Sunday School, May 1, 2016 6 Easter C
The followers of Jesus wrote about the life of Jesus after they had “graduated” from the school of Jesus.
What did the followers of Jesus do? They prayed together. They studied the Bible together. They preached good news about God’s love and forgiveness. They prayed for sick people. They share their food, clothing, homes and money with people who were in need. They ate the Holy Meal of Eucharist together. They welcomed people into their community through baptized.
And what did they realize? They realized that they were doing exactly what Jesus taught them. And when they realized this, they remember that before Jesus left he had told them that he would be with them and give them a helper after he was gone.
When we teach someone we leave something of our self in the person whom we taught. Jesus was the teacher of his followers and when he was gone, his followers realized that the life of Jesus from his teaching was with them and it included a power and ability to continue to do the good things which Jesus taught them.
One of ways in which a person never dies is to pass on the wonderful gifts of one’s life to other people. When a person teaches or helps or gives something to another person, a person lives on forever with the people who received the gift. And the people who are taught also keep teaching and so many people continual to live on.
Today, we celebrate that Jesus and all of the followers of Jesus who have been in the church for over 2000 year continue to live on in us now. We have the opportunity to keep the life of Jesus alive in our world as we pass what we have learned from Jesus to other people.
Jesus told his students that what he taught them would stay with them because the Holy Spirit would continue to help them learn and remember about the life of Jesus.
The Good News for us today is this: When we teach and give and help others, it means that we will in very important ways, live forever.
Let us join with Jesus and Christians of all times continue to pass on to others the good news of God’s love and care. In this way, we will continue to live forever with Christ.
Children’s Sermon
Can you brush your teeth by yourself? Can you wash your hands by yourself? Can you eat with a fork and a spoon by yourself? Who taught you to do all of these things? Your mom or your dad did or maybe your big brother or sister.
The older that you get, the more things you learn. And when you learn things you do not have to have your mom and dad there with you to do them for you.
So what things can you do on your own now? Can you brush your hair? Can you make your bed? Can you clean your room? Can you take your dishes from the table into the kitchen? Can you read a book? Can you take care of your pets?
Yes you are learning to do many things by yourself now. Your mom and dad used to have to help you but now you can do them yourself. So it’s like your parents have been your teachers and when they are not with you it is like they are still with you because they have taught you to do so many things to do by yourself, you don’t need them to help you with them anymore.
When Jesus knew that he was going to leave this earth and when he knew that he would not be with his friends, he told them that when he left that he would leave a teacher with them. Or a helper or an advocate.
So when the friends of Jesus who were students of Jesus did not see him anymore, they would still know what to do, because he taught them so well, it was like he was still with them, even though he was gone.
Did you know that life is all about learning and teaching. When you learn how to do something, it means that you too will become a teacher to help someone else learn.
When we learn from our parents and teachers, it means that they do not have to be with us all of the time to do things for us.
When we teach someone something, it is like we leave a part of ourselves in them. Because every time they do something that we taught them, it is like we are still with them.
Jesus told his students that he was going to leave, but he promised that he would still be with them. And how was he with them? He taught them to do things well, so when they did things on their own, they knew that it was like their teacher Jesus was still with them.
Remember our life is about learning and teaching. When you learn, your parents and teachers will always be with you when you do what you learned from them.
And you too will be a teacher, when you help others to learn.
Jesus was such a good teacher, that his friend knew that he was with them even when they did not see him. Let us learn to be good students and good teachers, too. Amen.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
May 1, 2016: The Sixth Sunday of Easter
Gathering Songs: If You’re Happy and You Know It, God Is So Good, Eat This Bread, Awesome God
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: If You’re Happy And You Know It, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 124)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know, then your face should surely show it. If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it stomp your feet. If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet. If you’re happy and you know, then your face should surely show it. If you’re happy and you know it stomp your feet.
If you’re happy and you know it, shout, Amen! Amen! If you’re happy and you know it, shout, Amen! Amen! If you’re happy and you know it, then your face should surely show it. If you’re happy and you know it, shout Amen! Amen!
Liturgist: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Liturgist: Let us pray
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and 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 Revelation to John:
In the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day-- and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 67
Let the peoples praise you, O God; * let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has brought forth her increase; * may God, our own God, give us his blessing.
May God give us his blessing, * and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.
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!
For the special blessing of our Mothers whom we honor today. 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 Judas (not Iscariot), "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe."
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: God Is So Good, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 73)
God is so good. Good is so good. God is so good; he’s so good to me.
He cares for me. He cares for me. He cares for me; he’s so good to me.
I love him so. I love him so. I love him so; he’s so good to me.
I’ll praise his name. I’ll praise his name. I’ll praise his name; he’s so good to me.
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. 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,
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: Eat This Bread (Renew!, # 228)
Eat this bread, drink this cup, 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: Awesome God (Renew! # 245)
Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above. With wisdom, power and love, our God is an awesome God.
(Sung three times)
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Alleluia! Alleluia! Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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