Sunday School Themes for the
Presentation
Have the class speak about
important personal and family events like birthdays, wedding anniversaries,
weddings, baptism, confirmation and graduations. We celebrate important events in our lives.
Forty days after Jesus was born, the
parents of Jesus followed the important family customs of the Jewish
religion. Jesus was presented to the
priest in the Temple in Jerusalem. His
Mother Mary, who had spent forty days of special care for her baby Jesus came
out into public for the first time. Mary
and Joseph present Jesus in the Temple.
Why? They were giving thanks to
God for giving them such a special child.
They also were presenting him to God and admitting that Jesus belonged
to God as God’s son.
We in our church have something
like the Feast of the Presentation. We
have a special service for parents to come to church with their new babies and
give thanks to God for their new babies.
We also baptize new babies and when we do, we present them to God as a
child of God, and as one who has Jesus as a big brother.
Remember Jesus and his Mother
presented themselves to God with thanksgiving.
We too have been presented to God and we should live our lives as though
we belong to God as sons and daughters of God.
Jesus was a human child but he was
the special Son of God. We are human
children, but in our baptisms we celebrate that Jesus presents us to God the
Father as God’s children too.
The Presentation February 2, 2020
Malachi 3:1-4 Ps.84:1-6
Heb. 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40
Today we are still in
the season of Epiphany but we also have a special day called the feast of the
Presentation.
If you are counting, it is
now forty days from Christmas. So it is fort days after celebrating the
birth of Jesus.
When Jesus was a baby,
each mother had were required to take at least forty days of maternity leave
from going into the public for worship. It probably is good to give moms
at least forty days to have some private time with their new babies.
But after forty days, the
mothers and fathers would bring the baby to the temple, and if the oldest baby
was a boy, then the boy had to be presented to God at the Temple. The
mother would bring an offering to give thanks for the birth and safety of the
child.
The offering was supposed
to be a lamb. A long time ago when Moses was in Egypt many of the
oldest sons were dying and God told Moses to tell the families to prepare a
lamb to eat and this lamb would be a substitute offering in place of their
sons.
We don’t understand God in
the same way today. But because of this Moses story, the people of Israel
had this custom to offer a lamb when they presented their old son to God in the
Temple.
Mary and Joseph did not
present a lamb for their son Jesus; they gave turtle doves because they were
poor.
When Mary and Joseph
presented Jesus at the Temple, something wonderful happened. An older man
named Simeon saw Jesus and he blessed the baby Jesus with a song. And he
made a prediction about Jesus. He said that Jesus would be like a light
to the entire world. He said that Jesus would be a Savior.
This story about the
presentation of Jesus teaches us some lessons. It tells us that after
Jesus became very famous and after many people began to know Jesus as their
Savior, the church told the story of the greatness of Jesus from the very
beginning of his life.
This story of the
presentation is also about you and me. Jesus was presented to God as a
Temple. You and I are presented to God in our baptisms. When we are
baptized we celebrate that we are sons and daughters of God and so we belong to
God.
And we promise to live our
lives as sons and daughters of God. And so we promise to love and care
for each other and to care for this world which belongs to God.
Today, let us remember
that Jesus was presented to God in a very special way by his parents. But
let us also remember too, that you and I are presented to God as well because
God receives us as sons and daughters. So let us remember to live our
lives as sons and daughters of God. And let us remember to honor and obey
our parents too, because God has given them a special role in helping us to
live as sons and daughters of God.
Say with me today: I
am a child of God. I belong to God. And I present myself to God
again today. Amen.
Intergenerational Service with
Holy Eucharist
February 2, 2020: The
Presentation
Gathering Songs:
Hosanna, Hosanna; I Come
with Joy; May the Lord
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: Hosanna, Hosanna in the
Highest! (Renew! # 71)
1
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in
the highest! Lord we lift up your name with hearts full of praise; Be
exalted, oh Lord my God! Hosanna in the highest!
2
Glory, Glory, glory to the King of kings! Glory, Glory, glory to the King of
kings! Lord we lift up your name with hearts full of praise; Be exalted oh Lord
my God! Glory to the King of kings!
Liturgist:
The Lord be with you.
People:
And also with you.
Liturgist: Let us pray
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer
readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good
News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of
his marvelous works; 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
A Reading from the book of
Malachi
Thus says the Lord, See, I am
sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek
will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you
delight-- indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the
day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a
refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold
and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord.
Peope: Thanks be to God
Let us read together from Psalm
24
Lift up your heads, O gates; lift
them high, O everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in.
"Who is this King of
glory?" * "The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in
battle."
Lift up your heads, O gates; lift
them high, O everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in.
"Who is he, this King of
glory?" * "The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory."
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.
When the time came for their
purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up
to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the
Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the
Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the
law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous
and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit
rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not
see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon
came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do
for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and
praised God, saying, "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in
peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation
to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." And the child's
father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon
blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the
falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed
so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your
own soul too." There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of
the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven
years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never
left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At
that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to
all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had
finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with
wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Liturgist:
The Gospel of the Lord.
People:
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Lesson – 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.
Offertory: Song during the
preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering
All Things Bright and
Beautiful
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. 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: I Sing the Mighty Power of God,
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: May the Lord (Sung
to the tune of Eidelweiss)
May the Lord, Mighty God, Bless
and keep you forever, Grant you peace, perfect peace, Courage in every
endeavor. Lift up your eyes and seek His face, Trust His grace
forever. May the Lord, Mighty God Bless and keep you for ever.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the
Name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
People: Thanks be to God!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
No comments:
Post a Comment