Worship
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Mary Advent “Wreath”
For the Advent season, we did a worship series focusing on Mary. Using the Song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), we looked at the different roles Mary had in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ: Mother, Witness, Revolutionary, and Disciple. Each Sunday, the choir sang a different version of Ave Maria. The youth had an…
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Creed Installation
I love incorporating a theme into all aspects of the church. Below is a theme that incorporated an adult bible study where we looked at Marcus Borg’s “Reading the Bible Again,” confirmation class, and worship. We did a worship series on “This I Believe,” inviting the worshippers to consider their own statement of faith during…
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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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Matthew 25 Installation
As a summer online worship series, my congregation focused on Matthew 25:34-40. We recorded zoom conversations with different organizations that St. John’s are in partnership with, such as the SF Marin Food Bank, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, Habitat for Humanity, and San Francisco Night Ministry. We hung banners inspired by Matthew 25 as well…
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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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Palm Sunday Pageant (online)
This pageant script is adapted from the children’s book, Little Colt’s Palm Sunday by Michelle Medlock Adams. The donkey is often an underrated animal in the bible. This pageant lets the donkey shine in the Palm Sunday story and connects the story to the nativity story as well. Announcement We had fun creating a video…
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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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An Epiphany Tree
While still sheltering in place, we continue to open our sanctuary for neighbors and the congregation to come by for a moment of quiet reflection. This season of Epiphany, I built an Epiphany Tree for people to hang their prayers and hopes. As the prayers are added, the tree will blossom and evolve over the…
Still Waters 