Sunday School, October 30, 2016 24 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.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
October 30, 2016 Twenty-Fourth 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!
