Sunday School, June 5, 2016 C proper 5

Sunday School, June 5, 2016                3 Pentecost C proper 5

The main reason the Bible was written was to show us what God is like?

The Bible was written to show us that God is kind and God is love?  If this is so why are their things which happen in this world that don’t seem to be kind or loving?

Things like sickness, death, hunger and many people not having enough for a good healthy life?

God’s love and kindness is not forced or automatic in this world.   Love and kindness have true meaning because there is true freedom in this world for many, many things to happen.

Because people are free hate in this world, the love and kindness of God is given to us the free choice of our lives.

The Bible and the life of Jesus is given to us to show us that in a free world, love and kindness are the best way in which to live.

God did not makes us as machines who automatically do all good things or all bad things;  God made us with freedom and we can choose to find out how life works best for us and for everyone.

God wants to convince us that in a world of freedom, love and kindness is what is best for everyone.

Jesus came to show us that love and kindness is what is best for everyone.  Jesus came to heal people and give them new life even though he knew that after a person was healed, they would some day die.  God’s love and kindness is shown best to us when God showed us that we have everlasting life, more life after we have died.

Jesus healed the son the widow to show how God loves and cares for us.  But God has shown the greatest love and kindness in healing death with everlasting life.  And God has let us know that we have everlasting life by putting within us the everlasting Spirit.

Knowing the presence of God’s Spirit within us is a sign that God has healed death because death will only begin our afterlife.

We know that many things can happen because of true freedom in our world.  The best way to live with true freedom in this world of time is with love and kindness.  Since God is everlasting, death is only one moment in everlasting life.   Death ends one kind of life and then begins another kind of life.  This is the wonderful world of God’s love, kindness and everlasting life.

With this knowledge of God and life, we can live with faith and trust in God’s love and kindness even during the most difficult things in life.

Children’s Sermon

  What is the God like?   God is love.  That is what God is like.  God is kind.  But can we see God?  Can we see love?  Can we see kindness?

  In a way we can see kindness.  In a way we can see love.  So in a way we can see God or we can see the work of God.

  How can we see love?  Do you know when someone loves you?  Can you tell when someone loves you?  When your Mom fixes you breakfast, why does she do that?  When your Dad helps you or plays with you?  Why does he do that?  Your parents love you.  And when they love you, they are showing you what God is like.  And God is love.

  What is God like? The writer of the Psalms tells us:   The Lord is the one who made the world;  God is one who keeps promises.  God is one who is fair.  God is one who helps those who are mistreated.  God is one who feeds the hungry.  God is one who helps the innocent out of prison.  God is one who helps those are discouraged.  God is one who opens the eyes of the blind.  God is the one who helps families that are sad because of losing a member of their family.  That is what God is like.

  God is Love.  And God is kind.  Jesus is one who came to show us what God is like.  A woman was very sad because she lost her husband.  But then something very bad happened; her son got very sick and she thought that he was dead.

   Jesus came to the funeral and he healed her son and brought him back to life.  Jesus came to show us what God is like.

  God is love.  God is kind.  But you know that many people will never know it.  Why because they may never know love or kindness in their lives.

  So why doesn’t God just force love and kindness?  Why doesn’t God just make everyone be loving and kind?  Well, if God took away our freedom, and forced us to do anything, would that be loving and kind.

  No, we have to choose love and kindness for it to be valuable.

  So God is love and God is kind.  And God wants us to choose love and kindness.  God wants us to love one another and be kind to one another.  And if we do that, we will show this world that God is love and God is kind.

  God is giving us a very important thing to do with our lives.  We are to show everyone that God is love and God is kind.  And why does God leave it up to us?  Because God made us free and God won’t force us to love.  God won’t force us to be kind.

  But if we choose love and kindness, we will show the world what God is like.

  So we have a very important job to do with our lives.  We are to show this world that God is Love and God is Kind.  And we can do this  when we very young and we can do this when we are very old.

  Let us show everyone what God is like.  God is Love and God is Kind.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

June 5, 2016: The Third Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Thy Word, Let Us Break Bread Together, Alleluia,  Praise Him All Ye Little Children

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and 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.

Song: Thy Word, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 237)

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

             Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 

When I feel afraid, and I think I’ve lost my way, still you’re there beside me. 

Nothing will I fear al long your are near.  Please be near me to the end.  Refrain

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; 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 First Book of Kings

Elijah cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's life come into him again." The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, "See, your son is alive." So the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth."

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 146

The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; * the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;

The LORD loves the righteous; the LORD cares for the stranger; * he sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked.

The LORD shall reign for ever, * your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah!

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!

For a successful year of school and for all of our graduates.  Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Soon after healing the centurion's slave, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

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: Let Us Break Bread Together, (Blue Hymnal #  325)

1-Let us break bread together on our knees.  Let us break bread together on our knees.  When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

2-Let us drink wine together on our knees; let us drink wine together on our knees; When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

3-Let us praise God together on our knees;  Let us praise God together on our knees; when I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on 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.

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 neighbors.

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:       Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast. 

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Alleluia, (Renew!, # 136)

1-Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

2-He’s my savior, Alleluia….

3-He is worthy, Alleluia…   4-I will praise him, Alleluia..

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: Praise Him, All Ye Little Children (Christian’s Children’s Songbook  # 184)

1-Praise him, praise him, all ye little children.  God is love, God is love.  Praise him, praise him all ye little children.  God is love, God is love.

2-Love him, love him, all ye little children.  God is love, God is love.  Love him,  love him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love.

3-Thank him, thank him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love.  Thank him, thank him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love.

4-Serve him, serve him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love.  Serve him, serve him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love.

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!