Sunday School, October 9, 2016 21 Pentecost C proper 23
Themes:
Health, Thanksgiving and Inclusion
Health is both about a person and about the community which
a person lives in.
We know about infectious diseases. When one child get a cold or the flu, the
virus or the germs spread and sometimes many of the classmates get sick
too. When one is sick, one has to stay
at home to get better but also so as not to spread the germs of sickness.
In the time of Jesus, there were people who had a skin
disease of leprosy. Whenever the skin of
a person showed the signs of a skin disease, the priests had a system of rules
which required them to keep the person with leprosy away healthy people. So a sick person could be made to feel doubly
bad. He was had a disease but he also
was kept about from people who could care for him. He would have to go live with other sick
people until he became better. And
people who were not sick would be afraid of how a person with a skin disease
looked. They would avoid that person.
Jesus was not afraid of people who were sick. He did not think that they should be
separated from people. He healed 10 men
who had leprosy. He told them to go and
show themselves to the priests.
Out of the 10 men who were healed, only one of them returned
to say “thank you” to Jesus. The one who
said, “thank you” was a Samaritan. The
Samaritans and the Jews were enemies.
Jesus was a Jew but he did not treat this Samaritan man with leprosy as
his enemy. And this Samaritan did not
treat Jesus as his enemy. He returned to
say “thank you.” Jesus told him that his
faith had made him well.
What does it mean to be well?
To be well means to have faith. In our lives we can get sick many times and
there are many people who have very serious illness. So how can we be well, even when we are
sick? By having faith. We can also be well as a community of people
who care for people who are sick. Today
we have hospitals, doctors and nurses and many others who help people get
better. We as a parish community need to
be well; we need to have the kind of faith in the goodness of Christ to take
care of each other when we are sick.
Being well is having faith as a person but also as community
of people who care for each other and include people who are sick in our
prayerful care.
Sermon:
How many of us like
to be left out?
What if I said
today, only the people wearing the color red today can come and receive communion
today? How would you feel?
What would you think
about that kind of rule?
You would think that
rule was unfair. You would think that
rule does not make any sense.
Some times in our
life we get left out. And one of the
times that we get left out, is when we are sick.
When we’re sick, we
can’t go to school or to church. And so
we get left out. We don’t get to go to
public places when we’re sick.
But when we’re sick,
does everyone leave us out? No, our
moms and dad take care of us. They give
us medicine and orange juice. They take
us to the doctor. They give us special
attention to help us get better. So even
though we are left out of school when we’re sick, we’re not left out of the
care of our family and friends.
During the time of
Jesus, there were people who had some skin diseases that did not make them look
good, and so people were so afraid of them, that even the priests had made
rules to make those sick people live outside of the towns and cities. They had to beg to get food.
What did Jesus
do? He was not afraid of their skin
diseases. He told them they could be
made better and they did not have to be left out.
So Jesus invited
these sick people to receive care.
And Jesus taught us
that God does not leave anyone out.
Everyone is welcome into God’s family.
And if we feel
welcome into God’s family, that will help us to be healthy and well. Because we become healthy and well because no
matter what sickness we have, we are well if we have people to love and care
for us.
So Jesus teaches us
to love and care for sick people and for all people who might feel left out.
This is a very good
lesson that we have learned today: To love and care for all people and always
welcome them to be with us in our community of prayer and worship. Amen.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
October 9, 2016: The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah; O Be Careful; Wait for
the Lord; Awesome God
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
Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow
us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, 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 Second Letter to Timothy
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of
David-- that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of
being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I
endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the
salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 66
Be joyful in God, all you lands; * sing the glory of his
Name; sing the glory of his praise.
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! * because of
your great strength your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down before you, * sings to you, sings
out your Name."
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!
Liturgist: The
Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
People: Glory
to you, Lord Christ.
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region
between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached
him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have
mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show
yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then
one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a
loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a
Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine,
where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except
this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way;
your faith has made you well."
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: O Be Careful (Christian Children’s Songbook,
# 180)
O be careful little hands what you do. O be careful little hands what you do. There’s a Father up above and he’s looking
down in love, so be careful little hands what you do.
O be careful little feet where you go. O be careful little feet where you go. There’s a Father up above and he’s looking
down in love so be careful little feet where you go.
O be careful little lips what you say. O be careful little lips what you say. There’s a Father up above and he’s looking
down in love, so be careful little lips what you say.
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 God.”
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.
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 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 Song: Wait for the Lord (Renew! # 278)
Wait for the Lord, his day is near.
Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart
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: 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.
(Sing three times)
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
