Sunday School, January 15, 2017 2 Epiphany
A
Themes
Changes in our lives
When you grow up you some times have to make changes. You have a different class for first grade
than you did in kindergarten. You have a
different teacher every year. Your interests
might change too. One year you might be
interested in dance and another year soccer or gymnastics.
The Gospel lesson is about some changes:
Peter and Andrew were fishermen; that’s what they did for
earning a living.
Peter and Andrew had John the Baptist as their teacher.
Andrew and Peter had to make some changes.
Jesus called them to become his followers. So they had to quit fishing and spend all of
their time learning from Jesus as their teacher.
Andrew and Peter also changed teachers; John the Baptist had been their teacher, but
he made Andrew and Peter graduate from his class. John the Baptist told them that there was
another teacher who would teach them new and better things. That teacher was Jesus. John the Baptist was happy when his students
graduated and became a part of the school of Jesus as his students.
The lesson for us is this:
Sometimes we don’t like to make changes.
Sometimes we might be afraid of learning new things or having a new
teacher. But learning in life means we
need to accept change when new and better things are offered to us. Sometimes we need to accept new teachers for
our learning because they can teach us new things.
We can learn from Jesus as our teacher. And we are lucky to have many people in our
lives teach us about Jesus and what Jesus taught his students. We have parents, grandparents, friends, pastors,
priests and Sunday School teachers who teach us about Jesus.
Let us be excited about the new changes that will happen in
our lives as we learn to become better students of Jesus Christ.
Sermon
What do you do? Well
you do lots of things don’t you? What
does your mommy and daddy do? They do
lots of things? And who are you? What roles do you live in life?
Mommy, Daddy, son,
daughter, baby, boy, girl, husband, wife, grandma, cook, cleaner, student,
preschooler, driver, engineer, player, walker, runner, builder, repair person,
tax payer, voter, citizen, gardener, shopper….on and on it goes. We get many roles and jobs and
responsibilities in life.
And in all of our
jobs and roles in life we will know happiness and sadness. Some times we know success and sometimes we
know failure. Sometimes we’re happy with
what we are and sometimes we’re sad.
One day Jesus met a
couple of fishermen. And what do
fishermen do? They catch fish so that
people can buy fish to eat.
Even though Andrew
and Peter were fishermen, they had something else that they had to do in their
lives.
They had to become
followers of Jesus Christ.
And you and I,
whether we’re old or young, rich or poor, tall or short, whether we’re in high
school or preschool, whether we’re doctor or teacher or an engineer, we always
have one more thing to do.
We can always follow
Christ. And if we are always following
Christ, we are successful. Why?
We follow Christ,
because we know that Christ has taught us that we are sons and daughters of
God. And since God is our parent,
because God created the world, we know that God loves us.
And if we know that
God loves us, then we can do many things in this life. And if we have some happiness and success God
loves us. And if we have some sadness
and some disappointments, God loves us.
And so we remember
that if we are following Christ and if we are always remembering that we are
sons and daughters of God, then we are doing the most important thing in our
lives.
That is what it
means to be called by Jesus Christ and to be his follower. Amen.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
January 15, 2017: The Second Sunday after The Epiphany
Gathering Songs: This Little Light of Mine, Lord I Want to
be a Christian, Eat This Bread, I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light
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: This Little Light of Mine (The Christian Children’s
Songbook, # 234)
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m going to let
it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, No!
I’m going to let it shine. Hide
it under a bushel, No! I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine,
let it shine.
Don’t let anyone blow it out. I’m going to let it shine. Don’t let anyone blow it out. I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let
it shine, let it shine.
Shine all over my neighborhood. I’m going to let it shine. Shine all over my neighborhood. I’m going to let it shine let, it shine, let
it shine, let it shine.
Liturgist: The
Lord be with you.
People: And
also with you.
Liturgist: Let us
pray
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light
of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments,
may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known,
worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
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 Book of Isaiah
The LORD called me before I was born; while I was in my
mother's womb he named me.
formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back
to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight
of the LORD, and my God has become my strength
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord.
Peope: Thanks be to God
Let us read together from Psalm 40
I waited patiently upon the LORD; * he stooped to me and
heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and
clay; * he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
* many shall see, and stand in awe, and put their trust in the LORD.
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!
Liturgist: The
Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
People: Glory
to you, Lord Christ.
John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is
the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said,
`After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' I myself
did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he
might be revealed to Israel." And John testified, "I saw the Spirit
descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not
know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom
you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy
Spirit.' And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of
God." The next day John again was
standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he
exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard
him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them
following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to
him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you
staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw
where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four
o'clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him
was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to
him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). He
brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of
John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
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.
Offertory: Song during the preparation of the Altar and the
receiving of an offering
Children’s Choir: I
Have Decided to Follow Jesus
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
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,
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: 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: I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light (Renew
# 152)
I want to walk as a child of the light. I want to follow Jesus. God set the stars to give light to the world;
the star of my life is Jesus.
Refrain: In him there
is no darkness at all; the night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God:
Shine in my heart Lord Jesus.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
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