Advent 1 B (November 29): Waiting/Hoping/Anticipation

 

There is an 2023 updated version of this post - see archive at left.

Bible Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free Microsoft clipart image with text.
Upper Right:This is my photo of Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, Australia (for more info visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SouthernCrossrailwaystation,Melbourne). Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities. 
Middle left: This free clipart with my text comes from http://www.scripturepics.org - a useful site which seems to have been in recess for some time.
Middle Right: I am very careful to save copyright info for everything on my blog but I have slipped up badly on this one.  I am pretty sure it comes from the same site as the middle left image but I cannot access the site at the moment.  I have just spent a considerable time coasting around all my free image sites and  cannot find it anywhere else.  If somebody can verify where this image comes from I would very much appreciate it. 
Lower Left and right: Free images from the Heartlight site - see my link column at left. 

Candle Lighting Liturgy
Found in Ideas For Worship, July to December 1996, JBCE (pictured at left).

Kids' 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 From the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 42ff (pictured at right) 

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
There is a story told about a faithful old deacon whose oft repeated prayer expression was, "O Lord, touch the unsaved with Thy finger." One prayer meeting night he was leading in prayer when as he intoned this petition, as he so often did, he abruptly stopped praying. Supposing he had been taken suddenly ill, someone went to him and asked if there was anything wrong, if he were ill. "No," he replied, "I’m not ill. But something seemed to say to me, ’Thou art the finger’."
I cannot find a specific copyright for this story (please let me know if you know) but if you google the first line it pops up all over the place on the net and can be found in the now out of print Bible Illustrator under the above title. 

Meditation: Waiting
From Cloth From the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 20ff (pictured above) 

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 (pictured above).

Adult Response: Wilderness and Return
From Bringing the Word to Life Together Year B by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, 2011, ISBN 9781921945038, page 13ff (pictured at left).

Blessing: One Day at a Time 
From Advent, Christmas and Epiphany by Brian Wren, Westminster John Knox Press, 2008, ISBN 978066423309, page 56 (pictured at right).

Also:

Poem/Meditation: The Cup
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 38 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Isaiah reading.

Drama: Just Like Lightening 

Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 48 (pictured at right). This is based on the gospel reading.  

Four Advent Mediations:

Found in In this Hour by Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Desbooks, 2001, ISBN 094982433X, page 46ff. 

Proper 23 A (October 11): Invitation/True Worship

 

There is an 2023 updated version of this post - see archive at left.

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

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free Imagebank image with a quote from William H. Willimon. You can find more great images from the Imagebank site by visiting them through my links column at left. 
Upper Right: This is a free Microsoft clipart image with my text. 
Middle Left: This is a free clipart from Cerezo Barredo - see my link Column at left.
Middle Right: This is a free Microsoft clipart image with my text.

Lower Left: This is a free image from the Heartlight site - see my link column at left. 

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

Kids' Story: The Golden Calf

Tell the story in your own words and illustrate it with images from the Brick Testament - http://www.thebricktestament.com/exodus/the_golden_calf.html. You have no idea how much enjoyment the adults derive from this as well!!

Film Clip: Meet the Parents
Show the clip where 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?

Film Clip: The Almighty Exodus
Found at Max 7 website, this is a great short summary of the Exodus which can be used for any part of the story as an overview or as an introduction for either children or adults. Go to
http://www.max7.org/resource.aspx?id=3cebfde1-6458-4ed6-807c-446671dc63ef

Film Clip: The Parable of the Great Banquet

Also found at the brilliant Max 7 site: A Bollywood version of the Parable.  The congregation - not just the kids - loved it. Go to http://www.max7.org/en/resource/ParableGreatBanquet

Drama: The Mystery of the Missing Athletes
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 58 (pictured at left). This is the gospel story with athletes replacing the 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 at right). This is a conversation between two of the King's servants. 

Drama: On The Subject of Prayer
Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 38 and based on the Philippians reading. 

Story: Choosing Mary
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 64 (pictured at left). This story is based on the idea that God chooses/invites us. 

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.

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 at right). I put images with each line and played reflective music in the background. Missing by Vangelis on his album, Odyssey would work well 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.

Also:

Story Plus Other Stuff: Big Al's Banquet

Found in Wally the Dodgy Trolley and other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 85 (pictured at left). This is based on the gospel reading.

Kids: Let the Celebrations Begin

By Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas, Box Press,  with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 55 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Phillipians reading.

Taize Service: Don't Worry, Have Peace

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 12 (pictured at right). This is based on the Philippians reading.

Prayer Exercise: Centering Prayer

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 60 (pictured at left) .  This is based on the Philippians reading.

All Sorts of Useful Stuff: Party People

By Ian Birkinshaw in Multi-Sensory Parables, Scripture Union, 2006, ISBN 9781844272310, page 36 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Gospel. 

Poem: The Faithful Are Fearless

Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (found in the Winter section) and based on the Philippians reading.

Proper 16 A (August 23): Five Courageous Women/ Who is this Man?

 

There is an updated 2023 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 Baby 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: Alex 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 

Poem/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.

Poem/Meditation: Rock and Stumbling Block
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 64 (pictured above at left). This goes well with the Matthew reading and also could be used next week.

Kids: The Pig in the Pond

By Martin Waddell and Jill Barton, Walker Books,  with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 35. This goes well with the Romans reading.

God's Family, Our Family: Moses

Found in Lucy Moore, Messy Church, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 978 1 84101 503 3, page 87ff

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).

Prayer: Offerings

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 21 and based on the Romans reading.

Epiphany 6 A Proper 1 A (February16): Heart Stuff

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

Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Mathew 5:21-37

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is my image of Sturt desert Peas which grow in Central Australia. I also used this image for part of the poem The Law of Christ (see below). Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities.
Upper Right: This is my image of Mt Sinai in Egypt with a piece of text from the poem The Law of Christ (see below). Please feel free to us this image for worship and related activities.
Middle Left: This is a free image from Heartlight - see my link column at left
Middle Right: This is a free image from https://images.knowing-jesus.com
Lower Left: This is a free image from Heartlight - see my link column at left.

Film Clip: Tangled
(pictured at left) The Reluctant Reliance clip is a great little clip for use with the gospel reading - particularly the part about anger and reconciliation. It is very funny too. For this purpose it works best if you stop it at the bells and leave out the last kick - or talk specifically about that last kick in the light of what Jesus says about going to those who have/feel something against you.

Drama: What should I Do?
Found in Let's Make Another Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 26 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the Deuteronomy reading.

Drama: The Clean-Up
Found in Creative Worship Ideas by Lois Keffer, Group, 1993, ISBN 1559450991, page 55 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Story: Great Babies
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 79 (pictured at right). This story is based on the Corinthians reading.

Story: Who Could Be More Important than the President?
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 177 (pictured at left). This story links in well with the gospel reading.

Story: Divorce by Instant Text Messaging
Found in Incredible Illustrations by Mikal Keefer, Group Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0764426141, page 47 (pictured at right). This news article is linked with the gospel reading - please do not use it as an excuse to show up any other religion - the point of the illustration should be to show how flimsy and undervalued are many of our relationships - marriage or otherwise - whoever we are and wherever we come from.

Poem: The Law of Christ
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170411, page 85 (pictured at left). This poem is based on the Gospel reading. I put the words with images and used the following backing music:

Backing: Raver
By Burial on the album Untrue (pictured at right).

ALSO:

Meditation: Growth 1
Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 29 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Corinthians reading.

Meditation: Joy

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 41 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Deuteronomy reading.

Meditation: Growth III

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 91 (pictured just above). This goes well with the 1 Corinthians reading.