Sunday School, December 13, 2015 3 Advent C

Sunday School, December 13     3 Advent C

Gaudete Sunday

You can use the Advent Candles and Wreath as a countdown calendar for Christmas.  Just like a child might mark each day waiting for his or her birthday, the four Advent Candles provide a countdown to

Christmas.

The third Sunday is called Gaudete, the Latin word which means Rejoice.  And the Epistle reading is, “Rejoice in the Lord, always and again I say Rejoice.”

The candle for the third Sunday in Advent is pink and different from the purple color of the other Advent candles.

Today we put together the words rejoice and repent.

Repent is just a fancy religious word for “education.”   What is the opposite of education?  Ignorance.  What is the opposite of Rejoice?  Being sad.

Education and rejoicing go together.  Much of the suffering and the pain in our world is caused by human ignorance.  One of the reasons we repent or get educated is to learn how to prevent bad things from happening to us and to others.

A very young baby is ignorant about fire and so if a baby is not taken care, the baby might be fascinated by fire and put his finger in the fire and get burned.  And the baby would not rejoice if he got his finger burned.

Repentance is education or learning new things and when we learn new things we can learn to behave and act differently and we can help to make our lives and the lives of other happy.

John the Baptist was a special prophet of repentance.  He encouraged us to become more educated so that we could avoid future disasters and future sadness.

God has given us rules and laws for us to learn and if we learn these laws we can prevent many disasters and we can create rejoicing.

If we love God, give God some time by prayer, honor our parents, respect life, tell the truth, respect our families, and be content with what we have, we will have much to rejoice in our lives.

Repentance is learning how to act to prevent bad things happening to us.  And if we prevent bad things from happening, we will have joy and rejoicing rather than sadness and suffering.

If you go skateboarding without your knee pads, you might scrape and hurt your knee if you fall.  The you would suffer and be sad.  But if you learn to wear knee pads, and you fall, then you knee would be just fine and you would be happy and you would be able to rejoice in the fun that you are having.

Discuss how repentance or education is about doing things that can prevent suffering?   And if we can prevent suffering, then we will be able to live in rejoicing and happiness.

The Bible readings on this day teach us about repentance and rejoicing and it is a good time for us to learn about how education can prevent future suffering and sadness.

  What if I fall and scrape my knee?  Would that hurt?  And what if you came to me and said, “Father Phil, be happy!”  How would I feel?  I would not feel happy.

  This Sunday in Advent is called “Rejoice” Sunday or Be Really Happy Sunday.  But what if there are things that have happened and we don’t feel like being happy, should we still try to be really happy?

  When I hurt my knee, does everyone else hurt their knee at the same time?  No.  Can I be happy that other people did not hurt their knee?  Well, yes.  When I hurt my knee, do I have people who love and care for me?  Well, yes I do so I can be happy about that.   When I hurt my knee do I still have a home to live in, clothes to wear, and food to eat?  Well, yes I do so I can be happy about many things even when I am not happy about hurting my knee.

  When I hurt my knee, does the sun still shine and give me warmth and light?  Does water still quench my thirst?  Do pets still make me happy?  Do I still get to play sports?  Do I still get to read interesting books?  Do I still have friends?  Does God still love and care for me? 

  So, you see when I hurt my knee all of the millions and millions of other good things in life do not stop and so I still have many things to be happy about.

  But there is something very strong about pain.  When I hurt my knee and when I feel pain, that pain acts like a monster that wants to take over my whole life and my whole world.  The monster of pain tries to tell me that because I hurt my knee, everything in life is bad and painful.

  So when I hurt my knee, I need my friends to help me deal with the monster of pain.  I need my friends to show me that the million other good things in my life is so big that it can make the monster of pain become like a little ant.

  So this is rejoice and be happy Sunday.  When we rejoice, we start counting all of the good things we have in life and we begin to find how they are much more powerful than the bad things that happen to us in life.

  Today, there may be some very bad things in life and we have to gather and pray and learn to count up all of the good blessings in life and we have to learn how use the good blessings in life to prevent as many bad things from happening.

  If I scraped my knee when I was roller blading what should I do?  I should wear knee pads, right?

  And so if we rejoice in good health, then we look for ways to prevent injury in accidents.

  So, today is rejoice Sunday.  It is when we look at what is good in our lives.  But it is also repent Sunday.  After we see what is good, then to repent means that we work to prevent bad things from happening.

  Can you say Rejoice and Repent.  This is Rejoice and Repent Sunday.  Amen.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

December 13, 2015: The Third Sunday of Advent

Gathering Songs: Light a Candle; Jesus Stand Among Us,  Peace Before Us; Thy Word,  When the Saints

Lighting of the Advent Candle:   Light a Candle

Light a candle for hope today, Light a candle for hope today, light a candle for hope today.           Advent time is here.

Light a candle for peace today..3. Love…  

             

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.

Song:  Jesus Stand Among Us, Renew! #17

1-Jesus stand among us, at the meeting of our lives, be our sweet agreement at the meeting of our eyes; O, Jesus, we love You, so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

2-So to You we’re gathering out of each and every land.  Christ the love between us at the joining of our hand; O, Jesus, we love You, so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

3-Jesus stand among us, the breaking of the bread, join us as one body as we worship Your, our Head.  O, Jesus, we love You, so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for 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 Letter to the Philippian Church

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

 

Liturgist: Let us read together from the First Song of Isaiah

Surely, it is God who saves me; *  I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, * and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing * from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, * Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

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 Luke

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon:  Fr. 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. (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: Peace Before Us (Wonder, Love and Praise,  # 791)

Peace before us.  Peace behind us.  Peace under our feet.  Peace within us.  Peace over us.  Let all around us be Peace.  Love,  Light, Christ

Children’s Choir:  Greater Than These Is Love,   by Russell Nagy

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.

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.

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. 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 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: Thy Word, (Renew! #94)

Refrain: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path

1-When I feel afraid, think I’ve lost my way, still you’re right beside me.  And nothing will I fear as long as you are near.  Please be near me to the end.  Refrain.

2-I will not forget your love for me, and yet my heart forever is wandering.  Jesus, be my guide and hold me to your side; and I will love you to the end.  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: O When the Saints, (The Christian Children’s Songbook, # 248)

O when those saints, go marching in, Oh, when those saints go marching in, Lord I want to be in that number when the saint go marching in.

Boys….. 3.  Girls  4.  Saints

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. 

People: Thanks be to God!