Showing posts with label Gospel Puppet Show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gospel Puppet Show. Show all posts

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Puppet Show on Prodigal Son Theme


Gospel Puppet Show
March 10, 2013


Characters:
Roary the Lion
Roary, Jr.


Roary: Boys and girls, I want to introduce you to one of my favorite lions.  It is of course, my son, Roary, Junior.  I just call him Junior.
Can you give Junior a nice welcome.  Thank you for that welcome and because of that welcome, I won’t eat you for lunch,  ha, ha, just kidding.

(Junior appears)

Roary:  Junior can you say hi to all of these children.

Junior:  Hi boys and girls.  Dad you really shouldn’t be making jokes about eating them for lunch.

Roary:  I know but sometimes I like to joke.   But I need to talk to you about something that is not a joke.

Junior: What is that?

Roary:  Your mother told me that the safari ranger said that you were doing some dangerous things.

Junior: Like what?

Roary:  Well, he said that you were jumping out in front of the safari jeeps that were driving real fast.  And the drivers had to swerve to miss you.  Is that true?

Junior:  Well, I wish the ranger hadn’t told on me.  Yes, it’s true.  I was just having fun.

Roary:  Well, you know it would not be fun your mom and me if you got hurt real bad.  If you hit by a jeep that is going real fast, you are going to get hurt badly.

Junior:  But it’s fun to do.

Roary: It is not fun to be hurt so I want you stop doing it and I am not going to allow you to play close to the road anymore.

Junior:  Why not, that is a fun place to play.  I can watch all of the people who come on the safari near the road.

Roary:  I don’t want you to play there anymore.

Junior:  Don’t you like me anymore?  Do you like my sister better?

Roary:  Of course I still like you.  I love you and nothing you do can change my love.

Junior:  But my sister thinks you love her more because she does not get into the same kind of trouble that I do.

Roary:  That’s not true.  My love is the same for both of you.  In fact the way that I love you makes your sister jealous.  She thinks I love you more because I give you special attention.

Junior: I guess you have to give me special attention because I am always getting in more trouble than my sister.

Roary:  Jesus once told a story about a Father who had two sons.  One son wanted to leave home early and take all of the money that he would get from his Dad after his Dad died.  So his Dad gave him lots of money, but the son went away and spent all of his money quickly and soon he had no money and no food.  And he took a job taking care of pigs and he was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pig’s food.

Junior:  O, yuck.  What happened?

Roary:  Well, he thought, even if he could go home and live as his Dad’s farm worker, he would have more to eat than he did feeding the pigs.

Junior: What did he do?

Roary:  He went home.

Junior:  I bet his dad was angry and he grounded him for the rest of his life.

Roary: Nope, his dad was so happy to see him, he gave him a big party.

Junior: Why?

Roary: Because he thought that he had lost his son and would never see him again.  But the other brother was jealous.  He thought that his dad should punish his brother and not give him a party.

Junior:  Well, it doesn’t seem fair to give the bad boy a party and not the good boy.

Roary:  Jesus told the story to remind us about God’s love.  God loves us when we are good and when we are bad. 

Junior: So what are we supposed to do with God’s love.

Roary:  We are supposed to accept God’s love and not run away from it.  And we are always to remember God’s love and share it with others.

Junior:  I’m sorry that I jumped in front of the jeep.  I wont’ do it again.

Roary:  I know.  I love you and I just want to keep you safe.  And I want to remind these boys and girls that their parents love them and God loves them and they should never run away from the love of God.

Junior:  Bye, bye boys and girls.

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Sunday School, June 28, 2015 5 Pentecost, B proper 8



Sunday School, June 28, 2015  5 Pentecost, Cycle B, Proper 8

The themes of sickness and death are not always easy to present to children
It is important to teach children that faith is learning the ability to live with life as it happens
Certainly we do all we can to prevent unpleasant events of loss and pain.

Question: What is the best thing about falling and scraping one’s knee?
The best thing about scraping one’s knee is to have mom or dad or a person with us to comfort us and to give us some first aid.
A child might say, “I wish I hadn’t fallen and scraped my knee” but such a wish could not prevent it.

All bad things in life cannot be prevent; so the best thing that can happen in a bad event is to have people with us to help us.

The Bible Stories are about being honest about bad things like the loss of health and the loss of someone’s life.
The Gospel is about having the present of Christ with us at the times of our sickness and at the time of death.
With the resurrection of Christ we believe that God cured death in allowing us to live again in a new way and because we know this, we don’t have to live in fear of loss and pain.

One can teach about one of the sacraments of the Church:  The prayer for the sick
Everyone experiences sickness and varieties of pain in their life.  The church believes that sickness is a time to be together with the support of our Christian family and to pray for the sick and ask Christ to be present with us during the time of sickness.

This sacrament, the prayer for the sick is given to us to draw us together to support each other in very special ways during the time when one of us is sick.

Puppet Show on the Gospel Lesson

Puppet Show Musical Extravaganza


Faith, Health and Life

Puppet 1:  Our puppet extravaganza from Puppet Camp is called, Faith, Health and Life.  And Faith begins in believing that this world was made and belongs to God.

Song: (all sing)  Tune: This Land is your land, this land is my land.

This world is God’s world, this world is God’s world.  From Morgan Hill to the farthest star.

This world is God’s world, this world is God’s world. God made this world for you and me.

Puppet 2:  Can everyone say “Salvation?”  Salvation is a very important word.  Salvation can mean that God’s preserves or saves us even after we die.  Or Salvation while we live is called health.  How many of you like health?

All Puppets:  We like to be healthy! We don’t like to be sick!

Song: We don’t like to be sick  (tune, If You’re Happy and You Know It)

We don’t like to be sick, no we don’t.  We don’t like to be sick no we don’t.  We don’t like to be sick, we don’t like to be sick.  We don’t like to be sick.  No we don’t

(puppet shaking their heads no as they sing)


Puppet 3: God takes care of our afterlife because God promises us eternal life.  Eternal life is another kind of health.  It is salvation.

Puppet 4: There are many stories in the Gospels about Jesus healing people.  Jesus taught and healed in a place called Galilee.  There was a big lake called the Sea of Galilee

Song:  We’re off to Galilee  (Farmer in the Dell tune)

We off to Galilee, We’re off to Galilee.  Jesus is there, Jesus is there, we’re off to Galilee.

Puppet 5: Jesus got out of a boat on the seashore of the Sea of Galilee.  He was with his disciples and a very worried father named Jairus was there to meet him.

Puppet Jairus:  Jesus, Jesus!  I need your help.  My daughter is so sick that I think that she is going to die.  Come and bless her and pray for her so that can get better.

Jesus: Jairus: I will go with you to see your daughter.

Song: O Lord hear our prayer  (Taize, O Lord Hear My Prayer)

O Lord hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer.  When I call, answer me.  O Lord hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer.  Come and listen to me.

Puppet 6: Jairus did the right thing.  When he had a problem he came and asked Jesus for help.  We should pray and ask Jesus for help in our lives too.  Do you agree?


All Puppets: Yes, we should pray to Jesus.

(On the way to Jairus’ house, a crowd is following closely)

Suddenly Jesus stopped:

Jesus:  Who touched me?

Disciple John:  Jesus, lots of people are touching you.  So many people are crowding around you.

Jesus:  I felt some healing power go out of me to one person.  Who touched me?

Shy woman:  O, Jesus, it was I who touched you.  I am so sorry.  I have been in pain for so long and I have heard so much about you and I did not want to bother you.  I thought that if I could just touch you then I would have a chance to get better.

Jesus:  My friend, I’m not angry with you for touching me.  I honor your faith.  I am glad that you still have hope even when you were sick.  I am glad that you acted upon your hope and came to me.  You are a good example to everyone.  Whether we are sick or well, it is good to have faith.

Shy woman:  Thank you, Jesus.  I can already feel that my body is healed.

Song:  I touched Him   (Tune: He Touched Me, Bill Gaither)

 Refrain:  I touched him.  O I touched him.  And O what health came to me.  I touched Jesus and now I’m well.  O, I touched him and He made me well.

Puppet 6: I hear bad news.

Puppet 7:  What kind of bad news?

Puppet 8:  It is very sad new?

Puppet 9:  What kind of sad news?

Puppet 10:  Jesus does not have to come to the home of Jairus now.

Puppet 11:  Why, what’s happened?

Puppet 12: The daughter of Jairus has died!  Everyone is sad and everyone is crying.  What can Jesus do now?

Puppet 13: Jesus, what will you do?

Jesus:  If you have energy to have fear, you can take that same energy and have faith.  Just have faith and good things will happen.

Song: We’ve got faith like a River   (tune, I’ve Got Peace Like a River)

We’ve got faith like a river, we’ve got faith like a river, we’ve got faith like a river in our souls.  We’ve got faith like a river, we’ve faith like a river, we’ve got faith like a river in our souls.

Peter: Jesus, I’ll go with you into the house of Jairus.

James: I will go with you too.  I want to help in anyway that I can. 

John:  Jairus is my friend and I want to comfort him.  I’ll go with you Jesus.

All the puppets at the house of Jairus:

Puppets: All are moaning and crying….”Oh the girl has died.  The girl has died.”

Jesus:   Why are you crying so much?  The girl is not dead; she is only sleeping.

Puppets:  (laughing)….

Puppet 14:  Jesus, we know when someone is dead.  Go and see the girl and you’ll see that she is dead.

(Jesus and the Three disciples go into the house  where the girl is lying on a bed)
Jesus goes up to the girl and speaks in Aramaic


Jesus: Talitha cum.  Little girl get up.

Song: Talitha Cum  (tune: God is so Good)

Talitha Cum.  Talitha Cum.  O little girl, Arise, Get up!

(Sing three times)

Little Girl Rachel:  (awakens)  O  Daddy!  What has happened?  I can’t remember anything?  I think that I’ve been in a deep, deep sleep.


Jairus:  Rachel, you are awake and well.  Jesus came and he made you well again.  We are very thankful for Jesus.  He is a great doctor and healer.

Jesus: Please get Rachel something to eat.  I’m sure that she must be very hungry after such a long sleep.

Song:  The Lord Is My Health   (tune:  Taize, The Lord Is My Light)


The Lord is my health.  My health and salvation.  In him I trust, in him I trust.

(Sung three times)

Puppet 14:  What did we learn today?

Puppet 15: We learned to go to Jesus when we have a problem in life.  So when we are sick we pray to Jesus to help us get better.

Puppet 16:  We learned that it is important to have faith.  Faith means that we can believe in God’s goodness and love even when we have a difficult problem.

Puppet 17:  We learned that Jesus wants to restore people to good health.  Let us all say, “Thank you Doctor Jesus!”  Amen.





St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
June 28, 2015: The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah; Jesus Loves Me; Seek Ye First; America

Song: Hallelu, Hallelujah   (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 84)
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord. 
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord. 
Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah. 
Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord.

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.
And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.
Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany Phrase: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia
O God, you have made us! Alleluia
O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia
O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia
O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A reading from the Book of Lamentations
This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
 


Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 130

For there is forgiveness with you; * therefore you shall be feared.
I wait for the LORD; my soul waits for him; * in his word is my hope.
My soul waits for the LORD, more than watchmen for the morning, * more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, wait for the LORD, * for with the LORD there is mercy;

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:
For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!
For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!
For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!
For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!
For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!
For work and for play. Thanks be to God!
For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!
For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!
For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.
   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." He went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well." Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?" And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, `Who touched me?'" He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?" But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.



Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.
Since God is so great and we are so small,
We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.
We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and
     resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.
We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is
     welcome.
We believe that Christ is kind and fair.
We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.
And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.


Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.
For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.
For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.
For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.
For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.
For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.



Liturgist:         The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People:            And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering.

Song: Jesus Loves Me This I Know (All the Best Songs for Kids, # 54)
Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong.  Yes, Jesus loves me.  Yes, Jesus loves me.  Yes, Jesus loves me.  The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me!  He who died!  Heaven’s gates to open wide.  He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me.  Yes, Jesus loves me.  Yes, Jesus loves me.  The Bible tells me so.

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”
All become members of a family by birth or adoption.
Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.
A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.
The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

Children may gather around the altar
Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;
You have made us in your image
And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:
Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.
And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph
And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.
Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat
  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  
  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbors.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory
 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,
(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.
As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.
But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.
Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:        Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Seek Ye First  (Blue Hymnal, # 711)
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you; Allelu, alleluia. 
Refrain: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, allelu, alleluia.
Ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek, and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you; Allelu, alleluia!  Refrain

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;
We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.
And His Presence has been known to us.
We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers
    and sisters in Christ.
Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the
     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,
As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: America (blue hymnal, # 719)
O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!  America!  America! God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!  America!  America!  God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul with self control, they liberty in law.
O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!  America!  America! God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

Dismissal:   
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. 
People: Thanks be to God! 

Friday, May 22, 2015

Sunday School, May 24, 2015 The Day of Pentecost B



Sunday School, May 24, 2015   The Day of Pentecost B


Review the Church Seasons
Today begins the Season of Pentecost which is the longest church season and extends through the summer and fall until the First Sunday of Advent


The color for The Day of Pentecost is Red, the color of fire.  On the Day of Pentecost there was a vision of tongues of fire appearing to the people who met to pray.

The Story of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles is a story which answers a story found in the book of Genesis about the tower of Babel.  People in the past wondered why people spoke different languages.  It is difficult to communicate with people who don’t speak the same language and so the ancient peole believed that different languages came because when everyone spoke the same language, a proud king thought that he could be so powerful and be like God and build a tower high into the sky to try to be God.  So God punished the people of Babel by sending them different languages.  They were so confused that they could not finish building the city or great tower and so they scattered throughout the earth into their language communities.

On the Day of Pentecost (fifty days after Easter, and ten days after Jesus Ascended into heaven) people in Jerusalem heard the apostles speak about Jesus in many different language.  This meant that God message of love was for everyone in the world.  People could have the One Spirit of God and yet speak different languages and be different in race and color and customs.

Pentecost is the birthday of the Church because it was a celebration that God was available all of the people in the world because of the life of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus lived with his disciples, he told them that he would be going away but that when he would go away, he would send them a friend and someone to comfort them.  The Holy Spirit is the person that Jesus sent to his friends to comfort them after he left this earth.  On Pentecost we celebrate that we know the presence of God in our lives through the work and presence of Holy Spirit as a power and presence inside of us.


Puppet Show for The Day of Pentecost

Day of Pentecost


Characters:

Dovey the Dove

George



Dovey: (singing) Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you.  Happy birthday Christian Church.  Happy birthday to you!  And many more!


George: Why did you sing Happy Birthday to the Church Dovey?


Dovey:  Well today is the Day of Pentecost and the Day of Pentecost is the Birthday of the Church.  Let’s see the church is 2013 minus 33 equals 1980.   Happy 1980th birthday to the church.  But who’s counting?


George: Obviously you are counting.  We are a pretty old group of people.


Dovey:  Yes, you are one of the oldest and long lasting organizations that ever existed.


George: I wonder why the church has lasted so long.  Do you think that the church will still be here after I die?



Dovey:  Well George, you’re not going to die for awhile but yes the church will be here after you die to have more birthdays.


George:  How do you know Dovey?


Dovey:  Well, because even though you are a member of the church, the church is really not about you.


George:  Well, what is the church about?


Dovey:  The church is about Jesus Christ.  His message of love was so wonderful and it created so much excitement in people they called his message Good News or Gospel.  And Jesus said if we just keep sharing this good news to each new group of people who are born then this message will live forever.  This is why the church will continue to have birthdays forever.  Do you know what Pentecost means?


George:  Do I have time to Google it?


Dovey: Goo..goo…goo…Google it?  What’s that?


George:  It’s like a big storage brain outside of me where I store all of the information of the world and maps.  Google maps can even tell me where to go.


Dovey:  Well, I’ve got a built in Google maps and GPS.  Did you know that my family has been making a nest and laying eggs in the same tree for more than a hundred years.  I’ve got GPS in me that automatically tells me where to go.


George:  Wow, where did you get that?  That’s better than Google maps.


Dovey:  God made me this way and God the Holy Spirit is everywhere like a divine GPS system.  But the Holy Spirit became better known to everyone on the Day of Pentecost.


George: So what does Pentecost mean?


Dovey:  It means 50 days after Easter and it is the day when the Holy Spirit became known to the friends of Jesus.


George:  What happened on the Day of Pentecost?


Dovey:  Well, the Holy Spirit was discovered by the friends of Jesus and they were happy and joyful and they found that the Holy Spirit helped them to tell the Good News about Jesus in every language.


George:  So the Holy Spirit is like a great Google translator?


Dovey:  I guess you techies might say it that way.  Yes, the Holy Spirit is the wonderful personal energy of God’s love with us to help us to continue to tell the Good News about Jesus so that the church will continue to have birthdays into the future.


George: Wow!  Pentecost and the Holy Spirit are exciting.  But where are we going to get 1982 candles for the birthday cake?  Oh well, at least we can sing Happy Birthday to the church.

Everyone:  Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you.  Happy birthday Christian Church.  Happy birthday to you!  And many more!


George:  Do you think I can have some chocolate cake for the church’s birthday party?




St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
May 24,2015: The Day of Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Glory be to God on High, Creating Spirit, Every Time I Feel the Spirit

Liturgist: Alleluia, Christ is Risen.
People: The Lord is Risen Indeed.  Alleluia.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.
And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.
Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song:  Glory be to God on High,     (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 70)
Glory be to God on high, alleluia.  Glory be to God on high, alleluia.
Praise the Father, Spirit, Son, alleluia.  Praise the Godhead, three in one, alleluia.
Sing we praises unto thee, alleluia, for the truth that sets us free, alleluia.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray
O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia
O God, you have made us! Alleluia
O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia
O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia
O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A reading from the   Letter to the Romans

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God



Let us read together from Psalm 104

You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; * and so you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; * may the LORD rejoice in all his works.

Birthdays: Rebecca O’Donnell, Beth Clayton,  Rylie Francis
Anniversaries: Eric and Michelle Francis, Eric and Michelle Francis

 Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:
For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!
For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!
For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!
For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!
For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!
For work and for play. Thanks be to God!
For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!
For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!
For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.
   Thanks be to God!


Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.  "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But, now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.  "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil







Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.
Since God is so great and we are so small,
We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.
We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and
     resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.
We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is
     welcome.
We believe that Christ is kind and fair.
We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.
And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.


Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.
For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.
For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.
For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.
For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.
For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People:                        And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Offertory Song:  Spirit of the Living God,   


Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”
All become members of a family by birth or adoption.
Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.
A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.
The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

Children may gather around the altar
The Celebrant now praises God for the salvation of the world through
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;
You have made us in your image
And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:
Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.
And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph
And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.
Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat
  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  
  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.


The Prayer continues with these words


And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Sanctify us so that we may love God and our neighbors.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory
 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,
(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.
As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.
But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.
Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant:        Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration


Communion Song: Creating Spirit, Holy Lord  (Renew! # 283
Creating Spirit, holy Lord, the gentle breeze, the mighty wind, with warmth and pow’r and graciousness in grace refashion heart and mind.
O comforter of all who toil, gift from the fountain head of light, O Spirit of all love and fire, anointing chrism of all might.
 

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;
We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.
And His Presence has been known to us.
We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers
    and sisters in Christ.
Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the
     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,
As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: Every Time I Feel the Spirit, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 48)
Refrain: Every time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.  O every time I feel the spirit moving in my heart I will pray.

1-On Pentecost day, the Spirit came.  The people praised with joyous tongues.  The Spirit came to everyone.  Jews and Gentiles, all the same. Refrain
2-God’s Spirit lives, within the church.  He gives us gifts to build us up.  God’s Spirit fills us with his love.  O blessed Spirit, heavenly dove.  Refrain

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!
People: Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

  

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