All-Age Lectionary Services - Scripture Union

1 All-Age Lectionary Services FREE. October November 2010. For Advent 2010, Scripture Union is publishing All-Age Lectionary Services Year A, Lectionary -based service outlines compatible with Common Worship and Revised Common Lectionary . All-Age Lectionary Services Year A gives you: Service outlines for every Sunday of the year The approach and expertise of Scripture Union 's curriculum and multi-sensory resources made available to Lectionary -using churches All-Age Lectionary Services A rich toolbox of resources for anyone leading All-Age Services Resources for All-Age worship Bible exploration and Bible storytelling ideas Suggestions for prayers, games, a statement of faith, music, group and family activities Free download resources available on All-Age Lectionary Services Year A is available from: your local Christian bookshop 3. All-Ag off e Scripture Union Mail Order 0845 07 06 006 Serv Lectionar see vo ices Year A y ucher . on pag e 48. xHSLIOEy275342z ISBN 978 1 84427 534 2.

2 Year A. Copyright Scripture Union 2010 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication ISBN 978 1 84427 504 5 Data: a catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library Scripture Union England and Wales Printed and bound in India by Thomson 207-209 Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Press India Ltd Keynes, MK2 2EB, England Cover design: Grax Design Email: Internal design: Helen Jones Website: Typesetting: Richard Jefferson, Author and Publisher Services Scripture Union Australia Locked Bag 2, Central Coast Business Scripture Union is an international Centre, NSW 2252. Christian charity working with churches Website: in more than 130 countries, providing resources to bring the good news about Jesus Christ to children, young people Scripture Union USA. and families and to encourage them to PO Box 987, Valley Forge, PA 19482 develop spiritually through the Bible and Website: prayer. All rights reserved. No part of this As well as our network of volunteers, publication may be reproduced, stored staff and associates who run holidays, in a retrieval system, or transmitted in church-based events and school Christian any form or by any means, electronic, groups, we produce a wide range of mechanical, photocopying, recording or publications and support those who otherwise, without the prior permission use our resources through training of Scripture Union .

3 Programmes. Scripture quotations are taken from: THE HOLY BIBLE, TODAY'S NEW. INTERNATIONAL VERSION (TNIV). 2004 by International Bible Society, used by permission of Hodder &. Stoughton Publishers, a division of Hodder Headline; or from The Bible, Contemporary English Version, published by HarperCollinsPublishers, American Bible Society 1991, 1992, 1995. Used by permission. Anglicisations British and Foreign Bible Society 1997. Foreword from the Archbishop of York I am delighted to have been asked to write the foreword for this new book by Scripture Union , aimed at equipping church leaders to communicate effectively the Bible to children, young people and adults in an All-Age context. Many of you will already be familiar with the Light for the Lectionary series and how helpful this has been for churches in enabling them to discuss interesting and challenging issues with people of all ages and worship God together. I am sure that this All-Age Lectionary Services Year A Resources for All-Age Worship will be another useful tool.

4 Some say that young people are the leaders of tomorrow, but they are not they are the leaders and our hope for today. This book helps recognise that young people in our churches can engage with a wide variety of important issues if we only approach them in the right way. All-Age Lectionary Services Year A Resources for All-Age Worship focuses on the importance of doing the following together: studying the Scriptures, being reflective, being prayerful and being active, but most of all the need to be joyful in our faith. I. hope that you will enjoy using this resource in your churches and that it will assist whole congregations of all ages to worship God together! May the Holy Spirit help you to hear, learn, mark and be fired up as you study the Scriptures and listen to the voice of your young people. + Sentamu Ebor Contents 10 Leading All-Age worship 13 What's in All-Age Lectionary Services Year A. 15 Advent Sunday 20 Second Sunday of Advent 25 Third Sunday of Advent 30 Fourth Sunday of Advent 35 Christmas Day 40 First Sunday of Christmas 45 Second Sunday of Christmas 50 Epiphany 55 The Baptism of Christ; also First Sunday of Epiphany.

5 60 Second Sunday of Epiphany 65 Third Sunday of Epiphany 70 Fourth Sunday of Epiphany 75 Fifth Sunday before Lent (Proper 1). 80 Fourth Sunday before Lent (Proper 2). 85 Third Sunday before Lent (Proper 3). 90 Second Sunday before Lent 95 Sunday before Lent 100 First Sunday of Lent 105 Second Sunday of Lent 109 Third Sunday of Lent 113 Fourth Sunday of Lent 118 Mothering Sunday 123 Fifth Sunday of Lent 128 Palm Sunday 133 Good Friday 138 Easter Day 143 Second Sunday of Easter 148 Third Sunday of Easter 153 Fourth Sunday of Easter 158 Fifth Sunday of Easter 163 Sixth Sunday of Easter 168 Ascension Day 173 Seventh Sunday of Easter 178 Pentecost 183 Trinity Sunday 188 Proper 7. 193 Proper 8. 198 Proper 9. 203 Proper 10. 208 Proper 11. 213 Proper 12. 218 Proper 13. 223 Proper 14. 228 Proper 15. 233 Proper 16. 238 Proper 17. 243 Harvest 248 Proper 18. 253 Proper 19. 258 Proper 20. 263 Proper 21. 268 Dedication or Anniversary Service 273 Proper 22. 278 Proper 23. 283 Proper 24.

6 288 Proper 25 or Bible Sunday 294 All Saints' Day 299 Fourth Sunday before Advent 304 Third Sunday before Advent (Remembrance Sunday). 309 Second Sunday before Advent 314 Sunday before Advent Leading All-Age worship Leading All-Age worship that is focused around the Lectionary is a privilege, as leaders introduce God to people of all ages, of various abilities, learning styles, spiritual maturity and backgrounds. In Scripture Union , we believe that the ministry of All-Age Services is vitally important for the following reasons: children and young people benefit because they experience what it means to be part of God's new community, as everyone contributes, learns and worships together. (Children build relationships with a much wider range of people than would normally be possible in contemporary society. It is easier for them to have a go, make a mistake and try again. Their gifts and skills also help adults grow in their faith. Their opinion and wisdom matter, since God cares for us all as unique individuals.)

7 We can all know him and experience his love.). adults benefit as they learn from children and young people, often with a greater variety of approaches than are usually on offer. ( All-Age Services are not an opportunity for Sunday group leaders or people with no responsibility for children to have a Sunday off. Relationships can be developed in additional ways and on different levels.). visitors or people on the fringe often feel more comfortable because fewer assumptions are made of them. (It should be OK to just sit and watch. Often churches offer an All-Age service at festival times, welcoming to all, free from jargon and appropriate.). people with a variety of learning styles and abilities benefit because the interactivity and creativity in evidence in All-Age worship require a variety of approaches and responses. the team that leads All-Age Services benefits because the components to a service call for a variety of gifts, encouraging people to take risks, grow in maturity and enjoy being part of a team.

8 The church is making a statement about the nature of church' everyone matters, all can know and belong to God, all can be included and all can contribute, whatever their age, ability or spiritual maturity. ( All-Age Services however messy they may be are one of the most exciting opportunities for church leaders to nurture faith, from any starting point.). 10. All-Age Services could be one of three different styles of a meal. All have value but which do you find the most satisfying? Which of these styles best suits your church? What Type of How it is What's What's not so How to motivates meal consumed good good describe this choice? Soup the cook - easily satisfying on everyone everything only wants a quick, digestible a cold day eats the same together and easy meal whatever comfortable their needs or preferences Buffet the diner - at least one tasty with not necessarily join in when meal eats whatever dish for variety well-balanced you want to takes their everyone fancy Three- the cook eat in order: variety, hard work for balanced and course - promotes starter guarantees the cook nourishing long- meal healthy eating, main course nurture term adventurous dessert new dishes How do you make decisions about what happens in your All-Age Services ?

9 Whatever is easiest What you have always done What church members want What visiting parents and carers want What the leadership perceives people need spiritually Who is available at any one time Other What are the good things about your All-Age Services ? They make the majority of people happy Children and young people enjoy them Provide choice A Sunday off for Sunday group leaders Encourage spiritual growth Reach out to those on the fringe Enable people to grow their gifts Other 11. The service outlines in this book assume that the leaders of All-Age Services are committed to the spiritual growth of everyone present and that ideally every activity should be relevant to some degree for everyone. We have to be honest - this is not always possible, but that at least is the aim. The congregation may include people with disabilities or poor eyesight, those who find reading a challenge, those with strong views on music, the very young or the outsider. In trying to include one group of people, you may connect with several others.

10 For example, using a variety of approaches to learning, those with reading difficulties may feel catered for. As very young children worship with adults who are welcoming, trustworthy and joyful, they will be experiencing something of who God is. The Scripture Union website provides an especially wide range of options for younger children. The Big Bible Storybook and the Tiddlywinks material, both from SU, are also invaluable resources for this age group. May God continue to bless you in this vital ministry! Ro Willoughby All-Age editor These service outlines were originally published by Scripture Union as the first editions of Light for the Lectionary . They have been fully revised with a significant amount of new material added or available online. In particular, there is more Bible engagement and the Services have been updated. 12. What's in All-Age Lectionary Services Year A? Activities Bible foundations: a guide to the issues involved in at least two of the set passages for the day plus background information.