tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49648764446432307222024-03-12T19:09:45.272-07:00Sola Sunday School ArchiveThis blogsite serves as an archive of ideas for education and Sunday School activities. It is meant for communication and conversation among pastors, teachers, and parents who are using Sola Publishing educational products and other resources.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07833127433990800998noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-28057825160935783342014-01-22T18:26:00.000-08:002014-04-15T15:26:59.763-07:00New Worship Resource to Serve Multiple Denominations<b>Article by Rev. Carter Askren of Lutheran Core</b><br />
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As of January this year, Lutheran congregations can now enjoy an
affordable and convenient online worship resource produced by Sola Publishing.<i> </i></div>
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<i>The Sola Online Worship Resource Site</i> is a lectionary-based
resource that began last May as an idea for a printed book similar to <i>Sundays
and Seasons</i> by Augsburg Fortress Press. “It quickly evolved into the
development of a much larger online format,” said the Rev. Steven E. King,
managing editor for Sola Publishing. </div>
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“By going online, we could introduce much more material,” King
said. “Going online in January 2014, we started out with six month<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s worth of advance content for
people preparing for the coming year, and we continue to add more each week.” </div>
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Currently the online resource offers congregations the following:<br />
*worship planning guides, <br />
*liturgies and occasional services, <br />
*bulletin templates, <br />
*lectionary scripture inserts, <br />
*lectionary plain text for projection or bulletins, <br />
*bulletin clip art, <br />
<span lang="NL" style="mso-ansi-language: NL;">*children</span><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s bulletins and puzzles, <br />
*prayers of the church, <br />
*weekly devotionals, <br />
*study guides for pastor or small group bible study, <br />
*a PowerPoint template for projection,<br />
*and public domain music PDFs in simplified arrangements.</div>
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The resource is intended to serve Lutheran congregations from a
variety of denominational backgrounds, including Lutheran CORE, ELCA
congregations, as well as NALC, LCMC, CALC, and other congregations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hymn suggestions are offered for <i>ELW</i>, <i>LBW,
WOV, </i>and <i>LSB,</i> along with the new ReClaim <i>Lutheran Hymnal for
Church and Home</i> (see related article on page #). In addition, original hymn
texts for each season of the church year are provided for well-known, public
domain hymn tunes. </div>
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“When choosing hymn suggestions, one of the things we<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>ve kept in mind is that these
different hymnals represent different ethnic traditions and pieties. There<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s no one-size-fits-all when it
comes to worship music. Everybody has their preferences in terms of what they
like and what they are used to singing. That is why Sola tries to support the
breadth of Lutheran worship, whether it tends toward high church or low church
traditions, or somewhere in between,” King said. He noted that Sola<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s online resource provides
continuing support and suggestions for those using the <i>LBW</i>, even as
Augsburg-Fortress has diminished its focus on that hymnal. </div>
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Pastor King stated that the resource was designed with the small
church<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s budget constraints
in mind. Churches with less than 50 members can enjoy all these resources for
as little as $120 a year, half the cost of Augsburg Fortress<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’ </span>online <i>Sundays and Seasons</i>.
Additionally, since many churches often struggle to find skilled musical
accompanists, the musical arrangements that Sola provides are intentionally
simplified to facilitate easy accompaniment with guitar or keyboard. </div>
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“We have a heart for the small parishes. There are
well-functioning large churches that have access to all the resources they
need, but there are many small congregations that have difficulty finding
resources to support their particular needs. That<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s where we fit in best,” King said. </div>
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One reason Sola Publishing is able to provide such affordable
pricing on their new resource is by keeping it separate from music licensing.
Many congregations already subscribe to licensing services like <i>CCLI</i> or <i>OneLicense</i>,
which can be used in harmony with resources from the Sola site. The music
provided by Sola itself is original or in the public domain, including many
favorite historic hymns. </div>
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The Sola Resource Site also offers a number of
liturgies, inserts, and occasional services as downloadable PDF files. The text
of these liturgies can be easily formatted for use in projection. </div>
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Content development for the new website was coordinated by
Pastors Amy Little and Mark Ryman along with Pastor King.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Peter Churness developed the website
itself. Continuing additions to the resource will be made in response to consumer
demand.</div>
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“The response has been better than we expected,” King remarked. “In
the first two weeks of going live, we had eighty congregations already
subscribed. That<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s a good
response,” he said. </div>
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Interested worship leaders can visit the <a href="http://worship.solapublishing.com/weekly-worship-sample"><span class="Hyperlink0">website</span></a> or call 1-888-887-9840. An online video
explaining the resources offered is underway and will be posted soon. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-53729465598916448062013-12-05T10:36:00.000-08:002013-12-05T10:45:34.646-08:00Free Preview: Sola's new Online Worship Resource SiteAs a ministry partner of Lutheran Core, LCMC, NALC, and CALC, Sola Publishing takes seriously its commitment to serve local congregations by providing the materials they need to do everyday ministry. We have just taken a big step forward in the area of worship support. We invite you to take a look at a preview of our new Online Worship Resource Site at: <a href="http://worship.solapublishing.com/">http://worship.solapublishing.com </a><br /><br />
During the month of December, we are letting the public see a sample of the site for free, including weekly planning sheets, inserts, text studies, children’s page, bulletin templates, hymn arrangements, and standard liturgies and orders of service. Beginning in January 2014, subscribers will have access to the full site and all of its resources.<br /><br />
Call <b>1-888-887-9840</b> to order a yearly subscription. Our inexpensive subscription rate is based on a congregation’s weekly worship attendance. We have intentionally kept the cost as reasonable as possible to make solid materials available to all congregations.<br /><br />The price for a yearly subscription to Sola’s online worship site is based on the average worship attendance for a congregation or multi-point parish, as follows:<br />
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Average Attendance = 1-49 ......... Subscription Price: $120 per year<br />
Average Attendance = 50-99 ....... Subscription Price: $150 per year<br />
Average Attendance = 100-199 ... Subscription Price: $180 per year<br />
Average Attendance = 200-299 ... Subscription Price: $210 per year<br />
Average Attendance = 300-499 ... Subscription Price: $240 per year<br />
Average Attendance = 500-999 ... Subscription Price: $270 per year<br />
Average Attendance = 1,000+ ..... Subscription Price: $300 per yearUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-39334867234461801042013-11-08T09:00:00.002-08:002013-11-08T09:00:23.225-08:00Worship Site: Pre-Preview!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0r6z-9o9oX14QvYiUVD3FoUbj6-jaTDiW7bjP_IjBpW4oJoeQm5MAZMBVzDH0LP_xEqVkiIH8kVUgfD03nLyytvDt2Ougx3OmoBDW7Rb2thzDHjhw_CmwPZno9UVeYzEXghpUXWm_dpY/s1600/Toolbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0r6z-9o9oX14QvYiUVD3FoUbj6-jaTDiW7bjP_IjBpW4oJoeQm5MAZMBVzDH0LP_xEqVkiIH8kVUgfD03nLyytvDt2Ougx3OmoBDW7Rb2thzDHjhw_CmwPZno9UVeYzEXghpUXWm_dpY/s200/Toolbox.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Take an early "pre-preview" look at Sola's new <b>Online Worship Resource Site</b>: a lectionary-based resource for Scripture lessons, lectionary inserts, children's bulletins, devotionals, text studies, prayers, hymn-planning, and much more!<br /><br />As announced, the full "sneak preview" for the new worship site will be coming in Advent, with actual subscriptions beginning with the new year in 2014. However, since many of you have been wanting to see the site sooner, we have opened a portion of the site for an even earlier look. For a limited "pre-preview" go to<a href="http://worship.solapublishing.com/"> http://worship.solapublishing.com</a><br /><br /><i>(Prior to Advent, you will be able to see what the general layout of the site will look like, and be able to access the weekly worship pages for Advent-Christmas as well as some of the bulletin templates that will soon be available.)</i><br />
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For more information on the site, including the pricing schedule for subscriptions, download a <a href="http://http//www.solapublishing.com/doc/worship/SolaWorshipSiteFlier.pdf">free brochure</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-88360391576701911862013-09-10T12:36:00.000-07:002013-09-10T12:38:52.331-07:00Sola Stewardship Resources<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcezpuRzxLSN2WEpTfQuXgy43mHJydeaA3okh9o6z-z0GbuWwvf2Vg4DlVLfpjjn28Wx46uOtqkdHaWOtRKwo6XulljQt63B_HchrVdFW91AuPcXtNbp_ytl5ACDvjZDQ1iIZN0Y0Ns2E/s1600/SolaSteward2013Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcezpuRzxLSN2WEpTfQuXgy43mHJydeaA3okh9o6z-z0GbuWwvf2Vg4DlVLfpjjn28Wx46uOtqkdHaWOtRKwo6XulljQt63B_HchrVdFW91AuPcXtNbp_ytl5ACDvjZDQ1iIZN0Y0Ns2E/s320/SolaSteward2013Poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">For those who have not yet thought of a theme for their Fall stewardship emphasis ... just a little reminder:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Every year, Sola Publishing offers free downloadable resources for congregations and leaders in pulling together a Stewardsh</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">ip month. The theme for this year's Stewardship Emphasis comes from the Joshua 24:15, where Joshua boldly confessed before the people of Israel: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."<br /><br />We have inserts, posters, clip art, giving plans, children's sheets, etc. Go to our Free Teaching Resources page > Stewardship, or click on this link:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.solapublishing.org%2Fpages%2FStewardship.html&h=bAQE7edEo&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.solapublishing.org/pages/Stewardship.html</a></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-38727416445848624652013-08-21T11:54:00.003-07:002013-08-21T11:54:41.024-07:00The New Sola Online Worship Resource Site<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWwr6OdFTGFmL8r9nWhQFU0SSJ9nATU09eVMU1-3n3R2_3XDqfGubUq-kmgJeMnTyaOU2E-_B88rY2HmKHWQr8nmHpYn7701JIMl7zrbPv9RzQ5Qc8D1CetXpBjD25dfKesis44qfV3o/s1600/Cross+Shroud.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWwr6OdFTGFmL8r9nWhQFU0SSJ9nATU09eVMU1-3n3R2_3XDqfGubUq-kmgJeMnTyaOU2E-_B88rY2HmKHWQr8nmHpYn7701JIMl7zrbPv9RzQ5Qc8D1CetXpBjD25dfKesis44qfV3o/s200/Cross+Shroud.png" width="158" /></a><span style="color: red;"><b><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[0].[0]">Coming Advent 2013: Sola Online Worship Resource!</span></span></span></span></b></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[0].[0]">We
are doing something different from other sources out
there, in order to provide our congregations with worship-support
materials they actually need and use -- grounded in a sound, biblical
Lutheran theology, and offered at a reasonable</span></span><span data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[3]"><span data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[3].[0].[0]">
price. As we develop our new Online Worship Resource Site, we have a
clear vision for what we are doing and what we are not doing.</span><br data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[3].[0].[1]" /><br data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[3].[0].[2]" /><span data-reactid=".r[hjbw].[1][4][1]{comment237371279656665:564370976956692:63_5220939}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[3].[0].[3]">We're
not using automated generic bulletin-making software, nor are we
becoming a general music-licensing company. We ARE providing the kind of
pre-formatted and flexible worship resources that many Lutheran
congregations print every week, including: bulletin inserts, children's
bulletins, devotional inserts, weekly lectionary text studies,
liturgical clip-art, cover art, service settings, etc. We are also
providing a wealth of worship-planning resources, including: seasonal
suggestions, weekly hymn suggestions, lectionary summaries, prayers of
the church, sermon starters, bulletin templates, powerpoint backdrops,
and much more!</span></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-41981307083953723022013-07-31T18:28:00.002-07:002013-07-31T18:29:57.347-07:00Coming Soon: Sola's Online Worship Resource<br />
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="color: maroon; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sola's Online Worship Resource Site</span></strong></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<em style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img alt="communion.jpg" class="__mce_add_custom__" height="88" src="http://www.solapublishing.org/product_images/uploaded_images/communion.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="communion.jpg" width="112" /></em><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="color: navy; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A lectionary-based resource for Scripture lessons, lec</em></em></span></span><span style="color: navy; font-family: verdana, geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></em></span></strong></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="color: navy; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">tionary inserts, children's bulletins, devotionals, prayers, hymn-planning, and much more -- at h</em></em></span></span><span style="color: navy; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">alf the price of Augsburg’s Sundays and Seasons™!</em></em></span></em></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></strong></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Download a free brochure <a href="http://www.solapublishing.com/doc/worship/SolaWorshipSiteFlier.pdf" style="color: #075899; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">HERE</a> to read more about it!</span></strong></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Congregations have been asking when Sola Publishing will produce a worship resource similar to Augsburg’s Sundays and Seasons™ that not only follows the recommended Sola lectionary, but also represents a more traditional and orthodox theology. Sola publishing is pleased to announce that, beginning in Advent of 2013, we will go online with the Sola Online Worship Resource. This new resource will incorporate what we have already been providing in our weekly Scripture Insert subscription, and expand it to include much, much more!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-28501706120512359042013-04-01T11:55:00.001-07:002013-04-01T11:55:35.515-07:00Activity C4 - Lesson 7: Book of Life<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Activity - Green Unit C4</b></i></span><br />
Lesson 7: Judgment Day (Revelation 20:11 - 21:4)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Book of Life</b></span> - <i>Materials Needed:</i><br />
- construction paper and copy paper<br />
- markers, crayons or colored pencils<br />
- glue sticks, decorations, etc.<br />
<br />
Use a glue stick to glue a white piece of paper on the back of a larger piece of constructions paper. Then fold the paper in half (like a book), with the white on the inside and the construction paper on the outside. Today's lesson talks about the Book of Life, which the Bible says will be opened on Judgment Day. Written in that book are all the names of those who belong to Jesus. Imagine how beautiful such a book might look, and design a front cover for it. What might you include on the book's cover? Pictures of the earth or heaven? Names? Christian symbols? Etc. Have the children decorate the cover of their book. When the cover is finished, write the names of the students from class on the white inside. Kids may add names of other people who believe in Jesus - as many as they would like.<br />
The Book of Life is a book of promise. None of us are good enough to stand on our own on Judgment Day. That is why we need Jesus!<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Activity: Alphabet Soup!</b></span><br />
Have the children sit in a circle. Start the game by saying a name that begins with A. The person to your right will then say a name that begins with B. The next person will say a name that begins with C, and so on around the circle. See how quickly you can cover the whole alphabet. The Book of Life will contain more names than we can imagine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-82313466810294829102013-04-01T11:14:00.002-07:002013-04-01T11:56:01.795-07:00Activity C4 - Lesson 6: Bible Lantern Craft<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C4</b></span></i><br />
Lesson 6: Letter from an Eyewitness (2 Peter 1:1 - 21)<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Bible Lantern Craft -</span></b> <i>Materials Needed:</i><br />
- colored construction paper<br />
- rulers<br />
- pencils and markers<br />
- scissors and stapler<br />
<br />
Give each student a piece of construction paper. Fold the paper in half lengthwise. Then, set it down so the fold is facing you. Using a pencil and ruler, draw a line across the top of the paper, lengthwise, about an inch from the edge. Within that margin write, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet" (Psalm 119:105) in marker.<br />
Use scissors to cut from the fold to the line. Repeat several times, making each cut about an inch away from the previous one. Open the paper, and roll so the two short sides connect. Staple them in place to make a lantern. Cut a handle from another piece of paper, and staple across the top if you wish.<br />
The book of Peter tells us to pay attention to God's Word, just as we should to a lamp shining in the darkness. Use these lanterns to decorate the classroom, or send them home. Wherever they are, they'll serve as a beacon, remindging us that God's Word is a "lamp to my feet and a light to my path".<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Activity: Missionary Contact</b></span><br />
Before class, find the address of a missionary family. Your church may support a specific one. Or, check out the World Mission Prayer League website. Working as a group, write a class letter to a missionary family. (Younger children can draw pictures.) Encourage the missionaries, ask questions, and write a prayer for them. Then mail the letter. Tell the class that the apostles often used letters to encourage faithful people across the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-59338646643901927742013-03-18T12:12:00.001-07:002013-03-18T12:12:38.029-07:00Activity C4 - Lesson 5: Storms at Sea<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C4</i></b></span><br />
Lesson 5: Paul is Shipwrecked (Acts 27:13 - 28:10)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Storms at Sea Craft -</b></span> <i>Materials Needed:</i><br />
- index cards for each student<br />
- scissors<br />
- pencils<br />
- long plastic tub or dishpan of water <br />
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Have the children round the edges of the card with scissors. Draw a perpendicular line about 3/4 of an inch long in the middle of the short ends of the card. Cut along the two lines to create two slits. Overlap the sides of each slit slightly to curve the sides of the card up, creating a canoe shape. Tape each into place. Divide the children into pairs. Each pair will race their boats by blowing them across the water. The object is to see which boat can reach the other side of the tub before sinking! Classmates can stand around the tub and make storm sounds, if they desire. Paul stayed calm in the face of the storm knowing the ship would sink. How could Paul have such peace of mind? He trusted God.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Activity: Floating Eggs Science Experiment</b></span><br />
Fill a glass with cold water and a second with hot water. Drop one egg into the cold water. If it is fresh it should sink. This is because fresh eggs are denser than water. Now, add a spoonful of salt to the hot water. Stir until the salt has dissolved. Remove the egg from the cold water and place it in the salt water. See if the egg floats. If it doesn't, add more salt until it does. Why does it float in salt water? Because salt increased the density of water, making the water "heavier" than the egg. How did Paul and the others float to safety? They held onto planks from the ship and were washed ashore. Remember God is in control, and he knows what you are going through. God can make a way, even when no way seems clear.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-11590897597796076392013-03-14T10:01:00.001-07:002013-03-14T10:01:58.266-07:00Activity C4 - Lesson 4: "I'm Traveling to Athens" Game<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C4</b></i></span><br />
Lesson 4: Paul in Athens (Acts 17:16 - 34)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Play "I'm Traveling to Athens Game" -</b></span> <i>Materials needed:</i><br />
- None.<br />
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Have the children sit in a large circle; either on the floor or at a table. Lead everyone in this rhythm pattern: clap twice; then slap the floor (or table) twice. Repeat. Once everyone has the rhythm down, speak these words with the beat: "I'm tra-vel-ing to Athens". Have the kids echo. On the next beat, add this sentence: "And so I'll bring some (<i>fill in the blank</i>)". Kids echo this, as well. On the next beat the person to your right will repeat everything, changing only the word in the blank. The game continues until someone cannot think of a new item and then they are out. Go faster on each successive round, until the game gets ridiculous or there is only one person left. Paul traveled all the way to Athens, Greece; far from his home. He did it because he believed it was very important to bring the good news of Jesus to people everywhere!<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Activity: Classroom Olympics</b></span><br />
Challenge the children to a classroom "Olympic" competition: The Stork Stand. See who can balance on one foot the longest with the sole over the other foot held to the side of the knee. Afterward, explain that the ancient Greeks began the Olympic Games to honor their group of gods. The apostle Paul knew about these gods and traveled to Greece to teach the people about the one true God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-57884864910359534192013-03-14T09:29:00.003-07:002013-03-14T09:29:43.443-07:00Activity C4 - Lesson 3: Prayer Mobile<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C4</b></i></span><br />
Lesson 3: Faith Instead of Magic (Acts 8:9 - 25)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Create a Prayer Mobile </b></span>- <i>Materials Needed:</i><br />
- colored construction paper (two pieces per student)<br />
- markers or colored pencils<br />
- scissors<br />
- yarn<br />
- yarn<br />
- hole punch<br />
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Give each student two pieces of paper. Have them fold each paper in half the long way. Starting at the fold draw two half hearts - one above the other, on each paper. Cut each of the hearts out, leaving you with four hearts. Make appropriate holes at the top and bottom of each heart so they can be hung in a vertical line. Have the children write (or write for the smaller children) the following - one on each of the hearts: "Create in me"; "a clean heart, O God,"; "and put a new and right spirit", "within me. Psalm 51:10". Decorate the hearts with markers. Cut four pieces of thread. Tie one end through the bottom of the first heart, and the other through the top of the second. Repeat for each heart. Loop a piece of yarn through the top of the top heart so that it can be hung.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Activity: Toothpick Illusion</b></span><br />
Practice before performing the trick in class. Using a small piece of tape, attach a toothpick to your thumbnail. The toothpick should not extend above the nail. Bend your thumb down and put your fingers over the tape, so it looks like you are holding the toothpick. Wave your other hand in front of the toothpick hand and straighten your toothpick thumb to show the kids your palm and make the toothpick "disappear". Reverse the steps to make the toothpick reappear. Then explain to the children how the illusion worked. Explain that this trick is for fun and entertainment. We must not put our faith in magic, sorcery, or things of that nature. God is the only true source of power and goodness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-40495058463873010102013-03-14T09:09:00.000-07:002013-03-14T09:09:07.052-07:00Activity C4 - Lesson 2: Ascension Skyscape<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C4</b></i></span><br />
Lesson 4: Jesus Ascends Into Heaven (Acts 1:1 - 14)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Create an Ascension Skyscape -</b></span> <i>Materials Needed:</i><br />
- heavy, white paper (watercolor paper works best)<br />
- paintbrushes (include larger brushes too)<br />
- black permanent marker<br />
- cups of water<br />
- paper towels<br />
- glue, scissors<br />
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Give each student a piece of heavy white paper. Instruct them as follows: dip a large paintbrush into a cup of water and brush back and forth until the entire paper is <i>damp</i>; dip the paintbrush into watercolor paint, choosing colors reminiscent of a sunset; use long strokes to paint back and forth, switching colors intermittently. Set the pain aside and cut a cloud from a second piece of white paper. After the paint has dried, glue the cloud onto the picture. Then, use black marker to draw Jesus standing on top of the cloud.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Activity: Guess When?</span></b><br />
Bring a timer to class. Invite kids to sit in a circle. Without showing them what you are doing, set the timer to ring at a certain time during class. Give students a scrap of paper and a pencil and ask them to write down their guess as to when the timer will ring. Explain that in today's story, Jesus told his followers that no one knows the times that God has set for anything. And that's good, because God simply wants us to trust him - and his timing - in all things! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-32928943987686708342013-03-13T12:33:00.000-07:002013-03-13T12:33:27.749-07:00Activity C4 - Lesson 1: Class Commission<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C4</b></i></span><br />
Lesson 1: Jesus Sends Out His Disciples (Matthew 28:16 - 20)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Perform a "Class Commission" - </b></span><i>Materials Needed</i>:<br />
- materials vary depending on your chosen commission and local needs<br />
<br />
Gather the class into a circle and explain that you are giving them a class commission. A "commission" is a special job. As a group, they are going to share God's love with their church by doing a simple service project. Examples might include: replenishing children's worship bags with paper and crayons, picking up and recycling old bulletins, sharpening pencils in the pews, picking up and recycling old bulletins, stacking hymnals, helping out in the nursery, pulling weeds, or making cards for home bound people. Go and complete the project together.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Activity: Flag Flashcards</b></span><br />
Before class, print out or copy the flags of 10 different nations. Cut out each flag, creating small flashcards. In pencil, write the corresponding country's name on the back of each card. List the countries on the board, as well. Shuffle the cards, and invite kids to guess which flag matches which nation. Explain that whether we know the name of every country in the world or not, God does. And he wants every nation to know about his love for them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-90742946132675896162013-03-13T11:48:00.001-07:002013-03-13T11:48:16.508-07:00Activity C3 - Lesson 7: Seeing is Believing Experiment<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C3</b></i></span><br />
Lesson 7: The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13 - 35)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Perform a "Seeing is Believing" Experiment -</b></span> <i>Materials Needed</i>:<br />
- Covered cardboard box (shoebox works well)<br />
- Scissors to cut a hand sized hole in the box before class<br />
- Tape or large rubber band to secure box<br />
- 8 - 12 small items with different textures (e.g. thimble, pickle, paper clip, tennis ball, action figure, etc.)<br />
- paper and pencils for students and a timer<br />
<br />
Before class, cut a hole in one side of the box. The hole should be large enough for a child's hand to fit through. Place the chosen items in the box and secure the lid with tape or large rubber bands (fewer and larger objects may be best for smaller children). Have the children reach into the box and give them a minute to silently feel the objects inside. When finished, students can write what they felt on a piece of paper. After everyone is finished remove the cover and see how many guesses were correct.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>"Walking with Jesus" Activity</b>:</span><br />
Take the kids for a "walkabout" through the church. Tell them to look for signs of Jesus as they travel. If possible, walk through the sanctuary during this journey. When you return to the classroom, ask kids to describe what they saw. Ask the children if they saw artwork or Christian symbols that they hadn't noticed before? Today's story is about two travelers who felt very sad and alone, and who were surprised to find Jesus when they were least expecting to see him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-7193080926289743432013-02-10T09:09:00.002-08:002013-02-10T09:09:38.152-08:00Hiding the Alleluias for LentOur Lutheran tradition has an interesting liturgical mystery within it surrounding the word "Alleluia." Alleluia is an acclamation of praise to the God who has saved us from sin, death, our enemies and the devil. We shout it with fervor to demonstrate our passion for the One who loves us into a new reality. Every year before Lent begins we put the alleluias away. . . we don't sing them on purpose. We remove them from the liturgy so that when Easter comes we can shout them once more in praise and thanksgiving.<br />
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Over the years in the parish I serve I have done this "hiding" in many different ways. I have painted purple ribbons with the word on it and put them in an airtight box and we have marched outside (the kids and I) during children's time and put that box under a bush for safekeeping until Easter morning. I have decorated butterflies with the word on it and put them in a handmade wooden box on the altar and when Easter came they came flying out of the box and up on the chancel wall for all to see. This year we have written prayers on cards that say "Alleluia" and they will stay on the altar until Easter, our prayers lying dormant until the resurrection. God knows exactly what we need and he knows precisely what is on each of those prayer cards.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVSlWmVDodc/URfULqzA70I/AAAAAAAAAac/uzCTud3l9ZE/s1600/AdobePhotoshopExpress_2013_02_10_11:49:44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVSlWmVDodc/URfULqzA70I/AAAAAAAAAac/uzCTud3l9ZE/s320/AdobePhotoshopExpress_2013_02_10_11:49:44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
How will you hide the <i>Alleluia</i> this year, if you choose to do so?<br />
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Blessings as we draw nearer to the beginning of our Lenten journey.<br />
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In Christ,<br />
<br />
Pastor Amy Little<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01285654956103336074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-63242007700594619212013-01-30T15:20:00.000-08:002013-01-30T15:20:09.328-08:00Some More DragonfliesMy last post was an idea for Lent using the image of the dragonfly which reminds me of the Eucharistic Prayer that says, "Jesus who reached out to heal the sick and suffering, who on the cross opened his arms to all" . . . because of their outstretched wings.<br />
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I decided that I would create a dragonfly that the Sunday School kids of my parish could color. We will laminate their art and then hang them from fishing line from various places in the nave and chancel. So here is that creation along with a couple of other ones we will use as well. My hope is this image will help us to think about those open arms of Jesus on the cross for our sake!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUVZVzbQXWuH3RXQP25rpcXbpBwIrX050n0ZzPLsjZqCEEocaSqdEi3QpzMRuJyIFTIyAK3eY8PHO3mDspV0K7wrR2cgyG1n_egAVRed4ZsL9W9bC002-3WpOGXw0dmXbIfv7kODk8o0/s1600/photo+copy+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUVZVzbQXWuH3RXQP25rpcXbpBwIrX050n0ZzPLsjZqCEEocaSqdEi3QpzMRuJyIFTIyAK3eY8PHO3mDspV0K7wrR2cgyG1n_egAVRed4ZsL9W9bC002-3WpOGXw0dmXbIfv7kODk8o0/s320/photo+copy+3.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you happen to like any of my creations, please feel free to use them. </div>
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Blessings as you prepare for this upcoming Lenten Season!</div>
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<i>Pastor Amy Little</i></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01285654956103336074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-69768386978506213572013-01-23T15:36:00.002-08:002013-01-23T15:36:15.646-08:00Worship Wednesday: He Opened His Arms to All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory. In great love you sent to us Jesus,
your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and suffering, who preached good news to the poor, and who, on
the cross, opened his arms to all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love dragonflies and their close relative, damsel flies. The difference between the two is only discernible as they land on a flower or shrub or rock. The damselfly presses her wings together, parallel to her thorax. Like arms folded in prayer, she rests in this streamlined position. Dragonflies, on the other hand, land with their wings stretched out, exposed, reaching for whatever might come next. Both are equally lovely. . . but the dragonfly captures my attention because it reminds me of this familiar Eucharistic prayer: on the cross, he opened his arms to all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love this Eucharistic prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To think of Jesus opening his arms wide in a hug is one thing. He always had his arms open and ready for children to scurry into. He always opened his embrace to gather the sinners and unclean and outcasts to him. And on the cross. . . he had no choice but to spread those loving arms the full length of the wood beams as he was nailed to that torture device of his execution. In love his arms were open wide to receive all people. In death his last bodily position was arms outstretched. Amazing and wonderful, isn't it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like to use butterflies in the sanctuary at Easter to help people (especially children) connect something tangible with the miracle of Christ's resurrection. In the past I have used card stock butterflies and attached them to the back wall of the chancel like they were flying up and away from a wooden box that was perched there. Visually it creates quite an image for worshippers. But this year I want to use dragonflies. During Lent, imagine it, dragonflies here and there adorning the nave and the chancel, reminding us of Jesus' loving arms outstretched in life and in death FOR ALL! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What do you think of this image? Do you think it might work? What ideas do you have to help worshippers connect to the metaphors and images we use in our faith?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(By the way, I drew the image above and if you like it, you are welcome to use it.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Amy</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01285654956103336074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-90095577155403675142013-01-23T07:47:00.000-08:002013-01-23T07:47:59.479-08:00Activity C3 - Lesson 6: 3-D Cross Picture<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C3</b></i></span><br />
Lesson 6: Simon Carries Jesus' Cross (Luke 23:13 - 34)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Create a 3-D Cross Picture</b></span> - <i>Materials Needed:</i><br />
- a few boxes of toothpicks<br />
- colored cardstock or heavy paper (cut into fourths to make pieces about 5 1/2" by 4 1/2 ")<br />
- yarn (cut into 8" lengths)<br />
- pencils, glue<br />
- hole punch, scissors<br />
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Give each student a small piece of cardstock and a pencil. Punch two holes at the top of the cardstock. Thread the yarn through the holes and tie making a loop. Ask kids to draw the outline of a large cross on the cardstock. Spread glue inside the cross shape. Press toothpicks onto the glue inside the cross shape filling in as much as possible . Keep flat until completely dry.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Activity: Unexpected Obstacle Course</b></span><br />
Create a simple obstacle course with chairs or other classroom items. Divide the class into pairs. One person in each pair will be the leader and the other will be the follower. Each pair will be timed to see how long it takes them to complete the obstacles course. Each person will also have to bend at the waist balancing a book on their backs as they follow their leaders through the course. If the book falls off, the pair must return to the beginning and do the course again while the clock is still running. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-5778363150913492192013-01-23T06:57:00.000-08:002013-01-23T06:57:23.468-08:00Activity C3 - Lesson 5: Orange Pomander<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C3</b></i></span><br />
Lesson 5: Mary Anoints Jesus' Feet (John 12:1 - 8)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Create an Orange Pomander </b></span>- <i>Materials Needed:</i><br />
- lunch size paper bag; one per student<br />
- 1 orange per student<br />
- toothpicks<br />
- whole cloves<br />
- 2-4 Tbsp ground cinnamon<br />
- 2-4 Tbsp ground cloves<br />
- 2-4 Tbsp nutmeg or allspice<br />
- 1/4 cup orrisroot powder (optional preservative)<br />
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Give each student an orange and a toothpick. In a bowl, combine the cinnamon cloves, nutmeg or allspice, and orrisroot powder. Instruct kids to use a toothpick to poke holes in the orange in a decorative pattern. Press cloves into the holes. Roll the orange in the bowl of spices; then put in a bag to take home. When home, kids should empty the bag, putting the prepared orange in a warm place. Turn the orange every 24 hours. When it gets hard, dust it off and use it as a scented room freshener. It may last for months or even years!<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Activity: Foot by Foot</b></span><br />
Have the children put their chairs in a circle. Using only their feet, kids will try to pass a tennis ball from person to person without dropping it. Set a timer and see how quickly they can pass the ball around the full circle. Try to beat the time the next round.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-68478517325442590172013-01-16T04:09:00.001-08:002013-01-16T04:09:06.205-08:00Worship Wednesday: Meeting the Spirit in WorshipLast night I was scanning the web for articles on worship just to see what people are talking about these days. In the part of the world in which I live and work (small town northern Ohio) there are as many places and ways to worship as anywhere else. There are large mega-churches with bands and no liturgy, there are many Roman Catholic churches and tons of other Protestant varieties to choose from. But here's the thing. . . part of doing worship well is first knowing who you are and what you believe. I don't mean, "Well, I believe in Jesus," of course! I am talking about knowing what the liturgy means, where it comes from and why we do what we do in worship. Otherwise, it become rote, boring, and lacks meaning. I believe that that is one reason that many people walk away from their Lutheran congregations in search of something "different." They visit a church with a band and no liturgy and get a "feeling" and call it the presence of the Holy Spirit. Now don't misunderstanding me, it very well could be the presence of the Holy Spirit but they've not experienced such a "feeling" before and so they fail to realize that that Spirit is also mightily present in the Lutheran liturgy. It takes a long time to teach the congregation why we do what we do, but the end result is deeper, more spiritual worship.<br />
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Consider this for congregations who like to chat before worship begins. . . put the announcements before the prelude so that the announcements don't interrupt the flow of worship later in the service. There's nothing like being in the moment and then hearing, "Okay now it's time for us to talk business and busy-ness and sign up and bring in this and don't forget that." And once the announcements are made and prayer requests collected and the important pieces of information the community needs to share are put out there. . . gather the hearts and minds of the worshippers to be silent in the presence of the God we know as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Ask them to breathe deeply and to let all their worries and concerns melt away for the next sixty minutes. Encourage them to just "be" in the presence of God.<br />
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Consider this for teaching what the liturgy means (without giving a lecture during the announcements): put text boxes in your bulletin that answer frequently asked questions. One that I get a lot from newcomers is "Why do we say 'holy catholic church' in the Apostles' Creed? I thought we were Lutheran." So I have a little box beside the text of the creed that is not intrusive but answers that question saying that we believe in ONE church, the church of all time and place and that we are all connected through this one universal church." Deeper meaning evolves for the worshippers when they know what we believe and confess. Even preaching on the origins of the creed is a helpful exercise toward deeper understanding: why do we say these words, where did they come from, what do they really mean?<br />
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Consider this: when people say they go to a bible-based church (I would hope so!) as Lutherans we are often struck by that statement. We probably would never think to say such a thing because we take it completely for granted. In the Lutheran liturgy, however, there is more scripture read than in any non-denominational worship service. With an old testament reading, a psalm, an epistle and the gospel, we hear scripture from all major portions of the bible-- EACH WEEK!<br />
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Consider this: talk about the hymnody we sing. Talk about how congregational singing is a convention of the Reformation. Luther was disturbed that only the choir sang in his day and that worship is meant to be highly participatory, not a performance. So singing together, lifting our voices in praise, is key to worship. It doesn't matter what the songs are but some songs are so repetitive as to barely be saying anything. Encourage worshippers to actually read the words they sing and dwell on the depth of their meaning. They are rich and beautiful and draw us closer to the heart of God.<br />
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All these are ways to help worshippers meet the Spirit as it meets us in worship. Just a little help facilitating that process is the job of the leader. I have found in my own parish that offering some guidance and instruction on how and why we do what we do makes a huge difference in the worship event.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TWXx8TI9K5w/UPaYA7ksDnI/AAAAAAAAAZM/8bvudJBtfww/s1600/annasinging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TWXx8TI9K5w/UPaYA7ksDnI/AAAAAAAAAZM/8bvudJBtfww/s320/annasinging.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leading the Congregation in Singing</td></tr>
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What other suggestions do you have for aiding the process of meeting the Spirit in worship?<br />
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What other things have you wondered about in terms of what we do? Or how have you taught those things?<br />
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Have a blessed Wednesday! And remember, a life of worship is a reflection of God's love, and that all of life is worship if we keep our minds and hearts on Christ.<br />
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<i>Pastor Amy Little</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01285654956103336074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-59704949461753434362013-01-10T11:07:00.004-08:002013-01-10T11:10:46.679-08:00Activity C3 - Lesson 4: Ray of Light Backpack Ornament<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C3</b></span><br />
Lesson 4: Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter (Luke 8:40 - 56)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Create a "Ray of Light" Backpack Ornament</b></span> - <i>Materials Needed:</i><br />
- Pipe cleaners<br />
- Metallic larger bead (1 per student)<br />
- Translucent beads in shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple (for each student)<br />
- Scissors<br />
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Cut each pipe cleaner into two equally sized pieces. Give every student half of a pipe cleaner, as well as the seven beads. Fold up the bottom of the pipe cleaner 1/2 inch and twist, making a"knot". This will keep the beads from falling off the end. Place the metallic bead on the wire and bring it down to the knotted end. Next, slide the colored beads onto the pipe cleaner, pushing each down to the previous bead. Take the top of the pipe cleaner, and push it through a backpack or coat zipper. Twist to secure. The ornament can remind the kids that even when things seem dark and dreary, they can always have a ray of light because they belong to Jesus!<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Activity: Child, Child, Stand!</b></span><br />
Have the children sit in a circle on the floor, eyes closed, with legs crossed. Choose one person to play Jesus. They should walk around the circle tapping classmates lightly on the head and saying, "Child" with each tap. Finally, the person playing Jesus taps one person's head and says, "Stand!". That person opens his or her eyes, stands and gives chase as both people race around the circle to sit in the child's spot. Whoever is left standing can play the part of Jesus, and the game continues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-38560825165244266392013-01-02T08:11:00.000-08:002013-01-02T08:11:12.159-08:00Activity C3 - Lesson 3: Seeds of Faith<i><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Green Unit C3</b></span></i><br />
Lesson 3: Parable of the Seeds and Soils<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Create Seeds of Faith</b></span> - <i>Materials Needed</i>:<br />
- Marigold (or other easy-to-grow) seeds<br />
- Potting soil or seed starter and trowel<br />
- Foam, plastic or paper cups<br />
- Permanent markers<br />
- Newspaper and water<br />
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Spread newspaper over the work space. Give each student a cup. Let kids decorate their cups with permanent markers.<br />
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Have the children fill their cups 3/4 of the way with soil. Give each student three or four seeds which they can press into the soil. Water the seeds lightly. Instruct the children to keep the soil moist - but not soaking wet - for the next few weeks. Soon, a tiny sprout will emerge.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Activity: Sowing Seeds</b></span><br />
Set a small bucket/box in the center of the classroom. Ask students to stand in a circle around the bucket, about 3 - 6 feet away. Let everyone take turns tossing a handful of unpopped popcorn into the bucket - being sure to toss the whole handful at once! See how many popcorn kernels hit their mark. Many won't make it. Explain that today's story is about a farmer who used this broad cast "scatter" method to plant seeds. What happened? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-40611824126773468402013-01-02T05:51:00.003-08:002013-01-02T05:51:51.838-08:00Epiphany- The Season of Light<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.</span></b></div>
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Epiphany is the culmination of all of our Advent waiting and watching, of all of our Christmas awakenings. It is called the <span style="color: #274e13;"><b>season of light</b></span> as the light of Christ has shined in the darkness of our lives. We heard those words about letting our light shine in the world at our baptism. The sacrament is our launching point on the faith journey where we are shoved out into the world to share the light of Christ. It must be so, as we are the hands and feet of our Lord in this world. </div>
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Now in Epiphany the Christ has been revealed to the nations. The secret is out, Christ is King of king and Lord of lords! This is the day we celebrate the journey and visit of the wise men (who by the way may have been three and may not have been three as Matthew does not tell us how many). Those who are wise, even in all of their wisdom and understanding, cannot truly be wise unless they know intimately, "The Light of the World." </div>
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<b>Think of the metaphors of light in our culture: </b><br />
*a lightbulb means, "I've got an idea!"<br />
*darkness means a lack of knowing and to shed light on something means to come to an understanding<br />
*light as a symbol of goodness and virtue versus darkness as a symbol of evil<br />
*light as Truth, with a capital T<br />
*lightness of heart means to be at peace and have joy<br />
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Can you think of any others?<br />
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As you think about Epiphany this week and for the rest of this month, think about the light of Christ being revealed. Ponder what it means for the people of God to be light to the world and children of light. </div>
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How can we as the Church be light bearers of Christ in this dark world?<br />
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How is Christ revealed through your faith, life and actions?<br />
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How are you made complete for knowing the light that casts out all darkness?<br />
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Blessings on your journey!<br />
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<i><span style="color: #274e13;">Pastor Amy Little</span></i><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01285654956103336074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-64510174960201946642012-12-26T11:53:00.000-08:002012-12-26T11:53:39.129-08:00The Feng Shui of the Worship SpaceFeng Shui is the ancient art of creating a spiritual space in one's living space. I have no understanding of it whatsoever but I like the word. It sounds really cool to say and whether or not I can explain it here is beside the point of this post. What is important, I believe, is creating a worship space that is inviting to worshippers. There can be so many distractions in worship already, such as shuffling papers, cell phones going off unexpectedly, fussing children or fussing adults, microphones screeching and so forth, that the space we occupy for worship ought to be as distraction free as possible. Not only that, it ought to relax us to the point of being able to settle down and breathe in the Spirit.<br />
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Almost two years ago we decided it was time to paint the sanctuary. The white paint that had been on the walls for many years had become like a grungy ivory color. It had no life to it. It inspired only sadness and sterility rather than the warmth and inviting feeling that we longed for. The character of the 100+ year old sanctuary was lost in a sea of graying white paint.<br />
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We decided it was time to do something about the paint. . . you know, every now and then walls do need to be painted. We had three color palettes to choose from and we got together and had a sort of straw vote about it. It was a hard choice because we had to use our imaginations, the white was all we could envision because it was what was right in front of us. </div>
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Once we chose the colors, all three warm and inviting we took a huge leap and decided to paint the back wall a darker color. As the painter was painting that wall I would go in and look and I was scared we had made a wrong choice. But alas, when it was all finished, the worship space looked amazing. How can color make a person feel so welcome? How can colors make such a difference in the mood of the space? When we worship in our sanctuary now it is such a different feeling. I cannot explain it to you exactly but it is so much easier to settle in to the Holy that surrounds us, that was always there before but now seems more prominent. </div>
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This may sound silly but I write this because I think there are things we can do in our worship spaces to help disciples WORSHIP. We can set the mood of worship by the lighting, paint, flowers, candles, artwork, banners and more. Everything about worship is to be evaluated, even the paint on the walls. It is the most important thing we do as a community of faith and we are responsible to help the faithful clear their hearts and minds of as many distractions as we can so they might enter into the holy and experience the divine. </div>
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What do you think? How have you changed your worship space to facilitate more meaningful worship? Do you think the two are related or do you think I am off base here? Join in the conversation here.</div>
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Have a blessed Christmas season!</div>
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<i>Pastor Amy Little</i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01285654956103336074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964876444643230722.post-20983485578112876712012-12-19T04:33:00.000-08:002012-12-19T04:33:06.897-08:00Worship Wednesday: Kyrie EleisonI have a confession to make. Are you ready? I am a cradle Lutheran. My mother faithfully took me to Sunday School and worship without fail, each week, where I would fidget in our pew, scribble pictures, accept bribes of candy bars in order to keep quiet during the sermon, and generally was disengaged with the whole process. A foundation was built somewhere along the line though, and as a 22 year old who had just graduated from college with a degree in biology and nowhere to use it I began my search for the God of my Lutheran heritage. The good news is that he found me and I have never been the same since.<br />
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It was then that I realized that I had not learned a darn thing about what it meant to be Lutheran. I had no clue about the liturgy. All that I remember from catechism was memorizing the Apostles' Creed. I had no idea that there was such a booklet as the "Small Catechism" by Martin Luther which contains explanations to things like the Creed, the Ten Commandment and the Lord's Prayer. As for the sacraments, all I knew was that I had to wait to be confirmed to partake of the Lord's Supper so I dutifully attended and appropriately wore a white dress to my confirmation service (with bright hot pink tights though!)<br />
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Why am I telling you this? Certainly not to criticize the pastors and teachers that I had in my childhood. Perhaps I was just zoned out and missed the whole catechetical experience. But on the other hand. . . perhaps the church as a whole had failed to understand the need to teach the faith to her youngest, those who be growing up and needing their faith, those who would eventually have their own children who needed their faith. So at 22 I began to devour scripture and a few years later off I went to seminary to learn more about who I was as a Lutheran and what this faith of ours is all about.<br />
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I want to share my passion with you as I have with my own congregation. I want to share with you all the things I never knew about our Lutheran identity and theology as a young person. I want to help you put some handles on the things that I never understood and frankly never had the audacity to even inquire about. That's what you will find here on Wednesdays. My hope is that it will as good for you as it has been for me. So with that. . . the Kyrie!<br />
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Kurios in Greek means "Lord." In English we say Kyrie Eleison, "Lord have mercy." The biggest impression of my childhood around these words was a song that hit the Billboard Charts called <a href="http://youtu.be/dHXgHjDOxUM">Kyrie by Mr. Mister</a>. I never even put the two together; each week we chanted back and forth with the pastor, "Lord have mercy." Think about the impact of this sung prayer. . . first of all I teach my catechism kids that this piece of our liturgy is a SUNG PRAYER. What do we do when we are at the end of our proverbial rope? What shall we say when we have no answers, only more questions? What have human beings said since the beginning of creation in times of desperation, despair, sorrow and confusion? <span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Kyrie Eleison. Lord, have mercy. </b></span><br />
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This prayer is one that the church prays for all creation: for the peace of the world, for the unity of all Christians, for help, for salvation, for hope. Knowing that we can come into God's presence with intention and faith simply by uttering <i><span style="color: #20124d;">Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison,</span></i> such a deep comfort. Let these words be your mantra on the journey, when you want to be in touch with God but haven't the words. . . these simply words say it all: <b>LORD, have mercy! </b>Amen.<br />
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<i>Pastor Amy Little</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01285654956103336074noreply@blogger.com1