Sunday School, February 28, 2016 3 Lent C
Sunday school themes
What happened to Moses after his disappointment and failure?
The Story of Moses
The life of Moses was spared as a newborn baby when an
Egyptian princess adopted him and raised him in a palace. But Moses was a Hebrew man and when he saw
that the other Hebrew people were treated like slaves by the Pharaoh of Egypt,
he knew that God wanted him to help to make the lives of the Hebrews
better. He tried to help but in his
first attempt he was opposed by both the Egyptians and also his fellow
Hebrew. He felt like a failure so he ran
for his life to a faraway place. He
became a shepherd and got married and he worked for his father-in-law. When he was tending the flock, Moses saw a
bright burning bush and he heard God call him.
God wanted him to go back to Egypt to help the Hebrew people. Moses told God that he could not do it and
that he had failed. But God told him
that God is greatest of all and that God would help him. God said that Moses would be given another
chance to go and help the Hebrew people be freed from slavery in Egypt.
We can learn from our failures. Sometimes when we fail we want to give up and
quit and run away. We may want to say, “I
can’t do that.” But our teachers and
parents come to us and say, “Keep trying and you will be successful.” Our teachers and parents forgive us and
accept us and they help us because they understand that we learn through our
failures. When we are not yet perfect, God
does not forget us. God keeps coming to
us and inviting us to keep trying. When
we fail to love or be kind, God keeps inviting us to learn how to be
better. The lesson that we can learn
from Moses is that God does not give up on us.
God keeps coming to us and asks us to do the good work that we know that
we’re supposed to do.
The Gospel Riddle of Jesus
Jesus told a riddle about the patience of God. When a fig tree did not have any fruit, the
orchard owner wanted to cut it down.
What good is a fig tree if we can’t get figs? The gardener of the orchard said, “Don’t cut
it down; let me fertilize the soil around the tree; give the tree another
chance to bear fruit.”
God is love because God always gives us more chances. God tells us to use all of the things of our
past, things that are dead and gone, but things like the memories of our
failures can be used to help us grow new Christian fruit in our lives, like the
fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, faith, self control and gentleness. Compost is dead plant and animal remains
which are used to fertilize new plants.
God is always using the human compost of our past life experience to
help us produce new and wonderful fruits in our lives, the fruits of love and
kindness.
Remember God did not give up on Moses when he failed. God does not give up on us when we fail. So we should not give up on ourselves or on
each other when we have failure and some difficult times. Let us remember that God is patient with
us. God will allow our lives to be
fertilized with all that has happened to us to make us better in the future.
Children’s Sermon: Growing Christian Fruit
If you are a fruit
grower, and you plant an apple tree, what do you want to get from the tree?
When it is time to
harvest, you want to be able to pick some fruit don’t you. You want some nice big red apples, don’t you?
But what if harvest
time comes and you go to your apple tree and you don’t find any apples to
pick? You have a lot of questions don’t
you? If the tree looks healthy and has
lots of pretty green leaves, you ask why doesn’t this tree have any
apples. It looks good and it looks
healthy; why doesn’t it have good apples.
Did I make a mistake? Did I plant
the wrong seed? Did it have some hidden
plant disease? Did the bugs get under
its bark? Did it get enough water?
What should I do
with an apple tree if it doesn’t have any apples? It looks like a good tree but I have to sell
apples to make money. What should I do?
I will wait until
next year. I will water it better. I will dig around it and puts some special
fertilizer around the tree, some special tree food to make it grow some good
apples.
Jesus told a story
about a tree farmer who grew a fig tree, but the fig tree did not have any figs
on it. So the tree farmer decided to
keep the tree and put some fertilizer, some tree food around the tree in the
soil and wait until next year to see if it would grow some figs.
The story about
Jesus is a story about God. You and I
are like trees that God plants in this life.
And God does not just want us to look pretty, God also wants us to be
like trees that produce lots of good fruit.
Now you and I cannot
grow apples and figs can we? What can we
produce and grow? What kind of fruit can
we grow? We can make deeds of love, joy,
faith, patience, gentleness, goodness, self-control and kindness.
Those are the kinds
of fruit that God wants us to grow. And
God is always giving us more time to produce these wonderful fruits.
Just as the tree
farmer gives fertilizer to help grow good fruit, so God gives us things to help
us learn how to love. We have the Bible,
we have God’s word and God’s law to teach us how we should live. We have parents and teachers who teach us how
we should live good lives. And sometimes
we have some difficult tests that we have to pass to help us get strong and get
better. Some times we don’t know how to
help others until we have had a hard time and learned to get help from God and
other people. And when we learn to help
other people, then God is happy because then God says, I have planted a good
tree and it is producing good fruit. I
have made a good person and that person is kind and loving, so I have been a
very successful God. We can help make
God a very successful God by learning to grow good human fruit. And the fruit that you and I are supposed to
make are the fruits of love and kindness.
A Family Eucharistic Liturgy
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
February 28, 2016: The Third Sunday in Lent
Gathering Songs: Simple Gifts, The Butterfly Song, Jesus
Stand Among Us, My Tribute
Song: Simple Gifts (Christian Children’s Songbook # 206)
‘Tis a gift to be simple, ‘tis a gift to free, ‘tis a gift
to come down where you ought to be, and when we find ourselves in the place
just right, ‘twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to
bend we won’t be ashamed. To turn, turn
will be our delight till by turning and turning we come out right.
Liturgist: Bless the Lord who forgives all of our sins.
People: God’s 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 know that we have no power in ourselves to
help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls,
that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and
from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Litany of Praise: Chant: Praise be to God!
O God, you are Great!
Praise be to God!
O God, you have made us! Praise be to God!
O God, you have made yourself known to us! Praise be to God!
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior! Praise be to God!
O God, you have given us a Christian family! Praise be to God!
O God, you have forgiven our sins! Praise be to God!
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead! Praise be to God!
Liturgist: A reading from the Book of Exodus
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the
priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb,
the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of
fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not
consumed. Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at this great
sight, and see why the bush is not burned up." When the LORD saw that he
had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses,
Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Come no
closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are
standing is holy ground." He said further, "I am the God of your
father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And
Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; * my
lips shall give you praise.
So will I bless you as long as I live * and lift up my hands
in your Name.
My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, * and my
mouth praises you with joyful lips,
Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)
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.
Then Jesus told this parable: "A man had a fig tree
planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So
he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for
fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be
wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I
dig around it and put fertilizer on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and
good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
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: If I Were a Butterfly (Christian Children’s
Songbook, # 9)
1-If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you Lord for giving me
wings. If I were a robin in the tree,
I’d thank you Lord that I could sing. If
I were a fish in the sea, I wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee, but I just
thank you Father for making me, me.
Refrain: For you gave
me a heart and you gave me a smile. You
gave me Jesus and you made me your child.
And I just thank you Father for making me, me.
2-If I were an elephant, I’d thank you Lord by raising my
trunk. If I were a kangaroo, you know
I’d hop right up to you. If I were an
octopus, I thank you Lord for my fine looks.
But I just thank you Father, for making me, me. Refrain
3-If I were a wiggly worm, I’d thank you Lord that I could
squirm. If I were a billy goat, I’d
thank you Lord for my strong throat. If
I were a fuzzy-wuzzy bear, I’d thank you Lord for my fuzzy-wuzzy hair. And I just thank you Father for making me,
me. Refrain
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.
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 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,
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: Christ
our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore
let us keep the feast.
Words of Administration
Communion 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 hands; O, Jesus, we love you,
so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.
3-Jesus, stand among us at the breaking of the break, join
us as one body as we worship you our head.
O, Jesus, we love you, so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and
take away our fear.
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: To God
Be the Glory (Renew! # 68)
To God be the glory, to God be the glory, to God be the
glory for the things he has done. With
his blood he has saved me; with his power he has raised me; to god be the glory
for the things he has done.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
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