Sunday School, March 31, 2019 4 Lent C
Themes
St. Paul wrote about our lives becoming a new creation. We need God’s help in re-creating our lives in better ways? Why? Because some things are very difficult.
One of the most difficult things in life is forgiveness.
Forgiveness is interesting. We know that we are not perfect and so we want people to give us second and third chances when we make mistakes. But sometimes it is hard for us to give other people second and third chances. Some times it is very difficult to forgive people who do bad things, and especially when they do them to us.
Jesus told a parable to show us that it is very hard to forgive. It is a story about unfairness which happened in a family. It is about a brother who found it very difficult to forgive his younger brother. Sometimes older brothers and sister think that the youngest children in the family have it the easiest because it seems to them that mom and dad have easier rules for the youngest children in the family.
Jesus told a story about a very sad father. The father was sad because his youngest son wanted to leave him and he wanted to take with him all of the money that he would get from his father after his father would die. The young son took all of the money and moved away and wasted it and became very poor. And he was so poor that he just wished he could work as a slave on his father’s farm. So he went home. And his father did not let him work as a slave. He was happy that he returned and gave him a party.
The older brother who never left home and always obeyed his father was angry and said it was not fair. Why did his dad give a party for the son who had behaved so badly?
And that is riddle of the story. It is really hard and unfair to forgive people who have broken the law and done some really bad things. But the miracle of God is to have mercy and forgiveness and to keep giving people more chances when they learn from their mistakes and want to improve their lives.
God has mercy on all of us when we aren’t perfect and yet when we realize our mistakes and want to improve our lives. Sometimes when a person is bad in something where we are good, it is hard to forgive them. We have to remember that sometimes we are bad in things where other people are good and we need them to forgive us.
The lesson we learn is that forgiveness is sometimes easier to accept than to offer. And because forgiveness is hard, that is where we need to accept the forgiveness which is the gift of God as a loving parent.
Let us pray to God to ask God to give us the gift of forgiveness even as we freely accept the forgiveness from God and from the people who love us even when we are not perfect.
A Sermon about when being good can turn into being bad
Today we have read a story of Jesus about a family: A father, a younger son and his older brother. The stories of Jesus are called parables. A parable is a story that has an important message for us to learn.
And this parable has a riddle in it. And the riddle in this: When can being good, turn into being bad?
One day the young son said to his father, “Dad, I am leaving. I’m tired of living here. I want all of the money that you will give me after you die so I can leave and live elsewhere.” Dad was very sad to hear this, but he gave his young son lots of money and his son left.
Well, the young son went far away from home and he did not use his money very well. He partied, he spent it foolishly on his friends. He gambled and he lost all of his money. He ran out of all of his money; he didn’t have any money to buy food. So, he had to take a job taking care of pigs. He watched the pigs eat; and he thought: I’m so hungry, even the pig’s food looks good. Even the lowest paid workers on my father’s farm earn more than I do and have more food than I have. May be if I go back to my father, he will let me work on his farm and get enough to eat. So he went back home. And when his father saw him coming, he decided to throw a big party for him and welcome him back. The young son said, “Dad, I made a mistake and I lost all my money; just let me work as one of your servants.” But his father was so happy to see him; he treated him just like his son.
Well, the older brother was not happy about it. He told his Dad, “I stayed with you and I have worked hard. And you have not thrown me a party. And how can you let my little brother back into the family after he did such a terrible thing?” So the good brother became angry and resentful because his father welcomed and forgave his brother. So his goodness turned to badness because he was angry at his father for forgiving his brother.
And so here is the lesson of the parable. God forgives anyone who tries to make their life better. Whether we have done wrong or whether we have been good. We can always get better. And we are not perfect, so we always need forgiveness and we always need to get better.
And when and where we are good; we should not get angry when someone who has done something bad is willing to say that they are sorry and willing to change their lives.
We should remember that God is like the father in the story. God is the one who forgives everyone who wants to be forgiven. That is why we confess our sins, the things that we have done wrong and we make a promise to work to get better. And we learn that God forgives us; so we should not be angry if God forgives other people too.
Let us learn today to accept God’s forgiveness. And let us learn to forgive each other too.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
March 31, 2019: The Fourth Sunday in Lent
Gathering Songs: This Little Light of Mine, Awesome God, Dona Nobis, He’s Got the Whole World
Song: This Little Light of Mine (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: Bless the Lord who forgives all of our sins.
People: God’s mercy endures 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.
Liturgist: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Liturgist: Let us pray
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Litany of Praise: Chant: Praise be to God!
O God, you are Great! Praise be to God!
O God, you have made us! Praise be to God!
O God, you have made yourself known to us! Praise be to God!
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior! Praise be to God!
O God, you have given us a Christian family! Praise be to God!
O God, you have forgiven our sins! Praise be to God!
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead! Praise be to God!
Liturgist: A reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians
If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; * you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; * I will guide you with my eye.
Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)
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 them this parable: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'
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: 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)
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.
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: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore let us keep the feast.
Words of Administration
Communion Song: Dona Nobis Pacem, (Renew! # 240)
Dona nobis pacem, pacem, dona nobis pacem. Dona nobis pacem, dona nobis pacem. Dona nobis pacem, dona nobis pacem.
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: He’s Got the Whole World (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 90)
He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got the whole wide world in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands.
He’s got the little tiny baby in his hands. He’s got the little tiny baby in his hands. He’s got the little tiny baby in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands.
He’s got the boys and the girls in his hands. He’s got the boys and the girls in his hands. He’s got the boys and the girls in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
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