1 September 2024
Bible readings for today22nd Ordinary Sunday Liturgical Colour: GREEN
The Builders of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Today marks the start of the Season of Creation, and is also Fathers Day in New Zealand. |
CollectCollect for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
E te Matua Māhaki, whakaaturia ō mātou hara e tū tāheke nei kia pai ai tā mātou whāki i aua hara kia mōhio ai ki te hōhonutanga me te whai rawa o tōu atawhai. E īnoi ana mātou i roto i a Īhu Karaiti tō mātou Ariki. Āmine. Gentle Father, show us our sins as they really are so that we may truly renounce them and know the depth and richness of your mercy. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
Season of Creation
The Season of Creation starts on 1 September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on 4 October, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Season of Creation is an annual celebration of prayer and action to protect creation, and has been gaining traction around the world as something to focus on during September - a particularly good month for the Southern Hemisphere as the days get warmer and new growth gets underway.
Season of Creation is an annual celebration of prayer and action to protect creation, and has been gaining traction around the world as something to focus on during September - a particularly good month for the Southern Hemisphere as the days get warmer and new growth gets underway.
Creation care in the BibleA comprehensive survey of Biblical verses from Genesis to Revelation that tell us about ourselves and creation. As a bonus, Leunig made some cartoons to illustrate it.
Intergenerational WorshipIntergen Australia have collated some intergenerational worship ideas for the Sundays of the season, around the themes of Forest, Land, Wilderness and River. Written and compiled by Michelle Cook.
Prayer ideasIdeas from Prayer Spaces in Schools:
Carbon Footprints Plastic Planet Weather series Forest Thanks Climate Change Windmills Liturgy of the ElementsA liturgy written by Silvia Purdie (https://www.conversations.net.nz) that reflects on creation through stone, air, fire, and water
Kelvin the KakapoHow do we teach about looking after our world to young children from a Christian perspective? This beautiful resource was produced by Green Anglicans in South Africa, who generously allowed the Anglican Schools Office to adapt it for use in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia. It provides all you need for 10 lessons on caring for creation, including age-appropriate input, activities, stories from around the world and meaningful things you can do together.
Messy Church goes wildMessy Church goes wild
Check out this new book by Lucy Moore. Messy Church Goes Wild is the movement within Messy Church which aims to encourage Messy Churches to meet God outdoors, love the natural world, experience a sense of awe and wonder there and to be more eco-aware in all we do, both inside and out, as gathered and dispersed church, for the good of the planet. Messy Church Goes Wild is the movement within Messy Church which aims to encourage Messy Churches to meet God outdoors, love the natural world, experience a sense of awe and wonder there and to be more eco-aware in all we do, both inside and out, as gathered and dispersed church, for the good of the planet. Wild WorshipWild Worship - Rachel Summers
Wild Worship is a practical book, a guide full of reflection, prayer and activities to help families and church groups experience God in a new way. As a forest school practitioner Rachel Summers wants to "...hold space to allow others to connect with creation" helping people find joy in finding God without walls and ceilings. |
Resources
Resound WorshipResound Worship have released a 13 track Doxecology album of ecologically themed worship songs designed for congregational singing, along with a 13 week study guide.
Worship in the WoodsEngage Worship have prepared an amazing 10 week resource for worshipping outdoors, focussing on trees, light, roots, fungi, leaves, seeds, flowers, fruit, water and birds.
Climate Change prayer bookFrom Caritas
Lambeth Conference WebinarOne year ago, the Lambeth Conference met in the garden of Lambeth Palace. Bishops shared the Lambeth Call on the Environment and Sustainable Development and launched The Communion Forest.
Learn about what’s happened since. Join the webinar on 20 or 21 September (60mins, choose one date only) to hear how you can add your voice to the Lambeth Call, help to grow the Communion Forest and campaign for change in the lead up to COP28. Register here |
Media
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That which defiles (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23)
In today's passage, Jesus talks to the Pharisees about the rules they have, to catch people out. Today they asked him about why his disciples weren't keeping strict rules around eating, and Jesus reminds them that having a clean heart is even more important. The words we use can be a reflection of the state of our heart.
Washing handsHaving spent the last 18months living in a world with Covid-19, where good hand hygiene is even more important than ever, it may be tempting to read today's gospel passage and think that the Pharisees and scribes have a good point! Its important to remember that they were not concerned with good sanitation, but with the keeping of lots of rules and regulations that would make someone ritually clean. Their rules are for exclusion, not including people into God's kingdom.
Prayer JengaPrayer Jenga uses the popular game to encourage all ages to pray. Write prayer ideas on each of the blocks, and assemble your tower. As each person removes a block, they read out the prayer idea on the block and pray a quick prayer for it. It is a great way to get all ages praying out loud, in a fun and creative way.
Thanks to the Kitchen Table Project for the great idea. Gospel Conversations |
Quick Questions
Prayer PlacematsUsing the paper, pens and craft materials around your house, design a placemat for someone else in the family, reminding them how much you love them. The passage from today reminds us that our heart is the source of the words we share, so take a moment to pray for that person and share words of encouragement, hope and love. Share them with each other at dinner time, and take a moment to explain what your picture represents.
Scripture Reflections"Mark frequently depicts the scribes and Pharisees as habitual opponents of Jesus, for ever attempting to trap or trip him, to embarrass him in front of his followers and undermine his mana. The contrast Jesus makes between outward piety (Paul and Luther’s “works”) and inward devotion (akin to holy eros) silences, for now, the schemers. A similar and similarly unsuccessful trap, more obscure to modern readers, is depicted in the omitted verses. Love, compassion, and justice will not be silenced." - Rev. Michael Godfrey
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Peg Riley, until recently long-time chaplain of St Margaret's College in Christchurch, joins Bishop Kelvin, Alec Clark and Michael to dig deep into a potentially tricky passage of Mark's gospel. What does it mean to balance the inner and outer life of faith, to ensure the walls come down between us and others, to focus once again on the core of it all: love?
James1:17-27
The reading from James ties in well with the gospel passage today, reminding the reader of the importance of words that match the heart.
Inspiring people: Helen Keller
Helen Keller became a celebrated author, educator, and activist who believed in equality for people with disabilities. Before she made history as the first deaf and blind person to graduate from college, Helen was a smart kid who loved learning. She overcame many challenges to learn how to read, write, and talk. She spoke up for other people with disabilities so they could get equal rights. Explore how Helen Keller went from being a young girl in Alabama to the world-famous First Lady of Courage." - Book Depository
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The importance of wordsThe power of words: "words are the ingredients and elements of creation itself. When god set out to create the universe, he did not go into the laboratory and pull things off the shelf, and make compounds, and from there create new things. Instead, when God wanted to create, he used words." St Peter's Columbus
Leaders resourcesChurch of Scotland's resources for today can be found here
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Leaders overviewThe Book of James - Francis Chan
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Father's Day
Today is Fathers' day in New Zealand, celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. To help you navigate this day in a sensitive way, check out the Strandz page for resources and ideas for honouring all the men in your community.
God Loves You CardsWhat you need: Card, assorted bits of coloured paper, magazines etc to decorate with, scissors, glue, felts and crayons.
Preparation: You might like to make a few examples of card designs. There are plenty of ideas on the internet if you are feeling un-creative. Try searching 'making cards' or 'card designs' and see what you can find! What to do: Instruct the children that they can decorate their card anyway they like, and include the message 'God loves you!' in the middle. For younger children you might like to pre-write this in the blank cards. When they have finished, get them to choose who they want to send the card to. It might be someone in the congregation, a neighbour, a teacher etc. Remind them that God's love is for everyone, so perhaps they could give the card to someone they might not normally give a card to. |
Father's Day Ideas
Father's day, and Mothers day, is fraught for a variety of different reasons. It can be painful for those who do not have a Dad, or those who have lost Dads. It can also be painful for those who wish to be Fathers or for those who have lost their partners. For these reasons, and many more, I recommend using these days as celebrations of spiritual parents (anyone), and making gifts for a variety of different people who have had positive impacts in children's lives.
- Jar of Hershey's Kisses (It's Written on the Walls)
- M&Ms (Sisters What)
- Plant Pots (Whimsical Mumblings)
- Cookies (Living Locurto)
- Superhero Cards (The Best Ideas for Kids)
- Framed Fingerprints
- Fold out Card (Artsy Craftsy Mom)
- Seed Bombs (One Little Project)
Good Good Father
I have loved this worship song from Chris Tomlin, ever since I first heard it. Perhaps it was the simple words, the melody, the reminder that God is a loving, good Father -- who's integrity and character doesn't change, even when I don't have all the answers. Perhaps its just a classic Chris Tomlin song.
However, this song has become more meaningful to me recently.
A few years ago, I travelled back to the UK, to sit beside my grandmother in a hospital room as she lived out the final two weeks of her life with Leukemia. One day, a chaplain dropped by and was talking to my gran, and asked if she would like to hear a song. He pulled out a little bluetooth speaker, and the room was filled with 'Good Good Father'. My 92 year old grandmother lay peacefully still, smiling, as she soaked in the words. She loved it. So much that she asked for it to be played at the small 'celebration of life' service that was held at home for her a couple of weeks later. God's goodness and grace doesn't change -- no matter how old we are. His love for us is the same. He is a good good father.
— Diana, Anglican Diocese of Wellington.
However, this song has become more meaningful to me recently.
A few years ago, I travelled back to the UK, to sit beside my grandmother in a hospital room as she lived out the final two weeks of her life with Leukemia. One day, a chaplain dropped by and was talking to my gran, and asked if she would like to hear a song. He pulled out a little bluetooth speaker, and the room was filled with 'Good Good Father'. My 92 year old grandmother lay peacefully still, smiling, as she soaked in the words. She loved it. So much that she asked for it to be played at the small 'celebration of life' service that was held at home for her a couple of weeks later. God's goodness and grace doesn't change -- no matter how old we are. His love for us is the same. He is a good good father.
— Diana, Anglican Diocese of Wellington.
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