Sunday School, July 6, 2025 C proper 9
Theme: The kingdom of God is near
Imagine being born in the United States and not being aware that one is an American citizen. What if you went to mom or dad and ask them, “Can I be an American citizen?” Your parents would say, “Dear, you are already an American citizen. You have been an American citizen since you were born. Why don’t you know and believe that you are an American citizen?”
Jesus chose messengers because he knew that many people were living without the knowledge of the most important information of their lives. Jesus wanted people to know that the kingdom of God was very near.
Since God created the world, it means that the world is God’s kingdom. And so all people born in God’s kingdom are God’s children and citizens of God’s kingdom. Jesus found that there were many people who did not know that they were in God kingdom. Jesus found that many people had been tricked by religious leader to believe that God did not care for them and that God was not their Father. Jesus gathered his friends and he taught them to go and tell people about God as their Father and about everyone living in the Kingdom of God. He also sent his friends to tell people the truth about their own lives; to tell all people that they were children of God in God’s kingdom and that no one, not even religious leaders could tell them otherwise.
Today on 4th of July Weekend when we remember that we belong in our country as citizens, we also need to remember that we are citizens of God’s kingdom.
Jesus told his friends that even though they did great and important things, that the best thing of all to remember is that “their names were written in heaven.” This means that being a citizen of God’s kingdom is the greatest thing in life and this is something which we celebrate when we are baptized.
A sermon
Imagine that all of you are princes and princesses and that you live in a castle as your home. And your mom and dads are kings and queens.
That would be like living in a Disney Movie, wouldn’t it?
If your mom and dad were king and queen and you lived in their kingdom, how would you find out that you lived in their kingdom?
Well they would tell you wouldn’t they? As soon as you could walk and talk and understand, you would be told about your family kingdom so that you would know. Wouldn’t it be terrible to be a prince or a princess but not know that you were living in a kingdom? If you were a prince and princess, wouldn’t you want someone to come and tell you about your kingdom?
When Jesus came, he found that many people did not know about a great and wonderful kingdom. So Jesus called and trained disciples and friends to go to as many places as possible and tell people about one thing: He told them to tell all people that the Kingdom of God has come near to you. Jesus told everyone that the Kingdom of God belongs to children. Why did he say this? Because you don’t have to do anything to be in God’s kingdom. When you are born as a baby and as a child, you are already in God’s kingdom. Why? Because God owns everything and everything and everyone belongs to God.
When Jesus came, he saw that people had forgotten this. He saw that people were telling lies. What kind of lies were they telling? They were saying that the world belonged to the Roman Emperors. They were saying that God’s world belonged to the people of one religious belief like the Pharisees or the Sadducees.
Jesus did not like that the wrong information was being taught so he sent his followers to bring the correct message. He said to tell everyone that the kingdom of God has come very near to them.
Jesus came to remind us that even though we have parents; we are also sons and daughters of God and so we live in God’s kingdom from the very day that we are born.
So why do we come to church? Why do we baptize? Why do we have Holy Communion? We come to church to remember that we live in God’s kingdom as children of God. We are baptized as a celebration of our membership in God’s family. We have Holy Communion each Sunday; we eat the bread and drink the wine because we Jesus asked us to do this to remember the kingdom of God. And we are supposed to do this until everyone understands that they live in God’s kingdom.
So we too are to remind people that we live in God’s world and God’s kingdom. When Jesus came, he reminded people that God’s kingdom was very near to them. We need to remember and remind people today of that same message. The kingdom of God is very near to us.
July 6, 2025: The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Gathering Songs:
My Country ‘Tis of Thee; This Land is Your Land; America the Beautiful; God of Our Fathers
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: My Country Tis of Thee, (Blue Hymnal: # 717)
My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty of thee I sing. Land where our fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride. From every mountainside let freedom ring
Our father’s God to thee, author of liberty. To thee we sing; long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light; protect us by thy might, great God, our king.
Liturgist: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Liturgist: Let us pray
O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; 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: 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 letter to the Galatians
My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 30
I will exalt you, O LORD,because you have lifted me up *and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
O LORD my God, I cried out to you, *and you restored me to health.
You brought me up, O LORD, from the dead; *you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
Sing to the LORD, you servants of his; *give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!
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!
For our country and the blessings of freedom that we enjoy. Thanks be to God!
Liturgist: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
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 those who serve in our armed forces. 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 Song: This Land Is Your Land
Refrain: This Land is your land, this land is my land, from California, to the New York Island, from the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters, This land was made for you and me.
As I was walking that ribbon of highway, I saw above me an endless skyway, I say below me that golden valley: This land was made for you and me. Refrain
I’ve roamed and rambled, and I followed my footsteps to the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts; and all around me a voice was sounding: This land was made for you and me. Refrain
When the sun comes shining and I was strolling, and the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rollinging; As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting: This land was made for you and me. Refrain
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.
(Children 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,
(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, 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: America, the Beautiful, (blue hymnal # 719)
O beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country love, and mercy more than life! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul in self control, they liberty in law.
O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years, thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
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: God of Our Fathers (Blue Hymnal # 718)
God of our fathers whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, our grateful songs before thy throne arise.
Thy love divine had led us in the past, in this free land by thee our lot is cast; be thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay, thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
