Epiphany 5 A (February 6): Daring to Shine

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Bible Readings: Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), Psalm 112:1-10, 1 Corinthians 2:1-12(13-16), Matthew 5:13-20 About the images: Left: This is a microsoft free clipart image with my text. Right: This is a free Heartlight image. To visit the Heartlight site, please go to my Links column below left. Listening Song: Shine By the Newsboys on their album, Shine: The Hits (pictured at left) or on WOW 1996. This song uses words from the gospel reading. Discussion: 1. Salt and light have lost their preciousness in many ways to the Western world. What might Jesus say to us today if he was talking to us? You are like........ 2. How do we shine God's light onto those around us? Brainstorm: Brainstorm definitions o the word "disciple". Story: Why the Potatoes Sprouted This story can be found at http://elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+4048. It is based on the gospel story. Story:Thermometers and Themostats Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 198 (pictured at right). This story is based on the Matthew reading.

Epiphany 3 A (January 23): Discipleship 101/Abandoning the Boats

Note: 

There is an updated 2023 version of this post with more stuff. See my archives at left.

Bible Readings: Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1,4-9, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23 

About the Images: 

Left: Abandoned whaler on Norfolk Island - it's my photo so feel free to use it for worship related activities. If you want to know more about Norfolk Island please visit http://www.norfolkisland.com.au 

Right: This is a microsoft free clipart image with text from the unnamed poem by Philip Andrews (see below under Meditation/Poem) 

Response to the Floods in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and NSW (Australia): Lament and Intercession These are excellent and although written in response to the Queensland floods, they can be used for any of the floods - devastating and heartbreaking as they all are! These prayers can be found at http://www.journeyonline.com.au/showArticle.php?categoryId=2&articleId=2654 and I quote the note of explanation and credit which accompanies them: "Amidst the devastation of the Queensland floods, some Queensland Uniting Church members have prepared a liturgy and prayers of intercession for use in worship.

Lament written by Jennifer Farquhar, Secretary, Presbytery of Central Qld. PowerPoints compiled by Karyl Davison, Rural Ministry Coordinator, Presbytery of Central Qld, and the Queensland Synod Communication Services Unit.

Photos used with permission and taken by Uniting Church members and associates in December 2010 and January 2011."

Listening Song: Jesus Freak By dc Talk on their album, Jesus Freak (pictured at left). This song is about discipleship. Listening Song: In the Light By dc Talk on their album Jesus Freak (pictured at left). This song goes well with the Corinthians reading. 

Kids Story:Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

By Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury, Penguin, 2009, ISBN 9780143503583. This story is just a delight and goes very well with the Corinthians reading. 

Film Clip: Oh My God 

I got this from WingClips (see my link at left) and the scene is called Know Your Neighbour. The clip fits very well with the Corinthians reading and if you can watch it without tearing up then you are better than me 

Film Clip: Meet the Parents 

(pictured at right) Show the clip where Kevin shows off his carpentry skills and says he does it because he wants to follow in Jesus' footsteps. (about 55 minutes from the start) 

Discussion: On Meet the Parents 

1. What does it mean to be one of Jesus' disciples? Will being a good carpenter do it? 2. What sshould we do to be good disciples? 

  

Discussion: 1. Was there a definable moment when you became a Christian? 2. What changed most for you if you did have a definable moment? 3. Is conversion the end of the story? 

Drama: Leftovers 

By Eric Stapleton and found at http://www.dramatix.org/archive/family/Leftovers.html This drama fits in well with the Corinthians reading. 

  Story: If Jesus Showed Up at Your School 

Found in Could Someone Wake Me Up Before I Drool On The Desk by Kevin Johnson, Bethany House Publishers, 1995, ISBN 1556614160, pp11 (pictured at left) . This is a story about youth and discipleship. 

Story: Soren Kierkegaard's Train Passengers 

I don't know which book of his this is in but I found reference to this illustration in Rivers in the Desert edited by Rowland Croucher, Albatross books, 1991, ISBN 086760137X, page 253 (pictured at right). This story is based on the gospel reading. 

Story: To Have It Within 

Found in Speakers Source Book of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley, Word Publishing,1995, ISBN 0849936756, page 40. This story is based on the Psalm. Story: 

Fishers of Men Part 2 

In When You Walk by Adrian Plass, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 1997, ISBN 0745935524, page 130-1. This story is based on the gospel reading. 

Meditation: We Did Not Want to Go 

In He Was in the World: Meditations for Public Worship by John Bell, Wild Goose, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, pp 87. This meditation is like the song Jesus Freak above and centres on our unwillingness sometimes to be a disciple because we foresee difficulties. 

Mediation/Poem: Unnamed 

By Philip Andrews 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 125. (pictured in an ealier blog). I put images with this and used Look Back In by Moby from his album, 18, as backing. This is connected with the Psalm. 

Response Activity: 

Display heaps of printed images and words around the worship space and ask people to choose a couple which most explain how they feel about or what they think in response to the Bible reading. Ask people to share why they chose the cards and or words which they did. NB. www.innovativeresources.org make an amazing set of cards called Signposts which work really well with this activity.

Epiphany ABC (January 6): Sharing the Light

NB There is an updated 2023 version of this post with more stuff.

Bible Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12

About the Images:
Upper: This is a microsoft free clipart image with text from the Isiaiah via www.laughingbird.net
Lower: Found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Ronja_beam_Prostejov.jpg
Listening Song: Wise Man
By David Robertson on his album Soul Embrace (pictured at left).
Listening Song; On Earth as It is in Heaven
From the soundtrack of The Mission (pictured at right).

Reading; Isaiah 60:1-6
I used the words of the www.laughingbird.net paraphrase of this reading on a powerpoint slide show of images of light and backed them with the music of Psalmas Ode by Vangelis.

Drama: The Gate Keeper From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 127 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel story.
Poem: The Wise Man's JourneyFrom Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 125 (pictured at left)

Poem: Isaiah 60:1a
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (pictured at right) in the Spring section under Isaiah 60:1a.

Proper 21 C (26 September 2010): The Secret of Contentment/Seeing the Bigger picture

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Bible Readings: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, Psalm 91:1-6,14-16, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31 

About the images: 

Upper: A microsoft free clipart image with Nathan Nettleton's text (see www.laughingbird.net for wonderful Australian paraphrases of the lectionary readings) 

Lower: Copyright (C) 2001, Free Software Foundation, Inc. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this image under the terms found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Gnu-listen-half.jpg 

Prayer: A Litany of Confession Found in Resources for Preaching and Worship - Year C compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, Westminster John Knox Press, 2003, ISBN 066422508X, page 255 (pictured at left). 

Kids: Jeremiah The Jeremiah story is full of emotion - sadness, fear, contempt, ridicule, anger, hope. Tell the story and ask the kids, at set points in the story, to reflect the emotion you have mentioned, either through their facial expressions or through their hands. Do it with them. You may need to practice first at home, so you have an idea of what to encourage the shyer kids to do. I have discovered that it doesn't take much to involve the whole congregation in this type of activity - and you will find that if you do it before the Bible reading, the adults develop a far better understanding of the reading than they would have if you had not done it. 

Listening Song: Whomsoever Dwells By Sinead O'Connor on her album, Theology (pictured at right). This is basically a sung version of Psalm 91. 

Listening Song: The Power of the Gospel By Ben Harper on his album, Fight for Your Mind (this CD is pictured in an earlier blog) 

Video Clip: Chariots of Fire Chapter 19: The conversation between the discontented Harold and his friend, Aubrey (this dvd is pictured in an earlier blog). This goes well with the Timothy reading. 

  Discussion Questions: Chariots of Fire 1. Describe a time when you felt contentment. 2. How often do you feel this way? 3. How do you find contentment? 4. What desires, besides the desire for more money or more possessions, keeps a person from feeling contented? 

Video Clip: Elizabeth: The Golden Age Show the clip where Walter Raleigh explains to Elizabeth how he lives out his hope when he is sailing unchartered waters. I found this clip at Wingclips (see my links column at left). This goes really well with the jeremiah reading. 

Discussion: Elizabeth: The Golden Age 1. How does Raleigh live his faith and hope while at sea? What tools does he use? 2. How do we live our faith and hope? What tools can we use?

Drama: Sunbaking Found in Mega Drama 6 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109208, page 16 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Timothy reading.

Story: Money Found as story No 175 in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch, 2003 . This is a very funny story about a wallet eating train toilet (book is pictured in an earlier blog). This goes well with the Timothy reading. 

Story: Courage Index 849-852 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990. This can also be found at http://www.free-sermons.org/sermons/Success--14042 - scroll down to section 2E. This fits well with the psalm or with the Jeremiah reading. 

  Story: What are You Afraid of? Index 856-859 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990 or it can be found at http://www.hgtaylor.net/psalm91.htm This goes well with either the psalm or the Jeremiah reading. 

Response Activity: Ask people to form small groups and give each group a few textas and a large sheet of paper with the words: "Real contentment is found......". When they have finished, stick the sheets up around the worship space and give people time to walk around and read all the sheets. 

Response Activity: Ask: If you had a chance to tell somebody how to find real contentment in this life, what would you say? give people a chance to think about this and then ask them to tell three other people what their answer would be. 

Response Activity: 

For the Jeremiah reading Set up three stations so that people can move around from station to station. Allow at least ten minutes for this activity. My three stations based on my service and what I said were: 1. There is a bigger picture - at this station put out coloured bookmarks for people to take and read to themselves. Each one should have Bruce Prewer's A Creed printed on it. This lovely poem/creed can be found at http://www.bruceprewer.com/DocC/C55sun26.htm 

2. Grasp hold of and trust God now - I used the art space in our church (but any space and pin board of some sort will do) for this station. Lay out lots of pictures, postcards and prints. Ask people to choose an image which symbolises for them grasping hold of and trusting God and ask them to pin their chosen image on the display board. 

 3. Living your faith and hope - at this station set out pens, envelopes and paper and a small clay jar which can be sealed (try an Op shop for one of these - there is sure to be something like it). Ask people to write a hope that they intend to live for a) themselves b) their church and c) their community or the world. Then ask them to seal their note in an envelope, put their name on the front and put it in the jar. After everybody has finished, seal up the jar..........to be opened in a year or so.

Proper 8 C (27 June 2010): Freedom, Discipleship, Memory

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Bible Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, Luke 9:51-62 About the images: Upper: A microsoft free clip art image with my text. Lower: My photo - please feel free to use it for worship purposes. Listening Song: Edge of the World By Iona on their CD, Beyond These Shores (pictured at right). 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 at left) 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? Film Clip: Noelle Show the clip where the two priests discuss praying - I found this clip at Wingcips (see my links at left). Discussion: Noelle 1.What does this clip tell us about praying, priorities, fellowship and judging others? 2. What do you think about these things? 3. What does Jesus say about these things? 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 (pictured at right). A poem about discipleship. Give a copy of this poem to each person in the congregation together with a coloured pencil and encourage them to find a place by themselves to read the poem and colour over the words that mean the most to them. 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 7 C (20 June 2010): Time Out

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Bible Readings: 1 Kings 19:1-15a, Psalm 42 and 43, Galatians 3:23-24, Luke 8:26-39. About the Images: Upper: Microsoft free clip art with my text. Lower: My image - please feel free to user it for worship purposes. Call To Worship:Elijah Meditation Found in "Meeting God" in He Was in the World by John L. Bell, Wild Goose Publications, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, page 67 (pictured at left) Opening Response: In Quietness and Darkness Found in Present on Earth by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 20028, ISBN 0901557642, page 32 (pictured at right) Listening song: Deep Calling Deep By Margaret Becker (and Charlie Peacock) on her album Grace or on WOW 1996 (pictured in an earlier blog) Prayer: Psalm 42 or 43 Have Psalm 42 or 43 on a screen or on a handout for everybody. Ask people to work in groups of three or four and write a two sentence prayer together. Have the first sentence describe something that makes our hearts seethe in turmoil (43:5 and a number of other verses in both psalms) and the second sentence ask God for forgiveness or help with this. Depending on the size of your congregation, either ask one person from each group to read out their prayer for the benefit of all or ask for five or six groups to volunteer to share their prayers. Poem: Listening by Brian Wren 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 194 (pictured in an earlier blog). This works really well with projected images and music. I Kings Reading: The verses of the old chorus Be Still and Know That I am God fit well with this reading. Have pauses in the reading where the relevant verse is sung. Theme Idea: Time Out: God Restores Us... 1. When Others Hurt Us: Use the story of Elijah found in 1 Kings 19. 2. When We Hurt Ourselves: Use the story of Johnny Cash in the Nickajack Cave found in Spiritual Journeys by Jason Boyett, Relevant Books, 2003, ISBN 0972927603, page 13 (pictured at right) 3. When We Hurt for No Apparent Reason: Use the Luke story. Quote: Mother Teresa "We all long for heaven where God is but we have it in our power to be in heaven with Him right now - to be happy with Him at this very moment. But being happy with him now means: loving as He loves, helping as He helps, giving as He gives, serving as He serves, rescuing as He rescues, being with him for all the twenty four hours, touching Him in His distressing disguise. (A Gift For God) Adult Response: Time Out This will only work in places where you have available a sweet/lolly/candy (whatever your word is) called a Time Out. They come in two sizes here in Australia and I bought enough of the small ones so that everyone in the congregation could have one. Then I said something alone the lines of: These readings challenge us in two ways; 1. They encourage us to take time out to spend time with God. God wants us to know that time spent seeking God, saying what is on our minds and revealing how we are feeling is not time wasted. The challenge for us is to make the time. Take the Time Out home, find a space in your day, and as you eat the Time Out, spend time with God. Make sure you put the empty wrapper somewhere where it will remind to take time out for God. 2. In each story the person is encouraged to go back into their communities to share their experience of god with others. When you sit at home in your small quiet space with God and your Time Out, remember to listen to God and discover where God is calling you to share your particular experiences.

Pentecost C (23 May 2010); Led by the Spirit/contagious Christianity

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Bible Readings: Acts 2:1-21, Genesis 11:1-9, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17, 25-27. About the Photos: Upper: This photo was taken by David Husted when he was taken hot air ballooning over Melbourne by his kids for his 60th birthday. Balloons have always been a symbol for me of the Holy Spirit. Just as a balloon filled with air shows great promise so do we when we are filled with God's Spirit. Hot air balloons, flames and all, over a city are a sign of promise and challenge. Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities. Lower: This image is free and come from ImageBank (see their address in my Links section). Whole Service Idea: Spread it Around Found in Multi-Sensory Seasons by Wendy Raynor and Annie Slade, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271757, page 47 (pictured in an earlier blog). These ideas are based primarily on the Acts reading.

Listening Song: Hands and Feet By Audio Adenalin on WOW 2001 or their album, Underdog (pictured at right). This works well with the Romans reading.

Listening Song Holy Spirit By Third Day on their self titled album (pictured in an earlier blog). Listening Song:Burning like Fire. By Iona on their album Beyond these Shores (pictured in an earlier blog) Prayer: Feathers In Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271668, page 34. Based primarily on the Acts reading. Drama: Verbal Symphony for Pentecost By M Preugschat in Drama Resources 2 by Lutheran Publishing House, 2000, page 55 (pictured at left). Drama: But It's Only 9 O'clock. Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena Johnson (Ed), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 109 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the Acts reading. Quote: Hitler Hitler used fear to drive his attack on Europe. He said "If the Jews did not exist we would have had to invent them" . Film: The Legend of Bagger Vance Show the clip where Bagger Vance teaches Junuh how to find his "one truly authentic swing" Discussion: The Legend of Bagger Vance 1. What do you think our "one truly authentic swing" could be? 2. If Bagger Vance represents the Holy Spirit, how does the Holy Spirit help us to find our "one truly authentic swing"? 3. Have you found your "one truly authentic swing"? (thanks to someone for this idea - unfortunately I can't remember who). Film: Dead Poets Society (pictured at right) Use your discretion as to how much you show of this clip depending on the age and emotional resilience of your congregation. Show the clip prior to the student's suicide when the student, who is a talented actor, is stopped from realising his dreams by his father who thinks that acting is a waste of time. The student tries to explain his fear of a future which does not include acting and which will therefore be devoid pf the things that he loves doing best. Discussion: What sort of things do we fear today? What sort of things do we fear for our church? What sort of things do we fear for ourselves? Story: Your Own Experience Display digitally or have with you some of the more fear evoking headlines which we often see today or relate an experience you have had recently where you came across actions taken by others as a result of fear. eg on our last trip to Tasmania we were intrigued by the official who wanted to look under the bonnet of our car as we waited to drive on to the ferry at Port Melbourne. We were quite amused when he told us he was looking for bombs.... until we realised he was fair dinkum. Story: The Big Rock Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 36 (pictured in an earlier blog). Response Activity: Give everyone a sparkler. Light the front row and allow people to touch the ends to light others. Use them as a reminder of the first Pentecost (fire and wind) - they fire up best when they are waved about.