19 September 2021

---

Bible readings for today

• Proverbs 31:10-31
• Psalms 1:1-6
• James 3:13; 4:1-3,7-8
• Mark 9:30-37

Collect

Holy God, 
in your economy the last will be first and the first will be last; 
help us to step aside, and grant us such humility
that we may recognise and welcome all your children 
with open hands, warm hearts and generous minds,
​with your hospitality and grace. 
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. 
​

• 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

---

Who will be the greatest? (Mark 9: 30-38)

Today Jesus reminds us about what greatness looks like in God's eyes. 

Welcoming children

"Then Jesus put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

These words from Mark 9 are at the heart of our children and families ministries, across the church. Its the 'go-to' passage for us, reminding us of the welcome and embrace of God for those most vulnerable in society.

Sermon questions

• When Jesus welcomed a child into the middle of the gathering, did he do so as a sermon illustration for the benefit of the adults, or perhaps for another reason? 
• Does this act show us about the heart of God? 
• As Jesus put a child among the crowd, we assume that there were children nearby. Children and all ages gathering around Jesus (not off in a hall somewhere else!). Are children in the midst of your church? 
• How can we be welcoming of all generations? 
• Is there anything stopping or hindering your welcome of children into your faith community? 

Zoom church today

Most of New Zealand will find itself in Level 3 or Level 4 this weekend, walking that delicate balance of online church or connecting in ways of worship and fellowship. As we have this passage at the centre of our reading today, it would be remiss for us not to ask:

• How are your children at the centre of your gathering this morning? Is it an online gathering for adults?
• What are the children doing? Are they included?
• Are we investing a lot of time and effort into recreating the church for adults?
• How could we authentically disciple our children and young people through this pandemic? 

Quick Questions

• Who is your hero?
• What are you 'best' at?
• Why do you think Jesus said 'If you want the place of honour, you must become a slave and serve others!'?

Scripture reflection

"I tend not to think that Jesus had some sort of crystal ball awareness of the rough journey that dwelled ahead of him. Like many who have given up their lives in the service of truth and justice (I think of Martin Luther King and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, martyrs; perhaps Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki, too: Google is your friend!) he knew that his trajectory of justice-proclamation, pricking the skins of religious and societal hypocrisy, was soon going to turn to tears. Yet in the midst of that apprehension he turns to one of the most powerless and defenceless in the community and defines the child as a symbol of his own vulnerability and the vulnerability of his gospel. Jesus risked vulnerability, the vulnerability epitomized by a child. The Church, sadly, has in many cases failed horrendously in its duty of care to these icons of Jesus, the vulnerable children. It has failed, too, in its vocation to vulnerability, pontificating instead from assumed positions of power. The two failures are entwined. But let’s reflect on that when we strike passages about millstones and necks and deep oceans. For now let’s just remember that we are called to be vulnerable, not powerful, and to proclaim justice and compassion, not self-preservation." - Michael Godfrey, Dunedin Diocese

Bishop Eleanor Sanderson sermon

In this sermon, Bishop Eleanor speaks about the Mark 9 passage, and about a theology of childhood.  

Gospel Conversations

David Tombs, Fiona Hammond and Diana Abercrombie join Rev Michael Godfrey for a spirited discussion about confused disciples, entering the Kingdom as a child, and the way Jesus flipped expectations upside down. With such eloquent and involved participants, this is a conversation that was difficult to edit down to 15 minutes!

Psalm 1

• Psalm 1 Potato Print Trees (Path Through the Narrow Gate)

Create your own psalm

During various Covid levels, our congregation was not allowed to sing, and we came up with creative ways to worship using the psalms. 

• To replace this corporate aspect of worship, we created a 'Build your own psalm' on Direct Poll. Using a QR code, the congregation used their phones to scan it to start the poll, and we kept track of the most popular votes.  
• We provided 4 options for people to select, and if there was a tie, we did rock/paper/scissors to choose which was to be included! At the end, we read through all the responses at the end. This worked well for all ages, and we had a few extra devices on hand to include those who may not have one. 
• The first question was: What our response should be? Answers included e.g "blessed be your name", "you are a good, good God", "your love never fails" etc. After each of the refrains, we would use the chosen response. 
• Further questions covered all aspects of psalms - from celebration, declaration, lament and praise.
• An example of a question was: Select one option - Your love is: "unfailing and trustworthy", "like a mother hen protecting her chicks", "like a loving father", etc. We praise you because: "you have done so much for us", "your love is unending", "your mercies are new every morning"
• We had someone typing up the responses directly into the powerpoint, so they could be read together once the poll had been completed. 
• Choose 6-8 of these topics and then read out your corporate psalm together.