Sunday School, October 6, 2024 20 Pentecost, B proper 22
Though Sunday takes precedence, October 4th is also the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
Sunday School Themes and a liturgy for the Blessing of Animals which include a vow to be good stewards of creation, maintaining the beauty and safety of our world and taking good care of the animals which are given into our care.
From the Genesis lesson one can see that in the Garden of Eden Story, God gave Adam the tasks of naming the animals. We can see this as naming animals as a group of animals or giving each animal a special name. What is the difference between a cow, and Sam the cow? If the cow has an individual name of Sam that was given by a person who cared for that cow, the giving of a name means that one also takes upon oneself the task of taking care of an animal in a special way.
We should not just stereotype animals as a group because we rely upon them for our food; we should also see each creature as a special being for whom we care and give thanks. Jesus said that there was not even a sparrow which falls to the ground without the Father knowing about it. If God has made men and women to have the kind of intelligence to have the most responsible role in the world, then we then to be very good at taking care of our world and the animals of the world. Let us remember to give each animal a special name as a sign of love and care. And while we may use animal for our food let us be like God the Father and be aware with gratitude when the life of an animal is sacrificed to be food for our lives.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews said that God has made everything subject to men and women even more than to angels. So we have a very important role in managing all of the goodness of creation.
The Gospel is about Jesus blessing children. Children were very important to Jesus. One might think that the children in the time of Jesus were not treated very well or that they were neglected. The disciples of Jesus did not want children to bother Jesus, but he told them he wanted the children to be with him and he blessed them. Jesus had given people an important talk on the lives of moms and dad and then he blessed children. Jesus was saying that adults should not let their adult problem cause them to neglect children.
Remember the themes of this day: Animals and children. Both need good and responsible people to take care of them. This is why Jesus asks to be committed to take care of those who do not yet have the strength, the ability or the experience to take care of themselves.
And so we bless children and we bless animals as a reminder of the friendship that Francis of Assisi had with animals. Learning to live in peaceful harmony with animals, creation, children and all people is the calling that we have from Jesus.
A sermon for the blessing of the animals
Today we celebrate the life of St. Francis. St. Francis was a man who came from a wealthy family. But he decided to leave the family business and try to live his life just like Jesus lived his life. He decided to live his life with people who were poor. He decided to take care of people who were sick and poor.
St. Francis became a friend of animals; the birds used to fly down and rest on his shoulders because they were not afraid of him.
Today, we are going to honor the life of St. Francis by blessing the animals of our lives. But we are also going to do something else. We are going to make promises to God to take good care of our world. We are going to promise to care for the air, water, plants and trees. Why? Because we want all people in the future to be able to enjoy them. We are going to promise to take care of our pets and animals too.
The world of plants and animals provide so much to help us live. So we need to be good at protecting our world so that our world will continue help people live for a long, long time.
Today, we thank God for our wonderful world of animals, trees and plants.
And the way that we thank God, is to promise to take good care of the world that God has given to us. And to take care of the pets that we enjoy as our friends.
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
& Blessing of the Animals
October 6, 2024 The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Gathering Songs:
Morning Has Broken, If I Were a ButterflyMake Me a Channel of Your Peace, All Things Bright and Beautiful
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: Morning Has Broken (Blue Hymnal # 8)
Morning has broken like the first morning; blackbird has spoken like the first bird. Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning! Praise for them springing fresh from the word.
Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven, like the first dewfall on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where his feet pass.
Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning born of the one light Eden saw play! Praise with elation, praise every morning, God’s re-creation of the new day!
Liturgist: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Liturgist: Let us pray
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and 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
Liturgist: A reading from the Book of Genesis
The LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 8
You give men and women mastery over the works of your hands; *you put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, * even the wild beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, * and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)
Litanist:
For our animal friends and pets, past and present. Thanks be to God!
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.
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Liturgist: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon – Fr. Cooke:
Collect for the Feast of St. Francis
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfect joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Vow to Creation
Celebrant: Will you cherish the beauty of the Good Earth that God has entrusted to you, and will you do all in your power to preserve its beauty for own age and for the people of the future?
Response: I will with God’s help.
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Word of God that issued from God’s mouth and created all things and God’s Spirit moved over the deep and made creation happen; you have called creation good, and we celebrate the goodness of creation which you have given to us to enjoy and tend; Bless the Good Earth and its fruits, and us as we commit ourselves to stewardship, in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Vow to our Animal friends
Celebrant: Will you promise to love, enjoy, and care for all God’s creatures, and especially for the pet whom you present for a blessing?
Response: I will, with God’s help.
Blessing:
Lord Jesus Christ, your friends, have brought to you these special friends: Bless we pray these delightful creatures, and grant that those who tend to their care will take delight in all of God’s creation, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Song sung during the blessing of each Animal: If I were a Butterfly
1-If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings. And if I were a robin in a tree, I’d thank you Lord, that I could sing. And 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.’
Chorus: For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile. You gave Jesus and you made me your child. And I just thank you, Father for making me, ‘me.’
2-If I were an elephant, I’d thank you, Lord, by raising my trunk. And if I were a kangaroo, you know I’d hop right up to you. And if I were an octopus, I’d thank you Lord, for my find looks, but I just thank you Father, for making me, ‘me.’ Chorus
3-If I were a wiggly worm, I’d thank you, Lord that I could squirm. And If I were a Billy goat, I’d thank you, Lord for my strong throat. And if I were a fuzzy-wuzzy bear, I’d thank you, Lord, for my fuzzy-wuzzy hair, but I just thank you, Father, for making me ‘me.’ Chorus
Youth Liturgist: The Peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And also with you.
Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering
Offertory Song: As the Deer Pants for the Water, (Renew # 9)
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!
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 God.”
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 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.
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.
The Prayer continues with these words
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, 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 (Sung): (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 by 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!
Word of Administration.
Communion Hymn: Prayer of St. Francis
Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring your love. Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord, And where there’s doubt, true faith in you. Refrain
Refrain: Oh, Master, grant I may never seek so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace. Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness only light, and where there’s sadness ever joy. Refrain
Make me a channel of your peace. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, in giving to all men that we receive and in dying that we’re born to eternal life. 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: All Things Bright & Beautiful (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 12)
Refrain: All things bright & beautiful, all creatures great & small, all things wise & wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, he made their glowing colors, he made their tiny wings. Refrain
The purple-headed mountain, the river running by, the sunset, and the morning that brightens up the sky. Refrain
He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well. Refrain
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
