Sunday School, April 28, 2024 5 Easter B
Sunday School Themes
The writer of the Gospel of John uses examples from farming and agriculture to teach lessons.
How close is a branch to the main stem of a plant?
How close are the leaves and fruit to a grape vine?
Very Close
When we speak about a grape plant we know that they consist of a root, stem or vine and branches which have leaves and grapes.
Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches.”
This means that the life of Christ is very close to us and a part of us.
How does the life of the vine give life to the branches? Plant blood is called “sap” and it flows inside of the plant to provide life food to all parts of the plant.
Jesus said there is something like sap which keeps us connected to him.
This sap would be the experience of God’s Holy Spirit who keeps us connected to Christ as the special life of God which we can find within ourselves, but we need to pay attention to it through prayer and study.
Allegorical Role playing Dialogue
Vine and Branchie.
Branchie: I am getting tired of just hanging around. I want to leave this neighborhood and go away.
Vine: How are you going to do that?
Branchie: Well, I will just swing really hard in the wind until I fall off on the ground and then I’ll get up and walk away.
Vine: I don’t think so Branchie. That is not the way plant life works.
Branchie: Why not? Why can’t I leave this neighborhood?
Vine: Well, you will always be a branch and you cannot be anything else. So you have to follow the rules for branches.
Branchie: What kind of rules?
Vine: Well, sometimes you have to get a “hair cut.” You have to get pruned and trimmed.
Branchie: Ouch, that hurts.
Vine: Yes, but it makes you grow much better and it helps you grow the very best grapes. You like to grow grapes don’t you?
Branchie: Well, yes, but why can’t I leave this neighborhood and travel?
Vine: You can because if you are broken off from me, you will lose your supply of plant blood and you will dry up and die and you will just be recycled.
Branchie: What is plant blood?
Vine: Plant blood is called sap and you get your sap from me your Vine. And you cannot live without the plant blood called sap. So you have to stay connected to me. I am happy to provide you with plant blood and I like to have you living close to me.
Branchie: But can I ever leave or travel and still live?
Vine: You can in a different way. When you produce wonderful grapes, then your grapes are used for wine and for eating but also you produce more seeds for more grapevines. And so the grapes are like your children and they get to travel and create more plant life everywhere. They get to provide wonderful life for the people who eat them. So you have a very important role in life.
Branchie: Yes, I do and I want to produce many good grapes so I want to stay close to you my Vine so that the plant blood or sap can continue to give me good life.
Vine: I would like these boys and girls to know that Jesus is like a Vine. The Risen Christ is like a big tree with many branches. And each of these boys and girls are like branches on the tree of Christ. And they have the wonderful plant blood or sap inside of them. Inside of each of these boys and girls is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God provides a wonderful special kind of life within them and this special kind of life will last forever, even after they leave this earth.
Branchie: Wow. That is a special life.
Vine: Boys and Girls can you repeat after me: Christ is the true Vine of my life. He provides me with the special inner life of God’s Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sermon
I would like to tell you story about Molly. Molly was a wonderful little girl who liked to help her mom. She used to watch her mom do all kinds of things. She watched her cook in the kitchen and she watched her work in the garden.
Molly liked to help her mom and do special things for her. One day she watched her mom plant a small tree in the yard. It was just a small tree, but it had four branches on it with leaves.
Molly thought she would like to help mom and surprise her.
She thought, “Mom loves trees. What if planted more trees for her?”
Do you know what Molly did? When mom went to the store, Molly decided to surprise her. She went out to mom’s tree and she broke off the four branches. And she planted each of these branches in the ground. And she was very excited because now mom would have five trees and not just one tree.
When mom came home from the store, Molly went out to see her and she was excited to tell her about a special surprise. She said, “Mom, you planted just one tree, but now you have five trees.”
And mom asked, “How did you do that Molly?” Molly took her out to the yard and showed her how she had broken four branches from the tree and planted them in the ground.”
Mom did not want to disappoint Molly, so she said, “You will have to remember to water your new trees.” And so Molly watered her new trees every day, but they did not grow. In fact, the leaves on the trees turned dark and they became brittle and soon the wind blew them away.
Molly was disappointed that her trees would not grow. She decided to pull one of them out of the ground and she saw that it was just a dead stick.
Molly asked her Mom, “What happened? Why didn’t my trees grow?”
Her mom told her, “The branches can only grow if they stay attached to the trunk of the tree. The roots of tree suck up water and plant food in the ground and makes a tree blood called sap. And if you cut the branch off, the branch no longer gets the tree blood called sap and it dries up and dies.”
Jesus told his friends, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” The branches can live because they stay attached and connected to the vine. They get the plant blood called sap.
Jesus used this riddle to teach a lesson. He said that we needed to remain connected to him.
How do we do that? We pray. We learn. And we find within ourselves the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like the sap that flows through a plant. It keeps branches alive, connected and attached to the vine.
So too, the Holy Spirit deep inside of us keeps us connected to Christ. And if we remain connected to Christ, we have the ability to have the fruits of the Spirit. What are they? Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, self-control and humility.
The lesson for us today to remain connected to Christ so that we can grow the fruits of the Spirit.
Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist
April 28, 2024: The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Gathering Songs: Glorify Your Name; If You’re Happy; Alleluia; Lord, I Lift Your Name
Liturgist: Alleluia, Christ is Risen.
People: The Lord is Risen Indeed. Alleluia.
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.
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First 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 First Letter of John
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Let us read together from Psalm 22
My praise is of him in the great assembly; * I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: * "May your heart live for ever!"
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, * and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.
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 John
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
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
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.
Holy 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.
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.
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: Alleluia (Renew! # 136)
- Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- He’s my Savior, Alleluia… 3. He is worthy, Alleluia…. 4 I will praise him, Alleluia
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.
Lord, I lift your name on high; Lord, I love to sing your praises.
I’m so glad you’re in my life; I’m so glad you came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way, from the earth to the cross, my debt to pay.
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky; Lord, I lift your name on high.
Repeat
Liturgist: Alleluia! Alleluia! Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!
