Proper 24 A (October 22): On Being the Message

 

Bible Readings: Exodus 33, 12-23, Psalm 99, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 

About the Images:
Upper Left: A copyright free wikimedia commons image on to which I put the text.
Upper Right: My photo, so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities. 
Middle Left: A Microsoft free clipart image with words from Bill Easum's book, Leadership on the Other Side (see Adult Response below).
Middle Right: A Microsoft free clipart with my text

Lower Left: This is a free clip art from Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú. You can access their site via Textweek.com or see my link column at the left.

Lower Right: A free Cezaro Barredo image. You can access his site via Textweek.com or see my link column at the left.

Listening Song: The Message
By 4 Him on their album, The Message (pictured at left) or on WOW 1997 or on Nothing But Pop. This song is a great introduction for the Thessalonians reading.

Kid's Story: An Important Message
Tell the kids about Paul - about how he left the Thessalonians an important message. Have 1 Thessalonians 1:4 printed out on a large sheet of cardboard and then cut it up as a jigsaw puzzle and have the kids help you put the message back together again. 

Psalm 99 
Divide it up to be read in four or five sections and sing the Taize response: The Lord is my Song in between as a response.

Discussion: Matthew reading 
What are some of the things which can make us afraid?

Drama: Church? What Church?
Interviewer: Tell me what you think of the church?
1: I think it's just a money making concern.
2: People who go are just hypocrites. They should practice what they preach.
3: Teaches you good morals, I suppose, but I've got a business to run.
4: It helps us Christians look after each other.
Interviewer: What sort of Christian do you think you are?
1: I've got a Bible at home and I'll use it if I have to!
3: Pretty good actually - I never miss going to church at Christmas and Easter.
2: I think it's fun to go to church but don't tell my friends that. They'll think I am a loser.
4: I'm the sort of Christian who is sure that God loves me.
Interviewer: Why do you go to church?
3; Oh, that's easy....to check out the girls/boys.
2: My family make me!
1: To pick up the latest gossip around town.
4; To tell God he's terrific.
Interviewer: What do you do in church?
1: Count the bricks.
2: Read who wrote the hymns and work out how old they are.
3: Check out what everyone's wearing.
4; Get involved!
Interviewer: Why do you belong to church? 
Copyright: Ann Scull (free use for worship and related activities)

Discussion: For the drama: Church? What Church?
1. Why do you belong to a church? 
2. Why do you belong to this church? 
3. The Thessalonians reading tells us that faith, loving work and hope are all gifts from God. Which gift do you want most at the moment? 
4. What is it about our relationship with Jesus that the world cannot live without knowing.

Drama: Caesar 

A; Did you see the paper today?

B: (hopelessly) I know, Jesus on the front page again

A: Did you read what he said?

B: Some rubbish about how you shouldn’t worry about what anybody thinks of you! What kind of person says that!

A: Someone stuck in the 70’s man!

B: Well we know he doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him – you can tell that by his fashion sense…… and his friends.

A: Hippy fishermen!

B: and how only what God wants, counts!

A: What sort of citizen says that? What about what the Prime minister wants!

B; What about what the Queen wants!

A: What about what the taxman wants!

B: He’s a traitor!

A: He should be arrested

B: Yes! I tried to make him admit that he’s a traitor

A: DID you!

B: I got a HUGE crowd together and I said “OK Jesus, should we use everything we have for God, or should we pay it all in taxes to the government?

A: I thought - If he says “give everything to God” we can arrest him for telling people to be naughty to the government. If he says “we should pay our taxes” then all his followers will see that he doesn’t give everything to God at all!

B: Brilliant! What did he say?

A: Well, first I THINK he called me an idiot, and then he asked me for a coin. Then he said “whose face is on it? I said “The King’s! Then he said Well, it must belong to him then – give him what belongs to him, but give God what belongs to God…you know the difference don’t you? He said.

B: That was a good answer – a very good answer.

Copyright: Rosie Broadstock (free use for worship and related activities).

Story: Sermons versus Witness
Index 4173 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990. Based on 1 Thessalonians 1:8. This story can also be found at
http://www.stjohnskirkland.org/clergy.html

Story: Tested by the Lord.
Index 2149 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990. Based on 1 Thessalonians 1:8. This story can also be found at
http://www.thecorner-stone.org/zLf-Li.aspx. Scroll down or search the site for the author: G. Campbell Morgan

 Story: Belonging

Found in Stories From the Heart by Alice Gray (compiler), Vision House, 1996, ISBN 1885305419, page 25 (pictured at right).This story fits in really well with gospel reading.

Quote: Jim Elliot (one of the five missionaries killed in south America in the 1950's)
God is on his throne and man is on his footstool. But there is only a knee's distance between.

Adult Response: Handout 
Give everyone a business card ((pictured at top) with the question "What is it about my relationship with Jesus that the world cannot live without knowing?" This is a Bill Easum question found in his book Leadership On The Other Side, Abingdon Press 2000, ISBN  0687085888.  Encourage people to take the card home and think about their answer and how they could share their answer with others.

Also:

Prayer Exercise: Singing our Prayers

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 68 (pictured at right). This is based on the Psalm reading.

Drama: A Chocolate Story

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 51(pictured at left). This is based on the gospel story. 

Prayer: What should we render Ceasar

By Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill in Eggs and Ashes, Wild Goose Publications, 2004, page 121 (pictured at right)

Activity: A Dramatic Meal

Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1 84427 166 8, number 21. This is based on the Matthew reading.

Proper 23 A (October 15): Invitation/True Worship

 

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. 
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 and Right: These are free images 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

(pictured at right) 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  (pictured at right) 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 right). 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 left). 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 right) .  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 left).  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.

Blessings

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 149. This activity is based on the Psalm.

Useful Stuff: Everything We Need In Jesus

Found in Philippians: Sharing the Joy of Jesus by Groups Biblesense, Group, 2006, ISBN 0 7644 3225 7, page 73

Prayer: Thanksgiving

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 44 and based on the Philippians reading.

 

Proper 22 A (October 08): Running the Race/Press On

Bible Readings: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Psalm 19, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46 

About the Images: 
Upper Left: This is my image taken at Lake Tyers Beach (http://www.discovereastgippsland.com.au/laketyersbeach.asp) so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Upper Right: This is a free imagebank image - please visit this excellent site via my links column at left. 
Middle Left: This is an Hermano Leon free image -  please visit this excellent site via my links column at left. 
Middle Right:  This is a free Heartlight image - see my link column at left.

Lower Left: Free Microsoft clipart. 

Lower Right: Free image from the amazing Cerezo Barredo (see my link column at left)

Listening Song: I Want to Know You 

By Sonic Flood on their self titled album (pictured at right) or on the album, WOW 2000. 

Kids Story: The Man Who Changed His Name 
By Loyal Kolbrek and Don Kuecker, Arch books, 1972, ISBN 0570060664 (pictured at left). The story of Paul makes a good story for the kids as well as providing background for the Philippians reading.

Kids' Story: Keep Your Promise! 
Found in The Lectionary Story Bible Year A by Ralph Milton and Margaret Kyle, Woodlake, 2007, ISBN 978155145547I, page 216 (pictured at right). This story explains one aspect of the gospel reading to the kids. I think that this is a difficult parable to explain to children in language they will understand but this little story is a great help.

Film Clip: Martian Child
(pictured at right) Show the clip where David and Harlee are attempting to teach Dennis how to play baseball. 

Discussion: Martian Child 
1. In order to help Dennis play baseball, what two pieces of advice and/or encouragement does David give to him? 
2. How is this advice/encouragement useful to us as Christians?

Story: Joshua Bell

Story 321 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured at right) . This story is matched with the Philippians reading.

Story: Thomas Edison, The Failure
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 131 (pictured at left). This story is linked to the Philippians reading. 

Also:

Kids: Gabriella's Song

By Candace Fleming and Giselle Potter, Simon and Schuster,  with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 25 (pictured at right). This goes well with the Psalm reading.

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 (pictured at right). This goes well with the Matthew reading.

Prayer Exercise: Praying in Nature

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 56 (pictured at left).  This is based on the Psalm reading.

Drama: The Race

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 56 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the Philippians reading.

Lots of Useful Stuff: Legally Binding

Found in Multi-Sensory Together by Ian Birkinshaw, Scripture Union,2005, ISBN 1844271641, page 11 (pictured at right).  Based on the Exodus reading.

Service Outline: Accept or Reject

Based on the Matthew reading this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 90 (pictured at right).

Poem: The 10 Commandments

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 39 (pictured at left).  This poem is based on the Exodus reading.  

Who is God?

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 164ff. This activity is based on the Psalm.

Discussion Questions: Little Sins and Big Sins

Found in Chapter 6 of The Gospel According to the Simpsons Leaders Guide for Group Study by Mark I Pinsky and Samuel F Parvin, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002, ISBN 0 664 22590 X.  These questions are based on the Exodus reading.

Discussion Questions: Lead Us Not into Temptation

Found in Chapter 7 of The Gospel According to the Simpsons Leaders Guide for Group Study by Mark I Pinsky and Samuel F Parvin, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002, ISBN 0 664 22590 X.  These questions are based on the Exodus reading.

Useful Stuff: Choosing to Look Like Jesus

Found in Philippians: Sharing the Joy of Jesus by Groups Biblesense, Group, 2006, ISBN 0 7644 3225 7, page 50

Listening Song:

Psalm 19 stars twice on the Sons of Korah album, Wait, Wordsong Artists, 2011 (pictured at right).

Liturgies: Symbols of Epiphany

Found in Navagatio: Pocket Liturgies by Safe Space Telford, Proost, 2007, ISBN 978 1 9066340 03 2, page 52ff. These use the Psalm reading.