Sunday School Themes March 22, 2015 The Fifth Sunday in Lent, Cycle B
Sunday School Themes
The 10 commandments were written on stone tablets.
The prophet Jeremiah spoke about the laws being written upon the hearts of everyone.
This is the Promise of God’s Spirit who will use education and memory about what is good and right to help us retain and keep the laws of God.
The Psalm of the day are about God’s Spirit creating within us a clean heart
The Psalm is about meditating upon God’s law so that we can keep it written on our hearts.
In the Letter to the Hebrews, the writer presents Jesus as an eternal priest. A priest is a person who prays to God on behalf of other people. Jesus was a priest for us because he lived and suffered with us and so he could understand how to pray for us to God his Father. We too are supposed to be priestly; even though we are not all “priests” we are to be priestly because we are to pray for our world especially for those in suffering and need.
Ask the children how they can be “priestly” in their prayers.
The Gospel uses the change in the plant growth cycle to illustrate what the death of Jesus means.
Present pictures of a seed, it sprouting with its roots, a small plant, a flowering and fruit tree or plant.
Show how the seed dies or quits being a seed when it spouts.
The purpose of a gardener is to bury seeds and “kill them” so that they change and become large and fruitful plants.
This is what Jesus said about his dying; it would be like a seed which dies in order to become fruitful in the lives of many people.
Puppet Show about Seed funerals and burials
Pam, the gardener, Stuart as Jesus, Catherine as Miriam, Caroline as Gully the sea gull
Pam is in front of the theatre, hoeing her garden. In her garden there are little tomb stones in a row. One Tomb stones reads, Beans: RIP. Another tombstone reads: Peas: RIP. Another reads Corn: RIP
Miriam: Hi, Miss Pam what are you doing?
Miss Pam: It is spring time and so it is time to prepare my garden. And as you see my garden is like a graveyard. I have done lots of burying in my garden.
Miriam: Burying? Does that mean someone has died?
Miss Pam: Well not someone but something is going to die soon. That is why I put up the tomb stones. I’ve made one for the peas, the corn and the beans.
Gully: Hi, Miss Pam, I hope you didn’t bury all of the seeds. If I see a seed, I will fly down and eat it. While you are hoeing the ground could you dig up some worms for me to eat. Yum, yum, I like worms. Do the children like worms; I hope not because that will be more for me.
Miss Pam: Gully, you stay away from my seeds. I’ll have to put up a scare crow to keep you away. But I do have some bread crumbs for you to eat.
Gully: Thanks, Miss Pam. But I’m like Miriam I don’t understand why you have tomb stones on the rows in your garden. For me a garden means life, not death.
Miriam: Yes, I still don’t understand your tomb stones in the garden. It is kind of sad or silly. Please explain what you are doing. This is spring and it is not like Halloween when we do spooky things. Why are you doing spooky things in your garden?
Miss Pam: Well, I bought packages of little seeds. And they are very tiny and I bury them in the ground. And when I put them into the ground, the seeds are going to die.
Miriam: They are not going to die; they are going to become roots, stem and plants and vegetables. How are they going to die?
Miss Pam: In two weeks if we were to dig into the ground here would we find the seeds?
Gully: I don’t know what we would find?
Miss Pam: Did you know that Jesus talked about seeds dying in the ground and he said that his life would be like a seed that would die in the ground?
Miriam: That sounds like a riddle to me. How can we understand this riddle?
Miss Pam: Maybe we could pray and ask Jesus to help us learn the meaning of his riddle.
Gully: Okay, Dear Jesus, please come and help us to understand your riddle about the seeds.
Miriam: Yes, Dear Jesus, please come. We want to know the meaning of the dying seeds.
(Jesus appears)
Jesus: Hello, Miss Pam, Gully and Miriam, I heard your prayers. Did you call for me?
Miriam: Yes, Jesus, we want to know the meaning of your riddle about the dying seed and your life?
Jesus: Okay, I did say that my life was like a dying seed. And this is what I mean. Look at the pictures of the seed in the ground. See in the first one, the little seed breaks and out pops a little tail. Do you see it? Do you know what happens to this little tail?
Gully: No, what happens?
Jesus: It becomes the root. And the root drinks in water and food from the ground called minerals. And then look what happens, the top of the tail breaks out of the ground and it becomes a green shoot. But the case of the seed is now like a hat on the head of the plant. And when the head of the plant grows leaves then the seed case falls to the ground. And the case is dead just like a cocoon is dead after the butterfly has left it.
Miriam: But Jesus, how was your life like a dying seed?
Jesus: Well, Miriam, you know that I died upon the cross? But when I died did the world forget all about me like they would forget about this dead case of the seed?
Gully: No, Jesus, you weren’t forgotten. You became more famous after you died.
Jesus: Yes, that is true, Gully. You see I was like the seed that became the root and the plant and the leaves. Why?
Miss Pam: Is that because you came back to life again?
Jesus: Yes! And now I am alive in the lives of everyone who invites my Spirit to live in them. I have become like a great tree; I am not like the seed anymore. My life died but now I live again like a great tree, because I am now with all people who invite me to be in their lives.
Miriam: Thank you Jesus for explaining the riddle for us.
Gully: Boys and girls, do you understand the riddle now? Do you see that a seed that dies becomes much more life in the root and the leaves?
Miss Pam: That’s right! Thank you Jesus for explaining the riddle to us. Okay, I have to get back to burying my seeds!
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Holy Eucharist
March 22, 2015: The Fifth Sunday In Lent
Gathering Songs:
Jesus Loves Me, Kyrie Eleison; When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, When Jesus Wept, May the Lord
Opening Song: Jesus Loves Me This I Know (All the Best Songs for Kids, # 54)
1 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.
2 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.
Liturgist: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
People: His mercy endures forever. 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 alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Litany of Praise: Chant: Praise the Lord
O God, you are Great! Praise the Lord
O God, you have made us! Praise the Lord
O God, you have made yourself known to us! Praise the Lord
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior! Praise the Lord
O God, you have given us a Christian family! Praise the Lord
O God, you have forgiven our sins! Praise the Lord
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead! Praise the Lord
A Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt-- a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD;
The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Let us read together from Psalm 51
Create in me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence * and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Give me the joy of your saving help again * and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
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.
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. "Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say-- `Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
Liturgist: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon:
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.
(Add intercessions here)
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.
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: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,
1-When I survey the wondrous cross where the young Prince of Glory died
All the vain thing that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
2-Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; love so amazing so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
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 the celebration of our 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.
(All 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.
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. Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.
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 by 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.
Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore let us keep the feast.
Word of Administration.
Communion Hymn: When Jesus Wept (blue hymnal, # 715)
When Jesus wept, the falling tear in mercy flowed beyond all bound; When Jesus groaned, a trembling fear seized all the guilty world around.
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: May the Lord (Sung to the tune of Eidelweiss)
May the Lord, Mighty God, Bless and keep you forever, Grant you peace, perfect peace, Courage in every endeavor. Lift up your eyes and seek His face, Trust His grace forever. May the Lord, Mighty God Bless and keep you for ever.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
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