Sunday School, September 21, 2014 15 Pentecost A Proper 20

September 21, 2014 15 Pentecost A Proper 20 Sunday School dule:

Theme: Different but Equal, The parable of the same wages for everyone even though some worked long
             Teaching points: Remind students that everyone is different but each person has equal worth and dignity.  Illustrate by showing what a tall person might do that a short person can't or what older people do which children don't.  Differences in looks and abilities and ages and in all things do not diminish one's value.

Craft: Make a Snowflake pin and write on it: Each snowflake is special and so am I.

Puppet Show:

The Law of Justice

Election Day in the Jungle

Officer George: Today we are voting in the Jungle.  And now the polls are open.  Line up.

Who's first?

Roary the Lion:  I'm first.

Ally the Alligator: I'm next.

Tookey the Toucan: My turn.

Mooney the Monkey: Wait for me.  Don't close the voting yet.

Ellie the Eagle:  I'm swooping into vote.

Officer George: Okay, the voting is now closed.  We will count the votes and tell you who won.

Roary:  Officer George, I'm a lion, King of the Jungle and I voted first, shouldn't I get 5 votes?

Ally: No way Roary, I'm king of the river.  I should get the most votes.

Tookey: But I am the most colorful and beautiful bird.  I should get more votes than both of you.

Mooney the Monkey:  But I can climb faster in the trees than any of you.  So I should get the most votes.

Ellie:  I am a eagle.  I fly higher than any of you and I can fly far away.  I can see from high above the earth.  I should get the most votes.

Officer George:  Sorry but you each only get one vote.  You are all special and different but you still are all equal when it comes to voting.  You all have equal worth and value.

Roary:  Is that fair?

Officer George:  Yes it is fair.  Jesus told a story about workers.  Some of the workers started early and some started later, but at the end of the day all of the workers got the same pay because that is the agreement which they made with owner of the farm.

Ellie:  Is that fair?

Officer George:  Jesus was trying to teach people a lesson about being different but equal.  A baby does not do the same work as an adult but a baby is equal to an adult in the care and respect that we should give to baby.

Mooney:  Is that what it means when we say that "all people are created equal?"

Officer George:  Yes.  People are different but equal.  God loves everyone equally even though every person is different.

Ally: I guess we should try to love as God loves.

George:  Yes, being fair means we treat people equally by respecting their dignity.  So now do you see why you get just one vote.  You are are different but you have equal value and respect.  Can you remember this important lesson which Jesus taught us?

Family Liturgy

September 21, 2014: Fifteenth Sunday of Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Give Thanks,  Glorify the Lord, Pass It On

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: Give Thanks  (Renew! # 266)

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the holy one,

give thanks because he given Jesus Christ his Son.  (sing twice)

And now let the weak say I am strong; let poor say I am rich

because of what the Lord has done for us.  (sing twice)

Give thanks.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; 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 Book of Exodus

Then the LORD said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day….The LORD spoke to Moses and said, "I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, `At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"  In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat."

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 105

Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; * make known his deeds among the peoples.

Sing to him, sing praises to him, * and speak of all his marvelous works.

Birthdays:      

Anniversaries:

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.

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, `You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, `Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, `You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, `Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

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.

 e

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:      Lord of All Hopefulness,   St. John’s Children’s Choir

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 to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(Children may gather around the altar)

The Celebrant now praises God for the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

 the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

 this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:        Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Hymn:  Glorify Your Name, (Renew! # 37)

1.      Father, we love you, we worship and adore you, glorify your name in all the earth; Glorify your name, glorify you name, glorify your name in all the earth.

2.      Jesus, we love you….

3.      Spirit, we love you…

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: Pass It On, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 177)

1.      It only takes a spark to get a fire going.  And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.  That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it; you spread his love to everyone, you want to pass one.

2.      I wish for you my friend the happiness that I’ve found.  You can depend on Him, it matters not where you’re bound.  I’ll shout it from the mountain top, I want my world to know the Lord of love has come to me.  I want to pass it on.  I’ll shout it from the mountain top, I want my world to know the Lord of love has come to me.  I want to pass it on.

Dismissal:   

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

People:      Thanks be to God! 

Forgiveness As Providential in the Process of Reconciliation

13 Pentecost, Cycle A proper 19, September 14, 2014

Genesis 50:15-21   Psalm  103:8-13

Romans 14:1-12  Matthew 18:21-35

Lectionary Link

  There is a cliche which goes, "To err is human but to forgive is divine."  Which is to say that we believe that we tap into higher power assistance to accomplish the experience of forgiveness.  But even a profound cliche cannot make every event of forgiveness equal and so one should not over-simplify "forgiveness."  Each instance of forgiveness has its own uniqueness.  Certainly a parent might find it easier to forgive a young child who greatly lacks in experience and so when a degree of culpability is not imputed, forgiveness can seem to come easier.   It is harder to forgive the offenses of the adult variety when it seems there is more willfulness and accountability.
  Today's lesson provides us with some teaching insights on forgiveness.  One of the greatest forgiveness story is an event when forgiveness fulfilled boyhood dreams but also was an overwhelming event of providence.
  It is the story of Joseph.  Joseph was the son of Jacob, you know the guy whose other name was Israel.  Those who wrote the prelude of the people of Israel traced the origins to the patriarchs and Jacob is the last of the patriarchs.  Jacob had two wives, both sisters.  Jacob loved the younger sister Rachael, but was tricked by Laban into having to marry Rachael's older sister Leah first.  Poor Leah, the lesser loved wife was compensated by being the one who gave Jacob the most children.  Rachael was finally able to have two sons, Joseph and Benjamin who were Daddy's favorites.  The young Joseph knew of this favoritism and seemed to flaunt it in front of his older half brothers who came to deeply resent their cheeky little brother.  Joseph was given a coat of many color which he paraded in front of his brothers and he told his brother his dreams about some day being the one to whom they would bow.  So the older brothers staged the death of Joseph and sold him to slave traders who took him to Egypt.  After some set backs as a servant in the house of Potiphar and from spending some time in prison, he came to the Pharaoh's attention as one who could interpret dreams.  He went from being the interpreter of dreams to being second to the Pharaoh and in charge of managing the property and agriculture production during the seven years of good crops and the seven years of famine.  During the famine, Jacob sent his sons to get grain from Egypt.  And Joseph recognized his older brothers even while they did not recognize him.  Joseph played with his hidden identity until the brothers had to bow before him and beg for their lives.  And so the dreams of Joseph had come to be fulfilled and his brothers were bowing before him and he could not stand his ruse any longer.  In his tears he identified himself to his brothers and forgave them for selling him into slavery and in this act of forgiveness, he confessed that the providence of God had been involved in the terrible detour of his life which involved a long separation from his father.  In the event of forgiving his brothers, he also confessed that he had been placed there by God to save his father Jacob and all of Jacob's family.  So Joseph was the savior of Israel at a very crucial time, even though this salvation also accounts for how the people of Israel became entrenched in Egypt where they eventually became slaves after the reputation of Joseph was no longer remembered after his death.
  Forgiveness as providential.  Forgiveness can be providential in turning the lives of people around.  Our society has become well known for building prisons and prisons have become quite a private sector industry.  What we have lost is the providence of forgiveness in the accomplishment of reconciliation.  There are some countries who use the reconciliation process for many convicted criminals and the statistics for a reconciliation program show less recidivism and less expense because of fewer incarcerations.  Stories of reconciliation are many, such as the young boy who broke into a garage and stole and committed some vandalism.  Instead of being sent to juvenile detention he was enrolled the reconciliation process.  The end result is that the young boy did restitution for the woman whose house he had vandalized and he ended up becoming like a son to the woman.  She ended up paying for his college education and they have had a life long relationship.  Providential forgiveness can result in reconciliation and redemption.  This is what the Gospel is all about.
  Perhaps you and I can think about providential forgiveness in our own lives when people gave us a second chance and thereby changed the direction of our lives.
  We have the Gospel scenario and the parable which illustrates the reciprocity of receiving forgiveness and practicing forgiveness.  If the work of Jesus is the work of reconciling people to God and people with each other, the giving and receiving of forgiveness is a most important dynamic of life.  And we should not minimize the difficulty of this dynamic, even as we confess that there must be an event of divine grace for forgiveness to happen.
  Peter asked, "Jesus, how many times do I have to forgive my brother, seven times?"  Jesus said, "Not seven times but seventy seven or seventy times seven."  The words of Jesus indicate to us that if we are in the business of counting the sins of others and trying to set the limits of our forgiveness then we are lacking the Gospel attitude of reconciliation.
  The reciprocity of forgiving and being forgiven is further illustrated in the parable which Jesus told.  If we are willing to accept forgiveness but not willing to forgive others then we are living damnable lives.  Reconciliation occurs when this reciprocity happens between being forgiven and practicing forgiveness.
  The practice of reconciliation and forgiveness is not simply "a get out of jail free" card; reconciliation and forgiveness are a providential event within a process of events which include accountability, acknowledgement of guilt, amendment of life, reparation and ultimately restored fellowship.
  To err is human; to forgive is divine.  In the practice of forgiveness we participate with the divine grace as we admit together that there always needs to be a tolerating grace for ourselves not yet being the more excellent people we are yet called to be.
  Let us take on the roles of presidents and monarchs who have the privilege of clemency.  We take on the kingly role when we become the people who facilitate the event of forgiveness.  Let us rise to embrace our role in the process of reconciliation, which involves the practice of forgiveness.
  Let us today at this Eucharist say afresh with new commitment the petition of the Lord's Prayer: And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Amen.

Collaboration in Resolving Disputes and the Presence of Christ

13 Pentecost, ap18, September 7, 2014

Exodus 12:1-14  Psalm 149
Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20

Lectionary Link

  As one who has presided at many under-attended services, I have often been forced to state the biblical requirement for a quorum for an official church meeting.  I guess an official church meeting would be determined by whether Christ was present or not.   And so as I looked out onto empty pews, I have often thought or said, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.”  This phrase has gotten me through many a service because it does give a very low attendance requirement for a Christian gathering quorum.

  But like most verses in the Bible, this verse is often quoted without regard for its context.  And we should probably look at the context and that is hard to do because it is hard to know the exact situation.  It is presented to be during an actual life experience of Jesus but there is that Matthean anachronism again, the church.  The church did not exist in the time of Jesus but it did during the time of one of the editors who believed Christ to be so present in the life of the church, that Christ could be an oracle and speak through the preachers.

  There is something else about the context; the situation of the presence of Christ happens to be directly related to something which all churches and families experience, namely messy divisions and disagreements.  You know how we like to romanticize those primitive early followers of Jesus as perfect in their behavior.  But it just wasn’t so; they were as contentious and inclined to fight and disagree among themselves as we are.  So if disagreement is a fact of life, then there has to be some rules for community resolution of an argument.

  And frankly this method of resolution does seem to be like the resolution which siblings realize when Mom and Dad are not around.  You can be sure that when Mom and Dad are not around, they are still very much present.  In an argument or dispute between brothers and sisters, it is very predictable that at some point one of the siblings is going to invoke the presence of a parent by saying, “I’m going to tell Mom.  I’m going to tell Dad.”  And the other one might say too, “Well I’m going to tell Mom and Dad first.”  So even when Mom and Dad are absent, they are still present.

  The early Christian communities had disagreements and division because the communities of the followers of Jesus tried to embrace more heterogeneity.  The message of Jesus brought together people from different backgrounds, even people who had been natural enemies.  The message of Jesus was a message of love and tolerance but sometimes the people who took advantage of that forgiving tolerance for themselves had great difficulty in offering that kind of forgiving tolerance to others.

  What happens when families cannot resolve their own disputes?  They go for legal resolution outside of the family.   And it is embarrassing for a family to admit that they do not have the familial love to resolve their own disputes.  Brother suing brother; parents suing children.  In a sense, every divorce is a failure in charity which goes to outside legal resolution because it is impossible sometimes to resolve things totally “in-house.”

  If those early Christian community attained the reputation of being communities of people who fought with each other and went outside of their churches to solve their disputes, then that would blow the image that they had of “loving one another.”

  So you can see this passage from Matthew is a practical and pragmatic recommendation for the resolution of disputes.  The recommendations are against people “going it alone” or “going to those who are outside of the community.”  The pragmatic method is to practice collaboration; to gather with each person committing to the motive of being there in Christ’s name, swearing first to be a son and daughter of God and brother and sister of Christ.  If this was the family and collaborative motive, then the early church believed that the group wisdom would result in an experience of the presence of Christ.

  But let us not get too overly romantic about outcomes because some tough love and tough decisions can still result.

  When Mom or Dad are finally present to resolve a dispute among the siblings, everything is not always “cum bah yah” hunky dory.  Sometimes Dad or Mom will order children to have some time out, go to one’s room and think about actions and words exchanged.

  Sometimes when Christ has become historically present, it seems as though Christ has said, “Now you Episcopalians go to your room.  You Lutherans to yours and you Roman Catholics and Baptists to your rooms.  You guys are not going to agree on everything but you can be just a little bit different because you each have a different mission and different appeal to different groups of people. 

  Let us not over-romanticize what the presence of Christ means within the gathered church.   In disagreements there are still hard decisions and choices to make, but that is why we need to realize the presence of Christ in the hard times and in the times of knowing our sins and our disagreements.  I’ve never fully understood why some churches withhold the sacrament signifying the presence of Christ to people who are going through or who have gone through divorce, particularly to the parties who still wanted to seek and know the comfort of Christ in the sacrament in the middle of a very difficult time of disagreement.

  So let us embrace this wonderful truth: “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am  among them.”   We need not sugar coat messy situations; messy situations do not disqualify us from knowing the presence of Christ.  Messy situations should keep us seeking collaboration and the maintenance of a right motive for coming into the community gathering.

  Too many church disputes end up with people sensing that they have lost the presence of Christ, rather than finding Christ as being present within the hard times of community life.

  We cannot be exempt from being merely human and all too human within human community.  And if that is the case, let us remember that ancient principle of the Matthean church; gather in the name Christ and realize his presence in spite of the challenging turmoil.

  As much as I like to quote this passage as comfort for a Christly quorum when attendance is poor; this presence of Christ is a promise to us in the rough and tumble of community of being merely human.  This Gospel invites us to keep our motive for gathering on Christ and as a result realize his presence which will complete us and perfect us in a way that our own behavior does not.  Amen.

Sunday School, September 14, 2014 14 Pentecost, A Proper 19

Sunday, September 14, 2014  14 Pentecost  A Proper 19

 
Theme:  Forgiveness
             Teaching points: Jesus said to forgive not seven times but 70 times seven.  Find a way to illustrate 490.  And remind them that we do not want people to always be counting our faults and our sins.  Teach them it is better to count good things about other people and about ourselves.    Remind them that it is hard to receive the forgiveness of others if we refuse to forgive others.  Go over the petition in the Lord's Prayer:  And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Craft:  Bring 490 pennies and do a coin toss or drop into a coffee can.  Have them repeat the phrase from the Lord's Prayer each time they drop a coin.


PAlly: one, two, three, four, five, six…..

Polly: Heh Ally, what are you doing?

Ally: Duh….I’m counting.

Polly: What are you counting.

Ally:  I’m counting all of the bad and hurtful things that my friends have done to me.

Seven…eight…nine….ten….eleven…

Polly:  Well, you are going to be sad all of the time then.

Ally: Why do you say that?

Polly:  If you are only trying to remember bad things, then the bad things are the only things that you will remember.

Ally: twelve…thirteen…fourteen….

Polly:  Now stop it Ally.  Stop and think about some good things.  Did you mom feed you?

Ally: Yes.

Polly: Okay there’s one….

Ally: That’s all…

Polly: There are many more good things; you just haven’t practiced thinking about good things.

Ally: fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen.

Polly:  Now stop it Ally.  Are you going to count up to 490?

Ally:  Why should I stop there?

Polly: Well you know that the disciples of Jesus ask him if they had to forgive their friends seven times.  And you know what Jesus said?

Ally:  No what?

Polly: Jesus said, not just seven times, but seventy times seven or 490 times.

Ally:  Well, I don’t think anyone has done 490 bad things to me.

Polly:  Well, then, you will just have to stop counting.

Ally: Why should I stop counting?

Polly:  Because if you forgive your friends then the count goes back to zero.

Ally:  Well, it would be easier to start at zero.

Polly: What if God were to count all of the bad things which people in this world did?

Ally:  Well God would have a big number to count to.

Polly:  But Jesus told us that God forgives our sins; God even forgets our sins.

Ally:  Well, how can I forget the sins of other people?

Polly: You can forget the sins of others if you know that others also forget your sins.  You aren’t perfect, you know.

Ally:  I know but it is much easier to recognize the sins of others than to recognize my own sins.

Polly:  Bingo….you had better hope that your friends are not counting your sins.  How would you like that?

Ally:  I wouldn’t like that; I want them to remember the good things that I do.

Polly:  Bingo, I think you have just solved your counting problem.

Ally: You’re right.  I need to stop counting the sins of others because I don’t want others to count my sins.

Polly: You have learned the importance of forgiveness.  The only way that we live together is through forgiving each other.  And so we cannot count and remember the sins of others.  Are you ready to stop counting sins?

Ally:  Yes, I am.  If God forgives and my friends forgive me then my sins will not be counted and so I will stop counting the sins of others.  Thank you Polly for teaching me this lesson.

Polly:  You’re welcome.  And let us be thankful that God forgives us and does not count our sins.

September 14, 2014: Fourteenth Sunday of Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah, Come My Way,  When the Saints

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

O God, because without you we are not able to please you mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for 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 Letter of Paul to the Romans

Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 103

For as the heavens are high above the earth, * so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, * so far has he removed our sins from us.

As a father cares for his children, * so does the LORD care for those who fear him.

Birthdays:   Trish Bergstrom, Cynthia Turnquist, Simran Rayapati

Anniversaries:   Mike and Gingy Cody, Mike and Jill Hertzer

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.

Peter came and said to Jesus, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, `Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

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.

Your prayers are asked for the health and comfort of  Debbie,   Jane, Mary, Miranda,   Jairo, Linda, Al, Jim,  Arabella, Leslie, Larry, Paul, Heidi, Steve,   Elsie,  Aiden, Jim, Dorothy, Victor, Stephen, Carson,   Ann, Don, Temme, Georgia, Margarita, Jerry, Julie, Mary Beth, Richard, Dixie,  Emily, Ron, Rose Marie, Doris M,  Doris L., Pat P.,  Carolyn,    Betty, David, Ernie, Chloe, Nick, Daniele, Danica, Stefanya,   Carol, Annie-Sue,  Ed,   Rick, Clifford, Mary,  Leslie Ann, Patty,  Burke,  Keith, Kristen,   John,  Mike, Patty, Joyce, Michelle,  Ava, Mary,  Sarat, Wilma, Tom, Eva, Lorraine, Ganla, Krishna, Ganla Gouri Devi, Jim Lee

Faithful Departed:    

Your Prayers are asked for those in the Armed Forces:  Jeremy, Harry, Joseph, Steven, David,  Daniel and Eric.Forces: Jeremy, Joseph,  Dominic, Steven, David,  Daniel and Eric

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:    Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive,                 St. John’s Children Choir

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 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:  Come My Way, (Blue Hymnal # 487)

1.    Come, my way, my truth, my life: such a way as gives us breath; such a truth as ends all strife; such a life as killeth death

2.    Come, my light, my feat, my strength: such a light as shows a feast; such a feast as mends in length; such a strength as makes his guest.

3.    Come, my joy, my love, my heart: such a joy as none can move: such a love as none can part; such a heart as joys in love.

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: When the Saints Go Marching in, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 248)

1.    O when the saints, go marching in, O when the saints go marching in.  Lord I want to be in that number when the saints go marching in.

2.    O when the girls, go marching in,…..

3.    O when the boys, go marching in….

Dismissal:   

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

People:      Thanks be to God!