Saturday, February 29, 2020

Quiz of the Day, February 2020

Quiz of the Day, February 29, 2020

Dewi is the patron saint of which country?

a. Armenia
b. Georgia
c. Ukraine
d. Wales

Quiz of the Day, February 28, 2020

The longest prayer of Jesus is found in which Gospel?

a. Matthew
b. Mark
c. Luke
d. John

Quiz of the Day, February 27, 2020

George Herbert, quintessential parson, poet, pastor and priest, knew the favor of which English Monarch?

a. Elizabeth I
b. James I
c. Henry VIII
d. Charles I

Quiz of the Day, February 26, 2020 (Ash Wednesday)

Of the following which is not true about Ash Wednesday?

a. it's practice is influenced by sack cloth and ashes of the Hebrew Scriptures
b. it derived from the experience of the Black Plague ("ashes, ashes, we all fall down")
c. liturgies for it appeared under Pope Gregory I
d. ashes are produced by burning previous year's palm fronds

Quiz of the Day, February 25, 2020

Shriving is the action of which sacrament?

a. unction
b. reconciliation
c. confirmation
d. ordination

Quiz of the Day, February 24, 2020

The account of the selection of Matthias to replace Judas is found where?

a. Luke
b. John
c. Acts
d. Romans

 Quiz of the Day, February 23, 2020

Which is the assumed mount of the Transfiguration?

a. Hermon
b. Olives
c. Tabor
d. Sinai
e. Nebo

Quiz of the Day, February 22, 2020

Rachel died in childbirth of which son?

a. Joseph
b. Dan
c. Gad
d. Asher
e. Benjamin 

Quiz of the Day, February 21, 2020

What sport might be associated with the changing of Jacob's name to Israel?

a. javelin throwing
b. wrestling
c. gymnastics
d. archery

Quiz of the Day, February 20, 2020

What did Jacob most fear in his return home?

a. his father's land would be gone
b. the revenge of his brother Esau
c. the attack of his father-in-law Laban for absconding with the house gods
d. attacks on the long journey

Quiz of the Day, February 19, 2020

In which Gospel can one find the words of Jesus, "I am the Good Shepherd?"

a. Matthew
b. Mark
c. Luke
d. John

Quiz of the Day, February 18, 2020

What would indicate that Rachel, wife of Jacob, was not a monotheist?

a. she was Aramean
b. she took her father's gods from his house
c. she prayed to Ashtaroth
d. she was a follower of Isis

Quiz of the Day, February 17, 2020

How many of sons of Jacob were borne by his wives maids who were given to him as wives as well?

a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5

Quiz of the Day, February 16, 2020

Who was the first son of Jacob?

a. Reuben
b. Simeon
c. Levi
d. Judah

Quiz of the Day, February 15, 2020

Why did Jacob have two wives?

a. because polygamy was the practice of his time
b. because his father-in-law tricked him into marrying an older sister
c. he needed two wives to fill out the heads of the tribe of Israel
d. because a law said a younger sister could not precede an elder sister in marriage
e. he didn't, he had four


Quiz of the Day, February 14, 2020

The original place Beth-el or House of God came from what?

a. the dedication of the Temple 
b. the dedication of the Tabernacle
c. the dedication of the Shrine in Shiloh
d. the place of Jacob's Ladder dream

Quiz of the Day, February 13, 2020

Laban was

a. Jacob's uncle on his maternal side
b. his father-in-law
c. his employer
d. all of the above

Quiz of the Day, February 12, 2020

Which of the following is not true of the Isaac-Rebekah family?

a. Isaac preferred the huntsman Esau
b. Rebekah preferred Jacob
c. Esau sold his birthright for some venison stew
d. Rebekah coached Jacob to trick Isaac to bless Jacob

Quiz of the Day, February 11, 2020

Where is "let the one without sin, cast the first stone," found?

a. Leviticus
b. Deuteronomy
c. John
d. 1 John

Quiz of the Day, February 10, 2020

Rebekah was

a. barren
b. gave birth to twins
c. was the mother of Jacob and Esau
d. all of the above

Quiz of the Day, February 9, 2020

In which Gospel is Jesus quoted as referring to the "kingdom of heaven" rather than the "kingdom of God?'

a. Matthew
b. Mark
c. Luke
d. John

Quiz of the Day, February 8, 2020

Who was the chief servant of Abraham?

a. Lot
b. Eliezer
c. Terah
d. Haran


Quiz of the Day, February 7, 2020

In biblical eugenics, what was the relationship between Isaac and Rebekah?

a. first cousins on one side
b. first cousins on two sides
c. second cousins on two sides
d. second cousins on one side

Quiz of the Day, February 6, 2020

The cave of Machpelah  was first purchased as a burial place for whom?

a. Abraham
b. Jacob
c. Joseph
d. Sarah
e. Isaac

Quiz of the Day, February 5, 2020

When Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son Isaac, he began a phase that was called by whom, the "teleological suspension of the ethical?"

a. Hegel
b. Barth
c. Kierkegaard
d. Schleiermacher

Quiz of the Day, February 4, 2020

Haggai was a prophet who wrote in the reign of which Persian king?

a. Cyrus
b. Darius
c. Xerxes
d. Artaxerxes

Quiz of the Day, February 3, 2020

Special biblical births are called either marvelous or miraculous; who, of the following, had a miraculous birth?

a. Samuel
b. Jesus
c. Moses
d. Isaac
e. John the Baptist

Quiz of the Day, February 2, 2020

Who is known for his bargaining prayer with God?

a. Isaac
b. Moses
c. Abraham
d. David

Quiz of the Day, February 1, 2020

What did Sarah lie about?

a. her age
b. her marriage to Abraham
c. laughing
d. the role of Hagar

Friday, February 28, 2020

Sunday School, March 1, 2020 1 Lent A

Sunday School, March 1, 2020   1 Lent A

Themes for Sunday School about the Temptation of Jesus

We believe that even though Jesus is God, he was human that he was bi-lingual.  He could speak the language of God and he could also speak our human language because he lived and faced the good and bad things in life.  And Jesus faced the hard tests in lives.  We call some of these tests, temptations.

What was the temptation of Jesus about?  Jesus faced an inner enemy, Satan, who came to Jesus as a lying and an accusing voice.  He tried to trick Jesus by lying about some things.

Is food good for you?
Is fame and recognition okay?
Is dying something that will happen to everyone?

Yes, yes, yes.

Is too much food and food at the wrong time go for you?  No.  So we have to learn how and when to eat food in the right amounts at the right time.  Food is like drink and many things that we need in life; we need to choose to use them in the right time and right amounts.  If we take too much food and don’t share food with others who need it then we use food wrongly.   If we eat too much food we can make ourselves sick and unhealthy.  When God the Father wanted Jesus to fast, Satan tried to get Jesus to disobey his father and forget his fast.

Has Jesus become famous?  How?  By dying on the cross and by rising again and by bringing good news to billions of people through the Holy Spirit.  Satan tried to trick Jesus in making seek fame by disobeying God the Father and God’s plan for making Jesus famous in our lives.

Does everyone die?  Yes.  Should we make ourselves die or cause someone else to die?  No.  We want to live in the right way.  We want to die in the right way.  Satan wanted Jesus to jump from a high place so that when he fell some angels would catch him.  But this was not the way Jesus was to die or be rescued.  How did Jesus die?  On the cross.  How was he rescued from death?  By his resurrection.

Can we be tempted to use food and many good things in our lives to use them in the wrong way, at the wrong time and by over using good things.  Yes.  So we need to learn how to use all of the good things in God’s creation properly for our own good and for the good of others in the world.

Is fame and recognition okay?  Yes, because we from childhood need to have self-esteem.  We need to be told that God’s loves us, cares for us and we need caring people in our lives to tell us that we are important for them.  We do seek to be famous, we seek to be as good as we can and we work hard to make a difference in the world.  Sometimes we might be recognized by others for what we do and sometimes we might not.  Remember the best reward and the best fame is when we do good.  Nobody else can make us really good and important.  Satan tried to tell Jesus that he could make him famous and Jesus knew that he was lying.  Jesus did not want the kind of fame that Satan offered.  Remember bad people in life have a different kind of fame than good people.  We want good people fame because we want to inspire others to be good.

Will we all die?  We should not be tempted from anger or self-anger to ever hurt others or ourselves.  When we die and how we die is not our choice and so we look to Jesus to obey God by having faith to place our life and death in God’s hand.  What we can know from Jesus is that when we die, God will resurrect and preserve us in the only special way that God can.


Sermon

  Is chocolate cake good?  Is it okay to like chocolate cake?  Is candy good?  Is it okay to like candy?  Is playing outside fun?  Is it okay to play outside?
  Is it okay to eat ten pieces of chocolate cake?  No, why not?  It might make you sick.  And your body needs other kinds of food besides chocolate cake.
  Is it okay to ten pieces of candy?  No.  Because your body needs other foods and getting too much sugar is not good for you.
  Is it okay to play outside, when you still have lots of homework to do?  Or when your Mom has told you that it is time to come in and take your bath or clean your room?
  So, eating cake, eating candy and playing outside.  All of these things are good things.  But they can be bad things, if they are done at the wrong time.
  And I am going to teach you a new word.  Temptation.  Temptation is when we get tricked into doing something at the wrong time.
  Speeding in the car might be good for a racer on the race track.  But is it good on the streets of the city?  No.  But sometimes drivers drive too fast in the wrong place at the wrong time.
  So how can we learn to deal with temptation?    We learn to do all good things at the right time.  God gives us parents to help us do the right things at the right time.  And sometimes it is hard for us to hear our parents say no to us.  Our parents might say, “Wait and eat your cake after you eat a good healthy meal.”  They might say, “Eat only one piece of candy and then brush your teeth.”
  They might say, “Put on your helmet when you ride your bike and do not ride in the street.”
  God gives you parents and teachers to help us do the right things at the right time.  And parents too, they need to learn to do the right things at the right time in their behavior too.
  Jesus was tempted by the devil.  The devil tried to get Jesus to do things in the wrong time.  And he did not follow the devil.  He followed God his Father.
  Jesus showed us that we can learn to do the right things at the right time.  How many of you want to learn to do the right things at the right time?  If you learn to do this, you will learn to say no to temptation.  Amen.

Intergeneration Family Service with Holy Eucharist
March 1, 2020: The First Sunday in Lent

Gathering Songs: It’s Me O Lord,  As a Deer, Yield Not To Temptation,  Simple Gifts

Liturgist: Bless the Lord who forgives all of our sins.
People: God’s mercy endures 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: It’s Me O Lord (LEVAS, # 797 or CCS, # 210)
Refrain: It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord.  Standing in the need of prayer.  It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.
Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me O Lord.  Standing in the need of prayer.  Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O Lord.  Standing in the need of prayer. Refrain
Not the stranger, not the neighbor but it’s me O Lord.  Standing in the need of prayer.  Not the stranger, not the neighbor but it’s me O Lord.  Standing in the need of prayer.  Refrain
Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.
People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: Praise be to God! (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Praise be to God!
O God, you have made us! Praise be to God!
O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Praise be to God!
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Praise be to God!
O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Praise be to God!
O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Praise be to God!
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Praise be to God!

Liturgist: A reading from the Book Genesis

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, `You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, `You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 32

I said," I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." * Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; * when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; * you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; * I will guide you with my eye.


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 Matthew
People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

After Jesus was baptized, he was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"  Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only 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 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:  As the Deer Pants for the Water, (Renew # 9)
1          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!
2          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

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,


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: 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 Hymn: Yield Not To Temptation (LEVAS # 170)

Yield not to temptation for yielding is sin. Each victory will help you some other to win.  Fight still pressing onward, dark passions subdue.  Ask the Savior to help you, he will carry you through.  Refrain.  Ask the Savior to help you, comfort, strengthen and keep you.  He is willing to aid you, he will carry you through.

Shun evil companions, bad language disdain. God’s name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain.  Be thoughtful and earnest, kind-hearted and true.  Ask the Savior to help you, he will carry you through.  Refrain.

To him that overcometh, God giveth a crown.  Through faith we will conquer, though often cast down.  He who is our savior, our strength will renew.  Ask the savior to help you he will carry you through.  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: Simple Gifts  (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 206)
‘Tis a gift to be simple, ‘tis a gift to be free, ‘tis a gift to come down where you ought to be, and when we find ourselves in the place just right, ‘twill be in the valley of love and delight.  When true simplicity is gain, to bow and to bend we won’t be ashamed.  To turn, turn will be our delight till by turning and turning we come out right.

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. 
People: Thanks be to God! 


 


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