This week's lessons: Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:8-20, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21

Emmanuel Community Church

Inter-generational Lectionary Study;

Sundays from 10:0 to 10:45 in the Board Room

Opening

Opening prayer by leader, or invite another participant to pray, or us:

Almighty God, who has caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning, open our ears and hearts today to learn from your word and from one another, we ask in Jesus' Name. Amen

Set the calendar-clock to the right date. Epiphany is our time of showing Christ forth into the world. Christ was “shown forth” in the miraculous signs that surrounded his birth, not only to his own people, but to the entire world, as evidenced by the visit of the Magi. The other great signs of Christ's life were also signs to the whole world. Over the weeks of Epiphany, the Gospel readings will review for us many of those signs that reveal who Christ is.

Today, the Gospel reviews for us Christ's baptism.



Review of Last Week

What was the sermon on? - Fishermen – the diversity of forms of fishing as evidence that God uses us in different ways. The Apostles as examples of people who were not strong or wise – but through whom God achieved much.

What was the Gospel lesson? - “I will make you fishers of men”

Did anyone have any insights about...

  1. Have you ever felt outside and alone, and experienced that situation change as you became part of something greater than yourself?
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  2. Who owns Emmanuel Community Church?
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  3. How is Emmanuel a safe haven, a refuge, a place of dignity and identity for those who seek a church home?
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  4. In what ways does God call Emmanuel to become more welcoming and more energetic in conveying and embodying that welcome?
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  5. Do we try to imitate the methods and tactics of the world around us when we take on the challenges of church life, or do we seek other sources of wisdom and strength?
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Memory Passage

Jesus said, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But him that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the father and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of thies fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.

Bible Passage

Acts 17:22-31

Psalm 66:8-20

1 Peter 3:13-22

John 14:15-21


Pew-work Hand-outs

“Pew-work” is like Home-work, except that it is done in the pews, instead of being done at home. Because it is focussed on the readings (as the sermon, presumably, also is) it can be done during the sermon to help the listener concentrate. Or, it can be done while waiting for everyone else to finish their communion. It isn't done during prayers, or hymns, or the readings, because

During the Readings, we listen

Adult Student's Pew-work

Middle-school Students' Pew-work

Elementary-School Students' Pew-work

Pre-Schooler's Pew-work