Sunday School, April 26, 2015 4th Sunday of Easter B Good Shepherd Sunday
Sunday School Themes
Good Shepherd Sunday
Psalm Twenty Three is a famous poem which begins with
“The Lord is My Shepherd.”
Discuss how our lives might be like the lives of sheep
when we compare our lives with the life of God.
Do we feel like our needs are provided for: food and drink, medical and health care,
fellowship and celebration needs?
Do we feel like we are going to live beyond our own
lives? Can we feel like “we are going to
live the house of the Lord forever?”
If we can believe and know that we are cared for by God,
we too will care for others.
Jesus is called the Good Shepherd.
The word Pastor means Shepherd so church leaders are
sometimes called shepherd.
A bishop’s staff or stick is called a crozier or a
shepherd’s staff
Jesus as a Good Shepherd means that he sacrificed his
life to care for his friends.
Jesus as the Good Shepherd means that we are to use the
strength and our abilities to care for others.
We can be both sheep and shepherds. Sometimes we are in need and we need someone
strong to care for us. But sometimes we
are strong and have the ability to care for those in need.
We need to learn how to be both like sheep and like a
good shepherd.
Puppet Show
Characters:
David the Shepherd
Sheep, Lion, Crocodile
Fr. Phil
Father Phil: Boys
and girls, today is good Shepherd Sunday.
And a long time ago when the Bible was written, there were lots of sheep
to take care of. When the people of the
Bible tried to teach about being a good leader, they said being a good leader
was like being a good shepherd. And
Jesus was a good shepherd because he was a good teacher and leader. But there was also a famous shepherd boy who
became the King of Israel. His name was
David. David, hello, do you have time to
talk?
(David is busy rescuing a sheep from a lion)
David, are you there?
David (out of breath after rescuing a sheep): Sorry, I had work to do. I had to chase the lion away from my sheep.
Fr. Phil: David,
that is dangerous. You could get hurt by
the lion. You must be very brave.
David: Well, I
want to take care of my sheep. I get to
know all of my sheep and so I don’t want them to get attacked and hurt.
Fr. Phil: So, you
are good shepherd.
David: Well, I try
to be. I like to be out in valleys and
mountains with the sheep. It gives me
time to pray. And also I can write some
poems too.
Fr. Phil: Have you ever written a poem?
David: Yes, I wrote one that begins, “The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want for anything.”
I wrote that because I am out alone with the sheep and I have come to
know God. And so I feel like God, the
Lord is my shepherd; and because I feel like God takes good care of me, then I
want to be a good shepherd and take good care of my sheep too.
Fr. Phil: Well,
you were a good shepherd. And God noticed
because God made you to be King of Israel.
David: Being a
good king is like being good shepherd.
You have to care for people. A
good King, a good leader is like a good parent.
A good leader takes care of people who need care.
Fr. Phil: Well, people and sheep often need lots of
care. Babies need care, sick people need
care, and hungry people need care.
David: Yes, since
the Lord God is good shepherd, God wants all of us to be good shepherds.
Fr. Phil: Do you
mean that these boys and girls can be good shepherds too.
David: When they
help their moms and dads they are good shepherds. When they take care of your younger brothers
and sisters they are good shepherds.
When they do their chores they are good shepherds.
Fr. Phil: So some times we are sheep and some times we
are shepherds?
David: Yes, that
is true. When we need help, we are like
sheep. And when we help others we can be
shepherds. Oh, Oh, I have to go. I see that a sheep has wandered near the
river and I see a crocodile. See you
later.
(David leaves to rescue the sheep from the crocodile)
Fr. Phil: Boys and
girls, David was a good shepherd because he discovered that he sometimes was
like a sheep and God was his good shepherd.
God sent Jesus to be a good shepherd for us. So when we need help we can ask for
help. And when we are strong, we can be
good shepherds too. Can you remember to
be a good shepherd?
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
April 26, 2015: The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Opening Song:
Morning Has Broken,
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.
Liturgist: Let us
pray
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his
disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may
behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for 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
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us--
and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide
in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and
yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in
truth and action.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Let us read together from Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; *I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *and leads me
beside still waters.
3 He revives my soul *and guides me along right pathways
for his Name's sake.
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 good shepherd. The good
shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the
shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep
and runs away-- and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand
runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good
shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I
know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that
do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my
voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father
loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes
it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down,
and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my
Father, also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one
shepherd."
Liturgist:
The Gospel of the Lord.
People:
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon –
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
Song: Baa, Baa, Little Lamb (Tune: Baa, Baa, Black Sheep)
Baa, baa, little lamb, did you lose your way? Yes sir, yes sir, I was lost today.
Far from my shepherd, far from my home. Far from my flock, I ran off alone.
Baa, baa, little lamb, did you lose your way? Yes sir, yes sir, I was lost today.
Baa, baa, little lamb, who found you? My Good Shepherd
who loves you too.
Left His flock of ninety-nine, Looked for me with love so
kind.
Baa, baa, little lamb, your Shepherd looked for you. Yes sir, yes sir, And He found me too.
Dear little children, does your Shepherd love you? Yes sir, yes sir, He loves you too.
If we sin and go from Him, Jesus brings us back to Him.
Dear little children your Shepherd loves you. Yes sir, yes sir, and He loves you too.
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.
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.
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
It is very good and right to give thanks, because God
made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all
of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might. Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.
(All may gather around the altar)
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.
Blessing and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and
our neighbors.
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 Song:
The King of Love, (Renew! # 106)
1-The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness keeps
me ever. I want for nothing! I am God’s
and God is mine forever.
2-Where streams of living water flow my happy soul God
leads now, and where the greenest pastures grow with food celestial feeds now.
3-Though often foolishly I strayed, still in true love
God sought me; and told me to be unafraid, and home again God brought me.
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: His Sheep Am I, by Orien Johnson
In God’s green
pastures feeding, by His cool waters lie; Soft in the evening walk my Lord and
I. All the sheep of His pastures fare so
wondrously fine. His Sheep am I. Refrain: Waters cool. Pastures green. In the evening walk my Lord and I; Dark the
night, Rough the way, Step by step, my
Lord and I.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Alleluia!
Alleluia! Let us go forth in the
Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!
