Prayer
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Building a Succulent Labyrinth
In San Francisco, walking was surely an increased activity that happened during the pandemic. Everything was closed and locked down. Slow streets started popping up everywhere in the city – one of them being right on Lake Street, where the church resides. As a church, we weren’t allowed to open our doors because any gathering…
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Sabbath Ritual
This is a simple and easy ritual to do. I used it for a worship theme on Sabbath. I invited people to reflect on things they wanted to rest from. Participants may want to write something they need to let go of – maybe it is the weight of loss or grief that they have…
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PRIDE Prayer Installation
For PRIDE month, we wanted to give people an opportunity to pray, celebrate, and stand alongside the LGBTQ community as siblings in Christ. Below is the art installation put together by pastoral assistant Sam Lundquist, along with a litany and blessing also written by him.
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Story Chalkboards
At the 1-year mark of sheltering in place due to COVID-19, St. John’s opened up the sanctuary inviting participants to share their story over the past year. I had the youth in the church prep the boards and come up with questions to ask. The questions are: What have you gained?/What have you lost? What’s…
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Lenten Sand Garden
Needless to say that for the past year, we have been journeying through Lent. And yet, here we are in the season of Lent while still sheltering in place because of the pandemic. While Lent usually involves giving something up and accompanying Jesus along the difficult wilderness journey, we decided to focus on respite, strength,…
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Lent 40-Day Guide Book
While continuing to Shelter-in-Place, we created a guide book to be used during Lent. The Guide Book is designed to be interactive, adaptive, intergenerational, and user-friendly. It is also a companion for a prayer installation we set up in the sanctuary (to be shared soon). With each Guide Book, a packet of ashes for Ash…
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At-Home Advent Ritual Set
During the pandemic, this Advent and Christmas season will be difficult for many as we are unable to gather together and participate in rituals that give us meaning. This Advent, Sam Lundquist, pastoral assistant, put together an at-home liturgy booklet that will align with Advent worship. We also made Advent candles and a Christmas ornament…
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A Labyrinth: Pandemic-friendly
While faith communities in San Francisco are still not worshiping in person, I recognize that people are carrying a lot of anxiety leading up to Election Day. Since St. John’s is a polling site, we are opening our sanctuary on selected days for people to walk a makeshift lighted labyrinth and receive a brief moment…
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Interactive Prayer Stations on Healing (Mark 5)
“He responded, “Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, healed from your disease.” (Mark 5.34) I’ve been experimenting with the layout of prayer stations from the usual format of previous services. We had been doing a series on the healing stories, so this particular worship focused on the healing story of two women: the…
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Interactive Prayer Stations on Micah 6 & Stewardship
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6.8) For the past month, we have been focusing on stewardship and creating a new vision statement. For the past four Sundays, worshippers were invited to fill out the following, which said, “St. John’s is . . . Why we follow Jesus –…
Still Waters 