Proper 18 A (September 7): Our God of New Beginnings and Second Chances

There is an updated 2023 version of this post with more resources - see my archive at left

Bible readings: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 149, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20 Theme: Our God of New Beginnings and Second Chances About the Image: Free and found at http://www.cruzblanca.org/hermanoleon/color/hl/si1cr04.jpg Listening Song: Just Like You By Keb Mo on his album, Just Like You (pictured at left). Drama: No Thumping Whatsoever Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916, page 21 (pictured in an earlier blog). Story: Don't Hire a Hit Man Found in Could Someone Wake Me up Before I Drool on the Desk by Kevin Johnson, Bethany House Publishers, 1995, ISBN 1556614160, page 49. Discussion: After reading the Romans reading and the gospel reading, divide into groups to discuss together and make a list together of the means by which a Christian community can live in harmony. Quote: Do It Anyway Probably written originally by Dr Kent M. Keith and adapted by Mother Teresa. Find the original and the adapted words at http://prayerfoundation.org/mother_teresa_do_it_anyway.htm Adult Response: Give everybody a piece of spring blossom. Tell everyone that the blossom is a sign of spring, new life and new growth. In the silence, encourage people to think of a broken relationship in their lives and encourage them to ask God to show them how to repair it. Adult Response: Give everyone a small piece of self hardening modelling clay (1cm cube is big enough for this) and 1. Ask people to mould their feelings about someone they disagree with in their faith community. 2. Ask them to mould the clay back into a ball 3. Ask them to mould the clay into a symbol of Jesus' love for them. 4. Encourage them to take home their symbol as an example of relationship. Father's Day (Australia - and maybe some other places?) Resources: Listening song; Butterfly kisses By Bob Carlisle on his album of the same name (pictured at right)

Proper 16 A (24th August 2008): Who is this man?

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There is a 2026 version of this blog with heaps more resources - see my archive column at the left

Bible Readings: Exodus 1:8 -2:10, Psalm 124, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20. Theme: Who is this man? About the image: A free microsoft clipart image which I have cropped and offset with my text added. Introduction to Gospel reading: Ask people to turn to the person on their right and say one positive thing about that person; then ask them to turn to the person on their left and say one positive thing about themselves. Drama: Wake Up and Shake Up Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916, page 44 (pictured in an earlier blog). Poem/Prayer: Was He Cracked, Crooked or Correct? Found in God Thoughts by Dick Williams, Falcon Books, 1969, ISBN 854915214, page 48 (pictured at left). Quote: CS Lewis I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I am ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' This is one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else He would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." From his book Mere Christianity, too many editions to list!!

Proper 14 A (10th August 2008): Risk and Faith

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Bible readings: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b, Romans 10:5-10, Matthew 14:22-33
Theme: Risk and Faith

About the image:
Mine - Narooma, New South Wales, Australia. Feel free to use it.

Listening Song: Deep Water
By Serene and Pearl on their album, Crazy Stories.

Film Clip: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Show the scene near the end of the movie where Indiana Jones has to step out in faith trusting that the bridge, that he cannot actually see, is there.

Discussion: On Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
What does this clip teach us about risk and faith?
What does the gospel reading teach us about risk and faith?

Drama: A Midsummer Canaanight's Dream
Found at http://www.dramatix.org/archive/Biblestories/midsummer_canaanites_dream.html

Kid's Story: Miracles by the Sea
By Catherine Store and Chris Molan, Methuen Australia, 1983 (pictured at left)

Story: Cash the Cheque
Index 3118 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990.

Response Activity: Meditation
Where do I feel that God is asking me to "get out of the boat" right now:
a.in the work that I do
b. in my family or in my relationships
c. in my spiritual life with God
d. something else.

Drama: Joseph and his Brothers

Joseph: Hey, guys! Guess what? I had another one of those dreams last night. It was so cool - well, actually I was so cool. I was the star of the whole show - and famous! It was unreal. Woh, I am just so excellent!
1: You little pain.
2: You never stop, do you?
3: You are just so full of yourself.
4: Go play with your toys and leave us alone.
5: Hey, hang on a minute! You've been dobbing on us again too, haven't you?
2: Yeah, Dad got stuck into us for not watching the sheep properly again.
3: And who'd be the one to tell him, eh?
Joseph: But, I've seen you. You just hang around checking out all the girls. I have every right to tell him if you're not doing your job properly. At least I'm a responsible good son.
4: That'll be the day.
5: Come on then and get your hands dirty for a change - do an honest days work.
Joseph: Oh well actually I can't today. New coat , ya see. I might get it all dirty and sheepy.
1: It's a Billabong (or insert current famous desired for name brand)!
3: How'd you score yourself a Billabong?
4: All we get is each other's hand me downs.
5: By the time they've gone through six or so of us they're wrecked.
1: How come Dad gets you all the name brand stuff, anyway?
2: You spoilt little brat.
4: Daddy's boy!
5: You're such a show-off.
1: Come on, leave him alone. There's work to do for the real men!
Later, out in the paddocks with the sheep- all put on Akubra's:
2: (shading eyes) Hey, get a load of this. Here comes the hero, the dreamer.
3: (shading eyes) You could spot that coat from a mile away.
5: I bet the old man's sent him out to check up on us.
1: You know what? - this is the perfect chance to get rid of him once and for all.
2: How? ( a bit thick)
1: If we kill him and throw him into one of those pits over there we could easily con everybody into thinking a wild animal got him on the way out here.
3: And nobody'd be any the wiser.
4: Hang on a minute, let's not get too carried away. Just chuck him in the pit and leave him there.
Joseph arrives.
All: Right grab him! Grab him! Get his coat! Get his coat! Heave!
Throw Joseph into the pit.
2: Sweet dreams, Joe baby. Now let's have some lunch.
3: Hey, what's that over there in the distance?
4: It's just a truck convoy.
5: You know what, we could make some big bucks out of this situation.
2: How?( a bit thick)
5: Those truckies are always after workers, no names, no papers. Wink,wink, nudge, nudge. Let's sell Joseph to them!
3: It'd be better than killing him - after all, he is our brother even if he is a pain.
4: And we'd be a little more financial.
1: Excellent!
All: Yeah.

Copyright: Ann Scull. Change wording as you think it fits with your congregation and culture.

Proper 13 A (3rd August 2008): More Than Enough

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Bible Readings: Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 17:1-7, 15, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21
Theme: More Than Enough

About the image:
My photo taken at the back of our place at Mason's Bay, part of Lake Victoria in the Gippsland Lakes, Victoria, Australia.

Listening Song: From a Distance
by Bette Midler on her album, Some People's Lives (pictured at left). Compare this song's idea of God with the gospel reading's idea of God. They are very different.

Listening Song: Wake Up Dead Man
By U2 on their album, Pop. (For the Genesis reading)

Listening Song:Peace on Earth
By U2 on their album, All That You can't Leave Behind. (For the Genesis reading)

Drama: The Feeding of the Twenty Five
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916, page 74 (pictured in an earlier post).

Story: Here, Take What You Need!"
Found in Pulpit Resouces, August 4th, 2002 by William H. Willimon

Story: Love and the Cabbie
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207861, page 111(pictured in an earlier blog).

Poem: Oversupply
By Bruce Prewer and found at http://home.alphalink.com.au/~nigel/DocA/47SUN18.htm

Proper 10 A (13th July 2008): Seed Stuff

There is an updated 2026 version of this post with more resources - see my archive at left

N.B.  You will find a search engine to the left if you do not follow the Revised Common Lectionary. Just pop in a Bible reference or a topic and it will take you to a relevant post.

Bible readings: Genesis 25:19-24, Psalm 119:105-112, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9,18-25 Theme: Seed Stuff

About the image:
The Sower: painted by Vincent Van Gogh and taken from Wikimedia Commons - a free and public domain site.

Listening Song: Joy in the Journey
By Michael Card on his album, Joy in the Journey (pictured at right).

Listening Song: Never Alone
by Barlow Girl on their album, Never Alone.

Prayer of Confession: Thistles
This is an activity/prayer and is found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271668, page 12 (pictures in an earlier blog).

Object Lesson: Irish Spring and the Word of God
Found in Fresh Ideas Volume 2 by Jim Burns and Mark Simone, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 083718842, page 64 (pictured in an earlier blog)

Film Clip: The Neverending Story
Show the conversation about the story not being safe and link it with Bible is good news but that it is also no safe in the sense that it always presents us with a challenge.

Film Clip: Chicken Run
Show the scene quite near the beginning where the hens are all planning their escape and becoming demoralised about the whole idea when one of them says "the biggest fences are inside your heads" (pictured at left).

Discussion: Chicken Run
1. What things make you feel spiritually uncomfortable?
2. When do we have fences inside our heads when it comes to thinking about God and what God calls us to be or to do?

Film Clip: Pirates 3: At World's End.
Show the clip where Will asks Elizabeth to marry him in the middle of a gigantic sword fight/battle. I found this clip at a great clip site:http://www.wingclips.com. It is well worth a visit.

Discussion: Pirates 3:At World's End
1. Why is it a bad time for Will to ask Elizabeth to marry him?
2. What sort of things distract us from following God?

Drama: Seeds Jive
Found in Parable Performing by Kristin Etscheid, Hodder and Stoughton, 1985,ISBN 0340336676, page 56.

Drama: Seeds
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916, page 69 (pictured in an earlier post).

Drama: Lamps R Us
Found in Creative Worship Ideas by Lois Keffer, Group, 1993, ISBN 1559450991, page 58 (pictured at right). This drama is related to the psalm.

Drama: Genesis 25:19-34
Found in Life Plus Ideas For Worship, July to December 1996, JBCE, page 6

Discussion:
Where do Jacob and Esau fit in the gospel parable: are they seeds on the path, on the thin soil, amongst the thorns or in good soil?
What helps us to have deep roots in good soil?

Story: The Native American and the Cricket
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 123 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Prayer: Psalm 119
Found in Life Plus Ideas For Worship, July to December 1996, JBCE, page 7

Prayer for Others: Reminders (version 3:mixed nuts)
This is an activity prayer and is found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 47-8 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Prayer: Living Hearts
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 240. (pictured in an earlier blog).

Meditation: Living Hearts
As above but with images and the music of Tony O'Conner's track, Memories, from his album, Rainforest Magic (pictured at left).

Meditation: A Sower Went to Sow
Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 2002, ISBN 0901557642, page 165 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Proper 7 A (22nd June 2008): Deserts and Wells/Fear Not

THERE IS AN 2026 UPDATED VERSION OF THIS POST WITH MORE RESOURCES - SEE MY ARCHIVE COLUMN AT LEFT

N.B.  You will find a search engine to the left if you do not follow the Revised Common Lectionary. Just pop in a Bible reference or a topic and it will take you to a relevant post.

Bible Readings: Genesis 21:8-21, Psalm 86:1-10, Romans 6:1b -11, Matthew 10: 24-39.
Theme: Deserts and Wells/Fear Not

About the first theme:
For anonymous:-) Specifically based on the Genesis reading.

About the Image:
This is a microsoft free clipart background with my text.

Kid's Story: The Very Worried Sparrow
By Meryl Doney, Anzea Publishers or Lion Publishing, 1978, ISBN 858920948 (pictured at left).

Quote: The Little Prince
"What makes the desert beautiful", said the Little Prince, is that somewhere it hides a well..." .... The Little Prince added: "But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart".

Discussion:
Brainstorm desert experiences and wells.
How do we find wells in our desert experiences?

Film Clip: The Incredibles
Show the scene contained in the first 15 minutes where Mr Incredible is blamed for doing good.

Discussion: On The Incredibles
1. When was Jesus treated in a similar way?
2. When were the disciples treated in a similarr way?
3. When do we, as Christians, have to put up with similar treatment and what can/should we do about it?

Story: Names or Numbers
Marvin Rosenthal tells about a mother who was asked by a census taker how may children she had. She said, "Well, there's Billy and Harry and Martha and--" "Never mind the names," the man interrupted. "Just give me the number!" The mother indignantly replied, "They haven't got numbers, they've all got names." Sorry, can't source this any more than I have.

Story: Bonhoeffer
The story of Bonoeffer's imprisonment and death fits very well with the cost of discipleship mentioned in the gospel.

Listening Song: God is In Control
By Twila Paris on her album, Beyond a Dream or on WOW 1996.

Listening Song: You're Here
By Sixpence None the Richer on the album, City on a Hill, 2000 (pictured at right).

Poem: The Candle
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170441, page 78 (pictured in an earlier blog)

Response Activity:
Give each person a small card with a desert and a well pictured on it. Ask people to write down a situation that can make their life a bit of a desert on the desert picture and then on the picture of the well, ask them to write something God has provided to help them survive.

Proper 6 A (15th June 2008): Take the Plunge

THERE IS AN 2026 UPDATED VERSION OF THIS POST WITH MORE RESOURCES - SEE MY ARCHIVE COLUMN AT LEFT

N.B.  You will find a search engine to the left if you do not follow the Revised Common Lectionary. Just pop in a Bible reference or a topic and it will take you to a relevant post.

Bible Readings: Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35 - 10:8, 9-23.
Theme: Take the Plunge

About the image:
A combination of two microsoft free clip art and my text.

Listening Song: You Move Me
By Susan Ashton on A Distant Call and Nothing But Pop (pictured at right)

Kid's Story: Abraham
Found in The Picture Strip Bible by Felicity Henderson and Chris Saunderson, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994970, page 12 (pictured in an earlier blog)

Drama: Sarah
By Judy Gattis Smith 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 224, (pictured in an earlier blog).

Film Clip: The Princess Diaries
Show the clip where Mia is quite obviously nearly invisible to everyone. Finish the clip when she says "someone sat on me again".

Discussion: On The Princess Diaries
1. Who are the invisible people in our community who feel like Mia or are like the people Jesus saw in Matthew 9:36?
2. How can we help?

Story:Save the Starfish
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 151 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Story: Shipwreck
Found , I think, in Robert E Coleman's The Heartbeat of Evangelism, NavPress, 1985, ISBN-10: 0891094008.

An artist, seeking to depict on canvas the meaning of evangelism,painted a storm at sea.
Black clouds filled the sky. Illuminated by a flash of lightning, a little boat could be seen
disintegrating under the pounding of the ocean.  People were struggling in the swirling
waters, their anguished faces crying out for help.  The only glimmer of hope appeared in the
foreground of the painting, where a large rock protruded out of the water.  There, clutching
desperately with both hands, was one lone seaman. It was a moving scene.  Looking at the
painting, one could see in the tempest a symbol of humankind's hopeless condition.  And,
true to the Gospel, the only hope of salvation was "the Rock ofAges", a shelter in the time of
storm. But as the artist reflected upon his work, he realized that the painting did not
accurately portray his subject.  So he discarded the canvas, and painted another.  It was
very similar to the first:  the black clouds, the flashing lightning, the angry waters, the little
boat crushed by the pounding waves, and the crew vainly struggling in the water.  In the
foreground the seaman was clutching the large rock for salvation.  But the artist made one
change:  the survivor was holding on with only one hand, and with the other hand he was
reaching down to pull up a drowning friend.