There is an updated 2026 version of this post with more resources - see my archive at left
Bible Readings: Exodus 1:8 -2:10 or Isaiah 51:1-6, Psalm 124, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20.
About the Image:
Upper Left: A free microsoft clip art cropped and offset with my text added.
Upper Right: This is an image of reeds along the edge of the Nile river in Egypt.It is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship or related activities.
Middle Left: This is an image of mud brick walls along the edge of the Nile river in Egypt. It is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship or related activities.
Middle Right: This is a free clipart from Heartlight - see my link column at left.
Lower Left: Another of my photos so please feel free to use it for worship or related activities.
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.
Worship Outline: Women at the Water
By Katherine Low and found in Before the Amen: Creative Resources for Worship by Marin C and Maria I Tirabassi (Eds), The Pilgrim Press, 2007, ISBN 9780829817508, pages 163ff (pictured at right). This is based on the Exodus reading and includes preparation of the worship space, prayers, and scripted readings. Excellent stuff!
Kids: The Ba
by in the Basket
Found in The Picture Strip Bible by Felicity Henderson and Chris Saunderson, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 18599964970, page 26 (pictured at left)
Film Clip: If You Had not been with us
This comes from the excellent site, The Work of the People and can be accessed via my links column at left. It is based directly on the Psalm.
Drama: Wake Up and Shake Up
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 44 (pictured at right). This story goes well with the Romans reading.
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). This goes well with the gospel reading.
Poem/Prayer: Moses
By Roddy Hamilton and found in his archives under 1st August 2008 on his Mucky Paws site (see my Links column at left). I put images with this poem and backed it with the Lisa Gerrard music mentioned immediately below.
Listening Music: The Promised Womb
By Lisa Gerrard on her album, The Best of Lisa Gerrard (pictured at right).
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 but the front of my copy is pictured at left!!
Sermon Ideas: Who Are Our Pharaohs?
Found in Resources For Preaching and Worship Year A by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild (Eds.) Westminster John Knox Press, ISBN 066422507, page 224 (pictured at right).
Also:
Film Clip: Ale
x Rider: Operation Stormbreaker
(pictured at left) Show the clip where he escapes from the car crusher. It matches beautifully with the Psalm and goes pretty well with the Exodus reading as well. I found this clip on the Wingclips site - see my links column at left or watch it for yourself: Car Escape - Movie Clip from Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker at WingClips.com
Po
em/Meditation: Remember the Rock from which you were hewn.
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 15 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Isaiah reading.
Poem/Meditation: Pharaoh's Daughter
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 25 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Exodus reading.
About the Image:
Upper Left: A free microsoft clip art cropped and offset with my text added.
Upper Right: This is an image of reeds along the edge of the Nile river in Egypt.It is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship or related activities.
Middle Left: This is an image of mud brick walls along the edge of the Nile river in Egypt. It is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship or related activities.
Middle Right: This is a free clipart from Heartlight - see my link column at left.
Lower Left: Another of my photos so please feel free to use it for worship or related activities.
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.
Worship Outline: Women at the Water
By Katherine Low and found in Before the Amen: Creative Resources for Worship by Marin C and Maria I Tirabassi (Eds), The Pilgrim Press, 2007, ISBN 9780829817508, pages 163ff (pictured at right). This is based on the Exodus reading and includes preparation of the worship space, prayers, and scripted readings. Excellent stuff!
Kids: The Ba
by in the Basket Found in The Picture Strip Bible by Felicity Henderson and Chris Saunderson, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 18599964970, page 26 (pictured at left)
Film Clip: If You Had not been with us
This comes from the excellent site, The Work of the People and can be accessed via my links column at left. It is based directly on the Psalm.
Drama: Wake Up and Shake Up
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 44 (pictured at right). This story goes well with the Romans reading.
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). This goes well with the gospel reading.
Poem/Prayer: Moses
By Roddy Hamilton and found in his archives under 1st August 2008 on his Mucky Paws site (see my Links column at left). I put images with this poem and backed it with the Lisa Gerrard music mentioned immediately below.
Listening Music: The Promised Womb
By Lisa Gerrard on her album, The Best of Lisa Gerrard (pictured at right). 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 but the front of my copy is pictured at left!!
Sermon Ideas: Who Are Our Pharaohs?
Also:
Film Clip: Ale
x Rider: Operation Stormbreaker (pictured at left) Show the clip where he escapes from the car crusher. It matches beautifully with the Psalm and goes pretty well with the Exodus reading as well. I found this clip on the Wingclips site - see my links column at left or watch it for yourself: Car Escape - Movie Clip from Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker at WingClips.com
Po
em/Meditation: Remember the Rock from which you were hewn.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 15 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Isaiah reading.
Poem/Meditation: Pharaoh's Daughter
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 25 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Exodus reading.
For Australians: Refugee and Migrant Sunday: August 23
Listening Song: I Guess I Get a Little Emotional Sometimes
By Paul Kelly and can be downloaded from his site- http://www.paulkelly.com.au
TV Series: Go Back to Where You Came From
Watch one of the episodes of this excellent series instead of a sermon. Talk about it together afterwards. I would suggest you watch either episode two or three. Please check if there are any copyright issues.
TV Clip: Clark and Dawe on Asylum Seekers
Clarke and Dawe have a few of these - I like this one in particular because you can't be accused of siding with a particular major political party if you use it.
Prayer for Others
Have a large map of the world and tea lights or flowers or both. Ask people to place a lit tea light or a flower on a part of the world where there are refugees in need of our help and prayers. In the background, play the Moby song mentioned below.
Listening Song: Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad
By Moby on his album Play (pictured at right).
Listening Song: I Guess I Get a Little Emotional Sometimes
By Paul Kelly and can be downloaded from his site- http://www.paulkelly.com.au
TV Series: Go Back to Where You Came From
Watch one of the episodes of this excellent series instead of a sermon. Talk about it together afterwards. I would suggest you watch either episode two or three. Please check if there are any copyright issues.
TV Clip: Clark and Dawe on Asylum Seekers
Clarke and Dawe have a few of these - I like this one in particular because you can't be accused of siding with a particular major political party if you use it.
Prayer for Others
Have a large map of the world and tea lights or flowers or both. Ask people to place a lit tea light or a flower on a part of the world where there are refugees in need of our help and prayers. In the background, play the Moby song mentioned below.
Listening Song: Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad
By Moby on his album Play (pictured at right).
Prayer: Offerings
Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 21 and based on the Romans reading.
