Sunday School, June
14, 2015 3 Pentecost B, Proper 6
Lesson:
Parables of the kingdom of God
Jesus tried to translate the life of God and God’s concerns
into the language and story of people.
He told stories to try to get people to understand how they
were living in God’s kingdom because all of creation is God’s kingdom because
God is the creator.
Understanding that we live in the kingdom of God and letting
us know how God is close to us was the Good News that Jesus came to tell us.
Parables are stories and in them Jesus used comparisons to
teach about the Kingdom of God.
Comparisons use what we call metaphors and similes.
If I say, “He is a bear.”
I am comparing a person directly with an big animal who is not bear but
that person may behave or look like a bear in some ways.
If someone says, “He eats like a pig” this is not saying
that he is a pig but the way in which he slurps his food reminds a person of
the way in which a pig eats.
Have everyone think of some well known comparisons.
He’s fast as a..
He’s slow as a
His neck is long as a
So Jesus said, The kingdom of God is like….and what is it
like?
It is like seeds which grow become a plant and then has
flowers and blossoms and fruits.
The kingdom of God is also our natural created world; and we
should recognize that God’s kingdom is creation and it is as common and
ordinary and as close as any garden which grows.
The kingdom of God is like a very tiny mustard seed. From this tiny seed a great plant grows and
spreads and takes over the entire field or meadow and the birds, bees and
insects have plenty of food and a place for their rest and bird nests.
By this Jesus means that big things happen because of the
collection of little acts of practice that we do every day.
If you study every day, what happens? Your knowledge collects and some day you do
something very big like graduate. But
remember you won’t ever graduate unless you study and learn every day.
In sport, you practice do all of the little exercises over
and over again so that when the big game comes you can do your very best.
In dance, you go to practice each week and you practice at
home so that when the performance and recital comes you are ready.
Jesus came to show us that God’s life of love and fairness could
be known and understood and that is why he told us the parables about the
kingdom of God. He showed us that we can
live better lives if we understand that we live in God’s kingdom.
St. John the Divine
Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
June 14, 2015: The Third Sunday after Pentecost
Gathering Songs: As the Deer; Awesome God; Seek Ye First;
Lord I Want to Be a Christian
Song: As the Deer Pants for the Water, (Renew # 9)
As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you;
you alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you. Refrain: You alone are my strength, my
shield, to you alone may my spirit yield; you alone are my heart’s desire, and
I long to worship you!
I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy;
you alone are the real joy-giver and the apple of my eye. Refrain.
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.
Liturgist: The
Lord be with you.
People: And also with
you.
Liturgist: Let us
pray
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast
faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with
boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior
Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and for ever. Amen.
Litany of Praise: 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 Book of Samuel
Samuel, the judge went to the sons of Jesse to anoint a new
King of Israel. When the sons of Jesse
came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now
before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his
appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for
the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but
the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him
pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one."
Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen
this one." Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel
said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Samuel said to
Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet
the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse,
"Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was
handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one."
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his
brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day
forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 92
It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, * and to sing
praises to your Name, O Most High;
To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning * and
of your faithfulness in the night season;
On the psaltery, and on the lyre, * and to the melody of the
harp.
Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!
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!
For our fathers on this father’s day. Thanks be to God!
Liturgist: The
Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
People: Glory to you,
Lord Christ.
Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would
scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the
seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself,
first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the
grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has
come." He also said, "With
what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It
is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of
all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the
greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the
air can make nests in its shade."
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to
hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained
everything in private to his disciples.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: Awesome God, (Renew! # 245)
Our God is an awesome God, he reigns from heaven above; with
wisdom, power and love, our God is an awesome God.
(Sung three times)
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.
(All may gather
around the altar)
Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;
You have made us in your image
And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to
live by faith:
Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob
and Rachael.
And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured
by Joseph
And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.
Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this
Holy Meal so that when we eat
the bread and drink
the wine, we can know that the Presence
of Christ is as near to us as
this food and
drink that becomes a part of us.
And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine.
Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and
Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless
and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.
On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the
blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take,
eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of
me."
After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and
said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which
is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we
eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the
life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in
our future.
Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a
special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ. May we forever live with praise to God to
whom we belong as sons and daughters.
By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of
the Holy Spirit all honor and glory
is yours, Almighty
Father, now and for ever. AMEN.
And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,
(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: Christ
our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore
let us keep the feast.
Words of Administration
Communion Song: Seek Ye First, (Blue Hymnal, # 711)
1-Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its
righteousness. And all these things will
be added unto you; Allelu, alleluia! Refrain:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, allelu, alleluia.
2-Ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek, and ye shall
find, knock and the door shall be open unto you; Allelu, alleluia! Refrain
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: Lord I Want to Be a Christian (Christian’s
Children’s Songbook # 157)
Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart. Lord, I want to be a Christian in my
heart. In my heart, in my heart, Lord I
want to be a Christian in my heart.
Lord I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart. Lord I want to be more loving in my
heart. In my heart, in my heart, Lord I
want to be more loving in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart. Lord, I want to be more holy in my
heart. In my heart, in my heart, Lord I
want to be more holy in my heart.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
