Sunday School, January 21, 2024 3 Epiphany B

  Sunday School, January 21, 2024    3 Epiphany B

Theme:

The Call of Christ

What do you do in life?  What is your job?  What is your current responsibility?

I don’t have a job, but I am a student.  I am a son or daughter.  I am a friend.  I like to dance.  I like to play soccer and football.  I am a good citizen of my country.

A person has many jobs because in life we have many things that we have to do to live.

James and John were fishermen.  They fished in the Sea of Galilee with their dad Zebedee.  But they were given another job, another purpose in their lives.

Jesus visited them at the sea side while they were repairing their fishing nets.  He call James and John to follow him.  Peter and Andrew were fishermen too and Jesus called them to follow him and become his students and learn to become teachers of the Gospel.

James, John, Peter and Andrew were fishermen.  They never would forget how to fish.  But they could be fishermen and follow Jesus too. 

So whatever we do, we still have something else that we can do.  We can follow Christ.  When we are being a student at school we can follow Christ.  When we are playing soccer, we can follow Christ.  When we are dancing, we can follow Christ.  When we are playing, we can follow Christ.  When we are at home as a son or a daughter we can follow Christ.

So we always have the greater job to do in life and that great job is following Christ.  We do that by living with love and kindness and by teaching others to do the same.

Remember you don’t have to be a priest or a preacher to hear and follow the call of Christ.  Christ calls each us where we are.

Sermon

  How many of you have ever been fishing?  Why do you go fishing?  To catch fish, right?  It’s fun to catch fish but sometimes, fishing is a lot of waiting.  I probably quit fishing because I do not have the patience to wait.   One time, as a boy I went fishing in Minnesota, and a school of crappie were right under the dock.  And we caught fish as fast as we could pull them out of the water.  We caught so many fish that we had to designate limits for even the babies that went with us that day.  But every other time, I have gone fishing; it has not been that easy.  It has been a lot of waiting.  I can wait for lots of things but not for fish to bite so, I gave up fishing.

  Most of us fish for recreation and for fun but two friends of Jesus, Andrew and Peter, they fished because it was their job.  They helped their father Zebedee, who was also a fisherman.  And they used nets in the Sea of Galilee to catch fish and bring them ashore to sell in the towns.

  When Jesus met Peter and Andrew, he told them that he was going to give them another job.  He told them that they were going to fish for people.  What did Jesus mean when he said that they would fish for people?

  Jesus fished for people.  He caught Peter and Andrew.  What does that mean?  It means Jesus knew how to make friends.  He made friends by giving people hope.  He made friends by telling them that God loved them, God cared for them, God forgives them, and that God will preserve them forever, even after they die.  Jesus needed help from people to help get this happy news to as many people as possible.  So he asked Peter and Andrew to help him share this wonderful news.

  Peter and Andrew quit their fishing because they went with Jesus and they learned how to catch people and make them friends of God.  They learned how to tell people good news about God.

  Did yes know that God is fishing for us today.  God is not trying to catch us in a net or on hook.  God is trying to win our hearts and make us friends of God.  How is God trying to make us friends?  God wants us to believe in God’s love, God’s care, God’s forgiveness.  God wants us to have faith instead of fear; God wants us to have hope instead of worry.  God wants us to know that God will preserve our lives even after we die, so we don’t have to live in fear of the future.  That is good news for us, isn’t it?

   And God wants something else.  Just as God fishes for us and catches us.  God wants us to help share the good news with other people and to make them friends of God.  That is how we fish for other people.  We fish for other people by sharing with them the good news about God.

  Today, our message in the Gospel, reminds us that we are to learn how to make friends by sharing with them the good news about God’s love.  How many want to help make friends for God?  I know that you are going to be very good at fishing for people, because you are going to be good at making friends for God.  Amen.

 

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

January 21, 2024: The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Gathering Songs:   Jesus in the Morning, He Is Lord, I Will Make You Good Fisher Folks, When the Saints 

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: Jesus in the Morning  (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 134)

1.         Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in the morning, Jesus at the noontime.  Jesus, Jesus, Jesus when the sun goes down.

2.         Love him, love him, love him in the morning, love him at the noontime.  Love him, love him, love him when the sun goes down.

3.         Serve him, serve him, serve him in the morning, serve him at the noontime.  Serve him, serve him, serve him when the sun goes down.

4.         Praise him, praise him, praise him in the morning, praise him at the noontime.  Praise him, praise him, praise him when the sun goes down.

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.

First Litany of Praise: Alleluia (chanted)

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 Prophet Jonah

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.  When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 62

He alone is my rock and my salvation, * my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.

In God is my safety and my honor; * God is my strong rock and my refuge.

Put your trust in him always, O people, * pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

  

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Liturgist:

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 Mark

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

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 Intercession Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

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.

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 Song:  I Will Make You Good Fisher folk (Christian Children’s Songbook # 58)           

1.         I will make you good fisher folk, good fisher folk, good fisher folk.  I will make you good fisher folk, if you follow me.  If you follow me, if you follow me.  I will make you good fisher folk, if you follow me.

2.         Hear Christ calling, “Come unto me, come unto me, come unto me.”  Hear Christ calling, “Come unto me, and I’ll give you rest.  And I’ll give you rest, and I’ll give your rest.”  Hear Christ calling, “Come unto me and I’ll give you rest.”

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 our 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 up 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, 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: He Is Lord  (Renew! # 29)

He is Lord, he is Lord.  He is risen from the dead and he is Lord.  Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

He is King, he is King.  He will draw all nations to him, he is King: and the time shall be when the world shall sing that Jesus Christ is King.

He is Love, he is love.  He has shown us by his life that he is love; all his people sing with one voice of joy that Jesus Christ is love.

He is life; he is life.  He has died to set us free and he is life; and he calls us all to live evermore, for Jesus Christ is life.

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: When the Saints Go Marching in (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 248)

O, when the saints go marching in, O when the saints go marching in.  Lord I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in.

O, when the girls, go marching in….

O, when the boys, go marching in…

O, when the kids, go marching in…

Dismissal   

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

People:      Thanks be to God!