Sunday School, April 30, 2017 3 Easter A
Theme:
Heirlooms and Memorial Things
Sometimes when we go away from mom and dad for the first
time, we might miss them so much that it is very hard for us to be away. One way that we might help ourselves remember
mom, dad and our home when we go away is to take something from our home with
us, like our blanket or a toy or a bracelet that mom gave us. Whenever we get sad when we can see and touch
mom and dad, we can look at the blanket, bracelet or the toy, and remember how
the love of mom and dad is still with us and surrounds us even when we don’t
see them.
Jesus left the world and when his friends could no longer
see him, he left us things to remember that his love and how Christ was still
with them.
The story about the disciples walking to the Village of
Emmaus is a story about how the love and presence has remained and continued to
be known by us in the church for 2000 years.
Two of the ways that we know about Christ’s love and
presence with us is through reading the Bible and by gathering each week for
the family meal when we obey Christ and we bless bread and wine and repeat the
words of Jesus, “This is my body. This
is my blood.” These words show us how
Jesus taught his disciples to remember his love and presence. Just like we might use a blanket or a picture
to remember our parents when we are away from them; Jesus gave us the bread and
the wine as a way for us to remember his life so strongly, that we can feel him
still being in us and with us.
Sermon:
How many of you have
ever played the game of “Peek-a-boo?” It
is one of the first game that we probably learned to play as a baby.
We cover our face
with our hands and then we suddenly take them away. And say “Peek-a-boo” I see you.
Or we cover baby’s
head with a blanket, and baby pulls the blanket off and we say, “Peek-a-boo.”
What is the meaning
of this game? I pretend to be gone away
and absent. I pretend that you cannot
see me. And then I suddenly return by
saying “Peek-a-boo.”
When you are a young
baby or a child, can you see and touch your mommy and daddy all of the time?
No, they sleep in
another room; they go to work. They go
into the kitchen. You go to preschool or
school. So sometimes we cannot see or touch
or hear our mommy and daddy. But even
though we do not see, or touch or hear them we know that they still live. We know that at anytime they can surprise us
when they come to be with us.
And that is what our
Gospel story is about. When Jesus died,
they put his body in the tomb. And
suddenly his body was gone from the tomb.
And his disciples
suddenly began to have peek-a-boo games with Jesus. Suddenly Jesus would appear to them to let
them know that they were okay and he was still alive.
And now God still
plays peek-a-boo with us. Although we
don’t actual see God or Jesus. We still
know his presence.
In the love of our
parents and friends, Christ is jumping out and saying “Peek-a-boo, I love you
and I care for you.” In the fun that we
have, in learning, in seeing the beautiful world that God has made for us, God
also has hidden his presence. And God is
saying to us, “Peek-a-boo, I see you….I love you and I care for you.”
And you and I, are
to be God messengers for the game of Peek-a-boo. When we are loving and kind, when we care for
one another and when we help each other, Christ is saying “Peek-a-boo” to this
world through us.
So even though we
don’t see or touch Christ, let us remember that Christ is still present in
many, many ways and he is ready to surprise us at anytime with love and care,
and he is saying, “Peek-a-boo, I see you and I love you and I care for
you.” Amen.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
April 30, 2017: The Third Sunday of Easter
Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah!; I Come with Joy, Amazing Grace; O When the
Saints
Liturgist: Alleluia, Christ is Risen.
People: The Lord is Risen Indeed. Alleluia.
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: Hallelu, Hallelujah (Christian Children’s Songbook, #
84)
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord!
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord!
Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!
Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord!
Liturgist: The
Lord be with you.
People: And
also with you.
Liturgist: Let us
pray
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples
in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in
all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for 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
A reading from the Letter of Peter
Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to
the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from
the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed,
through the living and enduring word of God.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Let us read together from Psalm 116
I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving * and call
upon the Name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD * in the presence of all
his people,
In the courts of the LORD'S house, * in the midst of you, O
Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
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 Luke
People: Glory
to you, Lord Christ.
That very day, the first day of the week, two of the
disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from
Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had
happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and
went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to
them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?"
They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas,
answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know
the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them,
"What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of
Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the
people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned
to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem
Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things
took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the
tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came
back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he
was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as
the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them,
"Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer
these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and
all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the
scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked
ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay
with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So
he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took
bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened,
and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each
other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us
on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour
they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their
companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen
indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on
the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
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 Song: I Come With Joy (Renew! # 195)
1. I come with
joy a child of God, forgiven, loved, and free, the life of Jesus to recall, in
love laid down for me.
2. I come with
Christians, far and near to find, as all are fed, the new community of love in
Christ’s communion bread.
3. As Christ
breaks bread, and bids us share, each proud division ends. The love that made us makes us one, and
strangers now are friends.
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 Song: Amazing Grace, (Blue Hymnal, # 671)
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like
me. I once was lost but now am found,
was blind but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears
relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already
come; ‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as
the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.
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 (Christian Children’s
Songbook, # 248).
O when the saints, go marching in. O when the saints go marching in. Lord, I want to be in that number, when the
saints go marching in.
O when the girls go marching in. O when the girls go marching in. Lord, I want to be in that number, when the
girls go marching in.
O when the boys go marching in, O when the boys go marching in. Lord, I want to be in that number, when the
boys go marching in.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Alleluia!
Alleluia! Let us go forth in the
Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
