Sunday School, January 31, 2016 4 Epiphany C
Themes
A wrong excuse: I’m
too young to do something important for God
Being envious
Love
Sometimes we think that we live in a world controlled by
adults and so only adults can do important things. Only adults need to do important things for
God. A child might think, “I’m too young
to do something important for God.”
The prophet Jeremiah tried to use this excuse when God
called him. “He told God, “I am only a
boy; I can’t do something for God that is as important as what an adult could
do.”
Assignment: What can
children do for God in their home and family, at school and in their parish
church. Acolytes, liturgists, watching
younger children and special community projects. Make a list of what children do in your
parish church and inform the adults about the importance of the children in the
church.
Jesus went back to his hometown and his hometown were
envious of his fame and so they did not accept him.
Sometimes if our brother or sister or close friend receives
awards, attention or honor, it is hard for us to accept, because we know the
person really well and we don’t think that he or she is “that much better” than
we are and so it is a temptation for us to be jealous and envious of the gifts
and talents of those who are close to us.
We also need to remember that the reason we have gifts and talents is to
share them with our community to make our community better and not to make us
feel more important than others. Jesus
came to his hometown to share his gifts but his old friends did not accept what
he wanted to give them because they were jealous.
St. Paul wrote about Love:
He said that “Love is not envious.”
This is also what he wrote about
love: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or
arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or
resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends.” St. Paul wrote to a
church in Corinth where people where arguing about who had the best gifts and
talents. He wrote that gifts and talents
were not worth anything if they were not accompanied by love. He wrote that Love is the greatest thing. We
should all try to grow in love.
There are three kinds of love that are found in the New
Testament:
Love as the magnetic attraction between people.
Friendship love, like when we have favorites or best
friends.
But the third kind of love is the kind of love that God has
for this world and the kind of love that Christ has shown us. It is a special love which means we have to treat
everyone fairly and with justice even if they are not are favorites or if they
are not attractive to us.
We have to love people whom we don’t like or attracted to
us. This is that third kind of special
love.
Why do we have to love people whom we don’t like or are not
attracted to? Because we want them to do
the same for us. Not everyone is
attracted to us and not everyone likes us as their best or good friend, but we
still want them to treat us with kindness and respect and fairness.
Sometimes it is hard to respect people who are not our
favorites but this special kind of love is the love from God. God is love because God’s heart is big enough
to make everyone God’s favorite.
We need to continually learn how to make our heart grow
larger to be able to love more and more people.
A Sermon:
How would you define
a good student? Someone who studies
hard, does their homework and is always ready to learn new things.
How would you define
a good baseball player? Someone who can
throw a baseball far, hard and accurate.
Someone who can hit homeruns.
Some who can run fast. Someone
who can win the world series. They are
the best baseball players.
How would you define
or talk about a good dancer? Some one
who practices a lot of ballet steps and movements. Some one who becomes so good that they can
dance on the stage with a famous ballet company.
How would you define
a good inventor? Some one who can design
and make new things?
How would you define
a good artist? Someone who learns how to
paint or draw and learns how to create beautiful paintings and sculptures.
But how would you
define a good Christian? How would you
define someone who is following the teaching of Jesus Christ?
St. Paul wrote about
it. He wrote about the greatest ability
in the world. And do you know what St.
Paul said was the greatest thing in the world?
He said that love
was the greatest thing in the world. St.
Paul wrote that we can have many talents and skills, but if we don’t have love,
then our talents are not worth anything.
What makes our lives perfect is when we add love to all of our gifts and
talents and abilities.
What is love? Love is how we should live with God and how
we should live with each other. What is
love? Love is how we act when we are
patience, kind, forgiving, cheerful and respectful.
Jesus said that
there are only two rules in life: Love
God with all of your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. And so if we want to be good Christians, then
we will spend our lives learning how to love God and one another.
Are we to ever stop
loving? No, because love never ends.
Remember to be a
good Christian, we have to always be learning how to love. God gives us many gifts and talents, and with
all of our gifts and talents, we also need to learn how to love. Love is what is perfect in life. Whatever we do in our lives, we need to have
love accompany it.
So what is the
greatest thing in the world? Love. And God is love and God ask us to learn how
to love in our lives. Amen.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
January 31, 2016 The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Gathering Songs: Jesu, Jesu; I’ve Got Peace Like a River;
The Gift of Love; If You’re Happy
Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. 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: Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love, (Renew! # 289)
Refrain: Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to
serve the neighbors we have from you.
Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their
feet, Master who acts as a slave to them.
Neighbors are rich and poor, neighbors are black and white,
neighbors are near and far away.
Liturgist: The
Lord be with you.
People: And
also with you.
Liturgist: Let us
pray
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in
heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in
our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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 First Letter of Paul to the
Corinthians
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or
boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the
truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as
for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we
know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes,
the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I
thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an
end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see
face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have
been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the
greatest of these is love.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm
71
For you are my hope, O Lord GOD, * my confidence since I was
young.
I have been sustained by you ever since I was born; from my
mother's womb you have been my strength; *my praise shall be always of you.
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.
In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from the book of
the prophet Isaiah, and began to say, "Today this scripture has been
fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the
gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's
son?" He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb,
'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the
things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'" And he said, "Truly
I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown.
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 Hymn: I’ve Got Peace Like a River (All the Best
Songs, # 195)
1-I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace
like a river in my soul.
2-I’ve got love like an ocean, I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean, I’ve got love like an ocean, I’ve got love
like an ocean in my soul.
3-I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a
fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul. I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy
like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
Children’s Choir:
Amazing Grace
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 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.
Children may gather around the altar
The Celebrant now praises God for the salvation of the world
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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 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 may 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: 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: The Gift of Love (Renew! # 155)
1-Though I may speak with bravest fire, and have the gift to
all inspire and have not love: my words are vain; as sounding brass, and
hopeless gain.
2-Though I may give all I possess, and striving so my love
profess, but not be given by love within, the profit soon turns strangely thin.
3-Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control, our spirits long
to be made whole. Let inward love guide
every deed; by this we worship, and are freed.
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: If You’re Happy and You Know It (Christian Children’s Songbook # 124)
1-If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it clap your
hands. If you’re happy and you know,
then your face should surely show it, if you’re happy and you know it, clap
your hands.
2-If you’re happy and you know it make a high five. If you’re happy and you know it, make a high
five. If you’re happy and you know, then
your face should surely show it. If
you’re happy and you know it, make a high five.
3-Make a low five….
4-If you’re happy and you know it, shout, Amen! If you’re happy and you know it shout, Amen!
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face should
surely show it, if you’re happy and you know it shout, Amen!
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
