Sunday School, February 25, 2018 2 Lent B
Themes
Knowing but not understanding
Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah but he did not
understand what that meant.
We know what it means to be a good student, baseball player,
a good dancer, gymnast or soccer player, but we don’t always understand it what
it means to be a good student, baseball player, dancer gymnast or soccer
player.
Knowing and understanding
We can watch Olympic athletes win gold medals and know about
greatness. But we don’t understand
greatness until we try to do it.
We can become good, smart or great without practice. And practice means doing lots of things that
are not fun. To pass tests at school, we
have to read and study and memorize. To
become a good soccer player we have to practice many, many hours. To be a good dancer or gymnast we have to
practice many hours. And we make
mistakes. We fall and might even hurt
ourselves. But we have to keep trying
over and over again. And sometimes we
quit because we say, “I’m not good at this and I’ll never be good, so I’m going
to quit.”
Peter knew that Jesus was great and he knew that Jesus was
the Messiah, but he did not understand what it would mean for Jesus to be the
Messiah. He did not understand that the
Messiah would have to suffer and die and over come death.
Peter wanted only a triumphant king Messiah. But Jesus is God with us. If God is with us, God has to be with us in
the best times and the worst times. And
pain and death are sad times in human life and if Jesus was really the Messiah,
he had to be with us in the bad and sad time too. So, Jesus suffered and he died. And because he died, he really was with us in
everything that we as people have to go through.
Peter only wanted a “half” Messiah. He wanted a Messiah who did not suffer and
not have to face the things that all human beings had to face.
Jesus said to Peter, “Peter, you know about the Messiah, but
you do not understand the Messiah.” The
Messiah is one who will suffer and die because the Messiah is proof that God is
with us in everything in life, including our death.
Jesus went through death and resurrected; he came back to
life to show us that we have an afterlife.
Let us both know and understand Jesus as the Messiah. Let us know that Jesus is the Messiah because
he was strong enough to be with us in our suffering; he will be with us in our
death; and he will be with us in our afterlife.
Sermon
What is a riddle? A
riddle is a word puzzle to solve. There
many kinds of riddles. Like, where is the
ocean the deepest? On the bottom of
course. Or why do potatoes make good
dectectives? Because they have so many
eyes. A riddle often includes a word
pun. And what is word pun. A word pun is when you use the wrong meaning
for the word that sounds the same.
The words of Jesus
often sound like riddles too. Sometimes
you have to think about them for a long time to understand them.
We have read one of
the riddles today. Jesus said, “If save
your life, you will lose it. If you lose
your life you will save it.” Now that is
quite a riddle, isn’t it? What is
solution to this riddle?
Have you heard about
some difference sciences? Have you heard
about biology? The study of life. Psychology is the science that studies human
behaviors. Zoology is the science of
studying animal life. The names of these
sciences come from Greek words and all of these Greek word mean life. Bios, pseuche, and zoe.
So when Jesus said
we need to lose our life to save our lives, what meaning of life do you think
he was referring to?
Was he referring to
our physical life? Well, maybe. Sometimes heroes lose their lives to save
people right? Like when a fireman goes
into a dangerous fire to rescue someone trapped in a building.
But the Greek word
for life that Jesus used was pseuche.
And that refers to our behavior.
He is saying that we must lose certain behavior for us to save
ourselves. How can we understand
this? Losing life to save it?
Did you know that
when you read a book and learn something you are losing your life? You used to know only this much…but now you
know this much. So you lost your old
understanding and have received new understanding.
How else do you lose
your life and save it? Let’s say that
you are sitting down to watch the TV, and your mother asks you to do something
to help. You really want to watch
TV….but you decide to obey your mother and help. You lost your life of watching TV but you
gained your life of obeying and helping your mother. And you have made yourself better and you
have made your family better by helping.
Now do you
understand this riddle of Jesus, of how we lose our life and save our life?
We also call this a
sacrifice. A sacrifice is when we say no
to something that we really want to do, and do something to help others.
Our family, our
society and our church happen only because people sacrifice. People say no to being selfish, and they say
yes to helping others. This is what
losing our lives and saving our lives means.
During the season of
Lent we practice the life of sacrifice; saying no to some our favorite things,
so that we can say yes to helping make our world a better place.
Do you understand
the riddle of Jesus now? Good.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Holy Eucharist
February 25, 2018: The Second Sunday In Lent
Gathering Songs:
Precious Lord, Take My Hand; He’s Got the Whole World, Break Thou the
Bread of Life; Lift High the Cross
Liturgist: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
People: God’s mercy endures 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.
Opening Song : Take My Hand Precious Lord, (LEVAS #106)
1. Precious
Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand,
precious Lord, lead me on.
2. When my way
grows drear, precious Lord, linger near, when my life is almost gone; Hear my
cry, hear my call, Hold my hand, lest I fall, take my hand, precious Lord, lead
me on.
Liturgist: The
Lord be with you.
People: And
also with you.
Liturgist: Let us
pray
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious
to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent
hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of
your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and
reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Litany of Praise: Chant: Praise the Lord
O God, you are Great!
Praise the Lord
O God, you have made us! Praise the Lord
O God, you have made yourself known to us! Praise the Lord
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior! Praise the Lord
O God, you have given us a Christian family! Praise the Lord
O God, you have forgiven our sins! Praise the Lord
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead! Praise the Lord
Liturgist: A Reading from the Book of Genesis
God said to Abram, "I am God Almighty; walk before me,
and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make
you exceedingly numerous." Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to
him, "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor
of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name
shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I
will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings
shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your
offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant,
to be God to you and to your offspring after you."
The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Let us read together from Psalm 22
Praise the LORD, you that fear him; * stand in awe of him, O
offspring of Israel; all you of Jacob's line, give glory.
For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty;
neither does he hide his face from them; *
but when they cry to him he hears them.
but when they cry to him he hears them.
My praise is of him in the great assembly; * I will perform
my vows in the presence of those who worship 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 Mark
People: Glory
to you, Lord Christ.
Then Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man
must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests,
and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all
this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But
turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get
behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on
human things." He called the crowd
with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers,
let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who
want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my
sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit
them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give
in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed
when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
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
Offertory Song: He’s Got the Whole World (Christian
Children’s Songbook, # 90)
1 He’s got the
whole world; in his hands he’s got the whole wide world in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands; he’s
got the whole world in his hands.
2 Little tiny
babies. 3 Brother and the sisters 4 Mothers and the fathers
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 the 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)
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.
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 by 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 Hymn: Break Thou the Bread of Life (LEVAS # 146)
Bread thou the bread of life, dear Lord to me, as thou didst
break the loaves beside the sea; beyond the sacred page I seek thee, Lord; my
spirit pants for thee, O living word.
(Repeat during communion)
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: Lift High the Cross, (Blue Hymnal # 473)
Refrain: Lift High the cross, the love of Christ
proclaim. Till all the world adore, his
sacred name.
Led on their way in this triumphant sign, the hosts of God
in conquering ranks combine. Refrain
Each newborn servant of the Crucified- bears on the brow the
seal of him who died. Refrain
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, as thou hast
promised, draw the world to thee.
Refrain
So shall our song of triumph ever be: praise to the
crucified for victory. Refrain
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
