Epiphany 4 B (February 1): Power and Authority

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Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 

About the Images: Left: Lake Tyers beach early in the morning, East Gippsland, Australia (http://www.caravanparkphotos.com.au/lake_tyers_camp/index.htm). Nothing like a stormy sunrise to remind you of God's power and authority. My photo - so feel free to use it. Right: A compilation of microsoft free clipart.

Listening Song: Healing Rain By Michael W Smith on his album, Healing Rain, or on WOW 2006 (pictured at left) Story: Sarah Windchester's Story Found in In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado, Word, 1991, pp. 193-195. A good example of the demon of guilt. Story: Aristotle's Claims Find this story at http://onelifeministries.org/PathOfSpirit/090507_TruthClaimsandDiscernment.asp under the heading Wisdom. This story makes a good contrast with Jesus' authority in the gospel reading. Kid's Story: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Randon House, 1963 (pictured at right) Story: Jesus Walks His Talk This story is found at http://net.bible.org/illustration.php?id=4708 under the heading Need for Godly Leaders but I like my title better :-) Story: No One Stops Them Ringing Their Bells This story is found at http://www.calvaryriverton.org/sermons/debbie/s-012906.html when you type "Alexander Solzhenitsyn" in Find. It is about the meaning of authority. This story is actually embedded in this site in a sermon on the Corinthians reading. Drama: Not Everyone Knows This in Mega Drama 3, Verena Johnson (ed), Openbook 2002,ISBN 0859109178 (v.3) page 34 (pictured at left) Image: The Scream by Edvard Munch. Great picture portraying the demon of loneliness, social isolation etc etc. Quote: Etty Hillesum My battles are fought out inside with my own demons (from An Interrupted Life) Quote: Frederick Buechner God does not give us neat answers, he gives us himself. Quote; Frederick Buechner It suddenly dawned on them that their wildest dreams hadn't been half wild enough. Film Clip: Arthur and the Invisibles There is a great clip when Arthur has his 10th birthday which portrays the demon of parental neglect. (pictured at right) Discussion: Arthur and the Invisibles 1. What makes Arthur really sad? 2. What happens when we are hurt badly by something someone does or says to us? 3. As Christians, how can we cope? Adult response: Give everyone a piece of paper and a pencil. Ask: What is bothering you most? Is their something specific in your life or is there someone you love who needs the healing touch of Jesus? What ever it is, write it down on the piece of paper and lay it at the foot of the cross to signify that you want Jesus to have the authority from now on in that situation from now on.

                    

Christmas Eve B: Rejoice

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Bible Readings:Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:1-20 Theme: Rejoice/Light of the World Decor: White and gold cloth and floating tea lights in clear glass bowls. Call to Worship/Proclamation: This, Tonight is the Meeting Place From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 83 (pictured in an earlier blog). We read this while playing Anthem Part 3 from the CD Powaqquatsi (pictured in an earlier blog) in the background. Listening Song: Hope Found on Jonathan Elias's compilation album, Prayer Cycle (pictured at left). Listening Song: A Holy Night By Point of Grace on the album, WOW Christmas (pictured in an earlier blog). Listening Song: Mary, Did You Know? By Kathy Mattea on the album, WOW Christmas (pictured in an earlier blog). One year we used this song as the framework for the whole Christmas eve service. Listening Song: Life Uncommon By Jewel on her album, Spirit (pictured in an earlier blog). Listening Song: Gaudete By Cantillation on the compilation CD, Peace on Earth. Drama: In their Shoes Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 98 (pictured in an earlier blog). Drama: The Incarnation From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 86ff (pictured in an earlier blog). Meditation: Comfort My People By Roddy Hamilton and found on his blog, Mucky Paws (see link at left) in his December 2005 archive. Stories/Sermon: Four Shoes For the Nativity By Roddy Hamilton and found on his blog, Mucky Paws (see link at left) in his December 2005 archive. Story/Sermon: Good King Wenceslas Use this carol as a parable. A great source for this is Good King Wenceslas by John Mason Neale and Christopher Manson, North South Books, 1994, ISBN 1558583211. Story: Take Hold of Love By Henry Carter in Christmas Stories of the Heart by Alice Gray (Ed.) Multnomah Books, 1997, ISBN 1576731847, page 28. Poem: Mary's Song By Lucy Shaw. I can't remember which of her books this poem comes from but you can find the poem at http://maggidawn.typepad.com/maggidawn/2006/12/poems_for_chris_2.html. I used the words with images and played Psalmus Ode by Vangelis from his CD, Reprise, as a backing (pictured at right) Meditation: Image of the Invisible God By Adrian Plass in his book And Jesus Will Be Born, Zondervan, 2003, ISBN 0007130511, page 123ff. I matched each line with an image and played Aeterna Lux by Libera on their self titled album, as backing. Prayer for Others: In the Face of the Gospel From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 115 (pictured in an earlier blog). Response Activity: It would not be a Christmas Eve Service at our church if we did not light the Christ Candle on the stroke of midnight, light out tapers from it and then sing Joy to the World together in the candle light.

Blue Christmas B: For those who are too sad to celebrate

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Bible readings: Isaiah 9:2,6-7, Isaiah 4o:8-9, John 1:4-5, Luke 2:1-20, Psalm 121, Theme: For those who find celebrating difficult About the Image: This image comes from www.visualparadox.com - a great site for images. Reading: Into this Silent Night From Kneeling in Bethlehem by Ann Weems, Westminster John Knox Press, Story: King of Kings By Susan Hill and John Lawrence, Walker Books , 1993, ISBN 0744543266 (pictured at left). Although this is a children's book it makes a lovely reflection for adults. Prayer for Others: When the World was Dark From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 92 (pictured in an earlier blog). I projected the words of this prayer with matching images and the music of Pie Jesu by Sarah Brightman and Paul Miles-Kingston on Andrew Llyod Webber's album, Gold (pictured on an earlier blog) Listening Song: Immanuel By Michael Card on his CD, The Final Word. Listening Song: Vespura By Aled on his album, Aled Jones (pictured at right). Response Activity: Taper Lighting Light the Christ candle somewhere near the beginning of the service and then throughout the service give a number of opportunities for people to light a taper in response to the following: 1. In memory of a loved one who had died 2. To acknowledge a loss - any kind of loss, not just a death 3. In thankfulness for family and/or friends 4. To acknowledge the hope that the birth of Jesus gives to each one of us.

Advent 1 B (November 30): Waiting, Hoping.

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Bible Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 Theme: Waiting, Hoping About the image: Southern Cross Station, Melbourne. My photo -feel free to use it. Candle Lighting Liturgy Found in Ideas for Worship, July - December 1996, JBCE, page 47 (pictured in last weeks blog) Meditation: Waiting From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 20ff. (pictured in an earlier blog). Kids's Talk One enjoyable thing to do for the four Sundays of Advent is to turn the whole Christmas story into a serial telling a small part of the story each week - or act it out (see below). Start this week with the story of Mary and the Angel. Drama: Mary and the Angel From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 42ff. (pictured in an earlier blog). Discussion: On the Isaiah reading 1. What was Isaiah hoping and waiting for? 2. What are you hoping and waiting for: for yourself? for your church? for the community in which you live? for the world? Story: God's Answer Index 2818 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990. This story is linked with the Isaiah reading. Adult Response: Give everyone a marking pen (or access to one) and a 2" (5cm) wide strip of green cloth,. Ask them to write on the strip one of the things that they hope for. These can be displayed in any number of ways. If you do a similar activity each week of advent (connecting the writing and the colour with the theme of each week), you will have the resources to finish in Advent 4 with the symbolic action Cloth for the Cradle found in Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 74ff.

Proper 28 A (November 16): Risk

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Bible readings: Judges 4:1-7. Psalm 123, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30 Theme: Risk About the Image: Microsoft clip art Call to Worship: Talk about taking risks. Then ask for people who have never taken an up front part in a service before to volunteer to do some of the things in your service on the spot eg take up the collection, do the Bible readings, pray, take part in a drama, whatever. Make sure they have plenty of instructions and help eg print the bible readings out in large print, have a prayer that can be read, print out the dramas with each actors parts clearly highlighted. Emphasise to the rest of the congregation that these people are taking a bigger risk than usual and that understanding is needed and that they are not "performing" but worshipping. You may have to word up the people on the roster that you will not need them this week. Drama: The Talents Found in Let's Make A Scene by Verena Johnson,Lutheran Publishing House, page 49ff (pictured in an earlier blog). Drama: The Ringmaster's Gift Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916, page 48 (pictured in an earlier blog). Drama : Using our Gifts Narrator and three people to mime plus others. Narrator: God has given us certain gifts - things we are good at, or things that we have the potential to be good at, if only we step out and be a bit courageous with Him. Ist person (with others): Narrator: (points to Bill or whoever) It's like this guy here is good at cooking. (Bill pretends to cook a meal). His mother was a great cook and he is too. He could even make the pizza for tonight except that we have already ordered it. He has continued to use this gift of preparing and cooking food, and he now helps with the Secondary College breakfasts and is always helping with the catering at the church. 2nd person mimes with others: Narrator: This guy here (name) is really good at helping others - especially listening to people if they have a problem. He is also part of the prayer team. He doesn't always have the answers, but people feel better for talking to him. 3rd person (by himself) This person here is great at selling things in a nice way without being pushy. He would be the ideal person to work in retail or to help out in our Op shop. But somehow over time, he didn’t use this special gift God had given him. He couldn’t be bothered making any effort to use his talent. But it’s not too late….. Narrator sums up (all stop and listen) You see God gives us time, gifts and other resources according to our abilities, and he expects us to use them wisely until he returns. We are responsible to use what God has given us. The issue is not how much we have but how well we use what we have. Author:Prue Taylor Film Clip: Lord of the Rings 1 Show the clip where Frodo and Sam have not long started out on their quest. Sam stops and Frodo walks on. When Frodo asks Sam what he is doing, Sam replies that he is standing at the farthest point from home that he has ever stood without turning round and going back home. and that his next step will take him into the unknown. Frodo has to encourage Sam to keep going. Pictured at left. Discussion: Lord of the Rings 1 1. Why do you think people are afraid to take risks? 2. How can we be like Frodo encouraging Sam, and encourage each other to go further in our walk with God? Film Clip: Dead Poet's Society Show the clip where Robin Williams encourages his students to seize the day. Pictured at right. Poem: Risk As far as I know the author is unknown. Find the poem at http://www.coolfunnypoems.com/inspirational-poems/risk/ Story: The Survey A survey was taken recently of people who are over 95. The people were asked one question. It was an open ended question they could answer any way they wished. The question was: If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently? Among all the different answers, these three answers came back most frequently: 1. If I could live my life over again, I would reflect more. 2. I would risk more. 3. I would do more things that would live on after I'm dead. Found at http://www.cvillechurch.com/BibleClasses/DanielLesson4RebuildSoYourEffortsWillLast.pdf Group Discussion: What are some of the things which stop us doing what the surveyed elderly think are important? What are some of our excuses? What do we need to know or do so that we do grab the opportunities that God gives us? What can we do for each other? Listening Song: Fearless By dc Talk on their album, Supernatural (pictured at right). Meditation/Poem: Our Deepest Fear Found in Imaging the Word Volume 3 by Susan A Blain, Sharon Iverson Gouwens, Catherine O'Callagan and Grant Spradling, (Eds.), United Church Press, 1996, ISBN 0829801862, page 72 (pictured in an earlier blog). I put images with these words and backed them with the following music: End Titles from the Sound Track of Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude. Adult Response Before the service I laid out large numbers of cards depicting different gifts and abilities which people may have. I made them slightly bigger than a business card and used clip art picture - the possibilities and variety are therefore endless. I made four per person (making a rough guess as to how many people would turn up) and then asked people as they arrived to take three which best described their gifts. I asked people to consider the cards they had chosen during my sermon on the parable of the talents and then at the end I asked people to get in to groups of four or five and share why they had chosen the cards that they had. Then they discussed the following: Which talents in your group would be useful for * developing a welcoming church community * being involved in leading the worship service * sharing God's Good News in the wider community.

Proper 25 A (October 26): Being at Home with God

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Bible readings: Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 Theme: Being at Home with God About the image: Microsoft clipart and my text. Quote: Robert Frost "Home is where when you go there they have to take you in." Found in Death of a Hired Man. Drama: We are a Family Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 31 (pictured at left). A drama about not being at home with God. Poem: The Real Problem By Adrian Plass in Clearing Away the Rubbish, Minstral, 1988, ISBN 1854240250, page 142 (pictured at right). A poem about not being at home with each other. Story: Sharing the Gospel Found at the following address: http://pietist.blogspot.com/2005_07_01_archive.html Type the name of the author, Cecil Northcott, into Find to find the story. Response Activity: Give each person a small folded card (six fitted on an A4 for me) with two empty frames printed on the inside. Reassure everybody that this is an activity between themselves and God - that no one will see what they write or draw. Ask people to write or draw their public image in the left hand frame, and the real person in the right hand frame. Play some nice thinking music while they are doing this. To conclude, either pray a prayer about committing/giving all of ourselves to God and/or challenge people to put their cards in with their offering as an act of commitment. NB. Sorry there's not as much stuff here this week - I am to be ordained next Sunday so my head is in another place entirely :-)

Proper 23 A (October 12): The invitation

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Bible Readings: Exodus 32:1-14, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14 

Theme: The Invitation 

  About the image: Microsoft free clipart with my text. 

  Listening Song: Douchas (Hope) By The Crossing on their album, Douchas (pictured at left). 

  Group Activity: Matthew 22:1-14 Give everyone a copy of the gospel reading. Divide the congregation into six groups. Give each of the groups a character or a group of characters out of the Matthew story: the king, the son, the servants, the first guests, the second guests, the people who were not dressed properly. Give each group the same questions to discuss: 1. Who are you? (just to make sure everybody in the group is on the same page) 2. What part do you play in the story? 3. Who do you think you might represent? 4. Why do you do what you do in the story? 5. How do you think you might feel about what happens in the story? N.B. If you have heaps of people you may have to have multiples of each group. Film Clip: Meet the Parents This clip is found around 25 minutes into the film when Jack (father) asks Greg to say grace. Discussion: Meet the Parents 1. Why do you think that Greg is uncomfortable praying? 2. What does it mean to be religious? 3. What does it mean to have a relationship with God? 4. What is the difference between the two? Drama: The Mystery of the Missing Athletes Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916, page 58 (pictured in an earlier blog). This is the gospel story with athletes instead of wedding guests. Drama: The Feast Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 20 (pictured in an earlier blog). This is a conversation between two of the king's servants. Story: Choosing Mary In Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, page 64 (pictured in an earlier blog). This story works on the idea that God chooses/invites us. Prayer for Others: Ask everyone to think of a person or a place that God wants to invite to his party. Then have a time of silence when people can pray for that person or place. Adult Response: Change Screen the words of the poem Change by Charles Singer. I found it in in Imaging the Word Volume 3 by Susan A Blain, Sharon Iverson Gouwens, Catherine O'Callagan and Grant Spradling, (Eds.), United Church Press, 1996, ISBN 0829801862, page 49 (pictured in an earlier blog). I put images with each line and played reflective music in the background. I used Missing by Vangelis on his album, Odyssey for the music (pictured at left). Towards the end, I projected the following words: "Which piece of clothing do you have in short supply?" and passed around cards with the various lines from the poem printed on them. People were asked to take the card they needed the most. This was followed by a time of silent prayer.