Sunday School, November 2, 2025 21 Pentecost, C proper 26
Zacchaeus Story, wanting to be good
Zacchaeus was a wealthy man but he was rich because he overcharged people for their taxes. He worked for the Roman government and he was hired by them to collect taxes from his own people, the Jews. So, of course he was hated by members of his city and country.
It is not easy to be disliked. And as long as he was a tax collector he was not going to be liked by his neighbors.
Zacchaeus was trapped and he wanted to find a way to get out of his trouble. He needed help. Where could he find help?
He heard about the famous teacher. So he went to see the famous teacher Jesus. But he couldn’t get close. He climbed a tree to see Jesus, but that meant that Jesus saw him too.
Two things about the life of Zacchaeus and us.
We need to always be seeking Jesus. And we need to know that Jesus is always seeking us. It takes two sides in a relationship. We look for the help of Jesus to become better people. And Jesus is a teacher who wants us to learn more.
How do we know if we have made Jesus our friend?
Our life changes. Our behaviors change. We become more honest. We work to repair relationships that have become unfriendly because of things that we have said and done.
Remember: Let us seek the help of Jesus to become better people. Let us know that Jesus is also seeking us. Jesus went to the home of Zacchaeus. God comes to us and gets very close to us. Our bodies can become the homes of the Holy Spirit who will help us become better persons.
Sermon
I have been watching children at our church and preschool for many year. And do you know the most favorite place of all children who come to St. John’s for church and for preschool?
It is right outside of this window in this olive tree. This olive tree is the perfect tree for children to climb in. It’s not tall; it is easy to get into and it fits several children at the same time. It has leaves all year round and so you can still have privacy.
So most children do not want to be in preschool or in church; they want to be outside climbing in this tree. Maybe we should have school and church in the tree and you would have more fun.
Why do you like to climb in trees? Why do people like to build tree houses? Do you want to be like birds? Or is it because I feel short and when I climb in a tree, I can feel taller.
In the Gospel story today, we read about a short man who climbed a tree. His name was Zacchaeus. He was not a very popular man because he collected taxes for the Roman government. And sometimes he would charge too much tax so that he could have more money for himself.
When people do not like us for something bad that we are doing, what can we do? We can say, “I want to be liked by other people. I want to have friends.” But someone might say to us, “If you want to be like by others and if you want to have friends, you have to learn how to act in friendly ways. You have learn to act better.”
That is what Zacchaeus thought. “I need to be a better a better person. Who can I see to help me become a better person?”
Zacchaeus heard about a famous teacher, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was teaching and he was doing many good things. And he was helping people to live better lives. But wherever he went, there was a crowd of people. He was popular and so it was very difficult to get close to him.
Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming to his neighborhood and so he ran to see him, but he could not get close because of the crowd of people. And Zacchaeus was so short that he could not see over the crowd of people. So what did he do? He climbed up a sycamore tree so that he could see and hear Jesus. And when Zacchaeus was in the tree, he got quite a shock. Jesus looked at him and said to him, “Come down from the tree, because I’m coming to your house today.”
Zacchaeus was shocked that Jesus noticed him. He invited Jesus into his house and became his friend. And he made his life better; he gave money to help the poor and he promised to return money that he had wrongly charged people in their taxes.
Zacchaeus wanted to be better, so he went to Jesus.
We come to church each Sunday, because we want to learn how to be better. We come to learn about God and Jesus and we come to share friendship together because we want to help each other become better people.
Zacchaeus had a curiosity to become a better person, so he went to see Jesus. You and I need to remember to be curious about being better people. We need to do everything we can, include climbing a tree, to try to be better people. We need to study about the life of Jesus and the lives of all good people to learn how we can be better. And just as Zacchaeus had the reward of meeting Jesus, we too can be rewarded with learning how to be better people. Amen.
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
November 2, 2025 Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
Gathering Songs: Zacchaeus; O Come Let us Adore Him; Jesus, Stand Among Us; When the Saints Go Marching In
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: Zacchaeus, # 252, Christian Children’s Songbook
Zacchaeus was a wee little man, A wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree, For the Lord he wanted to see. And as the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree; And he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down!” For I’m going to your house today, For I’m going to your house today.”
Liturgist: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Liturgist: Let us pray
Almighty God, you have joined together your chosen people into one family of people who enjoy a special friendship as we are gathered as the body of Christ on earth today; Give us grace so to follow the great heroes in good living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen
Litany of Praise: 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 Second Letter to the Thessalonian Church
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring. To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
A Reading from Psalm 119
You are righteous, O LORD, *and upright are your judgments.
You have issued your decrees * with justice and in perfect faithfulness.
Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!
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 Luke
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
Liturgist: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Lesson – Fr. Cooke:
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
Song for the Offertory: O Come, Let Us Adore Him (Renew # 1)
O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
We’ll give him all the glory. We’ll give him all the glory; we’ll give him all the glory, Christ the Lord.
For he alone is worthy. For he alone is worthy. For he alone is worthy, Christ the Lord.
We’ll praise his name forever. We’ll praise his name forever. We’ll praise his name forever, Christ the Lord.
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 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 Song: Jesus Stand Among Us (Renew # 237)
1-Jesus, stand among us in your risen power; let this time of worship be a hallowed hour.
2-Breathe the Holy Spirit into every heart; bid the fears and sorrows from each soul depart.
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
When the saints go marching in, when the saints go marching in. Lord I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in.
When the girls go marching in…..
When the boys go marching in….
Dismissal
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
