Worship
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Food Stories
This preaching series is on telling stories. Previously, BEGINNING, LOVE, and ORIGIN Stories were shared. Next is Food Stories. Scripture Reading: I found this Readers’ Theatre of Mark 14:10-26. I changed and adapted it a little to fit my congregation, but I am attaching the original version. What I like about it is the extended…
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Origin Stories
This preaching series is on telling stories. Previously, BEGINNING and LOVE Stories were shared. Next is Origin Stories. The Call to Worship is a combination of the many I AM statements in the Bible. Call to Worship: one: God, we gather here because you call us by name. Yet we yearn to know your name.…
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Love Stories
This preaching series is on telling stories. We move onto LOVE Stories. For the Call to Worship, I was inspired by the song, “Let You Love Me” by Blake McGrath. I wrote a Call to Worship the weaves in scripture and verses from this song. Call to Worship: one: For God so loved the world;…
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Beginning Stories
This preaching series is on telling stories. We begin with BEGINNING Stories. On the cover of each bulletin, I inserted this drawing of St. John’s for people to color and doodle throughout worship. The Scripture for this Sunday wove two beginning stories together: Genesis 1 and John 1. This was done in the call to…
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What Is Your Story?
St. John’s is in the midst of pastoral transition. After 28 years of total ministry at St. John’s, my colleague who I pastored with for the past 16 of those 28 years retired. So this month, my call changes from co-pastor to solo pastor. Many pastors have been through the life of St. John’s for…
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Reflection on One’s Gifts & Talents
Here is a simple reflection on one’s gifts and talents that they have to offer and share. A large loom was set up in the sanctuary. Also tied some fabric on the loom as an example of what to do, but also to catch people’s eye so that they didn’t walk into the loom. People…
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Tunnel of Love
I wrote in a previous post about the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, where I described how to construct a balloon ebenezer. Another activity the youth did in small groups was helping to create a tunnel of love, not THAT kind of tunnel of love. Since the theme for the conference centered around hearts, participants were asked…
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Balloon Ebenezer
This summer, I had the pleasure of writing the small group manual for the Presbyterian Youth Triennium (PYT). PYT is a Presbyterian Youth Conference that brings about 4000 youth from all over the US to Purdue University. Throughout the week, youth engage with the theme through worship, small group study, and recreation. The theme was…
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Interactive Prayer Stations on Pentecost (Romans 8)
These prayer stations focus on Pentecost using Romans 8. These stations focus on symbols of Pentecost. Interactive Prayer Station #1: Flame Materials: Large Candle, Markers, Wax Strips Interactive Prayer Station #2: Wind Materials: Pinwheel cut-out, Thumbtacks, Beads, Skewers, Water, Markers Soak the skewers in water to soften the wood and make it easier to…
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Interactive Prayer Stations on Easter & Transformation
These prayer stations focus on Easter and Transformation. In a sermon, I had shared what a caterpillar goes through to transform into a butterfly. Using the metamorphosis as a metaphor, the stations are an opportunity to reflect on the transformation of one’s faith journey. Throughout the season of Easter, I hung about a thousand paper…
Still Waters 