Sunday School, January 21, 2018 3 Epiphany B
Theme:
The Call of Christ
What do you do in life?
What is your job? What is your
current responsibility?
I don’t have a job, but I am a student. I am a son or daughter. I am a friend. I like to dance. I like to play soccer and football. I am a good citizen of my country.
A person has many jobs because in life we have many things
that we have to do to live.
James and John were fishermen. They fished in the Sea of Galilee with their
dad Zebedee. But they were given another
job, another purpose in their lives.
Jesus visited them at the sea side while they were repairing
their fishing nets. He call James and
John to follow him. Peter and Andrew
were fishermen too and Jesus called them to follow him and become his students
and learn to become teachers of the Gospel.
James, John, Peter and Andrew were fishermen. They never would forget how to fish. But they could be fishermen and follow Jesus
too.
So whatever we do, we still have something else that we can
do. We can follow Christ. When we are being a student at school we can follow
Christ. When we are playing soccer, we can
follow Christ. When we are dancing, we can
follow Christ. When we are playing, we can
follow Christ. When we are at home as a son
or a daughter we can follow Christ.
So we always have the greater job to do in life and that great
job is following Christ. We do that by living
with love and kindness and by teaching others to do the same.
Remember you don’t have to be a priest or a preacher to hear
and follow the call of Christ. Christ calls
each us where we are.
Sermon
How many of you have
ever been fishing? Why do you go
fishing? To catch fish, right? It’s fun to catch fish but sometimes, fishing
is a lot of waiting. I probably quit
fishing because I do not have the patience to wait. One time, as a boy I went fishing in
Minnesota, and a school of crappie were right under the dock. And we caught fish as fast as we could pull
them out of the water. We caught so many
fish that we had to designate limits for even the babies that went with us that
day. But every other time, I have gone
fishing; it has not been that easy. It
has been a lot of waiting. I can wait
for lots of things but not for fish to bite so, I gave up fishing.
Most of us fish for
recreation and for fun but two friends of Jesus, Andrew and Peter, they fished
because it was their job. They helped
their father Zebedee, who was also a fisherman.
And they used nets in the Sea of Galilee to catch fish and bring them
ashore to sell in the towns.
When Jesus met Peter
and Andrew, he told them that he was going to give them another job. He told them that they were going to fish for
people. What did Jesus mean when he said
that they would fish for people?
Jesus fished for
people. He caught Peter and Andrew. What does that mean? It means Jesus knew how to make friends. He made friends by giving people hope. He made friends by telling them that God
loved them, God cared for them, God forgives them, and that God will preserve
them forever, even after they die. Jesus
needed help from people to help get this happy news to as many people as
possible. So he asked Peter and Andrew
to help him share this wonderful news.
Peter and Andrew
quit their fishing because they went with Jesus and they learned how to catch
people and make them friends of God.
They learned how to tell people good news about God.
Did yes know that
God is fishing for us today. God is not
trying to catch us in a net or on hook.
God is trying to win our hearts and make us friends of God. How is God trying to make us friends? God wants us to believe in God’s love, God’s
care, God’s forgiveness. God wants us to
have faith instead of fear; God wants us to have hope instead of worry. God wants us to know that God will preserve
our lives even after we die, so we don’t have to live in fear of the
future. That is good news for us, isn’t
it?
And God wants
something else. Just as God fishes for
us and catches us. God wants us to help
share the good news with other people and to make them friends of God. That is how we fish for other people. We fish for other people by sharing with them
the good news about God.
Today, our message
in the Gospel, reminds us that we are to learn how to make friends by sharing
with them the good news about God’s love.
How many want to help make friends for God? I know that you are going to be very good at
fishing for people, because you are going to be good at making friends for
God. Amen.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
January 21, 2018: The Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Gathering Songs: Jesus in the Morning, He Is Lord, I Will Make
You Good Fisher Folks, 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: Jesus in the Morning
(Christian Children’s Songbook, #
134)
1. Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus in the morning, Jesus at the noontime. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus when the sun goes down.
2. Love him,
love him, love him in the morning, love him at the noontime. Love him, love him, love him when the sun
goes down.
3. Serve him,
serve him, serve him in the morning, serve him at the noontime. Serve him, serve him, serve him when the sun
goes down.
4. Praise him,
praise him, praise him in the morning, praise him at the noontime. Praise him, praise him, praise him when the
sun goes down.
Liturgist: The
Lord be with you.
People: And
also with you.
Liturgist: Let us
pray
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer
readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good
News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of
his marvelous works; 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
Liturgist: A reading
from the Prophet Jonah
The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying,
"Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message
that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the
word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk
across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out,
"Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of
Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small,
put on sackcloth. When God saw what they
did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the
calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 62
He alone is my rock and my salvation, * my stronghold, so
that I shall not be shaken.
In God is my safety and my honor; * God is my strong rock
and my refuge.
Put your trust in him always, O people, * pour out your
hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)
Liturgist:
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 Mark
People: Glory
to you, Lord Christ.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee,
proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and
the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and
his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And
Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people."
And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little
farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their
boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father
Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
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 Intercession 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 Song: I
Will Make You Good Fisher folk (Christian Children’s Songbook # 58)
1. I will make
you good fisher folk, good fisher folk, good fisher folk. I will make you good fisher folk, if you
follow me. If you follow me, if you
follow me. I will make you good fisher
folk, if you follow me.
2. Hear Christ
calling, “Come unto me, come unto me, come unto me.” Hear Christ calling, “Come unto me, and I’ll
give you rest. And I’ll give you rest,
and I’ll give your rest.” Hear Christ
calling, “Come unto me and I’ll give you rest.”
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 up 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. 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: He Is Lord
(Renew! # 29)
He is Lord, he is Lord.
He is risen from the dead and he is Lord. Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord.
He is King, he is King.
He will draw all nations to him, he is King: and the time shall be when
the world shall sing that Jesus Christ is King.
He is Love, he is love.
He has shown us by his life that he is love; all his people sing with
one voice of joy that Jesus Christ is love.
He is life; he is life.
He has died to set us free and he is life; and he calls us all to live
evermore, for Jesus Christ is life.
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)
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.
O, when the girls, go marching in….
O, when the boys, go marching in…
O, when the kids, go marching in…
Dismissal
Liturgist: Let us
go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be
to God!
