Abstract
17th July 2016 Proper 11 (16) 9th Sunday after Pentecost
The 17th July is the birthday of Isaac Watts. The English hymn writer and theologian was born on this day in 1674. During his lifetime he wrote over 700 hymns and many of them are still popular today.
In CH4 the following hymns written by Isaac Watts can be found:
146 From all that dwell below the skies Ps 117
161 O God, our help in ages past
320 Joy to the world
392 When I survey the wondrous cross
460 Join all the glorious names
470 Jesus shall reign
The fact that the day is the birthday of the popular hymn writer can be given as much prominence as you like, it can be a short comment when you announce a hymn or it can be a leading theme throughout the service. On the internet (for example Wikipedia) or in literature you will find plenty material for a short biography of Watts.
If the theme is used for an All Age Talk, maybe start with a musical box or something similar that plays the tune of Joy to the world and let children and adults guess the age of the hymn.
24th July 2016 Proper 12 (17) 10th Sunday after Pentecost
The text Hosea 1:2–10 does not seem to suggest itself for an All Age Talk at first glance. It carries a message with stark metaphors, which are not all that harmonious.
But children are familiar with strong feelings. They experience these themselves, probably much stronger than adults do, and they often provoke them in the people who love them. So they will be fine seeing the God, who loves them upset and angry. I would suggest reading Hosea first and then talk to the children about their names and their meaning. Maybe their parents can help and tell why they decided on the name and what it means to them. It would be good to have list prepared with the derivation and meaning of names of your Sunday School children.
Have a conversation about the hopes connected with the names given to them and contrast these with the names given to Hosea’s children. Speak about situations when disappointment and upset leads people to say: ‘You are no longer my friend’ and compare that with God saying ‘You are not my people’. Why are they disappointed by friends? Why is God disappointed?
The aim is not to apologize for the Hosea text but to see that love comes together with other emotions when it is not answered or misunderstood. Make sure to emphasize verse 10 and the perspective that all will be called ‘Children of the living God’ again because there is forgiveness in God’s love.
31st July 2016 Proper 13 (18) 11th Sunday after Pentecost
The following ‘sandwich prayer’ is interspersed with Psalm 107:1–9, 43 (NIV UK) and is best read by different voices. It is an easy way of translating the words of the Psalms into modern day, easy language without doing away with the traditional.
1 Give thanks to the
God is good, I can rely on his everlasting love all the days of my life.
2 Let the redeemed of the
Let me speak of the great things he has done for me,
let me remember how he saved me from danger.
4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.
I was lost and homeless, wandering through an endless void.
My soul was restless and exhausted.
My life was running through my fingers.
6 Then they cried out to the
7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
My wordless tears were seen by God and he helped me to sort out my problems.
My life is now worth living again.
8 Let them give thanks to the
43 Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the
Give thanks to God for he is good, he sustains our lives and is our help in need.
Keep in mind that God loves you and keeps you and always remember what he has done for you.
A completely different approach to the words of the 107th psalm would be to go for a more literal meaning. Does your congregation have contact with refugees? For many of them the words of the psalm will speak literally of their experience of danger and flight. Of course you have to be very careful to put someone in such a vulnerable position to tell publicly of traumatic events but maybe some feel strong and confident enough to speak as part of a group or write down a text that is read by others. A safer option would be to ask a volunteer to give second hand witness.
Relating the words of psalm 107 to experience of refugees is also a good opportunity to involve some interfaith relations and remind us all of our common Abrahamic roots.