Sunday School, May 14, 2017 5 Easter A
This year it is on Mother’s Day
For Discussion
Jesus came to teach us about being members of the great
family of God.
It is easy to know that are members of the family of our mom
and dad and brothers and sisters and cousins, uncles and aunts and
grandparents.
Families live in houses.
Did you ever think of your body as a house?
The body of each mother is a special house because each baby
first lived inside of mother.
But even when we are born, we still live inside of the heart
of our mothers, because our mom’s keep memories of who we are as her special
treasure, so we always have a place inside of our mothers.
Jesus reminded his friends that they always had a “dwelling
place” inside of God his Father.
Jesus came as God’s Son to show us that he was made in
special image of God.
Jesus came to remind us that we are made in God’s image and
so we too are children of God.
God gave this world as the house that we live in now when we
are alive.
But Jesus promised his friends that even after they died,
they would still live in rooms and dwelling places in the Father’s house. So after we died, we can know that we will
still have a place to live and it has been prepared for us.
But while we are still alive, Jesus said that we had great
work to do. The great work that we have
to do is to tell everyone that we belong to the family of God, that God is our
heavenly parent and that Jesus is our brother in this great family of God.
Question did you ever think of your body as a house?
Think about the rooms in this house as the memories you have
inside of you about each of the people in your life.
The people whom you love have a special room inside of you.
Can you accept yourself as person who is loved by God and
who has been given a dwelling place in God’s house forever?
Sermon
What do we call this building where we are now? A church.
Now if we sold this building to someone who opened a
restaurant here, what would we call the building then? A restaurant…we might say, “It’s a building
that used to be a church.”
So what makes this
building a church? The way it is built,
or does the people who use this building make it a church?
Jesus promised his
disciples that he would provide for them a place to live, but he didn’t mean
houses and buildings. He meant that he
would provide for them a group of people with whom they could live and call
friends.
And just as a church
really isn’t a building but the people who worship there. A home is not just a building. A home is where one lives with one’s family.
Jesus promised to
make his followers sons and daughters of God, so that they would have another
family, a Christian family.
So that is why we
have a church. A church is a Christian
family where we can live. It is group of
friends with whom we pray. It is a group
of friends that we join so that we can worship God, learn about God, pray
together and help people who are in need.
Jesus promised that
his friends could find a group of friends to be with even after he was
gone. And he promised that whenever they
got together, they could feel as though Jesus was still with them, because they
were doing the work that he gave them to do in this world.
Remember that our
church is a group of friends where we belong.
And so we gather to offer prayers, to help one another, to share in
eating the bread and drinking the wine, and know that the presence of Christ is
with us.
Jesus said that in
his Father’s house there were many dwelling places. God’s big house is this world we live in; and
God dwellings inside of the people who live in this big house world of God.
You and I can know
that God dwells with us. We can invite
God to be in us and let him always be a special guest inside of us.
Let us be thankful
that Christ taught us that God dwells within each of us and so we can celebrate
God’s closeness to us. Amen.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
May 14, 2017: The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Gathering Songs: Glory Be to God on High; We Will Glorify;
If You’re Happy
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)
1-Glory to be God on high, alleluia. Glory be to God on high, alleluia.
2-Praise the Father, Spirit, Son, alleluia. Praise the Godhead, three in one, alleluia.
3-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
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant
us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the
life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal
life; 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 First Letter of Peter
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so
that by it you may grow into salvation-- if indeed you have tasted that the
Lord is good. Come to him, a living
stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and
like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a
holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus
Christ. For it stands in scripture:
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 31
In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to
shame; * deliver me in your righteousness.
Incline your ear to me; * make haste to deliver me.
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, "Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many
dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare
a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you
know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him,
"Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father
also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the
Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been
with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen
me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not
believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say
to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his
works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you
do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell
you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact,
will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do
whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If
in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."
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 Anthem: Peace
Before Us (Wonder, Love and Praise, #
791)
1 Peace before
us. Peace behind us. Peace under our feet. Peace within us. Peace over us. Let all around us be Peace.
2 Love, 3
Light, 4 Christ
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.
(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,
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: We
Will Glorify (Renew! # 33).
1. We will glorify the King of kings, we will glorify the
Lamb; we will glorify the Lord of lords, who is the great I Am.
2. Lord Jehovah reigns in majesty, we will bow before his
throne, we will worship him in righteousness, we will worship him alone.
3. He is Lord of heaven, Lord of earth, he is Lord of all
who live; he is Lord above the universe, all praise to him we give.
4. Hallelujah to the King of kings, hallelujah to the Lamb;
hallelujah to the Lord of lords, who is the great I Am.
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: : If You’re Happy (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 124)
1- If you’re
happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it then your
face should surely show it, if your happy and you know it, clap your
hands.
2- If you’re happy
and you know it, make a high five. If
you happy and you know it make a high five.
If you’re happy and you know it then your face should surely show it, if
your happy and you know it, make a high five
3-Make a low five
4-Make a fist bump
5- If you’re happy and you know it, shout Amen!. If you happy and you know it shout
Amen!. If you’re happy and you know it
then your face should surely show it, if your happy and you know it, shout
Amen!
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Alleluia!
Alleluia! Let us go forth in the
Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
