Sunday School, May 24, 2015
The Day of Pentecost B
Review the Church Seasons
Today begins the Season of Pentecost which is the longest church
season and extends through the summer and fall until the First Sunday of Advent
The color for The Day of Pentecost is Red, the color of
fire. On the Day of Pentecost there was
a vision of tongues of fire appearing to the people who met to pray.
The Story of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles is a
story which answers a story found in the book of Genesis about the tower of
Babel. People in the past wondered why
people spoke different languages. It is
difficult to communicate with people who don’t speak the same language and so
the ancient peole believed that different languages came because when everyone
spoke the same language, a proud king thought that he could be so powerful and
be like God and build a tower high into the sky to try to be God. So God punished the people of Babel by
sending them different languages. They were
so confused that they could not finish building the city or great tower and so
they scattered throughout the earth into their language communities.
On the Day of Pentecost (fifty days after Easter, and ten
days after Jesus Ascended into heaven) people in Jerusalem heard the apostles
speak about Jesus in many different language.
This meant that God message of love was for everyone in the world. People could have the One Spirit of God and
yet speak different languages and be different in race and color and customs.
Pentecost is the birthday of the Church because it was a
celebration that God was available all of the people in the world because of
the life of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus lived with his disciples, he told them that he
would be going away but that when he would go away, he would send them a friend
and someone to comfort them. The Holy
Spirit is the person that Jesus sent to his friends to comfort them after he left
this earth. On Pentecost we celebrate
that we know the presence of God in our lives through the work and presence of
Holy Spirit as a power and presence inside of us.
Puppet Show for The Day of Pentecost
Day of Pentecost
Characters:
Dovey the Dove
George
Dovey: (singing) Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to
you. Happy birthday Christian
Church. Happy birthday to you! And many more!
George: Why did you sing Happy Birthday to the Church Dovey?
Dovey: Well today is
the Day of Pentecost and the Day of Pentecost is the Birthday of the
Church. Let’s see the church is 2013
minus 33 equals 1980. Happy 1980th
birthday to the church. But who’s
counting?
George: Obviously you are counting. We are a pretty old group of people.
Dovey: Yes, you are
one of the oldest and long lasting organizations that ever existed.
George: I wonder why the church has lasted so long. Do you think that the church will still be
here after I die?
Dovey: Well George,
you’re not going to die for awhile but yes the church will be here after you
die to have more birthdays.
George: How do you
know Dovey?
Dovey: Well, because
even though you are a member of the church, the church is really not about you.
George: Well, what is
the church about?
Dovey: The church is
about Jesus Christ. His message of love
was so wonderful and it created so much excitement in people they called his
message Good News or Gospel. And Jesus
said if we just keep sharing this good news to each new group of people who are
born then this message will live forever.
This is why the church will continue to have birthdays forever. Do you know what Pentecost means?
George: Do I have
time to Google it?
Dovey: Goo..goo…goo…Google it? What’s that?
George: It’s like a big
storage brain outside of me where I store all of the information of the world
and maps. Google maps can even tell me
where to go.
Dovey: Well, I’ve got
a built in Google maps and GPS. Did you
know that my family has been making a nest and laying eggs in the same tree for
more than a hundred years. I’ve got GPS
in me that automatically tells me where to go.
George: Wow, where
did you get that? That’s better than
Google maps.
Dovey: God made me
this way and God the Holy Spirit is everywhere like a divine GPS system. But the Holy Spirit became better known to
everyone on the Day of Pentecost.
George: So what does Pentecost mean?
Dovey: It means 50
days after Easter and it is the day when the Holy Spirit became known to the
friends of Jesus.
George: What happened
on the Day of Pentecost?
Dovey: Well, the Holy
Spirit was discovered by the friends of Jesus and they were happy and joyful
and they found that the Holy Spirit helped them to tell the Good News about
Jesus in every language.
George: So the Holy
Spirit is like a great Google translator?
Dovey: I guess you
techies might say it that way. Yes, the
Holy Spirit is the wonderful personal energy of God’s love with us to help us
to continue to tell the Good News about Jesus so that the church will continue
to have birthdays into the future.
George: Wow!
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit are exciting. But where are we going to get 1982 candles
for the birthday cake? Oh well, at least
we can sing Happy Birthday to the church.
Everyone: Happy
birthday to you, Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday Christian Church.
Happy birthday to you! And many
more!
George: Do you think
I can have some chocolate cake for the church’s birthday party?
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
May 24,2015: The Day of Pentecost
Gathering Songs: Glory be to God on High, Creating Spirit,
Every Time I Feel the Spirit
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.
Song: Glory be to God
on High, (Christian Children’s
Songbook, # 70)
Glory be to God on high, alleluia. Glory be to God on high, alleluia.
Praise the Father, Spirit, Son, alleluia. Praise the Godhead, three in one, alleluia.
Sing we praises unto thee, alleluia, for the truth that sets
us free, alleluia.
Liturgist: The
Lord be with you.
People: And also with
you.
Liturgist: Let us
pray
O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful
people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same
Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his
holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia
O God, you are Great!
Alleluia
O God, you have made us! Alleluia
O God, you have made yourself known to us! Alleluia
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior! Alleluia
O God, you have given us a Christian family! Alleluia
O God, you have forgiven our sins! Alleluia
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead! Alleluia
A reading from the
Letter to the Romans
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor
pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the
first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the
redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is
not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not
see, we wait for it with patience.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Let us read together from Psalm 104
You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; * and so
you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; * may the LORD
rejoice in all his works.
Birthdays: Rebecca O’Donnell, Beth Clayton, Rylie Francis
Anniversaries: Eric and Michelle Francis, Eric and Michelle
Francis
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 to his disciples, "When the Advocate comes,
whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the
Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have
been with me from the beginning. "I
did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.
But, now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you
going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your
hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go
away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go,
I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about
sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in
me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me
no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been
condemned. "I still have many
things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth
comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own,
but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that
are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare
it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will
take what is mine and declare it to you."
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: Spirit
of the Living God,
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 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. Sanctify us 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: Creating Spirit, Holy Lord (Renew! # 283
Creating Spirit, holy Lord, the gentle breeze, the mighty
wind, with warmth and pow’r and graciousness in grace refashion heart and mind.
O comforter of all who toil, gift from the fountain head of
light, O Spirit of all love and fire, anointing chrism of all might.
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: Every Time I Feel the Spirit, (Christian
Children’s Songbook, # 48)
Refrain: Every time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I
will pray. O every time I feel the
spirit moving in my heart I will pray.
1-On Pentecost day, the Spirit came. The people praised with joyous tongues. The Spirit came to everyone. Jews and Gentiles, all the same. Refrain
2-God’s Spirit lives, within the church. He gives us gifts to build us up. God’s Spirit fills us with his love. O blessed Spirit, heavenly dove. Refrain
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. Alleluia!
Alleluia!
People: Thanks be to God!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
