Jewel on her album, Spirit (pictured on an earlier blog)
Discussion Questions: For Fat Boy (above).
Are we as loving to the outcasts in our society as we are to our friends and family?
Who are the outcasts?
Who do we include in our circles and who do we leave out?
In the song, the fat boy tries to make out everything is OK and that he is not hurt. How does he do that?
Why do you think Jewel finishes the song where she does?
What do you think she is asking us to consider?
Kid's Story: A Party For Jesus
Found in The Picture Strip Bible by Felicity Henderson and Chris Saunderson, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994970, page 72(pictured in an earlier blog).
Ask the Kids:
What did Simon think of the lady?
What did Jesus think of the lady?
What does the story tell us about what Jesus thinks of us?
Kid's Activity: Welcome Gifts
You can often buy very cheap key rings (with little wooden cut out shapes attached) in reject shops and craft shops. Allow the kids to paint or colour these and give them as welcome gifts to new people who come to church.
Film Clip: Shadowlands
Show the part where C.S. Lewis and an anglican priest have a discussion about prayer.
Ask:
Lewis says: "I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time - waking and sleeping." How hard is it to ask each other for help when we need it and how hard is it to ask God for help when we need it?
Bookmark Prayers:
Give everyone a bookmark with the words of Psalm 5:1-3 printed on it. Read the whole psalm and then invite people to write on the back of the bookmark, two prayers which are close to their hearts at the present time: one a thank you for a recently answered prayer, and one a prayer that is still in need of answer.
Discussion:
How do you feel when a prayer does not seem to be answered?
What was a Pharisee?
Who are most like Pharisees today?
To Think About:
When do you find yourself acting like Simon in the gospel story?
Like Simon, what do we need to ask God to forgive us for?
Quotes: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
1. We must turn our struggle into surrender and then prayer becomes the starting point for action.
2. From the moment we awake until we fall asleep, we must commend other people wholly and unreservedly to God and leave then in his hands, transformming our anxiety for them into prayer on their behalf.
(From Letters From Prison I think)
Dramatic Reading: A Glutton and a Drunkard
Found in Present on Earth by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 20028, ISBN 0901557642, page 17 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Story: Barefoot Bill
Found in Rebecca Manley Pippert, Out of the Salt Shaker, Inter Varsity Press, 1979, ISBN 0830822208, page 177.
Story: Cruise Control
Index 1002-1005 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990
Story: Christ Knocking
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 81. (pictured in an earlier blog).
Poem: The Sinful Woman
By Ranjini Rebera in The Bible Through Asian Eyes by Maseo Takenaka and Ron O'Grady, Pace Publishing, ISBN 0959797106, page 102 (pictured).
Poem: Anointing
By J. Barrie Shepherd in Imaging the Word Volume 1 by Kenneth T. Lawrence, Jann Cather Weaver and Roger Wedell (Eds.), United Church Press, 1994, ISBN 0829809716, page 221. (pictured in an earlier blog)
Work of Art: Her Sins Are Forgiven
By Wu Yuen-kwei in The Bible Through Asian Eyes, as above, page 103 or in Imaging the Word Volume 1 (as above), page 219.
Adult Response:
Have a bowl of salty water, a jar of scented oil and a packet of hand wipes set out at the front of your worship space on three separate tables.
Ask people to think about where they think they best relate to the gospel reading today:-
Is there something you need to ask God for today? (Go to the salty water and as you pray, trace a cross on your cheek with a finger dipped in the water ).
Is there something you would like to thank God for? (Go to the scented oil and as you pray, trace a cross on the back of your hand with a finger dipped in the oil ).
Is there some way that God is calling you to serve in the church or in the community? (Go to the hand wipes and as you pray, wipe your hands with a hand wipes.

Also:

Brilliant Comments on the Gospel

Found in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey, SPCK, 2008, ISBN 9780281059751, pages 239-260.

Blessing: A Benediction
By J. Danson Smith and found in High Mountains, Deep Valleys by Rowland Croucher and Grace Thomlinson (Eds.) Albatross, 1990, ISBN 086760090X, page 239.

Service Starter: Being Thankful

Based on the Luke reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 14 (pictured at right).

Service Starter: Power to Judge

Based on the Kings reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 63.

Drama: Honestyvision.
Found in Mega Drama 6 by Verena Johnson (Ed), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0 85910 920 8, page 11. This drama is based on the Samuel reading.

Proper 5 C: Dare to Make a Difference

Bible Readings: 1 Kings 17:8-16,(17-24), Psalm 146, Galatians 1:11-24, Luke 7:11-17 Theme:Dare to Make a Difference

Kids story: Elijah and the Widow of Nain Stories
Make up a number of white posters with dinner plate sized round faces. Make each face a different emotion - sad, happy, confused or puzzled, delighted, amazed, etc. Tell either story and use the faces to help the children reflect or guess the emotions involved in the story.
Kids Story: Elijah
Found in The Picture Strip Bible by Felicity Henderson and Chris Saunderson, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994970, page 48 (pictured)
Drama: Paul Called by God
A monologue by God found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 68 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Film Clip: Mr Holland's Opus
Show the clip very close to the end where Mr Holland is taken to the gym for his surprise celebration which honours the difference he has made in hundreds of students lives. If you have time run this clip until the credits begin (it is not all that long) but at least make sure you include the speech given by one of his students.
Story: God - His Care
Found in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, story no. 99 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Story: No Funerals
Index 2407-2416 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990.
Poem: This Time
by Giles David and found in Resources for Preaching and Worship - Year C compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, Westminster John Knox Press, 2003, ISBN 066422508X, Page 184. This works really well with projected images and music.
Meditation Stations: Elijah and the Widow
This mediation is based very roughly on a suggestion made on page 35 of a really beaut book called Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271668.
Have five separate stations around your worship space and some meditative music playing. Each station will be decorated differently (see below) and will have a short reading to contemplate and some suggestions for prayer and action. Arrange stations and people so that not everybody goes to Station 1 first - although the stations are chronological as far as the story goes, they can be visited in any order without losing a sense of what is happening. Allow around 3-5 minutes for each station and encourage people to visit them all at least once. However, also make it clear that they can revisit some if they wish to.
Station 1:
Have a map of the world, a lit candle and enough tea lights for everybody.
On small cards or note paper, print the following:
1 Kings 17:8-9. Note that the woman is not one of God's chosen people, is a widow, a woman (duh!) and has a son. Both she and the boy are marginalised.
To think and pray about:
Who are the marginalised people in our lives?
Who are the people we assume may be outside God's love because of their lifestyle, occupation, beliefs or ethnicity?
How can we make a difference and reflect God's love?
Light a candle and place it on a part of the world that needs Gods transforming love and life?
Station 2:
Have a simple bowl filled to overflowing with small loaves of (if possible, hot) bread
On small cards or note paper, print the following:
1 Kings 17:10-15 (or summary).
The widow gives away her very last meal to a man she has never met before who she meets at the town gate.
Think of a time when you have mistrusted a request from a stranger.
Think of times when you have been generous to strangers.
What were the results?
Think of the difficulties you face as you try to balance requests for your time and/or money.
As you eat one of the small loaves, pray for the wisdom to know when to say "yes", when to say "no" and how to make a difference.
Station 3:
Have a number of postcards, photos, works of art, mounted magazine pictures of deserts, dry creek beds, angry or hurting faces, dry bones etc - anything that represents hard times, anger, and sadness.
On small cards or note paper, print the following:
1 Kings 17:17-18
Think of a time in your life when you have been fearful, depressed or angry with God.
Choose a picture from the collection that represents your feelings best.
How do you think God can or has make a difference to these feelings.
If you are feeling like this now, tell God about it.
or
If you know someone who may feel like this, pray for them.
Station 4:
Have a simple bowl filled with tiny bulbs or seeds (depending on the season)
On small cards or note paper, print the following:
1 Kings 17:19-23
Take a seed/bulb.
Look at the seed and think about what your life be like if God was not a part of it?
Imagine the potential of your seed, what it will grow in to, and imagine what God is doing with your potential.
If God is continually transforming you, how can you share that with others?
Station 5:
Have this station near a brightly illuminated pertinent painting, window or banner - I am going to use our pentecost bannner and arrange chairs around it.
On small cards or note paper, print the following:
1 Kings 17:24
Think of a time when God has used somebody to enable you to "see the light".
How has it helped your faith?
Thank God for the people who have made a difference to your faith.
Ask God to enable you share your faith with others - pray for specific people and/or communities.