5 September 2021

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Bible readings for today

• Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
• Psalm 125:1-5
• James 2:1-17
• Mark 7:24-37

​It is also Fathers Day in New Zealand today

The gospel reading today tells of two healing miracles. First, Jesus heals the a young girl, and then he heals a man who could not hear or speak. 

Collect

Healing God,
you speak into the hurting and wounded places;
empower us to speak your vision of wholeness,
and turn us to action in the face of injustice,
that empowered by the Spirit we may be agents of your healing love.
Through Jesus Christ our Liberator,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
​Amen

Bubble Zoom church ideas

If your church is gathering online, and your online services do not cater for children well, there are few activities that could help our young families (and all ages) engage. 
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• If God was to describe your bubble in one word, what would it be? Make that word out of things you have around your house (e.g. lego, socks, food, pens), and share them over Zoom at the end of your service. 
• If your bible story is a creative one, could they make a scene from it out of lego? 
• Make a prop or outfit out of recycled materials
• Build a fort
• Recreate famous bible painting using items from around the house. You could pick a painting based on your bible readings for the day.
• Set up a scavenger hunt
• Sermon bingo - when the preacher says some key words, they have actions to do (e.g. star jump, call out a response word)
• Draw a picture, or decorate rocks and leaves with paint pens. 
• 2min challenge to collect one things that reminds them of God and then share with your family why you choose it
• Make a collage around the theme of the day

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The Faith of a Gentile Woman (Mark 7:24-30)

Jesus heals the woman's daughter

Wow that was quite a story today. Jesus didn't seem to be treating the woman very well in the first part of the story. How did you feel about it? (pause) It might have been a bit hard to pick up, but the woman and her daughter were from a different town than Jesus. In Jesus' time, people often thought that Jesus had come just for the people of his town, not the rest of the world.
Does that sound like the Jesus you know? (pause)
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• Have you ever felt left out of a group? 
• How did that make you feel? (pause) 

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Well, Jesus did heal the woman's daughter in the end. Some people think that this story was Jesus' way of letting people know that he had come for all people, not just a few.

As Christians, we are called to be like Jesus. And just as Jesus healed the daughter in the story even though she was from a different town, we too need to treat everyone the same way and not just be nice to our friends.

Quick Questions

• What do you think Jesus meant when he said: 'The children must first be fed! It isn't right to take away their food and feed it to dogs.”
• Have you ever felt left out? How did that make you feel?
• Do you think Jesus loves everyone? Who do you think it would be hard to love?
• What are some ways that we can show people that Jesus loves them?

Gospel Conversations

One of the most uncomfortable passages we encounter in Mark's Gospel is the story of Jesus and the Syrophonecian woman. This week Chris Holmes, Jan Clark and Richard Atiken join Michael to face the challenges of a Jesus who does not always fit our comfortable images of him, and who yet brings hope that is extended to us no matter who we are.

Mark 7: 31-36 (Jesus Heals the Deaf/Mute Man)

All of these games and activities can be used as conversation starters about what it might be like to be Deaf or Mute

Activities

• Sign Language Activities (Twinkl)
• Silent Ball Game (Playworks)
• Silent Signs Game (Jubed)
• Solemn and Silent Game (Youth Group Games)
• Silly Ears Craft​

Quick Questions

• I wonder how it must have felt being able to hear for the first time in your life. 
• What sounds do you think he heard?
• Would these be the same as you would hear today? Why? 
• What sounds can you hear from where you are sitting now? (can you hear the wind? traffic? What other noises can you hear?)
• What do you think the man's first words would have been?
• What would you say if it was you?

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 Cards

What 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.