Proper 11 Ordinary 16 Pentecost 7 B (July 19): Being the Church/Building Bridges/Taking a Break

Bible Readings:
2 Samuel 7:1-14, Psalm 89:20-37, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34

About the Images:
Upper: Free Microsoft clipart with my text.
Lower: Hampden Bridge: This is my photo and you are welcome to use it. The bridge was built out of sandstone in the 1890's and is Australia's oldest suspension bridge. It is located in the picturesque Kangaroo Valley in New South Wales. For more info about this area, please visit www.kangaroovalleytourist.asn.au/dir/aboutkv

Kids: God is Never too Busy
The Gospel reading stands alone as great story to show that God is never too busy. Use a good story teller. It makes all the difference!

Drama: The Bridge
This links with the Ephesians reading and is found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 14 (pictured at left).

Story: The President and the Little Boy
Links well with the idea of coming to God through Jesus and is found in More Hot Illustrations by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, page 140 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Poem: Mother Teresa
Found in The Two-Way Clock:Poems by Sydney Carter, Stainer and Bell, 1974, page 127.

Listening Song: Come Together
By Third Day on their Come Together album (pictured at right) . This goes well with the Ephesians reading.

Film Clip: Burst
This is a brilliant short film (total length:7 minutes) about reconciliation, forgiveness and freedom which came second in the Sony Tropfest 2006: The World's Largest Short Film Festival. For copyright details and permission contact www.tropfest.com

Discussion Starter:
Share an experience of being excluded.
Share an experience of being included.

Sermon Ideas and Prayers: Ah, Wilderness. Linked to the gospel reading, these can be found in The Abingdon Preaching Annual 2009 edited by David N Mosser, Abingdon Press, 2008, ISBN 9780687651955, page 233 ff (pictured at left)

Response Activity and/or Prayer of Confession:The Wall
Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2000, ISBN 1859994652, page 51 (pictured in an earlier blog). This goes well with any of the readings as a confession, but is particularly relevant to the Ephesians reading, in any context.

Meditation:
Ask people to sit comfortably with their eyes shut.
Give them time to relax and then read the following slowly:
Think about God.
Think about the barriers in your life:
maybe a personal relationship which has gone wrong,
maybe it is an injustice you see in the community which alienates some people
maybe it is a division or disagreement within your congregation. Whatever it is, talk to God about it. .....
Ask God what your role is in healing the situation you have talked about.......

More coming as I work on my service for this week

Proper 10 Ordinary 15 Pentecost 6 B (July 12): Listening for God's Voice/Choosing Truth/The Bigger Picture

Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 6: 1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6: 14-29

About the images:
Upper: This is a free microsoft clipart image with my text.
Lower: This is my image (my husband's ear actually) so feel free to use it or adapt it as you wish.

Psalm 24
It is very easy to find great images to go with the words of this psalm.

Ideas to go with the Mark reading:

Story: The Lesson
This story makes a great call to worship. It is found in Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1999, ISBN 0310224640, page 170 (pictured at left).

Kids: The Emperor's New Clothes
Great old story that encourages kids to choose God's truth over what the world may be accepting as the truth.

Drama: Let There Be Light
Written by Rosemary Broadstock and myself as follows:
People: God said “Let there be light, so light that candle.”
Person 2 (enters wearing fire helmet): Why are you touching that candle!
People: God said to me “Let there be light, so light that candle.”
Person 2:You can’t do that!
Person 1: Why not? We need a symbol of God’s light, and here it is.
People: God said to me “Let there be light, so light that candle.”
Person 2: But there are professionals to do this kind of thing.
You need to get a proper fireman to do that.
People: God said to me “Let there be light, so light that candle.
Person 2: And there could be all kinds of fire restricttions,
insurance considerations and what about all the occupational health and safety regulations. Has the stand for that candle been properly inspected? (both look) If you’re a christian, you care about people and you won’t want them to get hurt. How can you consider taking risks with other people’s safety!
People: God said to me “Let there be light, so light that candle.”.
Person 3: Hey! what about that match you’re holding. (All
look at match) Do you understand how it works.(Horrified) And you’re not even wearing regulation gloves or safety helmet! We don’t have rules and regulations for nothing! If you’re a Christian you’ll act responsibly. You’ll study them. (hands big book) Here, this is Volume 1.
Person 2:No, call a fireman! There’s nothing worse than a christian who thinks he’s superman.
Person 3:No, you don’t need an fireman. But surely you need to understand how a match works and how we got to this point of being a symbolic society. Study the history of candles. People who don’t understand history will just make all the old mistakes again. Nothing worse than Christians who won’t learn.
People: God said to me “Let there be light, so light that candle.”
Person 4: Well that’s all good and fine, but what about the environment. What sort of a Christian are you – just happily using power without a thought for the world’s resources. Nothing worse than Christians who don’t care about justice issues.(Person 1 begins to light candle)
Person 5: (appalled) What are you doing?
Person 1:I’m lighting the candle!
Person 5: But you can’t do that!
Person 1:Why not?
Person 5: Because I was promised that that candle was only for special occassions - and now you’re breaking that promise. How can a Christian break a promise and still live with himself?
Person 1: Look – all I want is the answer to 2 questions: a. How do you tell the difference between what God thinks is right and what we think is right? and b. And how many Christians DOES it take to light a candle?

Listening Song: Gravity
By Delirious? on their album Mezzamorphis, Curious? Music UK, 1999 (pictured at right)

Group Discussion:
Divide congregations into groups and give each group a situation on a card eg "I have to take shortcuts to keep my boss happy. They are not illegal shortcuts but they are a bit unethical" or " I've been invited to sit with the cool group at school but they only want me, not my friends" or "My husband reckons I've gone overboard with the church thing. I want to join a study group but he reckons that's just overdoing it - once a week on Sunday is all God wants. Now I can't decide." etc etc.
Ask them to answer the following questions in the light of the particular situation on their card.
1. What are the choices?
2. What are the consequences?
3.What would a disciple do?

Story: Courage
Found in Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching by Craig Brian Larson, Baker Books, 1993, page 36.

Ideas which go with the Ephesians reading:

Listening Song: King of Glory
By Third day on their album, Offerings (pictured at left)

CD and Story:
Tell the story of Vedran Smailovic playing his cello in Serajevo after the killing of 22 innocent people while Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor (the piece he played) plays in the background. You can find the whole story at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedran_Smailovi%C4%87

Film Clip: The Family That Preys
There is a really useful scene in this film when Alice and Charlotte are speaking together in the church. Charlotte wonders just how extensive God's forgiveness is and if there are limits to it. She doubts herself and God; and Alice tries to reassure her. This clip is available from www.wingclips.com - how good are they!!?

Discussion: The Family That Preys
1. Is Charlotte fine?
2. Does God forgive us for all our previous sins?
3. How does God reassure us?

Story: Disposable Guilt Bags
This story can be found at http://associate.com/library/www.christianlibrary.org/authors/Grady_Scott/eph2v1-10.htm in the conclusion.

Story: Heaven
Found in 750 Engaging Illustrations For Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian Larson, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551, story No 297 (pictured at right).

Discussion questions
1. When we know we have been marked (or sealed) by the Holy Spirit, how does this shape our understanding of what God wants us to do in the world?
2. In what ways can we live according to God’s vision for the world, despite what we see going on around us?
3.What does it mean for us to live as inheritors of God’s grace?
4. How big is our imagination?
5. Can we imagine that God has a plan for the entire universe?
6. Can we imagine our place in that plan?

Meditation:
Before the service find a nice readable translation or paraphrase of Ephesians (if you are an Aussie, try Nathan Nettletons paraphrases at www.laughingbird.com - they are brilliant and tap into our culture very well), and underline all the promises. At this point in the service, ask everybody to shut their eyes, invite them to listen to reassuring and encouraging words from God and then slowly read out your underlined promises.

Proper 9 Ordinary 14 Pentecost 5 B (July 5): Travelling light/Disciple Job Description

Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, Psalm 48, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13

About the Image:
Upper: This is a free microsoft clipart image with my text. The spelling of "travelling", although correct for those of us down under and in the UK, may be incorrect for American readers - please feel free to change the text as you need to.
Lower: This my photo of a young friend looking out an on a burnt out area of the Victorian (Australian) High country near a beautiful place called Seldom Seen. If you want to see this place in more detail try Google Earth and follow the links.

Interesting Thought:
Disciples travel light, are not wet blankets and never wait until they have it "all together".

Listening Song: You're Here
By Sixpence None the Richer on the CD, City on a Hill: Songs of Praise and Worship (pictured at left).

Kid's Talk:
Have someone come in dragging the biggest suitcase you can find, packed absolutely bursting to the brim with all kinds of things one may take for a trip away - make sure there is some improbable stuff such as a toaster, or a beach ball, or curtains, or a tool box or whatever. Ask the person what they are doing. They tell you that they want to go out into the world to share the good news about Jesus and so they have packed a bag ready to go. Have a conversation, with help from the kids, on what we really need and don't need in order to share the good news.

Film Clip: Simon Birch
Start the film , Simon Birch (pictured at right), about 28 minutes in when Joe's Mum gives Simon a new jacket. Stop the film about five minutes later as they walk out of the church.

Discussion Questions: Simon Birch
1. Why did Simon Birch's Sunday School teacher say what she did?
2. Why do you think that Simon was so convinced that he could be a disciple?
3. What kind of people does God use?

Film Clip: The Incredibles
(pictured at left) Show the clip where Mr Imcredible is called by Mirage because he has unique skills and abilities. I got this clip from www.wingclips.com - a site which makes using film clips so very easy.

Discussion: The Incredibles
1. Why did Mirage think Mr Incredible was the one for the job?
2. Do we all have unique skills?
3. What kind of people does God use?

Introductory Activity:
Have enough paper and pencils or pens for everybody. Ask people to write, draw or doodle their reactions as you read Mark 6:1-6 from your usual church translation and then from the Message. Then either in pairs or small groups discuss the following questions:
What does it feel like to be rejected?
Why did the Nazareth people reject Jesus?
How, even as Christians, do we sometimes reject Jesus?
As an alternative way of tackling the last question you might like to project a number of example answers such "We've never done it that way before" or I'm going to shop around to see what each church has to offer me" or "We don't have the money to do that" or "If we try that, people might leave" - have about ten to fifteen pertinent to your church members - and encourage people to a) choose one that stands out to them, b) share why they think it "wet blankets" God's work in the world, and c) invite them to suggest how the statement they chose could be turned into a positive statement.

Meditation: Behold the Lamb of God
Found in Present on Earth by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, page 21 (pictured in an earlier blog)

Story: The Bumblebee
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg Mackinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, page 43 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Story: The Epitaph
The third illustration at http://www.preachhim.org/sevensay-3.htm .

Interesting quote:
"We don't need self confidence; we need God-confidence", found in How To Succeed At Being Yourself : Finding The Confidence To Fulfill Your Destiny by Joyce Meyer, Harrison House.

Adult Response: Based on the Bumble bee story and the interesting thought.
Have small pictures of a bumble bee for everyone with enough space for people to write a few words.
Ask: what is God saying to you today:
Is it to travel lightly and to trust God more?
Is it to stop being a wet blanket and to start being a possibility person?
Is it to get going right now as a disciple of Jesus trusting in God’s strength instead of your own?
Is it a reassurance that God is giving you or is it a challenge?
Write down beside the bee what you see to be your personal message from God this morning. Place it in your wallet/handbag/ purse/Bible/whatever as a reminder which you can carry with you.

Proper 8 Ordinary 13 Pentecost 4 B (June 28): Everybody is Welcome/Waiting For the Morning

Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43

About the images:
Upper: This is a free image from www.heartlight.com - a useful and well set up site for images related to scripture.
Lower: This is my photo - please feel free to use it.

Call to worship: Dialogue
Have the seven questioners scattered around the congregation so that they speak from their seats and project the response so that everybody answers each question: Response: Yes! You are welcome here!
1. Do any of us dare to come into God’s presence during this service?
2. I am new here. May I come in?
3. I am not sure I’m wearing the right clothes? May I come in?
4. I’m not a churchy person? May I come in?
5. I’m not sure if I will understand everything that’s going on. May I come in?
6. My kids might play up a bit. May I come in?
7. I‘ll probably have to go out for a while during the service. May I come in?
N.B. I know I wrote this but I cannot remember if I based it on an idea from somewhere else or not. Please let me know if I did.

Listening Song: I Am
An encouraging song by Jill Phillips on her album Jill Phillips or on WOW 2000 (pictured at right).

Confession/Absolution: Psalm 130
Use parts or all of Psalm 130.

Kids: The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek
by Jenny Wagner and Ron Brooks, Puffin, 1973, ISBN 0140501266 (pictured at left). A great story to use with the gospel.





For Kids: The Secret of the Arrows
By Alyce Bergy and Jim Roberts, Arch Books, 1972, ISBN 0570060672 (pictured at right). This story is based on the 2 Samuel reading.

Drama: The Outcast
Interrupt the Mark reading at the appropriate place with this monologue found in Let's Make A Scene 2 by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing, 1991, ISBN 085910608, page 14.

Useful Quote: Romeo and Juliet
Act 2 Scene 2 Line 67: "For stony limits cannot hold love out".

Story: Coming Home
Found in Hot Illustrations by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 75. This story works well with the gospel reading.

Poem: Lament Psalm 2
By Ann Weems and found in Resources For Preaching and Worship Year B compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002, ISBN 10 0664224776, pp177-7 (pictured at left)

Adult Response: Mediation based on the Psalm and Mark reading
Ask people to concentrate on the following words as they are spoken or projected with music:
"What is God saying to you today?
Listen to God speaking to you through these readings.
Through the woman’s story, is God saying to you:
“Reach out and touch me.
I want to love you so much.
I do love you far more than you will ever imagine.”
Or through the words in the psalm, is God saying to you
“ Come back.
All is forgiven.
I love you still.
You are my beloved child”
Or is God saying to you:
“I see your faith in me,but now I want others to see it too.
Share your story.
Listen to their stories.
Tell others what I have done for you”
You could easily finish with Jill Phillip's song above using it as God speaking to each person in conclusion.

Proper 7 Ordinary 12 Pentecost 3 B (June 21): The Other Side of the Lake/Stormy Times

Bible readings: 1 Samuel 17: 1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49 or 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5,10-16, Psalm 9:9-20 or Psalm 133, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41.

About the Images:
Upper:This is a microsoft free clipart with my text from Ephesians 2:20 - part of one of the readings for the Uniting Church in Australia's anniversary on 22nd June.
Lower: This is my photo of a storm near Narooma on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales, Australia - it goes well with the gospel reading. Please feel free to use the image. To see more of this area please visit http://www.sapphirecoast.com.au/attractions.php

Listening Song: Who Am I?
by Casting Crowns on their album, Casting Crowns (pictured at right) or on WOW 2005.

Film Clip: Glosali
Glosali is a video clip for the song Glosali sung by the group Sigur Ros on their album, Takk. It is a beautiful picture of discipleship - the risks involved and what must be left behind. You can download the clip from the Sigur Ros website.

Kid's Story: The Mouse's Story
By Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen, Marshall Pickering, 1998, ISBN 0551015780 (pictured at left).

Kid's Story: The Boy With the Sling
By Mary Warren and Sally Mathews, Arch Books, 1965, ISBN 0859101975

Kid's Story: Alone-The Boy Who killed a Giant
Story No 20 in The Lion Book of Bible Stories and Prayers by Mary Batchelor, Lion Books, 1980, ISBN 0867602058.

Drama: What Are You Afraid Of?
Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 55.This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: The Big Wave
Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0901557642,page 43 (pictured at right).

Drama: A Giant Problem
Found in Let's Make A Scene For... by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 44.

Questions to Ponder: Based on the Gospel Reading
1. Which side of the lake are you on, the safe side or the other side?
2. Maybe you are on the way across and facing a few storms. Jesus invites each of us to cross to the other side with him. Where is he inviting you to be and what he is calling you to do for him?

Discussion Questions: On the 1 Samuel Reading
1. Name together some of the Goliaths we face in our personal lives, our churches and our communities.
2. What does God equip us with so that we can face these Goliaths with confidence and courage?

Response Activity: Question Cards
Give everyone a business card with a David and Goliath image in the corner ir in washout and the following questions printed with enough room for people to write a short answer. I used Arial 11 and it all fitted well and was still quite readable for everybody.
1. Who or what is my Goliath?
2. What gifts, skills and talents has God given me to overcome my Goliath?
3. How does God's strength, calm, comfort and power help me to overcome my Goliath?

Response Activity: Boats
Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271668, page 16 (pictured at left). You could use the questions above as the questions for this activity. If your church is within walking distance of a creek or river or dam and there is no danger of drowning any of the congregation, think about REALLY floating your boats - however if you do this, make sure you make your boats out of something other than paper such as twigs and flowers ie something biodegradable and environmentally sound which won't leave a mess.

Proper 6 Ordinary 11 Pentecost 2 (June 14): Looking on the Inside

Bible Readings: I Samuel 15:34 -16:13, Psalm 20, 2 Corinthians 5:6-17, Mark 4:26-34

About the images:
Top: One of my powerpoint slides from worship - please feel free to use it.
Bottom: A Norfolk Island lane just on sunset. I loved the way the light transformed the big old trees. It is my image so please feel free to use it.

Interesting Thoughts: Seeing What Eyes Can't
Chapter 14 in When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado, Word, 1996, ISBN 0849913241 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Discussion Questions: Psalm 20
What promises do we find for us in this psalm?
What is its challenge?

Discussion Questions: 1 Samuel reading
What inner qualities do you hope people see shining out of you?

Listening Song: Father of Lights
By Randy Stonehill on his album, Thirst.

Listening Song: Looking on the Outside
By The Allies on their album, Shoulder to Shoulder (pictured at left).

Listening song: Into You
By Jennifer Knapp on her Lay It Down album or on WOW 2001.

Film Clip: Legally Blond
There are lots of clips in this film relating to the 1 Samuel reading and the 1 Corinthians reading.

Film Clip: Swing Vote
When Bud and Molly think that Child Services have come to check up on them, they try to appear as religious as possible. This scene links in well with the 1 Samuel reading and I downloaded the film clip from those brilliant blokes at www.wingclips.com (film cover pictured at right).

Film Clip Discussion: Swing Vote
1. Why do you think Bud and Molly think it will help to appear religious?
2. Are there times in our lives when we think it will help to appear religious?
3. What matters most?

Joke: The Blind Date
Found in Hot Illustrations by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 38 (pictured in an earlier blog). This works well if you get somebody else - other than the preacher - to do it.

Drama: The World V. Human Being
Found in Mega Drama 3, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109178, page 14 (pictured in an earlier blog). This goes well with the Corinthians reading.

Drama: Keeping Up Appearances
Man: Well, this suit looks OK on me. The tie – not to bright, not too sombre – just subtle enough to make me look the part. Think the whole outfit makes me look a bit thinner too – never a bad thing when you are making first impressions. This is an important meeting this afternoon. I’ve got to look the part.
Boy: I’m goin’t bust a gut if I do any more weights. But I just have to! At school last week, during gym class, everybody laughed at me when I stood next to Jack. He’s so big and muscular – and I’m so small and weedy.
Teenage girl: Oh no! More pimples!! I couldn’t look any uglier if I tried! The kids at school will call me crater face for sure. And these braces – they are so uncool.
Woman: I just hate having lunch with that woman. She’s perfect – clothes, makeup, hair, accessories, face – flawless! I feel big and fat and clumsy every time I’m near her.
Copyright: Ann Scull (please free to adapt and use).

Story: The Life Boat
Found in Hot Illustrations (as above), page 137. Be careful how you use this one - it can be handled badly.

Story: Broken
Found in Your Point Being...? by Graham H Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, story No 25 (pictured in an earlier blog). This goes well with the Corinthians reading.

Story: Appearance
Found in 750 Engaging Illustrations by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 1993, ISBN 0801091551, Story No 20 (pictured at left).

Meditation/Prayer: Upside Down Heaven
By Roddy Hamilton and found on his Mucky Paws blog (see link above left) for 16th June 2006. This would present very well with some projected images and reflective music, however I have used it as a follow on to the response activity below. As people completed the activity they took a copy of the meditation and found a spot by themselves in our worship space where they could read it aloud - softly and to themselves and not "in sinc" with anybody else. With no other sound in the church but the whispering voices, it becomes quite beautiful and makes a sacred space.

Response Activity: Perfume (anointing)
Great idea linked with the Samuel reading found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 55. (pictured at right).

Trinity B: Who? Me?

Readings:Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17

NB: Sorry most of this blog comes from three years ago - I accidently "cracked me scone" on Friday and am not allowed back at work yet.

About the Image:
It is a three piece jigsaw puzzle I made to use with the kids. Please feel free to use it. I made mine on A3 paper and laminated the bits.

Decor: Have three candles and drape three pieces of material over the communion table - royal blue, red and gold.

Psalm 29 The Voice of Christ
In Australian Prayers by Bruce Prewer, Open Book, 1983, page 45.This works well with projected images.

Congregational Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8
by Maggie Durran in Building Worship Together by Martha Keys Barker and the Fisherfolk, Celebration, 1983, page 38 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Story: The Umbrella and the Queen
in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, page 167 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Handy Illustrations
Chapter 25: On Seeing God in When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado, Word, 1994, page 177ff (pictured at right) has some great illustrations pertaining to the Isaiah reading.

Isaiah 6 Illustration:
After the mutiny on the Bounty, Fletcher Christian and his men eventually chose Pitcairn Island and arrived on 15 January 1790.
They realized it was originally charted incorrectly (by about 200 miles), thus making them less likely to be found by future voyagers. Deciding to stay on the isolated island, the nine remaining mutineers, their Tahitian women, and nine other Polynesian men and women, unloaded and stripped the ship, then on 23 January set the Bounty on fire so as to hide all evidence of their whereabouts ... The mutineers had not long been on Pitcairn Island when one day Christian ,while rummaging through his sea chest when he found the Bible his mother had given him. He and John Adams often went to a lonely cave on a remote part of the island where they studied the Book. They studied it to further their education as much as anything else.
After a period of four years, the community of Pitcairn had fallen in to turmoil. Fueled by homemade alcohol, disputes over women eventually resulted in the violent deaths of all of the Tahitian men and all but two of the mutineers – Adams and Young were the only two men left. Six years later Young died of asthma and Adams was left with eleven women and 23 children.
One day Adams had a dream in which was the clear message: "Go and train the children in the way of Christian's Bible." Adams turned to the Bible, which led him to repentance and a new outlook on life. Using the Bible, he then educated the children, built a school and organized the community into a Christian way of life. He taught them the Scriptures and helped them obey its instructions. The message of Christ so transformed their lives that twenty years later, in 1808, when the ship Topaz landed on the island, it found a happy society of Christians living in prosperity and peace, free from crime, disease, murder and mutiny.
Today, Christian's Bible, or the "Bounty" Bible, or the Pitcairn Bible is kept in the Seventh-day Adventist church, the island's only house of worship.
(Robert Nicolson, The Pitcairners, University of Hawai’i Press, 1997 and Hymns of the Norfolk Islands, Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1998)

Film Clip: Chocolat
Sometimes people come in to God’s presence through a vision, others by dreams, some in church, some through the actions of others. The Count De Reynaud (the mayor of the city and town "gate keeper") saw his job as ridding the town of immorality and any threat to its tranquility and tradition. However, after his encounters with the chocolate maker and others in the town, after hearing the priest’s Easter Sermon, and after seeing the chocolate festival in the town square after church, something changes in him.

Discusion Question:
How do you know when you are in the presence of God?
What are the implications of the Bible readings for us as we struggle to share our faith in meaningful ways?

Listening Song: Hands and Feet
by Audio Adrenaline on their album, Underdog. (pictured at left)

Response Activity: Practice the presence of God.
Ask people to go to a space by themselves and spend some time enjoying the presence of God. Give each person a copy of St Patricks prayer (or a bit of it anyway) to help them to concentrate. If people are getting used to doing things like this, don't have any background music. Allow people to enjoy the silence. If they are not comfortable yet, play some very quiet and soft music in the background. Allow at least five minutes for this activity.
St Patricks Prayer: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that hears me