Sunday School, March 3, 2019 Last Sunday after the Epiphany C
Themes:
The last Sunday before the Lenten fast from the word Alleluia.
Saving this special word of celebration for the Easter celebration. During Lent we do not use this special word of celebration.
Event: Make a “mock” coffin and put the word “Alleluia” in it and put it in a “burial place” for Lent.
Other themes:
Mountain tops in the geography of the Bible. Important things happened on the tops of mountains.
The Story of Moses: He received the Law, the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai. When he received the Law, he got so close to God that his face shone. Mount Sinai was covered with clouds so that people could not see the presence of God.
Elijah had special experiences on top of mountains. On Mount Carmel, he challenged the prophets of the god Baal. And the God of Elijah sent down fire from heaven. When Elijah was in a Mountain cave, he had a special experience of God speaking to him in a “still small voice.”
Moses and Elijah had special endings to their lives on earth. Moses had an unwitnessed death and God buried Moses. Elijah was carried away into heaven on the chariots of fire. So Moses and Elijah were like “space men.” They could travel back and forth from the heavenly space to the earthly space. So Moses and Elijah met with Jesus and three of his disciple on the Mount of Transfiguration. In this special event, the voice of God declared Jesus to be God’s chosen Son. This declaration was witnessed by Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John.
Mountains are the highest places on earth. They symbolize the place where earth touches the sky. They symbolize the event of the God experience of men and women.
Each of us has a “mountain top” within us where God meets us and shows us how important Jesus is to our lives.
Sermon
Today the Last Sunday of the Season of Epiphany. And it is also called transfiguration Sunday.
We have read the story about how the face of Jesus shone very bright. And we have made some sunshine haloes to wear today to remember the transfiguration of Jesus.
Do you think that you could ever make your face shine like a light bulb?
Let’s try something. Let us try to make our faces look real sad. Can you do that? And what if we walked around all of the time with sad faces? Would you like that? No, the world would seem dark, if we had to have sad faces all of the time.
Okay, let switch. Let make happy faces and faces of surprise and excitement. Isn’t that better? When we have faces of happiness, joy and gladness, doesn’t it make it seem as though our faces are shining?
When do you have a happy face? When good things happen to you. When some one is kind and nice to you. We smile and we get happy. When we are happy our face is full of light.
So we should learn to make our faces shine with happiness. And we should learn how to make the faces of other people shine with joy and happiness.
The word Gospel means good news. To receive the good news about God’s love makes us happy. It makes our faces shine. And there are many people who help us to have good news in our lives.
But getting good news and being happy is not enough. We need to do something else. We need to learn how to make the faces of other people shine with happiness. How can we do that?
By being kind. By helping. By loving.
When you play nicely with your friends and brothers and sisters, you make them happy. You make your parents happy when you help with house work. You make your parent happy when you study hard. And your parents love to make you happy by doing nice things for us.
So remember today, the Transfiguration of Jesus when his face shone with a bright light.
We too can have faces that shine with happiness and joy because of the good things in our life. And also we can help the faces of other people shine with happiness and joy as we practice love and kindness.
Okay let me see your best happy face! Wow is room getting bright. I’m going to have to put on my sun glasses.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
March 3, 2019: The Last Sunday after the Epiphany C
Gathering Songs: Climb up Sunshine Mountain; Shine, Jesus, Shine; You are My All in All; Awesome God
Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. 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: Climb, Climb up Sunshine Mountain (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 30)
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain heavenly breezes blow. Climb, climb up sunshine mountain faces all aglow. Turn, turn from sin and doubting, look to God on high. Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain, you and I.
Liturgist: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Liturgist: Let us pray
O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; 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: 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
Liturgist: A reading from the Book of Genesis
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
The LORD is great in Zion; * he is high above all peoples.
Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; * he is the Holy One.
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 Luke
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
About eight days after Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Christ of God, Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
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 Hymn: Shine, Jesus Shine (Renew! # 247)
Lord the light of your love is shining, in the midst of the darkness shining. Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us. Set us free by the truth you now bring us. Shine on me. Shine on me.
Refrain: Shine Jesus Shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory. Blaze, Spirit, blaze set our hearts on fire. Flow, rivers, flow, fill the nations with thy grace and mercy. Send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.
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
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.
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. 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: 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 Hymn: You are My All in All (WR#427)
You are my strength when I am weak, you are the Treasure that I seek, you are my All in All. Seeking you as a precious jewel, Lord, to give up I’d be a fool, you are my All in All! Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name. Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name.
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.
(Sung three times)
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
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