I'm listening online to the morning worship led by the young people from St Barnabas in Kidderminster who are part of mass@barnabas a service designed and mostly led by young people through the help and inspiration of their vicar Fiona. I was privileged to have them lead prayers at my licensing earlier this year and to be with them on Thursday when they recorded the service for BBC Hereford and Worcester. They are a fabulous group of young people and I am unbelievably proud of the wonderful service they have presented. It's rather different to what we often have on a Sunday. It focusses on the Breath of God in Genesis and in the upper room after the resurrection. The radio station also picked up on what I said about Youth Work week so introduced the service as part of that celebration of what we do with young people.
The recording on Thursday was a classic example of teen culture. I think the chap recording was worried they were going to muck around - indeed they were joking around about a few things before we started - sharing the memory of the liturgical dance actions for happy God, sad God and angry God which they devised for a non-existant service, for example. Despite the BBC chap's worries, as soon as they began recording, they became the professional, prayerful, capable group I've come to know and respect them for. I still like the dance actions too though!
Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Shine
This is a worship video using 1 Corinthians 12.7-11 and Philippians 2.15. It encourages people to think about their gifts and offer them. If you want to use it you'll need some star shapes tha can be written on (post-its or cut out stars) and somewhere they can be "offered" (a blue cloth or a mobile).
I made it using Photostory which is a really fab piece os software that you can easily download and learn to use without any hassle at all.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Eat drink man woman
"So how would we make our own processed cheese slices?"
- This is the phrase from Hestor Blumenthal that I think, for me summed up the difference of his approach to making a cheeseburger to Nigella Lawson's EXPRESS which I watched last night. Blumnethal used a whole half-hour program to explore how to make the PERFECT cheeseburger including weighing the burger after each bite to check you got a a bit of everything, experimenting with different shapes of bun, making his own processed cheese using the chemical that's used to cure cystitis (YES, he REALLY DID) and making his own ketchup out of tomato concentrate.
It's well-known that Hestor takes cooking a little more serious than most people or in his own words: "If you de-burger does it become too poncey and no longer a burger/" Maybe, yes Hestor!
Nigella, on the other hand, was making food the way I would usually. She didn't know how much of each ingredient she put in (but she made a rough estimate for people watching who NEEDED to get the right amount!). Now, I don't think Nigella got where she is by just winging it the whole time. I'm sure she started, as most of us did, by weighing and measuring but it is pretty cool to see someone cooking on television like a normal person.
It made me think about how we do church sometimes. Do those of us in ministry take it just a little bit too seriously? Yes we might need to give the odd aside to explain something but otherwise keeping it simple is more like the way we "do it at home". Of course, we DO need that underlying understanding. I think doing in worship without understanding why is far worse than going so deep into understanding it all that you end up overcomplicating it (but understanding the complications). Where is the balance?
p.s. One interesting bit of info from Hestor, though - the perfect mouthful is apparently something less than two fingers thick, which means... you can eat a whole waggon wheel but a whole doughnut might be too much!!
- This is the phrase from Hestor Blumenthal that I think, for me summed up the difference of his approach to making a cheeseburger to Nigella Lawson's EXPRESS which I watched last night. Blumnethal used a whole half-hour program to explore how to make the PERFECT cheeseburger including weighing the burger after each bite to check you got a a bit of everything, experimenting with different shapes of bun, making his own processed cheese using the chemical that's used to cure cystitis (YES, he REALLY DID) and making his own ketchup out of tomato concentrate.
It's well-known that Hestor takes cooking a little more serious than most people or in his own words: "If you de-burger does it become too poncey and no longer a burger/" Maybe, yes Hestor!
Nigella, on the other hand, was making food the way I would usually. She didn't know how much of each ingredient she put in (but she made a rough estimate for people watching who NEEDED to get the right amount!). Now, I don't think Nigella got where she is by just winging it the whole time. I'm sure she started, as most of us did, by weighing and measuring but it is pretty cool to see someone cooking on television like a normal person.
It made me think about how we do church sometimes. Do those of us in ministry take it just a little bit too seriously? Yes we might need to give the odd aside to explain something but otherwise keeping it simple is more like the way we "do it at home". Of course, we DO need that underlying understanding. I think doing in worship without understanding why is far worse than going so deep into understanding it all that you end up overcomplicating it (but understanding the complications). Where is the balance?
Do we Blumenthalise our liturgy too often and lose the flavour?
Do we make it too EXPRESS an EXPRESSION?
Friday, October 19, 2007
I've been thinking about the readings for this Sunday. The gospel is the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector. In the story we hear of two men going to their place of worship with very different motivations
The Pharisee goes to confirm his religious practices as part of his ritual and to show off how humble he is. It seems he does all the right things for the day.
If it were today he might say:
Then there’s another person, hiding away in a corner, crying
The second is the one who goes home justified.
It’s not that giving to charity and caring for the environment or coming to church is wrong. Far from it; it’s the outworking of a living faith in God. It was the attitude that was wrong. The Christian life is doing the right thing for the right reason in the right way. Or as in the case of the second man, doing the wrong thing for the wrong reason in the wrong way but admitting that and, in the right way, confessing it to God in humility.
Quite often those outside the church think that all we're about is the church going and hymn/worship song singing* (*delete as applicable!) when, as much as that is how we express our praise, it is not the only way and it is not all that we are as Christians - or, at least, it should not be. How do we encourage our young people, our church members and ourselves to live out our faith so that we are known not for our singing but for our humility?
The Pharisee goes to confirm his religious practices as part of his ritual and to show off how humble he is. It seems he does all the right things for the day.
If it were today he might say:
"God, thank you that I am not like other people; thieves, benefit frauds, paedophiles, or even like this traffic warden. I always give something up for Lent, I’ve got a direct debit set up for all the charities – with gift aid! - I recycle, I don’t leave my television on standby, I come to the 9.45 AND evensong as well as listening to Songs of Praise, I’ve read the WHOLE bible three times!"
Then there’s another person, hiding away in a corner, crying
“God, show me mercy, I’ve done wrong!”
It’s not that giving to charity and caring for the environment or coming to church is wrong. Far from it; it’s the outworking of a living faith in God. It was the attitude that was wrong. The Christian life is doing the right thing for the right reason in the right way. Or as in the case of the second man, doing the wrong thing for the wrong reason in the wrong way but admitting that and, in the right way, confessing it to God in humility.
Quite often those outside the church think that all we're about is the church going and hymn/worship song singing* (*delete as applicable!) when, as much as that is how we express our praise, it is not the only way and it is not all that we are as Christians - or, at least, it should not be. How do we encourage our young people, our church members and ourselves to live out our faith so that we are known not for our singing but for our humility?
Monday, July 09, 2007
Yellow Braces 07
Fabulous weekened at Hill End though I am still tired!
We had some really great talks from Simo, an unforgettable flip-flop-flip-flop stomp from Ian, fabulous worship from the Taste band, awesome lifeguarding and techie stuff from KT, amazing nosh from the unflappable catering team, some great energy and enthusiasm from all the leadership team and some really good chat both fun and serious with the young people.
The late night worship was based on Jesus' two great commandments of Love God and Love your neighbour. There was the usual set up panic - this time resulting from a corrupted CD which meant I used different music to what I had planned BUT it worked SO WELL so maybe God had other plans all along!
I'd done a powerpoint show of images of people serving or seeking/needing help (which I'll try and put up somewhere for people) and invited the young people to pray for situations needing love via the hearts in the cetnre of the room and to offer their own service through adding their "hands" to the dead looking branch to bring our faith to life. I'm hoping someone else got some pics of what it all looked like in the end!
We had some really great talks from Simo, an unforgettable flip-flop-flip-flop stomp from Ian, fabulous worship from the Taste band, awesome lifeguarding and techie stuff from KT, amazing nosh from the unflappable catering team, some great energy and enthusiasm from all the leadership team and some really good chat both fun and serious with the young people.
The late night worship was based on Jesus' two great commandments of Love God and Love your neighbour. There was the usual set up panic - this time resulting from a corrupted CD which meant I used different music to what I had planned BUT it worked SO WELL so maybe God had other plans all along!
I'd done a powerpoint show of images of people serving or seeking/needing help (which I'll try and put up somewhere for people) and invited the young people to pray for situations needing love via the hearts in the cetnre of the room and to offer their own service through adding their "hands" to the dead looking branch to bring our faith to life. I'm hoping someone else got some pics of what it all looked like in the end!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Examen-ation time?
We used a form of the examen at Cross-Section on Sunday...
Do I hear "what's the examen?" or "what's Cross-Section?"
Head on over to the WYDE blog to find out!
Do I hear "what's the examen?" or "what's Cross-Section?"
Head on over to the WYDE blog to find out!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Looking at the proverbial!
Our youth house group Proverbs me last night to look at another book of the Bible and this time we'd chosen Proverbs. As this book is so full of imagery, after a brief introduction, we used various multi-sensory stations to explore different passages. Take a look:
Each person should take their Bible with them and read each of the passages given as well as reflect on the items at the station. At the end we chose to reflect together on our experience and share passages that particularly meant something to us.
1) Proverbs 3.18-22 (big box of beads and wire and string)
Think of all the things you know you should do but don’t want to. For each of them or to represent them string some of the beads on the wire or on the string.
2) Proverbs 6.6-9 (picture of or an actual ant farm)
Look at the picture of the ant farm. When do you sit when you should be active?
3) Proverbs 6.16-19 (mirror and pile of plasticine or play-doh)
Look in the mirror and at yourself as you reflect on these passages. Form a heart out of the clay and as you work the clay ask God to take all evil plots from your heart.
4) Proverbs 7. 16-17 (some jars of cinmmon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg or other sweet and strong spices lying on a collection of different luxrious cloths like silk, "fur" and linens draped)
Smell the spices and feel the materials as you read the passage. What is there in your life that makes life more special?
5) Proverbs 8.8-11 (jewellery box full of glittering beads - this can be placed with number 1)
Look at the chest of “riches” what do you prize above God?
6) Proverbs 8.22-31 (This can either be placed near a window with a view or you could gather a load of images of creation)
Picture all these types of creation that Go d gives us and give thanks for them
7) Proverbs 11.30 (a plant next to a pile of seeds)
Look at the seeds and the plant. Read the passge. What do you want God to grow in you?
8) Proverbs 15.17 (a bowl full of vegetables)
Look at the bowl full of what is good for you but not necessarily appealing. Treasure those who are closest to you and pray for them.
9) Proverbs 16.24 & 24.13-14 (a jar of honey and some spoons)
Taste the honey as you read these words and commit to using more kind words. Read Proverbs 25.16 before you move on!
10) Proverbs 17.1 (a crust of bread on a plate)
Taste a piece of the bread and think of places of conflict in the world.
11) Proverbs 23.19 (a glass of wine - for us it was not for drinking but of course - you decide!)
Look at the wine and smell it. Think of the effects of wine? Wine in moderation is fine but over-indulging can cause problems. What effects does drinking and bad company bring?
12) Proverbs 25.11 (a silver bowl of apples)
Taste the apples and think of the advice you could give someone or some advice which you need for yourself.
13) Proverbs 25.20 (a bottle of vinegar, some poured into a small bowl)
Taste a little bit of the vinegar (or salt depending on your Bible translation) and reflect on the wounds in people you have made worse.
14) Proverbs 27.19 (a bowl of water or a mirror - as long as the can see their reflection)
Look in the bowl of water (mirror) and see your reflection. How is your heart reflected in your actions?
15) Proverbs 30.33 (a jar of cream or creamy milk. Make sure it is thoroughly sealed. This really does work!)
Shake the jar and see whether you can turn the milk to butter. Burn up your anger in shaking the jar rather than having a go at people!
16) Proverbs 3.1-4 (a pile of heart-shaped post-it notes)
From all the stations, or from somewhere else in the book, write a verse from proverbs on one of the heart shaped post-its
Each person should take their Bible with them and read each of the passages given as well as reflect on the items at the station. At the end we chose to reflect together on our experience and share passages that particularly meant something to us.
1) Proverbs 3.18-22 (big box of beads and wire and string)
Think of all the things you know you should do but don’t want to. For each of them or to represent them string some of the beads on the wire or on the string.
2) Proverbs 6.6-9 (picture of or an actual ant farm)
Look at the picture of the ant farm. When do you sit when you should be active?
3) Proverbs 6.16-19 (mirror and pile of plasticine or play-doh)
Look in the mirror and at yourself as you reflect on these passages. Form a heart out of the clay and as you work the clay ask God to take all evil plots from your heart.
4) Proverbs 7. 16-17 (some jars of cinmmon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg or other sweet and strong spices lying on a collection of different luxrious cloths like silk, "fur" and linens draped)
Smell the spices and feel the materials as you read the passage. What is there in your life that makes life more special?
5) Proverbs 8.8-11 (jewellery box full of glittering beads - this can be placed with number 1)
Look at the chest of “riches” what do you prize above God?
6) Proverbs 8.22-31 (This can either be placed near a window with a view or you could gather a load of images of creation)
Picture all these types of creation that Go d gives us and give thanks for them
7) Proverbs 11.30 (a plant next to a pile of seeds)
Look at the seeds and the plant. Read the passge. What do you want God to grow in you?
8) Proverbs 15.17 (a bowl full of vegetables)
Look at the bowl full of what is good for you but not necessarily appealing. Treasure those who are closest to you and pray for them.
9) Proverbs 16.24 & 24.13-14 (a jar of honey and some spoons)
Taste the honey as you read these words and commit to using more kind words. Read Proverbs 25.16 before you move on!
10) Proverbs 17.1 (a crust of bread on a plate)
Taste a piece of the bread and think of places of conflict in the world.
11) Proverbs 23.19 (a glass of wine - for us it was not for drinking but of course - you decide!)
Look at the wine and smell it. Think of the effects of wine? Wine in moderation is fine but over-indulging can cause problems. What effects does drinking and bad company bring?
12) Proverbs 25.11 (a silver bowl of apples)
Taste the apples and think of the advice you could give someone or some advice which you need for yourself.
13) Proverbs 25.20 (a bottle of vinegar, some poured into a small bowl)
Taste a little bit of the vinegar (or salt depending on your Bible translation) and reflect on the wounds in people you have made worse.
14) Proverbs 27.19 (a bowl of water or a mirror - as long as the can see their reflection)
Look in the bowl of water (mirror) and see your reflection. How is your heart reflected in your actions?
15) Proverbs 30.33 (a jar of cream or creamy milk. Make sure it is thoroughly sealed. This really does work!)
Shake the jar and see whether you can turn the milk to butter. Burn up your anger in shaking the jar rather than having a go at people!
16) Proverbs 3.1-4 (a pile of heart-shaped post-it notes)
From all the stations, or from somewhere else in the book, write a verse from proverbs on one of the heart shaped post-its
Monday, April 16, 2007
Cool as a Chellington
So I've had some sleep now which is rather good it has to be said! So I can tell you a bit about that wonderful place we stayed nd the great time we had.
The Chellington centre is an extremely well-equipped, well-organised centre, the co-ordination of the site is friendly and really open to youth groups. In terms of equipment the kitchen had SO much and the cleaning materials were impresesive too. It runs on the "leave it ready for the next group" principle which is somehting I thoroughly commend.
The centre is located in an incredibly gorgeous converted 12th century church, the fold-down beds are surprisingly comfortable, if a little odd but hearing that they're used by firemen made me think they probably would be ok! The views are stunning and the availability of your own enclosed churchyard with fire-pit and barbecue is amazing and the addition of the use of a maHUSSive field was fabulous. There was much Kubb y-played!
I couldn't recommend it more strongly.
The weekend away was totally awesome. We played Cranium on Friday night which is a game I really love and is pretty good for a mixed group because it's not all drawing or all questions and you can win by being willing to be silly and do impressions of chickens, Cilla Black, Mr Bean, Eddie Izzard et al or you can be an uber-brain and spell Rhododendron or Catastrophe (backwards)!
On Saturday morning we began doing the papier mache and while the young people sensilbly modelled with balloons for the base of their models, my wo co-leaders explored their inner child with the large bag of balloons!
Then we had great fun with the next team challenge which involved eggs hidden around the centre which contined both a puzzle (a wordsearch, su-doku, code to crack etc. which gave you a clue to the next location) and a chinese character. Once they had collected all the chinese characters they had to find out what thye all meant be finding various translated characters around the building and then using the first letter of each of their words, they had the key-word. It wasn't quite the Da Vinci code but it was pretty tough apparently!
Unfortunately we totally underestimated how LONG it takes for papier mache to dry so the weekend ended with the models still with only their undercoat so we had blue pigs a blue penguin, blue bear, blue fat man etc!
In the afternoon there was some munching of the tiffin made the night before, some chillin and then their all-time favourite - Ready Steady Cook! This year I made a bit of a twist though. In addition to creating a meal out of the ingredients, they also had to create a vegetable animal sculpture. Results on the Flickr group set.
In the evening we focussed our worship on the cross using a great bit of craft making crosses out of nails - a little tricky but worth it.
Then it was time for a campfire and the film chosen by the winners of Ready Steady Cook! We watched V for Vendetta which did prompt a lot of thought.
Sunday morning we got the young people in pairs to take one of the resurrection appearances of Jesus and prepare a worship station for everyone. It was SO COOL. There was a lovely station on Mary meeting Jesus (underwater scultping, floating flowers and writing a reflection - in the churchyard) then we had some reflective questions on Jesus telling Peter, "Feed my sheep" and what that means in our own Christian journeys and an invitation to enjoy the beautiful scenery as we reflected on the Great Commission. Last and by no means least was the Ascension which featured all the cuddly toys gathered around one of the bears who was attached to a string. It was kooky and cool and amazingly it was REALLY deep at the same time. The station invited people to offer something they wanted to be "taken up to heaven". At the end we all gathered aroudn the fire pit outside and burnt them and then shared the peace.
That wasn't all though. The young people then mucked in brilliantly to help get the place cleaned up. We did so well that the centre coordinator told me "you can DEFINITELY come back! It looks great."
The Chellington centre is an extremely well-equipped, well-organised centre, the co-ordination of the site is friendly and really open to youth groups. In terms of equipment the kitchen had SO much and the cleaning materials were impresesive too. It runs on the "leave it ready for the next group" principle which is somehting I thoroughly commend.
The centre is located in an incredibly gorgeous converted 12th century church, the fold-down beds are surprisingly comfortable, if a little odd but hearing that they're used by firemen made me think they probably would be ok! The views are stunning and the availability of your own enclosed churchyard with fire-pit and barbecue is amazing and the addition of the use of a maHUSSive field was fabulous. There was much Kubb y-played!
I couldn't recommend it more strongly.
The weekend away was totally awesome. We played Cranium on Friday night which is a game I really love and is pretty good for a mixed group because it's not all drawing or all questions and you can win by being willing to be silly and do impressions of chickens, Cilla Black, Mr Bean, Eddie Izzard et al or you can be an uber-brain and spell Rhododendron or Catastrophe (backwards)!
On Saturday morning we began doing the papier mache and while the young people sensilbly modelled with balloons for the base of their models, my wo co-leaders explored their inner child with the large bag of balloons!
Then we had great fun with the next team challenge which involved eggs hidden around the centre which contined both a puzzle (a wordsearch, su-doku, code to crack etc. which gave you a clue to the next location) and a chinese character. Once they had collected all the chinese characters they had to find out what thye all meant be finding various translated characters around the building and then using the first letter of each of their words, they had the key-word. It wasn't quite the Da Vinci code but it was pretty tough apparently!
Unfortunately we totally underestimated how LONG it takes for papier mache to dry so the weekend ended with the models still with only their undercoat so we had blue pigs a blue penguin, blue bear, blue fat man etc!
In the afternoon there was some munching of the tiffin made the night before, some chillin and then their all-time favourite - Ready Steady Cook! This year I made a bit of a twist though. In addition to creating a meal out of the ingredients, they also had to create a vegetable animal sculpture. Results on the Flickr group set.
In the evening we focussed our worship on the cross using a great bit of craft making crosses out of nails - a little tricky but worth it.
Then it was time for a campfire and the film chosen by the winners of Ready Steady Cook! We watched V for Vendetta which did prompt a lot of thought.
Sunday morning we got the young people in pairs to take one of the resurrection appearances of Jesus and prepare a worship station for everyone. It was SO COOL. There was a lovely station on Mary meeting Jesus (underwater scultping, floating flowers and writing a reflection - in the churchyard) then we had some reflective questions on Jesus telling Peter, "Feed my sheep" and what that means in our own Christian journeys and an invitation to enjoy the beautiful scenery as we reflected on the Great Commission. Last and by no means least was the Ascension which featured all the cuddly toys gathered around one of the bears who was attached to a string. It was kooky and cool and amazingly it was REALLY deep at the same time. The station invited people to offer something they wanted to be "taken up to heaven". At the end we all gathered aroudn the fire pit outside and burnt them and then shared the peace.
That wasn't all though. The young people then mucked in brilliantly to help get the place cleaned up. We did so well that the centre coordinator told me "you can DEFINITELY come back! It looks great."
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Cross-Section @ All Saints
FANTASTIC evening at Cross-Section this evening. We had a fabulous team of volunteers leading a whole host of young people engaging with the creative section, the labyrinth and the talk and a good number of adults "checking it out" who seemed pretty happy in their adult creche. Pictures when I get them - I delegated that to a colleague as I was a little busy panicking!!
UPDATE: some pics here...
UPDATE: some pics here...
Friday, February 23, 2007
Enter through the Narrow Way
For Lent this year (and for our new town wide youth service Cross-Section which starts on Sunday) we've got a Prayer zone (kinda labyrinth like but not quite really) based on the story of the Prodigal Son.
Prodigal son labyrinth
1 Demanding – want wall catalogues – what do you want? make your wish list of all you want in life and take it with you.
2 Dividing the wealth (bowl of mixed “coins” and stones with words on like responsibility loving family WORDS FOR STONES:
WORK COMMUNITY SERVING HELPING
Take a cupful from the bowl and pick out the coins and "jewels" to take with you.
3 Living it up – party time. Life can be one non-stop party no responsibilities but is there more? The bubbles don’t last long; once the party popper’s popped all that’s left is something to tidy up.
Hand over your coins and take a balloon – roll up your wish list and place it inside the balloon. Then inflate the balloon as big as you can without bursting it but do not tie it. Hold it as you move on...
4 Party’s over
Sometimes Life’s not all fun. We feel lost and alone. Let go of the balloon and see its useless deflated form Take out your wish list and leave your deflated balloon. If our life is full of party party party it can be fairly empty. Look at yourself in the mirror and turn over the timer. Keep looking at yourself until the sand runs out. think about the things in your life you really need to change. What shoud you do more of? What you should do less of or stop altogether? What should you start doing?
5 In the poo
In the rubbish there are some sweets but they’re hidden among all the rubbish. (or in the sand?) Try to find one (and keep it to eat later if you want to) just like the sweetness of finding God in a dark time in your life.
6 Decision time
It is possible to follow God. God can be found anywhere even when you’re in the poo.
Look at the wish list you made? How much is for yourself and how much is for God and for others. Rip it up and put it in the rubbish bin
7 Coming Clean
Wash your hands and put behind you all your own wants and ask God to show you what you should be doing for him and for other people.
8 Welcome Home
When the son returned to his father the Father ran eagerly to meet him and fed him. Eat the bread and drink the juice. Picture yourself as part of the family of God.
Prodigal son labyrinth
1 Demanding – want wall catalogues – what do you want? make your wish list of all you want in life and take it with you.
2 Dividing the wealth (bowl of mixed “coins” and stones with words on like responsibility loving family WORDS FOR STONES:
WORK COMMUNITY SERVING HELPING
Take a cupful from the bowl and pick out the coins and "jewels" to take with you.
3 Living it up – party time. Life can be one non-stop party no responsibilities but is there more? The bubbles don’t last long; once the party popper’s popped all that’s left is something to tidy up.
Hand over your coins and take a balloon – roll up your wish list and place it inside the balloon. Then inflate the balloon as big as you can without bursting it but do not tie it. Hold it as you move on...
4 Party’s over
Sometimes Life’s not all fun. We feel lost and alone. Let go of the balloon and see its useless deflated form Take out your wish list and leave your deflated balloon. If our life is full of party party party it can be fairly empty. Look at yourself in the mirror and turn over the timer. Keep looking at yourself until the sand runs out. think about the things in your life you really need to change. What shoud you do more of? What you should do less of or stop altogether? What should you start doing?
5 In the poo
In the rubbish there are some sweets but they’re hidden among all the rubbish. (or in the sand?) Try to find one (and keep it to eat later if you want to) just like the sweetness of finding God in a dark time in your life.
6 Decision time
It is possible to follow God. God can be found anywhere even when you’re in the poo.
Look at the wish list you made? How much is for yourself and how much is for God and for others. Rip it up and put it in the rubbish bin
7 Coming Clean
Wash your hands and put behind you all your own wants and ask God to show you what you should be doing for him and for other people.
8 Welcome Home
When the son returned to his father the Father ran eagerly to meet him and fed him. Eat the bread and drink the juice. Picture yourself as part of the family of God.
9 Big Brother – The prodigal’s brother wasn’t too happy. He resented the welcome his brother received. Even when we’ve admitted our own mistakes we can resent the attention shown to others…
...How can you show welcome to people who come to faith or who come to your church for the first time?
...Go out from here and say hello to someone you don’t know and pray for them.
Update: Interestingly Jonny Baker has been using the same Prodigal Son picture at Lee Abbey and I also found a book by Henry Nouwen about the story with the same picture on the cover in a box of books donated to the church library today so that has gone into the area for people wanting to reflect further.
...How can you show welcome to people who come to faith or who come to your
...Go out from here and say hello to someone you don’t know and pray for them.
Update: Interestingly Jonny Baker has been using the same Prodigal Son picture at Lee Abbey and I also found a book by Henry Nouwen about the story with the same picture on the cover in a box of books donated to the church library today so that has gone into the area for people wanting to reflect further.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
BETA BETTER?
Ok so this is my first blog through the beta version. Seems fine so far!
Had a good session with the young people at Pulse yesterday; Some looney balloon games to start and then the talk slot based on a version of the game one of the young people ran on the youth holiday. I popped a slip of paper (with something we do at Christmas written on it) and a prize into an uninflated balloon then got the young leaders to blow them up. We passed them round in a pass the parcel kind of way and as we opened each one we discussed how important each thing was to Christmas (Eating turkey, Giving things, Jesus being born, crackers etc.) It worked pretty well and there was a good buzz about the place.
We also did some Christmas craft that I remembered doing myself as a brownie. I found instructions here. Even some of the boys thought it was "pretty cool" as it's rather clever. You turn old Christmas cards into twenty circles which you then turn into a icosahedron. They look pretty good too.
Had a good session with the young people at Pulse yesterday; Some looney balloon games to start and then the talk slot based on a version of the game one of the young people ran on the youth holiday. I popped a slip of paper (with something we do at Christmas written on it) and a prize into an uninflated balloon then got the young leaders to blow them up. We passed them round in a pass the parcel kind of way and as we opened each one we discussed how important each thing was to Christmas (Eating turkey, Giving things, Jesus being born, crackers etc.) It worked pretty well and there was a good buzz about the place.
We also did some Christmas craft that I remembered doing myself as a brownie. I found instructions here. Even some of the boys thought it was "pretty cool" as it's rather clever. You turn old Christmas cards into twenty circles which you then turn into a icosahedron. They look pretty good too.
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