Sunday School, December 4, 2016 2 Advent, Year A

Sunday School, December 4, 2016     2 Advent, Year A

Sunday School Theme

A shoot shall come out of the Stump of Jesse

Is a stump dead or alive?

If it is alive why is it still alive?

Answer:  Because of the hidden and underground root system.

Imagine God as the underground and hidden root system of life.  You can’t see God but you know God gives life to everything.

Roots grow plants and trees.  Plants and trees have life cycles.  People are like trees that have grown from God’s creation.  We have life cycles too.  Sometimes what we do is big and beautiful like a marvelous oak tree but fall comes and the leaves change.  People and what we do often change.  God inspired people to do some wonderful things.  Patriarchs like Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Leaders and Law Givers like Moses, Joshua, Deborah and Samuel.  Kings like David and Solomon.  Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Elijah and Elisha.  As God’s people faced new things in their lives, their lives changed.  Sometimes their lives changed so much they seemed to be just like a stump leftover after a tree was cut down because of being used for lumber or because of drought or plant disease.  But new life could always come out of the stump again because of the roots.  God is the hidden roots of life; the appearance of the tree can change and the tree can even be chopped down but a branch or shoot can still grow from the stump because of the roots.  Many bad things happened to the people of Israel.  They were conquered by foreign armies.  They were made slaves and taken to another country.  Jerusalem was destroyed and so was the Temple in Jerusalem.  So, at times it seemed as though the tree of Israel was cut down and it seemed as though only a stump remained.  But the prophets knew that the hidden roots of God’s presence remained even if there seem to be only a stump left.

Out of the Stump of Jesse, Zachariah and Elizabeth came, Mary and Joseph came, and they gave birth to two special sons, John the Baptist and Jesus.  There two special sons gave new life to the “stump of Jesse.”  From Jesus, the church became a new tree out of the stump of Jesse. 

We need to remember today that no matter how much things change on the outside, even when things look like a dead stump, the Invisible Root of God in life can make new things to happen in our human lives, in our personal lives, in our families, in our parish, in our city, in our country and in our world.

A Stump and the Tree are the same because the hidden roots are the source for both.

Let us have faith to remember that God is the hidden root of our lives.  Let us remember that Jesus made the cross a tree of life for us to learn how we can allow God’s life within us to grow and make us a beautiful tree for God.

Sermon on the Jesse Tree

Do you know what a family tree is?  Have you ever made a family tree for a school assignment?  What do you try to do with a family tree?  You try to list everyone who has been in your family in the past.  So, a family looks like an upside down pyramid.  First there is you, your mom and dad, then your grand parents, and your great grand parents, and your great great grand parents, and then you just have to keep adding the greats….and on the side branches of your family tree you have brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and cousins.  Why do we make a family tree?  We want to know something about the people who came before us in our family because we think that we can understand ourselves better if we understand our past family.  We want to be able to tell our story better so we learn about our family of the past.  During the season of Advent, we study our Christian family tree.  Only we call it a Jesse Tree.  Jesse was the father of King David.  And the writer of the book of Isaiah said a famous person would come from the Stump of Jesse or the Tree of Jesse.  And who was that famous person?  It was Jesus Christ.

  So you can make a Jesse tree.  And what do you put on a Jesse Tree?  You put pictures of famous events and people that were written about in the Bible.  So  you might want to makes some stars and put on your tree to remember that God created the heavens and the earth.  You might want to put an apple on your tree, to remember Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  You might want to make a picture of a famous boat?  What is the famous boat called?  Noah’s ark.  And there was also a famous ladder in the Bible.  There was a famous man who had a dream about a ladder between heaven and earth.  Who was this famous dreamer?   And there was a man who ran away from Egypt but God called him back to Egypt and God used a burning bush to talk to this man.  Who was this man?   And in our Jesse Tree, we would want to include the most famous laws that were given to Moses.  What are those laws?  The Ten Commandments.  And you might want to put a crown on your tree to remember the most famous King in the Bible.  King David.  And you might want to put a picture of Stable.  Why?  Who was born in a stable.  And you might want to put a picture of Mary and the baby Jesus on your Jesse tree.

  So you can make a Jesse tree with symbols and pictures of all of stories in the Bible.  And why do we want to know the stories about people in the Bible?  Because we want to know where we came from.  And we want to be able to tell our story about how God loves us.  And we want to be able to tell others about God’s love too.  If you want to do a project at home.  Make a Jesse tree.  And ask your parents to read you some Bible stories.  And you will learn to tell the story of Christ. 

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

December 4, 2016: The Second Sunday of Advent

Gathering Songs: We Light the Advent Candles, I’ve Got Peace Like a River, Jesus, Name Above All Names, Awesome God

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:  We Light the Advent Candles (While lighting the first two purple candles)

We light the Advent candles against the winter night, to welcome our Lord Jesus who is the world’s True Light, to welcome our Lord Jesus who is the World’s True Light.

We light the Second candle, and hear God’s holy Word, it tells us, cling to Jesus, prepare to meet your Lord, it tells us, cling to Jesus, prepare to meet your Lord.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for 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 Prophet Isaiah

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.  His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 72

Give the King your justice, O God, * and your righteousness to the King's Son;

That he may rule your people righteously * and the poor with justice;

That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, * and the little hills bring righteousness.

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 Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke then he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness; `Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

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

Song: I’ve Got Peace Like a River (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 122)

1-I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.  I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river.  I’ve got peace like a river in my soul..

2-I’ve got love….  3-I’ve got joy……

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.

(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:  Jesus Name above all Names (Renew! # 26)

Jesus, name above all names, beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.  Emmanuel, God is with us, blessed Redeemer, Living Word.

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.  (Sing three times)

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!