Icon, before It was ICON

20 Pentecost, Cycle A, Proper 24, October 22, 2017
Exodus 33:12-23  Psalm 99
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10  Matthew 22:15-22

Lectionary Link

What happens if one avoids paying taxes and gets caught?  A person can be prosecuted and charged for tax evasion.  As long as there has been human society, the issue of taxes has been a prominent human issue.  All of us know that taxes are necessary, we just don't think that our own money is necessary for taxes, but it's okay if its someone else's.

If one wants to start an argument in a room, bring up the issue of taxes.  Taxes were controversial in biblical New Testament times, and from the Gospel lesson today we have the famous statement: Render unto Caesar, the things that are Caesar; Render unto God, the things that are God's.

This Gospel story is set up almost like a Socratic vignette and it highlights the wisdom and the riddle speech of Jesus.

What are some assumptions that undergird this story?  If the Jewish religious leaders could trick Jesus to dissent from the taxes of the Caesar, they could get him to incur wrath of the Roman authorities.  What was the cry during the Passion? "We have no king but Caesar!"  If Jesus was making himself a rival to the Caesar, he would be seen as a political dissident in Palestine.

In the wisdom response of Jesus,  he uses a Greek word that has become common parlance for us today.  Icon.  When the Genesis story was translated into Greek, the word for image was the Greek word that comes into English as "Icon."  Adam and Eve were made as "icons" or "images" of God.  Remember in the Genesis story God takes dust and breathes Spirit life into the dust and creates a "living soul."  So that Spirit life of God breathed into the flesh was the image or icon of God upon human beings.

This should help us understand the numismatic pun of Jesus.  He ask for a denarius a coin with the Caesar image and this image on the coin legitimized the Caesar's right to collect taxes wherever this coin was use.  Whose image is on this coin?  The Caesar's.  Whose image is on the Caesar, a human being living the tradition of people created by God?  God's image is even on the Caesar.  So, Jesus was saying let the Caesar have his coins but let God have everyone on whom God's image is found.  Can we appreciate the wit and wisdom of this rejoinder?

For you and me in stewardship season, if you are worried about taxes or the church taxes called the tithe then consider this: If you and I acknowledge the image of God on our lives then we belong to God, and that means everything we have belongs to God too.  So, acknowledging God's image on our lives means that we offer our possessions for the ministry of God in Christ in our time and place.

There is a further aspect of this story that we should consider.  The Gospels are stories of Jesus which teach the messages of the early church in story form.  St. Paul lived in Rome; he wrote a letter to the Roman churches.  He was aware of the debauchery of the Caesars and the cult worship of the Emperors but at the same time he told the Roman church to pray for the Roman authorities as God ordained agents for keeping order.

What does this mean?  It means that early church had made some peace with the Roman situation.  Taxes built the roads which brought people to the cities.  The church grew as religious social clubs in the cities and the house churches were "under the radar" gatherings for members to embrace their new life in the cities.  The home churches accepted Gentile members without requiring them to live the separate and segregated ritual purity life as was the practice of the members of the synagogue.  So, the message of Christ had more appeal in the Roman situation than what was offered by the synagogue.  The Gospel could travel to the ends of the Roman Empire on Roman roads guarded by Roman soldiers.  So the Roman law included Roman taxes and St. Paul and the early church had made peace with the Roman situation.

The saying of Jesus, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar," is an origin narrative given the authority of Christ for church members to live with a certain public conformity to the laws and taxes of the Roman Empire.

For us today, we find that the Gospel has found success in many countries and cultures.  The churches in many places have had to deliberate on how and when to Render unto Caesar or to kings and governments, the things that pertain to the secular common good.  Every situation is different and Christians need wisdom in different times and places on how to live with "secular" situations.  Different Christian groups are always fighting with the government and courts about "what people of faith are obligated to render unto Caesar, or the laws of our land."

But the more profound issue of this Gospel is the stewardship issue.  Do you and I want to acknowledge or deny the image of God upon our lives?  Perhaps we want to say in a evolutionary sense, "I am more monkey than divine."  If I am more monkey than divine, then I don't need to acknowledge the full ownership of my life by God.  And that is the issue: Do we think that we are closer to  a Darwinian beast trying to be the fit survivors who dominate by taking more for ourselves?  Or do we uphold a doctrine which predates Darwin?  One can hold to evolution and still understand that there is a divine image that directs all of time and human life in the most significant way.

My prayer for all of us is that we would humbly acknowledge the divine image upon us and find it in our spirits energized by God's Holy Spirit.  And then from the Holy Spirit, we can properly render unto God the things that are God's.

And with joyful freedom we can know the things that are given to us can be used in specific ways to fulfill the calling and mission of our parish in this place.  We can represent the image of God on our lives by giving our time, talent and treasure to the common good of our society in general but also the common good, and even the survival, of our local parish.

Friends, let us render unto God the things that are God's.  Let us render unto God our entire lives.  Amen.

Sunday School, October 22, 2017 20 Pentecost A proper 24

Sunday School, October 22, 2017          20 Pentecost A proper 24

Theme:

Why do children look like their parents?

Imagine sitting all children on one side of the church and all parents sitting on the other side of the church.  Then have a stranger come into the church and try to match parents with their children.

They would get many matches correct.  Why?  Because sometimes a child’s nose, eyes, or face shape looks just like one or both of their parents.  One could say that a child bears the image of the child’s parent.  And so we could guess which child belonged to specific parents.

Jesus used the word image to talk about a coin.  It was a Greek word, the same word that we know from computer use, the word “icon.”  When Jesus was asked about paying taxes to the Caesar, he asked for a coin.  Just like our coins have pictures of president’s one them, the ancient coins had pictures of the Caesar, the King of the Roman Empire stamped on them.  When the Emperor’s image or icon was stamped on the coin, it meant that the Emperor could collect taxes.

Jesus knew the Genesis creation story.  In the Genesis creation story, it says that Adam and Eve, the first people were made in the “image” of God.  This means that in some way people are like God.  How?  We have a spirit inside of us and this spirit is how we are made in God’s image.

Caesar was a man just like Adam and Eve.  So the Caesar was made in God’s image, even if he did not admit it or worship God.  Jesus was making a pun:  If the Caesar image was on the coin, then he could have the coins for collecting his taxes.  But God’s image was on the Caesar, so Jesus was saying that the Caesar and everyone really belongs to God. 

The purpose of our lives is to learn to live to show that we belong to Christ and this is message that Jesus was teaching with his riddles.

Sermon:

  If I had all of the children sit on this side of the room and all of the parents sit on this side of the room.  And then I have a stranger who did not know anyone here come into the room and look at you.  Do you think that this stranger could tell which children belonged to which parent?  And how could a stranger match you and your parents?  Because you look like your parents…you have their noses, their eyes, their hair color.  So you look like your parents.  You in some way are an image of your parents.  And so you belong together as a family.

  We’ve read a story today about some people who tried to trick Jesus about taxes.  Do you know what taxes are?  Taxes are the money that we pay to the government to pay for the army, the roads, the courts and all of the things that the government does for us.  It is a law that if we make money, we have to pay taxes.

  So some people came to Jesus and asked him if he paid taxes to the King, called the Caesar.  Jesus knew that they were trying to trick him into saying that people should not pay taxes and that would get him into trouble.

  What did Jesus do?  He taught them a lesson.  He asked them to show them a coin.  I’m going to show some of the coins that are just like the one Jesus asked for.  These coins are more than two thousand years old.  If you look carefully at these coins you can see that the head of the King called Caesar is stamped on these coins.  And these coins were used to pay taxes to the King.

  Jesus asked his questioners?  Whose image is on this coin?  And they said, “It’s the King’s image.”

  And Jesus said, “Then give the coins that belong to the King to him, but give to God the things that belong to God.”

  Now this was a very smart saying.  Do you know why?

  Jesus had read the book of Genesis about the creation of the world.  And in the book of Genesis it is written that men and women are created or made in the image of God.  So if men and women are made in the image of God, who do they belong to?  To God.

  Was Caesar the King a Man?  Who did he belong to?  To God, because he was made in God image.

  The most important lesson in life is to learn that we belong to God because God made us.  And how do we show that we appreciate God?  We worship God.  We praise God.  We thank God.  And obey God’s rules about how we should live.  And we are to love God and love our neighbor.  That is how we show that we belong to God and how we give the very best of our lives.

  Do we have to pay a tax to God, since we are like God’s coins?  Yes, we do pay a tax to God by loving God and loving our neighbors as our self.

  Jesus came to remind us that we are all children of God and so we need to learn to live as children of God.  Can you remember that?  Amen.

Family Eucharistic Liturgy

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

October 22, 2017: The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah; As a Deer, Now Let Us from This Table Rise; Down in My Heart

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: Hallelu Hallelujah  (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 84)

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord.   Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord.  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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

A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

Grace to you and peace. We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 99

The LORD is great in Zion; * he is high above all peoples.

Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; * he is the Holy One.

"O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; * you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."

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 Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

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. (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 Music:  As the Deer Pants for the Water, (Renew # 9)

1          As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you; you alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.  Refrain: You alone are my strength, my shield, to you alone may my spirit yield; you alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you!

2          I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy; you alone are the real joy-giver and the apple of my eye.  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 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.  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,

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 Hymn:  Now Let Us from This Table Rise, (Renew! # 242)

Now let us from this table rise, renewed in body, mind, and soul; with Christ we die and live again, his selfless love has made us whole.

With minds alert, upheld by grace to spread the word in speech and deed, we follow in the steps of Christ, at one with all in hope and need.

To fill each human house with love, it is the sacrament of care; the work that Christ began to do we humbly pledge ourselves to share.

Then grant us courage, Father God, to choose again the pilgrim way, and help us to accept with joy the challenge of tomorrow’s day.

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: Down in My Heart, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 45)

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart.  WHERE? Down in my heart.  I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart to stay.

I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart.   WHERE?  Down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart.  I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart to stay.

I’ve got the peace that passes understanding, down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart.  I’ve got the peace that passes understanding, down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart to stay.

Dismissal:   

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

People:      Thanks be to God! 

Numismatic Lesson on Being Icons of God

19 Pentecost, Cycle A, Proper 24, October 19, 2014

Exodus 33:12-23  Psalm 99

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10  Matthew 22:15-22

Lectionary Link

We would readily admit that Jesus of Nazareth was very charismatic.  But today we must note that he was very numismatic.  He took a sudden interest in coins to teach a very important lesson.  We all know how to create a public stir.  Just bring up the issue of taxes at a party and the fur will fly.  Some of the religious opponents of Jesus apparently wanted to audit Jesus.  They want him to go on the record to oppose paying taxes to Caesar.  If they could trick Jesus into encouraging the non-payment of taxes then certainly the local representatives of the Caesar would take notice and take Jesus out of circulation.  And eventually we are told that Jesus died because he was understood to be a competitor to the Emperor.

Jesus as a wisdom teacher and clever debater, knew how to argue very contextually but also present profound theological insights.  Jesus was not going allow himself to be painted into the corner by his opponents; he was not going to be forced into a conclusion based upon the forced logic of his interlocutors.

Jesus was knowledgeable about the numismatic practice of his time.  Historians and archaeologists are thrilled about the coins of the ancient world because the coin provided a durable record of the ancient societies.  Lots of things break down with erosion and corrosion but coins have endured to provide a reliable record.  Coins were stamped with the face of the king or ruler of the time and place.  Sometimes a coin was re-minted with a succeeding emperor super-imposed upon the image of a previous emperor.  Each emperor had an identifiable image on a coin.  The emperor's image on a coin was proof of the control of the emperor in a certain geographical area but it also was the evidence that the emperor could collect taxes for his own personal wealth, for standing armies and for public work projects.

Jesus turned a numismatic question into the most basic theological question of the book of Genesis, with a question:  Show me a coin.  Whose image is on this coin?  The Caesar's.  Then give to the Caesar the things which bear his image, but give to God the things which bear the image of God.  And what are we told in the book of Genesis bears the image of God?  Yes creation bears the image of God but most specifically, Adam and Eve.  In the image or ikon of God, they were created.

And so Jesus was saying, "Let Caesar have his coins, but the Caesar really belongs to God because the Caesar is a man who bears the image of God."

Jesus was saying, You can argue about coin and money; I am concerned about the very souls of men and women.  Men and women belong to God and the entire point of life is to come to acknowledge the divine ownership of our lives.

We may say about our children, "he favors his daddy or she has her mom's eyes" and so by looking at biological parents and children we can do some match making because children bear the images of their parents.  And so someone can look at a child and say, "he's your child or she's your child."

Jesus was looking at every person, including the emperor and saying, "You are God's children....now start acting that way."  Jesus introduced the Fatherhood of God with his life and he did not do this to proclaim himself as an exclusive son of God;  he did it so that we might recover the theology of the Genesis story, namely, we have always already been sons and daughters of God because we bear upon ourselves the divine image.

This discussion of Jesus regarding coins and taxes can help us to end all of our discussions about taxes and time, talent, and treasure which we give to our governments and to our charitable organizations and to our parish church.

If we are arguing about whether we have to pay taxes or whether we should give our time, talent and treasure to God or if we are worrying about how much of our time, talent and treasure then we are missing the point of Jesus.

The point is that we and all that we have belongs to God and it is not ours to give.  It is only ours to be stewards of in how we choose to honor God and help the fellowship of the people of our community.

Jesus is saying point blank: Don't argue the ownership issue.  Even as great as the emperor is, he does not own his own life even though he may act as though he does.  Apparent ownership can only be faked for the number of days which is given for us to live and so it is better to think about making our lives, our time, our talent, our treasure, objectively immortal by adding excellence and quality of life to our community while we live and as a truly enduring legacy after we have left.

Stewardship is the way in which we live the values of our lives.  And the main stewardship question is: Do we live our lives as though we belong to God?

For Christians, the sign of the cross has become a way of acknowledging the ownership of God upon our lives.  Jesus Christ was the divine presence to us in human form.  Jesus belonged so much to God his Father, he himself had the image and likeness of God in its clearest human manifestation.  Jesus was given to us as God's special son, so that we might come to know ourselves as God's sons and daughters.

And so at baptism we celebrate our membership in God's family.  We have the cross branded upon our foreheads using the royal anointing oil of chrism as we are invested as crown princesses and crown princes of God.  "You are sealed with the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ's own forever."

How do we live the reality of our ownership by God through Jesus Christ?  We try to make the sign of the cross over all of the things of our lives as we intentionally recognize the ownership of all things by God.  In our intentional recognition of the ownership of all things by God, we also accept all things as wonderful gifts of God for us to use for our necessities, enjoyment and for the care of as many people as we can.

This wonderful Gospel encounter with the numismatic Jesus is a reminder to us about the basic stewardship issue of life:  To whom do we belong?  And if we acknowledge that we belong to God, what kind of moral and ethical expressions do we perform in how we use our time, talent and treasure.

May God bring us to insight about the divine image which we bear on our lives.  And may we learn to please our heavenly parent always and to follow our first brother Jesus in learning to please God and to practice love and justice with all in our lives.  Amen

Sunday School, October 19, 2014 19 Pentecost Cycle A, Proper 24

Sunday School

Music: Hosanna!  (Renew! # 71)

Theme: The image of God.
   How can we tell if a child belongs to a parent?
   A child may look like a mother or father or have the same color of eyes and hair.
   We say a child has the "image" of his or her parent.
   How do we know that we belong to God?
   The book of Genesis in the creation story tells us that men and women were created in the image of God.
   If we are born in the image of God then we belong to God.
   Jesus was asked if he needed to pay taxes to the Emperor.
   Jesus asked for a coin and it was stamped with the image of the Emperor's head.
   An Emperor's head was on the coins so that he could collect taxes.
   But Jesus said we belong to the one whose image we bear.
   And since the Emperor was a man made in the image of God, the Emperor belonged to God.
   So in our lives we are trying to learn how to live to show that we belong to God.


Puppet Show:

Roary, Roary,Jr.  and Adam and Eve


Eve:  Hello Roary, I thought I heard another lion roaring.

Roary:  Well, you probably heard Roary, Junior roaring.  Come Junior, let introduce you to Noah.

Adam: Hello, Junior.  I'm happy to meet you. Now I know why you are called Junior because you look a lot like your dad.

Junior: Well, that what the other animals in the jungle say.  I can never get into any trouble because when people see me they say, "You look like Roary, Senior" and so if I try to steal some chickens then they always tell my dad and I can get into trouble.  So, because I look like my dad, I have to be good like my dad or someone will tell on me.

Adam: Well, I know your problem Roary.  Eve and I have the same problem.

Junior:  Why do you have the same problem?

Eve:  Well, God said that Adam and I were made in the image of God.  And if we are made in the image of God, then we are supposed to act like God acts.


Roary:  Well, God is perfect so how can you be perfect?

Adam:  We can't be perfect but God made us so that we can grow and learn and always get better.

Eve:  It is good that we are made in the image of God because it means that we will always have room to grow.

Roary:  Well, I have pleased that I have a son who looks like me.  I am proud of him.

Adam:  Well, Eve and I and all boys and girls need to live to make God proud of us because we are made in God's image.

Roary: Well, good luck Adam and Eve!  If you are made in God's image, then God made you very good and it is very important to remember that God did not make a mistake when he made you.

Junior:  Good luck to you Adam and Eve.  I have to learn to live up to the image of my dad.  And you have to live up to the image of God who made you to be good.

Adam: Okay, Eve, let's asks for God's help to be as good as we can and let's remind the boys and girls here today that they too are very good because God made them special.  God made them in the image of God.  Boys and Girls, can you remember that God made you very good?

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

October 19, 2014: The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah; Now Let Us from This Table Rise; Down in My Heart

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: Hallelu Hallelujah  (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 84)

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord.   Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord.  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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

A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

Grace to you and peace. We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 99

The LORD is great in Zion; * he is high above all peoples.

Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; * he is the Holy One.

"O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; * you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."

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 Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

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. (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 Music:  As the Deer Pants for the Water, (Renew # 9)

1 As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you; you alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.  Refrain: You alone are my strength, my shield, to you alone may my spirit yield; you alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you!

2 I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy; you alone are the real joy-giver and the apple of my eye.  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 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.

(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.

 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:        Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Hymn:  Now Let Us from This Table Rise, (Renew! # 242)

1.      Now let us from this table rise, renewed in body, mind, and soul; with Christ we die and live again, his selfless love has made us whole.

2.      With minds alert, upheld by grace to spread the word in speech and deed, we follow in the steps of Christ, at one with all in hope and need.

3.      To fill each human house with love, it is the sacrament of care; the work that Christ began to do we humbly pledge ourselves to share.

4.      Then grant us courage, Father God, to choose again the pilgrim way, and help us to accept with joy the challenge of tomorrow’s day.

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: Down in My Heart, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 45)

1.   I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart.  WHERE? Down in my heart.  I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart to stay.

2.   I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart.   WHERE?  Down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart.  I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart to stay.

3.   I’ve got the peace that passes understanding, down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart.  I’ve got the peace that passes understanding, down in my heart.  WHERE?  Down in my heart to stay.

Dismissal:   

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

People:      Thanks be to God!