Scripture
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Paper-Making and Jeremiah
11 I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29.11) Some dear friends of mine and I planned and led worship for Synod School in Storm Lake, IA. It’s a Presbyterian Church (USA) denominational conference.…
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Paper-making & Psalms
I recently switched to the Narrative Lectionary. One of the many reasons, I like the narrative lectionary is that I find myself preaching texts that I would usually not choose to preach. The book of Psalms is one of them. However, I found Walter Brueggemann’s The Message of the Psalms very helpful in giving meaning and a…
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Interactive Prayer Stations on Pentecost IV
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were…
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Interactive Prayer Stations on Easter & Doubt (Matt 28)
“When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” (Matthew 28.17) Below are ideas for interactive prayer stations focusing on Easter. You can view more photos here. (For more specific instructions on layout, purpose, design, and more ideas, you can view previous posts tagged under “Interactive Prayer Stations.”) Interactive Prayer Station #1: Questioning & Call…
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Interactive Prayer Stations for Transfiguration
25 All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will find them. (Matthew 16.25) These prayer stations on Transfiguration Sunday focused on this passage of loss. The interactive prayer stations are meant to be intergenerational. There are also stations designed for kids. (For more specific instructions on…
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Interactive Prayer Stations on Baptism & Epiphany
“11 They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2.11) Below are ideas for interactive prayer stations merging Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord Sunday. You can view…
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Interactive Prayer Stations for Advent V
The first Sunday of Advent, my church has interactive prayer stations, an opportunity to engage, reflect, and meditate on this period of expectation, waiting, and preparation for the birth of Christ. Below are ideas for interactive prayer stations focusing on centering our hearts on minds on the meaning of Christmas. The interactive prayer stations are…
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Nativity Story of the Drummer Boy
Instead of a typical Christmas sermon, I wanted to do something that wove in storytelling and singing. Rather than using scripture to tell the story of Mary and Joseph, the Animals, the Angel, the Shepherds, and the Wise Ones, I found poems from poets across the century. Inspired by the Pentatonix’s version of Drummer Boy,…
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Interactive Nativity Story
I am always looking for different ways to tell the Nativity story in an interactive and engaging way. This year, I came across this version of reading “The Ox and the Donkey” by Gunter Spang. I tweaked it a bit by changing the suggested hymns and how the story was divided. Below is my version: Gather…
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Interactive Prayer Stations on Light (Genesis 9)
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Genesis 9.17) Below are ideas for interactive prayer stations focusing on God’s covenant with us. The prayer stations give an opportunity to reflect on our own sense of worth, action, and present…
