New Year's Day - B

For October 4, 2026:

• Kingdom, Power, Glory by Dean Feldmeyer. White Christian nationalism (WCN) is a dangerous perversion of the Christian gospel, and it is growing in popularity in the US.

Contents
“Confronting Injustice” by C. David McKirachan
“Get Back!” by Frank Ramirez

Confronting Injustice
by C. David McKirachan
Matthew 21:33-46

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry! (Isaiah 5:1-7)

We’re probably all aware that in books, plays, television shows, and movies, a character may stand for something more than themselves. That makes them a symbol. Or maybe they do something symbolic. But the character is not always a symbol, or perhaps not always the same symbol.

Contents
"Spilled Milk" by Frank Ramirez
"God's Silent Witness" by John Fitzgerald


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Spilled Milk
by Frank Ramirez
Philippians 3:4b-14

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…
-- Philippians 3:8, KJV

Praxis the colourful pixie was up to mischief. Praxis was a very rare pixie whose skin changed colour according to his mood, and just now he was bright purple with excitement. Mr Grump the goblin teacher had been called away by an urgent message, leaving the pixies to get on with learning their spellings.

"Use it or lose it." We have all heard this expression, said it ourselves, and applied it more than once. The words tell us that it is necessary to use rightly and completely the gifts given us by God. We are challenged to use God's gifts for the betterment of all and for our own growth in the Spirit. If we fail to use properly and completely or if we abuse the gifts of God, they will be taken away.

No other God, no graven images, no taking of the name of the Lord in vain, no work on the Sabbath, no dishonoring of father and mother, no killing, no adultery, no stealing, no bearing false witness, no coveting. That's a rather lengthy string of nays from the eternal God.

Introduction

"One day last spring, something memorable happened at Carleton University (in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, not to be confused with Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota). Thirty--one students in the same class turned in identical research papers. It was determined that the students had all accessed the same Internet website. If only one student had done it, the ruse might not have caught the professor's attention. But here's what else opened the instructor's eyes: the research paper's topic was 'ethics.' The unethical ethics 'research' caper suggests an opportunity.

There have been many who have sought to write a history of the world. Cavemen painted the story of their civilization on the walls of their home. Around 70 A.D., a Hebrew soldier named Josephus surrendered to the Roman army rather than die. Dead men tell no tales, and he said he wanted to live to tell the story of the fall of Jerusalem. Today, his history of the Jewish wars is an invaluable tool to historians.

A mouse was once riding on the back of an elephant, and the pair went across a rickety bridge. As might be expected, the bridge shook and rattled. When the duo had successfully navigated the bridge, the mouse exclaimed, "My, oh my, we certainly made that bridge shake, didn't we?"

On Beyond Zebra! Remember the book by Dr. Seuss? Some people learn the alphabet, starting out at "A is for apple," and when they get all the way through to "Z is for zebra," they think they are done. But not Dr. Seuss! Twenty-six letters might be good enough for most people, but it's only the beginning for Dr. Seuss. One of his great "little people" takes us on a tour of life On Beyond Zebra! -- a whole new world of creatures most of us have never seen before.

From time to time we come across things that are meant to sound or look like something they are not. Perhaps the most positive version is the generic or store brand medications that boast the same active ingredients as better-known products, but for considerably less money. At the other end of the spectrum, meanwhile, we find counterfeit currency or art - - worthless fakes that pose as articles of real value.

Teachers: Paul writes about "pressing on toward the goal." He presses on so that he may win the prize, which God has for him. The prize is the "heavenly call of God in Jesus."

Explain that Paul says that none of us is perfect. None of us have learned all that we should. However, as Christians, we work at living a "Christ-like" life.

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like to eat grapes? (Let them answer.) Do any of you have grape vines growing at your home? (Let them answer.) If you have grape vines at home, have you gone to them and picked grapes right off the vine and eaten them? (Let them answer.) This morning's Bible story is a story about a vineyard. That is a farm with many grape vines. It is a story that Jesus told. Jesus and God are characters in this story. As I tell it, see if you can decide which character is Jesus and which is God.

Materials
Fun foam
Pinking shears (decorative-edge scissors)
Craft paint
Small paintbrushes
Plastic bottle caps from soda bottles
Markers
Safety pins
Glue
Hot glue gun, for instructor to use

Instructions
1. Jesus likes it when we choose to be disciples for him; it makes him happy. Wear this pin to remind you to be a good disciple for Jesus.

2. Cut circles out of fun foam using decorative-edge scissors.

3. Paint plastic tops from soda bottles the color you desire.