Sunday School, September 3, 2023 14 Pentecost, A Proper 17
Theme:
Take up your cross and follow me.
This was a saying in the early church.
Jesus died on the cross so that no one else had to.
The Cross of Jesus was made into a symbol for Christians.
We know that the Swoosh is the symbol for the Nike brand
The Cross is the symbol for the Christian brand. We make the sign of the cross as a marking to indicate that we belong to Christ.
What does belonging to Christ mean?
It means that we live our lives as a sacrifice.
It means we have the power to say no to our selfish self in order to help and serve other people.
When we take up the cross of Jesus, we are asking for the power of God to control and tame our desire to live and do things just for ourselves.
Think of examples of sacrifice:
Play video games or feed your pets.
Watch television or help mom with home chores.
Swing all the time or share the swing with a friend who also wants to swing.
Eat all your lunch or share some of it with someone who doesn’t have any lunch.
Sacrifice is the power to say no to yourself so that you can help other people.
This is what “taking up your cross and following Christ” means in our lives.
Sermon:
In baseball, what does sacrifice mean? What is a sacrifice fly? What is a sacrifice bunt? It is when you purposely make an out, so that another player can advance or score.
Sacrifice is a word that comes from religion. It means to offer something to God as an act of respect or worship of God.
In the ancient time, people thought that God wanted them to sacrifice the life of an animal to help pay for their sins.
Jesus came to show us the real meaning of sacrifice.
He lived his life for others. He gave up a comfortable life so that he could help the poor, the sick, the lonely people, the strangers, the children and the sad.
So Jesus was a sacrifice for the life of others. We know that he sacrificed his life for us when he died on the cross.
And when Jesus said that we are to take up our cross and follow him, he means we are to learn how to live in a sacrificial way. When we help others we are living in sacrificial way. That is how we take up the cross of Christ.
When you pick up your toys, you are helping your mom and dad, because then they don’t have to do it.
When you help with house work, you are making a sacrifice.
When you make peace with your brother or sister after you’ve had an argument, you are making a sacrifice.
When you help others, you are taking up your cross and following Christ.
Why? Because God calls us to help each other, and we don’t need to have the attention all of the time, so when we share with others, we are sacrificing.
A baseball player does not like to make an out. But sometimes the manager asks a player to make a sacrifice to help the team win.
Remember that many people make sacrifices for each of us every day: Soldiers, police, doctors, teachers, moms, dads, grandmothers and grandfathers. Many people have shared with us to make our lives better. So too, we need to learn how to share.
This is a lesson that we can learn from today’s Gospel. Take up your cross and follow Christ. And we can do this by sharing our lives to make the lives of other people better. Amen.
Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist
September 3, 2023: The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Gathering Songs: Lift High the Cross, He’s Got the Whole World, Eat This Bread, Soon and Very Soon
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: Lift High the Cross (Blue Hymnal # 473)
Refrain: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name.
1-Led on their way by this triumphant sign, the hosts of God in conquering ranks combine. Refrain
2-Each newborn servant of the Crucified bears on the brow the seal of him who died. Refrain
3-O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, as thou hast promised, draw the world to thee. Refrain
4-So shall our song of triumph ever be: praise to the Crucified for victory. Refrain
Liturgist: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Liturgist: Let us pray
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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
A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 105
Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; * make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him, * and speak of all his marvelous works.
Glory in his holy Name; * let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
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.
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
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. (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: He’s Got the Whole World (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 90)
He’s got the whole world; in his hands he’s got the whole wide world in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands; he’s got the whole world in his hands.
Little tiny babies. 3. Brothers and Sister 4. Mommies and Daddies
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 Hymn: Eat This Bread, (Renew! # 228)
Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to me and never be hungry.
Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in me and you will not thirst.
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: Soon and Very Soon, (Renew! #149)
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king. Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king. Soon and very soon we are going to see the king. Alleluia, alleluia, we’re going to see the king.
No more dying there, we are going to see the king. No more dying there, we are going to see the king. No more dying there we are going to see the king. Alleluia, alleluia, we’re going to see the king.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
