WORSHIP PROGRAM MUSICAL PRELUDE:

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2 WORSHIP PROGRAM MUSICAL PRELUDE: September: Our God Micah Stampley C1hqjUw8EuOBhPhK1g-gS1mep4r October: Back II Eden Donald Lawrence & Co. November: We re Blessed Fred Hammond CALL TO WORSHIP: September: Led by a member of A.C.E. (1 st Sunday), a member of Y.A.C.M. (2 nd Sunday), a member of V.I.C.Y.C. (3 rd Sunday), and member of Varick s Children (4 th Sunday), and a Sunday Church School officer (5 th Sunday) October: Led by a Deaconess (1st Sunday), a Class Leader (2 nd Sunday), a member of the Lay Council (3 rd Sunday), and a Trustee (4 th Sunday) November: Led by an adult (1 st Sunday), a young adult (2 nd Sunday), a youth (3 rd Sunday) and a child (4 th Sunday) The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. (Psalm 19:1-4 NLT) CHORAL INVOCATION: (Sung corporately.) Spirit of the Loving God #692 A.M.E. Zion Bicentennial Hymnal 1

3 MORNING HYMN: (From A. M. E. Zion Bicentennial Hymnal) September: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty #23 October: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee #11 November: This Is My Father s World #14 RESPONSIVE READING: (Led by a member of the Young People/Adult Class) (Taken from Psalm 139: 13-16, 23-24) Leader: You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother s womb. Congregation: Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Leader: Your workmanship is marvelous how well I know it. Congregation: You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. Leader: Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. ALL: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. QUARTER S CHALLENGE: The Pastor or Superintendent of Church School provides a brief overview of the Quarter s theme and a challenge. This quarter s challenge is for each Church School class to discuss how God creates in us and in the world around us, how God creates despite our shortcomings, and how God is in the process of recreating in us and in the world around us. Teachers challenge the students to create a mural (beginners, primary and juniors), video (intermediate-senior and young adults), banner or quilt (adults) about God as a creating and recreating force in us and in the world around us. 2

4 RALLY SONG: Change Me Tamela Mann -- watch?v=ykdeinpuhhc STUDY PERIOD: (Learners study the lesson in their classes) CLOSING ASSEMBLY: Since the children, youth/young adults and adults have respectively made a mural, video presentation, and a banner/quilt, have an unveiling of each project. Each class should explain its creation about God, Creation, and recreation. Serve refreshments, as if at an art exhibition. A good time will be had by all. Enjoy! SUNDAY SCHOOL BENEDICTION: Sunday School is over for another day. Hear us Heavenly Father as to Thee we pray. Through the week be with us in our work and play. Enable us to be kind and loving, help us to obey. Amen. (The Worship Program was developed by Rev. Dr. Adrian V. Nelson, II, a member of the Church School Literature Department staff.) TITLE: GOD S WORLD AND GOD S PEOPLE 3

5 UNIT I: GOD CREATED THE WORLD September 2, 2018 Lesson 1 OUT OF THE DARKNESS Devotional Reading: Psalm 33:1-9 Scripture: Genesis 1:1-13 HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS Aug. 27 M. 1 Peter 4:15-19 In Your Suffering Trust the Creator Aug. 28 T. Col. 3:8-11 Renewed by the Creator Aug. 29 W. Isaiah 41:17-20 God Provides the Water Aug. 30 T. Mark 4:35-41 The Wind and Water Obey Voice of Jesus Aug. 31 F. Matt. 5:43-48 God Sends the Rain to Everyone Sept. 1 S. Psalm 33:1-9 God Is Great; God Is Good Sept. 2 S. Genesis 1:1-13 God Created the Heavens and Earth EXALT! Invocation: Teacher or Learner Celebration: This Is My Father s World, #14, A.M.E. Zion Bicentennial Hymnal Declaration: Genesis 1:1-13 (Read together by the class, by a volunteer or responsively.) 1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, Let there be light ; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 6 And God said, Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters. 7 So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. 8 God called 4

6 the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. 9 And God said, Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear. And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it. And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. Affirmation: God created a good world! God created me; I am fearfully and wonderfully made! (Spoken together by class and teacher.) ENGAGE (5-10 min.) We hear debates and arguments all the time about how the world was created. Some believe only in science, others believe only in the Creation account as the book of Genesis tells it. Perhaps there is no need to debate the two as if they are opposed to each other. In whatever way and by whatever means one comes to an understanding of how the world was created, one must finally come away with the feeling and sense that something miraculous took place when this world as we know it came into existence! What do you appreciate about the world in which we live? Name some things. Some like walking in the park on a nice, sunny day. Some will say they like going fishing or sailing on the water a lake, or even out in the deep ocean. Some like to hike and take a journey in the woods where there is wildlife in their natural habitat. If you live in a climate where there are four seasons, you may want to cite how you appreciate the change of 5

7 the seasons and how one season is more enjoyable to you than another. Whatever your answer, we all probably agree that this world is an amazing creation! EDUCATE (10-15 min.) Most scholars and commentators agree or at least recognize that Genesis is not the only Creation account. There are other accounts that arise from other traditions. What we read in the book of Genesis is the combining together of various strands of oral histories (Yahwist, Elohist, Priestly) into a single written document. The characteristic that stands out to us in the first two chapters of Genesis is how words spoken by God create things: And or (Then) God said is a phrase that is used in the text we study today, in verses 3, 6, 9, and 11. The power of words, God s words, is on display here. When God speaks, things happen! When God speaks, worlds are created and life comes to be. Despite the debates about the scientific and Judeo-Christian origins of the world, we believe that Creation is an act of God that reflects God s choice to no longer be alone, to cooperate, to communicate, and to share in spite of the risks. God chooses to have us as companions in this world. Read James Weldon Johnson s sermon in God s Trombones where he writes about creation in the poem titled The Creation. This poem describes how and why God chose to create the world. When we read the word beginning in the book of Genesis, this word probably does not refer to the absolute or determined beginning of all things. This beginning has to do with the beginning of the ordered creation, including the temporal order. Of this ordered creation, God is in charge. Also, we understand that the Bible does not present the Creation account as a matter for debate or argument. That is more our concern than that of the writers. Whether the world was created in an actual six days or six millennia is not a subject the Bible seeks to undertake or defend. The Bible simply makes this point God created the world! 6

8 The account of creation that we are given in Genesis 1 tells us that God created everything. But this is not just an itemized list of the things that God did in the six days (as the Bible has it) that it took God to create the world. Genesis 1 is also an account of how God has structured creation in its ordered complexity. In our Scripture account we are considering today (verses 3-13), in the first three days that God was busy creating, we learn of the intimate, intricate process that was engaged. The fact that we may have more knowledge in our day of how the world works is in no way meant to diminish or negate the truth the Bible tells about Creation. For instance, the dome in verse 8 was the way the author, who had no idea of infinite space, made sense of what looked like water above the earth. Sun, planets, clouds, and so on were thought to be hung onto the dome. We can apply any scientific knowledge we have and have gained through study and research to our faith and come to the same conclusion as that reached in Genesis 1- that a magnificent and divine mind created the heavens and the earth! ELEVATE: (5-10 min.) We have been placed in this world that God created to be stewards of God s creation. Remember, God created the world and at the end of each day, God said what was created was good. 7

9 Sadly, we have not always been the best caretakers of the creation God has left us. What thought have you given to current issues such as the environment, global warming or climate change, pollution and nuclear war or other issues? Do you have any responsibility for how the world is being taken care of? What is one thing that you can cite that you do (or would like to do) in order to help God s good world remain that way? Perhaps you remember reading the 19 th Psalm, verse 1, where David, the Shepherd-King writes, The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. We are in awe of God s good creation and that inspires us to tell of God s goodness and handiwork as do the heavens and the firmament, by taking care of this beautiful and good world that God created for us to enjoy. For this world that God has created, we give God praise! ithink: (5-7 min.) It is important that we never take God s world for granted. When was the last time you witnessed something that made you stop and wonder at the majesty of God s creation? Is there a place where you feel closest to God? Where is that place? Describe the feeling you have when you are there. How do you understand the power of God s words to create things and bring life into existence? VERSES OF THE WEEK: In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2. 8

10 September 9, 2018 Lesson 2 TURN ON THE LIGHTS! Devotional Reading: Psalm 136:1-9 Scripture: Genesis 1:14-25 HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS Sept. 3 M. Ps. 136:1-9 Creation, Testament of God s Steadfast Love Sept. 4 T. Heb. 1:1-4 Jesus, Agent of God s Creation Sept. 5 W. Ps. 104:24-30 All Creatures Depend on God Sept. 6 T. Job 12:7-13 Plants Witness to the Lord s Work Sept. 7 F. James 1:17-18 Gifts from the Father of Lights Sept. 8 S. Acts 11:5-9 Sept. 9 S. Gen. 1:14-25 EXALT! God Made all Creatures Clean God Created Heavenly Lights and Animals Invocation: Teacher or Learner Celebration: Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him (Hymn #10, A.M.E. Zion Bicentennial Hymnal) Declaration: Genesis 1:14-25 (Read together by the class, by a volunteer or responsively.) 14 And God said, Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth. And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night and the stars. 17 God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. 20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky. 21 So God created the great sea monsters and every living 9

11 creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. 24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind. And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. Affirmation: O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. (Psalms 8:1) (Spoken together by class and teacher.) ENGAGE (5-10 min.) When you took classes in school for science, were you amazed at what you learned? If you weren t, you should have been. This world that God has created for us is fascinating! Learning how the world works, how systems in the world functions, even how our bodies operate should cause us to be in awe. We are delicate creatures, we humans, and the world around us is sensitive and precious also. God means for us to appreciate all the gifts we have received, including the gift of this world. We must be careful not to abuse it or take it for granted. By taking care of our world, we honor God. Certainly, however, we know the world in which we live is chaotic and confused. In this world, order is not always a priority. Some people thrive on and choose frenzy, tension and drama. We can understand, however, that this is not what God has in mind as we read the Creation account in the book of Genesis. God s will is for all creation and all of its parts to find harmony, to learn and understand, and to live in a form of synchronization that reflects the order God has in mind in creating this good and beautiful world. 10

12 EDUCATE (10-15 min.) Each person, every human being, created by God, has intrinsic worth and value. We will discuss this in future lessons. But as the account of Creation unfolds, we are able to see how God, with such intimate and caring detail, ascribes worth to every living creature. While the Hebrew Scripture is largely the narrative of God s relationship with the people of Israel, what we learn in this origin narrative sets that important account in the larger context of creation of the universe and all that is. Perhaps you have heard or been told that in the Creation account, God created something out of nothing. That description may not be entirely accurate. What is more likely true is that Genesis shows us how God brought order to an already existing reality. The Creation account in Genesis is how God creates and orders, based on what already exists, using as raw materials what was already in place as the basis to create the world. In creating the world, God orders the world with the heavenly lights. And God said, Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth. And it was so. God made the two great lights the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good (Genesis 1:14-18). These heavenly lights God created provided days and nights, months, years, and seasons. We can appreciate the connection that the writer intends, for the same word for seasons is used for religious festivals in Hebrew, implying God and creation work together on these. We may not have understood that there is a hopeful note in the account of the Creation. There is a phrase in the Hebrew Scripture which we understand or interpret to mean great sea monsters. This was often used figuratively in older testament poetry to signify one of God s most powerful opponents. But the use of this term here is positive. It intends to show that all things God created originate in good. Sin destroys the beautiful work of a good and gracious God. 11

13 While we recognize the goodness of each person and the value of every human being, we stress again how the narrative in Genesis 1 tells of God s loving care for all that is, not just humanity or those who are deemed God s people. A loving God must necessarily care for all that which God has created. We will commit to caring for all that God has created because we understand that God has the first word. The words and God said (or some form of God speaking) is stated in Genesis 1, verses 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 29. Everything that happens in the creation account is in response to what God said. What this means for us is that we understand that our role is that of being invited to participate and join God in God s work, answering in our lives to what God said or has already spoken. With that understanding, we should want no part of anything that is destructive, negative, disparaging, harmful or injurious to God s world or anything that we know that God created. And God created everything! Moreover, everything God created, God said of it that it was good. ELEVATE: (5-10 min.) Let s join God as partners in God s good creation to preserve, sustain and take care of this world God has left us. Let s love one another, the environment and the land where we live. The truth is that even if we argue that we inherited a mess, it is our responsibility to clean it up and make it better. And we can! If you created a map or a diagram of the order of your life, how might that map look? This can be good and provide one of two possible outcomes; for some, we may have to admit that our lives are out of order, and we can respond now to a call to fix what is in disarray. But for others, we can begin to see areas where we have discipline and structure and enhance and improve on those areas to make our lives more focused and the outcomes we would like to achieve more likely. 12

14 You may not be called upon to make changes that impact the world in ways that are phenomenal. But perhaps there are small things that each of us can do to help show our love for God s world. Have you ever thought of how it shows love for God s world when you take out the trash and dispose of waste properly? Does your neighborhood where you live require certain things of you to present a certain image for your living space? Have you thought of this as a way to honor God, or do you just see this as a way to be a good neighbor? ithink: (5-7 min.) Do you believe or agree with the idea or sentiment that a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind? You have probably heard the expression, Cleanliness is next to godliness. Do you agree? What, if anything, do you think it says about a person who doesn t keep a clean house? Does it matter? Do you think a house or living space in disarray or disorder fails to honor God? VERSE OF THE WEEK: God said, Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years. Genesis 1:14. 13