Sunday School, January 17, 2016 2 Epiphany C
Sunday School
Themes
Spiritual gifts.
Have a discussion about the children’s gifts and
talents. Ask them if they all are
equally good in everything. Do they all
excel in math? Or football? Or
singing? Or sewing? Or dancing?
Or baseball?
Why aren’t all people the same? Would life be boring if all people were the
same? If everyone only played tubas what
other wonderful sounds would we miss.
Remind the children that what we believe about baptism is
that God gives everyone different gifts and all of the different gifts are
needed to make us a better community and church.
Make a list of all of the things that people can do for the
church. When gifts are used in the
church we call this “ministry.” So
everyone is a minister. But we also do
ministry outside of the church to when we go to school or when we are at play.
If we understand that God has given us gifts then we
understand that our purpose in life is to serve God as a minister. And we don’t have to be a priest or pastor to
be a minister. To be a minister means
that we use our gifts to serve Christ and to help other people.
The Gospel is about when Jesus and his disciples went to a
wedding. Mary, the mother of Jesus told
Jesus that they were running out of wine and she ask him to help.
Jesus told the servants to take jars of water and serve them
to the guests. And when the guests drank
they thought that they were drinking the very best wine.
This story is a story about faith. Sometimes life seems to be like ordinary
water; but with faith can sometimes find that there are some extraordinary things
within the ordinary. Faith is the ability
to find the extraordinary things within ordinary life. It means we keep alive within us that wonder curiosity
to always being ready to find wonderful things in life. With the curiosity of faith we never have to
be bored in life. So when some people
think that we are just drinking ordinary water, we in our experience can taste
something extraordinary and wonderful.
A sermon on gifts
How many of you
received gifts at Christmas? So you
received some new toys and some clothes and many other things didn’t you?
A long time ago, Saint
Paul wrote a letter to his friends and he told, “You have many gifts. And God has given you many gifts and you are
to use those gifts to make your family and community better.”
And as I look at all
of you today, I see men and women and boys and girls who have many gifts. I am not talking the gifts that you received
at Christmas. I am talking how God has
made each of you special and how God has given each one of you different
abilities. Those abilities are what we
call gifts from God. And as we find our
gifts and abilities as we practice our gifts and ability, we become better at
using our gifts.
There something else
about our gifts. Different people have
different gifts. Now if you have a gift
that I don’t have, should I be jealous?
Or happy? I should be happy,
because we need different gifts and abilities to our community get more done.
What if a music
teacher came to class on the first day, and everyone in the class was a
drummer? If a music class had only
drummers then that would be a loud class and only a certain kind of music could
be made?
What if a basketball
team had only real tall players who were slow and could not shoot long shots?
What if a football
teams on had 300 pound linemen, and no smaller faster players to run and catch
the football?
God has made us all
a little bit different and has given us different abilities and gifts.
One of the first
secrets of happiness in life, is to find our gifts. Your mom and dad and teacher are encouraging
you to try lots of things in life because the want you to find your gifts. Because if you find what you are good at,
then you will be happy. And if you
practice what you are good at, then you also have a wonderful ability to share
with others.
And the second
secret to happiness in life, is to use your gift to make your family, and your
community and your world a better place.
And thirdly, all
gifts are important. And you have many
kinds of gifts. When you help clean your
room or take care of your pets that does not seem like an important thing. But all of our gifts are important. And what is most important is our willingness
to use our gifts to make our families and church and community better places.
Today, I want you to
remember that God has given to gifts.
God has given you special abilities to do some wonderful things in
life. But you will not know that you
have gifts unless you work to discover them or if you do not share them with
the people in your lives.
Repeat after
me: God’s Spirit has given me
gifts. Help me God to find my
gifts. Help me God to share my gifts
with others. Amen.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
January 17, 2016: The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Gathering Songs: Jesus, Stand Among Us.,He’s Got the World
World, Eat This Bread, Shine, Jesus, Shine
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
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light
of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments,
may shine with the radiance of Christ¹s glory, that he may be known,
worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
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 First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and
there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of
activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To
each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, * and your
faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the strong mountains, your
justice like the great deep; * you save both man and beast, O LORD.
How priceless is your love, O God! * your people take refuge
under the shadow of your wings.
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.
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and
the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to
the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him,
"They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern
is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to
the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six
stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or
thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And
they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and
take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted
the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the
servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and
said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior
wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until
now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and
revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
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 Hymn: He’s Got the Whole World (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 90)
1-He’s got the whole world; in his hands he’s got the whole
wide world in his hands. He’s got the
whole world in his hands; he’s got the whole world in his hands.
2-Little tiny babies.
3-Brother and the sisters
4-Mothers and the fathers
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.
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 may 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: 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 Hymn: Eat This Bread, (Renew! # 228)
Eat this bread, Drink this vup, come to me and never be
hungry. Eat this bread, drink this cup,
trust in me and you will not thirst.
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: Shine Jesus, Shine (Renew!, # 247)
Refrain: Shine, Jesus shine, fill this land with the
Father’s glory, blaze Spirit blaze, set out hearts on fire. Flow river, flow, flood the nations with
grace and mercy, send forth your word, Lord, andlet there be light.
1-Lord, the light of your love is shining in the midst of
the darkness shining; Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us, set us free by
the truth you now bring us. Shine on me,
shine on me.
Refrain
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
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