Proper 04 Ordinary 9 Pentecost 3 A (June 1): Finding Firm Footing

Bible Readings: Genesis 6:9-22, 7:24, 8:14-19, Psalm 46, Romans 1:16-17, 3:22b-31, Matthew 7:21-29
Theme: Finding Firm Footing

About the Image:
Copyright free from Wickimedia Commons

Decor of the worship space:
Long satiny lengths of material in the colours of the rainbow.

Kid's Story:The House on the Rock
By Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen, found originally as an individual book (pictured at left below), Marshall, Morgan and Scott, 1986, ISBN 055101279X; and lately in Stories Jesus Told (pictured at right below) by the above authors, Candle books, 2005, ISBN 101859855881.













Listening Song: Flood
By Jars of Clay on their self titled album (pictured in an earlier blog).

Drama: House On the Rock
In Time to Act by Paul Burbridge, Murray Watts, Hodder & Stoughton Religious, 1979, ISBN: 0340246995

Response Activity: In response to the song, Flood.
Ask the congregation to spend a few minutes thinking about something that makes them feel like they are drowning: a sin, a grief, a hurt, a big ask from another person or from God. Finish by asking God for help for each person present and that God will stay close by.

More coming as I work on my service this week.

Proper 3 (I think) Ordinary 8 Pentecost 2 A: God Never Forgets Us

Bible readings: Isaiah 49:8-16a, Psalm 131, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 6:24-34
Theme: God Never Forgets Us

About the Image:
Microsoft free clipart - reminds me of the Isaiah reading.

Listening Song: Stilled my Soul
By the Sons of Korah on their album, Resurrection. Based on Psalm 131 (pictured at left)

Listening Song: Treasure
By Iona on their album, Beyond These Shores (pictured on an earlier blog)

Drama: Where Do I Fit?
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910915, page 13 (pictured in an earlier post).

Creative Reading: The Word On Worry
Found in Worship Ideas For Youth Ministry, Group Publishing Inc, 1997, ISBN 076442002X, page 14.

Poem: The Law of Christ
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170441, page 83 (pictured at right)

Story: Worry or Life
Found in When You Walk by Adrian Plass, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 1997, ISBN 0745935524, page 20 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Story: Intimacy With God
Story 337 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551, (pictured in an earlier blog)

Response Activity: Pipe Cleaner Prayers
Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271668, page 22 (pictured in an earlier blog)

Trinity A (May 18): Three in One

Bible readings:Genesis 1 1-2:4a, Psalm 8, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20
Theme: Three In One

About the image:
Trinity by Andrej Rublev (1410). Public Domain

Call to Worship:
Ask everyone to go outside or bring something in which reminds them of God's creation to place on the communion table.

Listening Song: Creation Calls
By Brian Doerksen on the album, Light the Fire (pictured at left). Illustrate this song with images from your own local area for greatest impact.

Drama: In the Beginning
Found in Let's Make A Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 7 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Film Clip: Antz
Show the clip at the very beginning straight after the credits and finish when Z says "I'm insignificant with attitude". (pictured at left)

Discussion: on the film clip of Antz.
1. Why does Z feel insignificant?
2. In what sort of situations can we feel like this?
3. Matthew 28:19 says: "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples". What do you think of this verse? How does it make you feel?
4. What reassures you that this is not too big an ask of us ...or is it?

Illustration: Threesome
Found in When You Walk by Adrian Plass, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 1997, ISBN 0745935524, page 321(pictured in an earlier blog).

Story: The Life Saving Station
Found in In Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 140 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Story: The Skier
Found in 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching by Michael P Green, Baker Books, 1989, ISBN 0801063302, story no. 155 (pictured in an earlier blog)

Story: Through Thick and Thin
Found in In Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks Book 4 by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 2001, ISBN 0310236193, page 39 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Response Activity:
I gave people a choice of three responses (see below). I used the words of 2 Corinthians 13:13, Matthew 28:19 and "Our God is complex,dynamic, relational, ever-reaching, ever seeking, ever creating, ever loving, and ever speaking" (William Willamon: Preaching Resources, Trinity Sunday, 2005) as the basis for all three responses. The choices were
1. Meditation: I used the words as a visual meditation with a powerpoint presentation and music by Moby from his album, Play. I used two tracks: "Inside" and "Guitar, Flute and String".
2. Discussion: I gave people the words on a handout and asked them to discuss the words.
3. Modelling: I gave people the words on a handout together with a small piece of self hardening clay and asked them to model a response to the words.

Pentecost A (May 11): Enough for Everyone

Bible Readings: Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30, Psalm 104:24 -35, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21, John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39
Theme: Enough for everyone

About the Image:
Public domain.

Listening Song: Holy Spirit
By Third Day on their self titled album.

Kids Story: Webster the Preacher Duck
By Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2007, ISBN 9781921229084 (pictured at right). Thanks to Sandra Houghton for introducing me to this brilliant new series for young and old. Laugh and learn - and as it says on the title page "Any similarities between the characters in this book and the old ducks in your church is purely coincidental".

Drama: Pentecost Photos
Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 73 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Drama: What's A Holy Spirit?
Found in Let's Make Another Scene For...by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 77 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Film Clip: Edward Scissorhands
Show the clip where Edward trims the bushes into a dinosaur - everyone has a gift. (pictured at left)

Story: The Lifeboat
Found in In Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 139 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Story: Too Helpful
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 161 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Illustration: The Use of Power
Power can be used in at least two ways: it can be unleashed, or it can be harnessed. The energy in forty five litres of petrol, for instance, can be released explosively by dropping a lighted match into the can. Or it can be channeled through the engine of my Nissan 300ZX in a controlled burn and used to transport me well over 450 kilometres. Explosions are spectacular, but controlled burns have lasting effect, staying power. The Holy Spirit works both ways. At Pentecost, she exploded on the scene; her presence was like "tongues of fire" (Acts 2:3). Thousands were affected by one burst of God's power. But Goid also works through the church -the institution God began to tap the Holy Spirit's power for the long haul. Through worship, fellowship, and service, Christians are provided with staying power.
The source of this illustration is unknown.

Poem: Acts 2:1
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 in the Summer section.

Quote: William H Willimon
The Holy Spirit is the engine that drives the church out into the world.

Quote: William Blake
Unless the eye catch fire, God will not be seen.
Unless the ear catch fire, God will not be heard.
Unless the tongue catch fire, God will not be named.
Unless the heart catch fire, God will not be loved
Unless the mind catch fire, God will not be known.

Response Activity: Pentecost Celebration
Parts of this can be done at various times during a service however it makes a great conclusion. It was written by Uniting Church minister Coralie Ling - for full details visit
http://thebillabong.info/otm_pcost/otm55_p25.html

Easter 7 A (May 4): Power to Spare

Bible Readings: Acts 1:6-14, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11, John 17:1-11 Theme: Power to Spare

About the image:
This is a free photo from www.wikamediacommons.com of the 1982 eruption of Galungung vocanoe in Indonesia with my graphics - you are therefore free to use it.

Listening Song: He Reigns
By Newsboys on their album, Adoration, or on WOW 2004.

Drama: It's Contagious
Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 28 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Youth Story: Power To Spare
Found in Micro Messages by Rich Bundschuh and Tom Finlay, Gospel light, 1995, ISBN 0838715789, page 161 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Discussion: On the Acts story of the disciples left standing and staring at the sky
What sort of things are liable to immobilise us?

Story: Assault on a Soda Machine Found in Case Studies, Talk Sheets and Discussion Starters by Jim Burns and Mark Simone, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718842, page 23 (pictured at left)

Story: Fox
By Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks, Allen and Unwin, 2000, ISBN 1864484659 (pictured at right). This is a children's story but I used it as part of the sermon and followed it with a question for discussion: What are the raging lions (I Peter) or manipulating foxes (this story) in our lives?

Poem: Acts 1:9
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 in the Autumn section.

Prayers: Easter 7A
Found in Imaging the Word Volume 2 by Susan A. Blain Sharon Iverson Glouwens, Catherine O'Callaghan, Grant Spradling (Eds.), United Church Press, 1995, ISBN 0829810331, page 204-207, (pictured in an earlier blog).

Easter 6 A (April 27): Reach Out

Bible Readings: Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:8-20, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21
Theme: Reach Out!

About the image:
Picture comes free from wikimedia commons.

Drama: Pardon Me, Who Died
Found in Gospel Dramas by Dean Nadasdy, Augsburg, 1985, ISBN 0806621850, page 50 (pictured at left), It has good questions for a congregational discussion as well as the drama.

Film Clip: Chariots of Fire
Show the clip where Eric Liddell says "God made me run and when I run fast, I feel his pleasure". Use this to talk about our own ministries and callings.

Quote: Jean Vanier (Founder of L'Arche)
How can we live and love as Jesus did, except through the mysterious gift and power which he gives through his Spirit, so that we become his face, his hands, his heart and body?"

Response Activity:
Give everyone a copy of the gospel reading and a pencil and ask them to underline all the promises found within the reading (working in pairs works quite well for this).

Response Activity:
Give everyone a piece of white self hardening clay (a i inch cube is adequate per person). Ask people to take a moment to pray and to think about how God's Spirit is at work in them. As they pray they can use their piece of clay to make a small symbol of God's presence with them (eg dove, butterfly, cross, flame, whatever). If you need to play some nice thinking music in the background. This activity can be done with pencil and paper instead of clay but clay is far more fun and those who are good with their hands respond very appreciatively to this worship activity.

Easter 5 A (April 20): We all have a Part to Play

Bible readings: Acts 7:55-60, Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14
Theme:We All Have A Part to Play

About the Image: Castellers
A free image from wikimedia commons, this is a photo of human tower (castall) traditionally built during festivals in many places in Catalonia in Spain. Besides the people who actually climb, many are also needed to form the the base of the castell. They help sustain the weight and act as a sort of safety net.

Listening Song: What You Need
by Audio Adrenaline on their self titled album (pictured at left)

Story: Trying To Do The Job Alone
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg MacKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 173 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Introduction Activity: For the 1 Peter reading
Before the service, give everybody a piece of Leggo as they arrive at church. Just before the reading ask everyone to build something really interesting by themselves with their piece of Leggo. When it is obvious that it cannot be done, ask people to work together in groups. You can do the same thing by giving everyone a piece of a jigsaw puzzle however this works better with smaller congregations because if you have a large congregation you will need a big puzzle and it might take the whole service to complete it!!!!

Film Clip: I Am Sam
Show the clip where Sam and his friends buy Lucy a pair of new shoes for her to go to school in.

Discussion: I Am Sam
How can this film clip be a picture of the church?
Can we all contribute to the church (think beyond money)?
What do you see as your role?

Drama:Well I Declare
Found in Let's Make A Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 51 (pictured in an earlier blog).

Meditation: God's Own People
In He Was in the World: Meditations for Public Worship by John Bell, Wild Goose, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, pp 97 (pictured in an earlier blog).