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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Easter 6 Year B
Introduction
Introduction
Singing is one way for us to express our happiness. We have something good happen to us, let's sing to share how happy we feel. Singing is also a way for us to overcome our difficulties. Feeling low? Sing a song to lift you from the doldrums. In the psalm for this week is singing of praise for the God who has done "marvelous things". What's your favorite "praise" song? And what's the genre for your favorite? Is it traditional hymn like "A mighty fortress is our God"? Or a praise & worship hymn like "I love you Lord, for your mercy never fails me"? Send your fav here and I'll include the list in next issue.
Psalm 98
Psalm 98
. . . Sing to the Lord a new song, * for he has done marvelous things. . . .
From sermon4kids.com: “. . . When something good happens, you are happy and when something bad happens, you are sad. Do you think Jesus wants you to be happy? Listen to what Jesus said in our Bible reading for today, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:9, 11 NLT) Does that mean that nothing bad will ever happen in your life? No, of course not, but even when you are sad, you can still have joy in your heart because you know that Jesus loves you. ”
Scripture: May 9, 2021—Acts 10:44–48 (image); Psalm 98 (image); 1 John 5:1–6 (image); and John 15:9–17 (image). A video/audio journey through the scripture.
Collect: O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection: In our Gospel lesson this week, Jesus speaks of his extreme love for us, calls us his friends, and says that he makes known to us everything that he hears from God. How does thinking of Christ as our friend and lover—or Lord and Master—affect our daily living?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
Symbols of the Church
Symbols of the Church
New outfits for Easter are symbolic of rebirth and new life. Additionally, thanks to a long-standing superstition, many people believed that wearing new clothes to church on Easter Sunday would bring good luck for the coming year. Elaborate Easter bonnets became part of the tradition over time. This gradually led to the tradition of church-goers parading through the streets after services ended to show off their finery.
from "15 Easter Symbols and Their Unique Meaning" website.
“Ruby Green Singing” by James Chapin
"Sing to the Lord a new song" by Beverly Guilliams
Logo of the Lutheran Women's Ministry of Canada
“Come on, children, let’s sing” by Mahalia Jackson
“The praise song” by Yonnick Adolph (a little Caribbean)
“I’m gonna sing when the spirit says sing“, a capella
Ma Rainey: The blues help you get out of bed in the morning. You get up knowing you ain’t alone. There’s something wise in the world. Something’s been added by that song. This be an empty world without the blues. I take that emptiness and try to fill it up with something. ~August Wilson
The story behind “Amazing Grace”
“Chanting” from Whistling in the Dark by Frederick Buechner
"Amazing Grace" (2006, PG), "no holds barred language" about slavery, about campaign to end slavery, moral heroism, Review, Review, Pew review
“The Fisher King” (1991, R), “delightful story of atonement”, modern story of transformation, Review
“The Giant of Thunder Mountain” (1990, PG), a little girl is touched by the giant’s love, on being an outcast, “children befriend a gentle giant”, Review 1, Review 2, Review 3
For families: Study guide and activities (another guide), group activity, snacks, kid video
For children:See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft;
For middlers: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft
For youth: Ponder 1 John 5:3-4: “For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.” How are God’s commandments life-giving and meant to make you flourish. How can Christ followers conquer the world through faith (and love)?
Excerpted from “Laying it all down”, SOLI website.Feel free to comment.
In the last weeks of Eastertide, our liturgical readings explore the results of the dying and rising of Jesus. Both the Gospel reading and the reading from 1 John speak of the self-giving love of God, revealed in Jesus’ Passover from death to life, as the primary characteristic of our lives in Christ.
In this Sunday’s reading from Acts, Peter and some other Jewish Christians were astounded to see Gentiles in the household of Cornelius receive the Holy Spirit just as they had on the Day of Pentecost. Peter’s last reservations about welcoming Gentiles into the Church are erased and he and the others joyfully lead them to the waters of Baptism.
This Sunday was once called Rogation Sunday because medieval Christians went in processions (rogating) around the parish praying for the newly planted crops during this week. This is a good time to seek more effective ways to care for our environment and to witness that God’s love is not only for humanity but also for the entire creation.
Joined together by God’s spirit in baptism, bound up in the dying and rising of Jesus, related by creation to all the earth, we the people of God bring all our lives and one another into the saving love of God in Eucharist.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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