Knotty time

This evening was our chillout worship again and, as it's winter and we don't want the CHILLOUT element to be too literal, as usual we transferred to the church hall. When we're in the hall I take the chance to do something a little more hands on and creative with them. This time it was the turn of celtic knotwork.

We started with some spoken prayer and concluded with a celtic blessing but otherwise the time was spent learning how to draw some celtic knots. I had hoped we'd get through two of them but in fact we only managed one, the Solomon knot as a symbol of our unity with God and the unity of the world and heaven joined together.

Music included some celtic stuff from Enya as well as some more "modern celtic" from a band from Northern Ireland called Dubrovnik. They haven't got a website yet but I'm told that one is coming soon. Keep an eye out for them; there are some really cool tracks for the alt worship scene.

Here's what we did:

This week is the week of prayer for Christian Unity and the theme is “When two or three are gathered together”… taken from

"Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them."Matthew 18.19-20

This evening we’re going to focus on unity and coming together using celtic knotwork.

First we need to sort a few things out with God

So find some stillness and sit quietly
Lord we come to worship you this evening with our creative minds, our creative hearts, our creative hands.
We offer these to you and ask that you will use them to your service.
God gives us so much our life, our freedom of will

(hand out paper)

and yet we make mistakes that get in the way of our relationship with God.
Lord before we can hear you, we must give you all those things that will stand between us and you this night. And ask you to take them away. You give us all these things.

You give us the chance to confess

(hand out pencils)

On your piece of paper (lightly) write all those things from this week or today or this moment which you want to say sorry for; all those things of which you’re not proud, which you regret, which you know God did not or does not want you to do. Write down all the thoughts that are distracting you now from God.

Isaiah says…

Yes, he'll banish death forever. And God will wipe the tears from every face. He'll remove every sign of disgrace from his people, wherever they are. Yes! God says so!

Isaiah 25:8

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God's dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. Then the One seated on the throne said, "Look! I am making everything new."

Revelation 21:1-8

(hand out erasers)

So rub those things out with the eraser as we listen to this next song.

(Jesus be the centre)

As we still our minds, Lord be in our stillness
As we learn something new, Lord may we learn more of you
As we create tonight, may we be reminded that we are created ourselves, in the image of You our Creator God.
In each pen that we hold may we be holding on to you.
In each line that we draw, draw us closer to you
In each connection we make, connect us to you.


Celtic knots demonstrate that heavenly life and earthly life are linked and form a unified whole..

Celtic Knot drawing session

May the road rise to meet us,
may the wind be always at our backs,
may the sun shine warm upon our faces,
may the rains fall soft upon our fields,
and until we meet again
may God hold us in the palm of his hands.

worship