Sunday School, November 12, 2023 24 Pentecost, A proper 27
Theme:
Wisdom means being prepared.
What is motto of the Boy Scouts?
Be Prepared
What do we prepare for? We try to prepare to make the best response for all things that can happen to us in life. We prepare for emergencies. We also prepare for good things in life, like for graduation, for learning skills, sports, dancing and we prepare for the work and jobs that we will do in our lives.
Jesus told a parable about being prepared. Jesus used stories to teach lessons.
He told a story about five wise bridesmaids who were prepared and five foolish bridesmaids who were not prepared.
In the time of Jesus bridesmaids had an important role at weddings; they had the important role when the groom made a parade to get his bride and bring her back to the wedding feast. And the bridesmaid had to be ready to greet the wedding party.even if it was late at night.
The five wise bridesmaid had enough oil for their lamps to be ready to give light for the parade of the groom. The five foolish bridesmaids did not have enough oil and so when the wedding parade arrived, they could not help light the parade. They were locked out of the wedding.
What is the message of Jesus that is hidden in the story?
We need to be prepared. For what? For the wedding of our souls with God. A wedding is the beginning of a special friendship between two people. Jesus used the wedding to teach us about the special friendship that we can have in our lives. And we need to be prepared for this friendship with God. And if we are lazy and not prepared we will miss out on a wonderful relationship with God that has been shown to us by Jesus Christ.
We come to church and learn so that we can be prepared for our wonderful relationship, for our wedding with God as a special companion and friend.
Sermon:
Have any of you ever been to a wedding?
A wedding is a very happy time when two people get married. It is a great celebration and a great celebration needs lots of people to do things that make the celebration special.
Besides the people getting married who else is at the wedding? A priest or pastor, or judge. There are groomsmen and bridesmaids and the bridesmaids get to wear those “once in a life time” dresses. And the men get to wear tuxedoes.
And in many weddings there are boys and girls. What do the boys get to do in some weddings? They get to carry the rings. And what do the girls do? They carry the flowers.
A wedding needs someone to arrange pretty flowers; someone to fix and cater the food; music for dancing and much more. And there is one more very important wedding job: The photographer. Someone to take pictures of the wedding.
Can you imagine a photographer at a wedding taking all of the pictures at the wedding and when the wedding is over, going back to print the pictures. And he discovers that the memory card in his camera was not formatted and so he has no pictures of the wedding. How do you think that bride would feel when the photographer tells her that there are no pictures? She would be angry and hurt. She would say, “Why did you not check your camera? Why did you not have a backup camera? Why weren’t you prepared?” The photographer would be quite embarrassed
How would you like to be the photographer who did not provide the wedding pictures? It would be a horrible feeling and a feeling of failure.
Jesus told a story about some bridesmaid who had a special job at a wedding. At a certain time in the evening when the groom would come, they were supposed to be there to greet the groom, and this was just as important as the photographs of a wedding in our time.
But some of the bridesmaid did not get enough oils in their lamps and so it was dark, and they could not provide light for when the groom came. And they failed at their jobs.
This was just a story that Jesus told. And he told stories to teach lesson. And the lesson of his story is this: Be prepared! Be prepared is a scout motto, right, because being prepared is very important in life.
How do you prepare if you know it is going to be raining? How do you prepare if you know that it is going to be cold? How do you prepare if you know that you have to take a very difficult test in school? How do you prepare for a soccer game?
How do you prepare for meeting the most important person in the world?
The story of Jesus tells us that we need to be prepared to meet God, who is the most important of all. And how do we prepare? We practice what God wants us to do? And what does God want us to do? To love with all our hearts and to love our neighbors. If we practice these two things, then we will be prepared to meet God; we will be ready to meet God.
Remember the message today. Be prepared! Why because we want to give our very best to God.
Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist
November 12, 2023: The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Gathering Songs: Give Me Oil in My Lamp, The Butterfly Song, Alleluia, 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: Give Me Oil in My Lamp (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 53)
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning. Give me oil in my lamp I pray. Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, keep me burning ‘til the break of day.
Refrain: Sing hosanna, sing hosanna, sing hosanna to the King of kings. Sing hosanna, sing hosanna, sing hosanna to the king.
Give me joy in my heart, keep me shining. Give me joy in my heart, I pray. Give me joy in my heart keep me shining. Keep me shining ‘til the break of day. Refrain
Liturgist: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Liturgist: Let us pray
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he 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 Wisdom of Solomon
Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, And one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 78
We will recount to generations to come the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the LORD, *
and the wonderful works he has done.
and the wonderful works he has done.
He gave his decrees to Jacob and established a law for Israel, * which he commanded them to teach their children;
That the generations to come might know,
and the children yet unborn; * that they in their turn might tell it to their children;
and the children yet unborn; * that they in their turn might tell it to their children;
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 Matthew
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said, "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, `Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, `No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, `Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
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 Music: The Butterfly Song (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 9)
If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings. If I were a robin in the tree, I’d thank you Lord that I could sing. If I were a fish in the sea, I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee, but I just thank you Father for making me, me.
Refrain: For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile. You gave me Jesus and you made me your child and I just thank you Father for making me, me.
If I were an elephant, I’d thank you Lord by raising my trunk. If I were a kangaroo, you know I’d hop right up to you. If I were an octopus, I’d thank you Lord for my fine looks and I just thank you Father for making me, me. Refrain
If I were a wiggly worm, I’d thank you Lord that I could squirm. If I were a Billy goat, I’d thank you Lord for my strong throat. If I were a fuzzy-wuzzy bear, I’d thank you Lord for my fuzzy-wuzzy hair, and I just thank you Father for making me, me. 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 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. Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we can we 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: Alleluia, (Renew! # 136)
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
He’s my Savior, alleluia….
He is worthy, alleluia….
I will praise him, alleluia…
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!
