Sunday School, October 23, 2016 C proper 25

Sunday School, October 23, 2016   23 Pentecost, C proper 25

Themes

Comparisons

Sometimes we use differences to say that people are worse than we are.

We might say someone is a bad person because they play on a different team than we do.

We might criticize someone as being unimportant because we are more skillful than other people.

We might think, “I’m glad that I play soccer better than that boy.”  Or “I’m glad that I’m a better dancer than that person.”  Or, “I’m glad that I get better grades than that person.”

Sometimes we use our differences to say that we are better than other people.

Jesus told a story about two men.  One was a religious person who was very proud of his religious behaviors.  When he saw a tax collector, he said, “I thank God that I am not like this tax collector.”  When we think that we are better than other people we commit a greater sin, the sin of pride.

We can be proud of our accomplishment without having the kind of pride which is mean towards other people.

Jesus said the tax collector had the right attitude toward God.  When he prayed he said, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”  The tax collector realized that he needed to be better and so he asked God for mercy to give him time to improve his behavior.  The religious man did not think that he needed to get any better and he was proud about this.  He was so proud that he compared himself to the tax collector and despised this man.

The message of Jesus is for us to avoid comparisons with each other if we are trying to say that we are better than other people because of who we are and what we do. 

The lesson for us is to avoid the sin of pride.  Since God is perfect, no matter how good we think that we are, we still have a long way to grow to become even better.  And since we have a long way to go to be perfect, we should be accepting and forgiving of people who are different from us in their abilities and in their faults.

Sermon

  If I have am taller than you, does being taller make me a better person than you?

  If you are older than your brother or sister, does that make you better than your brother or sister?

  If you go to church more than another person does that make you a better person?

  If your soccer team wins a game does that make you better boys or girls than the boys or girls on the losing team?

  When we compare ourselves with other people sometimes we make a big mistake.  Sometimes we think that if we are taller, smarter, faster or have read more books than other people that it means we are better people than those who are different.

  Different does not mean better; it only means different.

  Our country has a famous saying, “All people are created equal.”  This means that even though people are different, they are still equal in the eyes of God.

  Who is the only one who can say that “I am the best?”  Only God can say, “I am the best.”  Only Jesus can say, “I am the best.”  But do God and Jesus brag about how much better they are?  No.

  They try to help us be better; they forgive us and they mercy even as they encourage us to be better every day of our lives.

  Jesus told a story about two men.  One man thought that he was better than the other man.  And the other man did not think that he was better, he just knew that he needed God’s mercy, love and forgiveness.

  And Jesus said it is better to know that we need God mercy and forgiveness because then we will always know that we need to work to be better in life.

  The man who thought that he was better should have been saying, “God is much better than me and even though I can never be as perfect as God, at least I should be working to be as good as I can be.  And when I make some mistakes, I hope God will forgive me, so I can continue to try to be the best I can.”

  Remember the message of Jesus today…We are all created equal, because we all need God’s mercy as we try to be better today than we were yesterday.

  Repeat after me: We are different;  but we are equal.  We are equal because God made us.  God loves us all.  And God has mercy on us all.  Amen.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

October 23, 2016: The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Standing in the Need of Prayer; We Are Marching; As the Deer, Jesu, Jesu

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: Standing in the Need of Prayer   (Christian Children’s Songbook # 210)

Refrain: It’s me, it’s me, it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.  It’s me, it’s me, it’s me O, Lord, standing in the need of prayer.

Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.  Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.  Refrain

Not my neighbor, not my classmate, but it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.  Not my neighbor, not my classmate, but it me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.  Refrain

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; 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: 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 Second Letter to Timothy

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 65

You visit the earth and water it abundantly; you make it very plenteous; * the river of God is full of water.

You prepare the grain, * for so you provide for the earth.

You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; * with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.

You crown the year with your goodness, * and your paths overflow with plenty.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!

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.

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – 

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: We Are Marching (Renew!,  # 306)

We are marching in the light the Lord, we marching in the light of the Lord.  We are marching in the light of the Lord, we are marching in the light of the Lord.

Refrain: We are marching, marching we are marching, Oh, marching we marching in the light of the Lord, of the Lord.  We are marching, marching, we are marching, Oh, marching we are marching in the light of the Lord.

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 God.”

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.

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:   As the Deer Pants for the Water, (Renew # 9)

1          As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you; you alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.  Refrain: You alone are my strength, my shield, to you alone may my spirit yield; you alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you!

2          I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy; you alone are the real joy-giver and the apple of my eye.  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: Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love (Renew! # 289)

Refrain: Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet, Master we acts as slave to them.  Refrain

Neighbors are rich and poor, neighbors are black and white, neighbors are near and far away.  Refrain

These are ones we should serve, these are the ones we should love all these are neighbors to us and you. Refrain

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!