Tag: St. John’s Presbyterian Church

Interactive Prayer Stations on Stewardship & Commitment

Stewardship and commitment to the church are wonderful opportunities for people to explore on their own personal commitment. Below are ideas of interactive prayer stations that focus on these themes. (For more specific instructions on layout, purpose, design, and more ideas, you can view previous posts tagged under “Interactive Prayer Stations.”) To view pictures of the Interactive Prayer Stations, click here.

Interactive Prayer Station #1: Journey into Celebration

Materials: Markers, Pledge Card, Basket, Candle

Although I’m tempted to approach God as a consumer, seeking to be served, these days am I using God or letting God use me. Authentic worship means God being present to me and me being present to God who penetrates our whole life, regardless of how we feel in the moment.

How authentic do I find myself to be in worship? (draw a symbol of self)

How is it dangerous for me? (draw a symbol of that feeling)

How do I offer up to God? (draw a symbol of your gift)

For whom am I God’s presence? (draw a symbol of your capacity)


Interactive Prayer Station #2: Journey into Community

Materials: Bucket of sand, Tealights, Pencils, Candle, Pledge Card

Why in the world would I want to be part of a church, or St. John’s – what difference does it make in the lives of others? I really am taking a risk to be among others with whom I have little, if any, history! Living in community within God’s household can get messy. A church is a way of living deeply and fully with people here and now, in the place we find ourselves – a collection of storied, fractured folks.

What 3 words speak of my story?

What do I offer to others in this community?

Who is God’s presence for me?

Light a candle to symbolize your light in this community.

Interactive Prayer Station #3: Journey into Compassion

Materials: Basket, Candle, Pledge Card

Imagine yourself moving into a house with a huge picture window. . . keeping the window clean develops into an obsessive-compulsive neurosis. You accumulate ladders and buckets and squeegees. You construct a scaffolding both inside and out to make it possible to get at all the difficult corners and heights. You’re very pleased with yourself. You have the cleanest window in the country – but it’s now been years since you looked through it. You’ve lost your vision.

If I want to follow Jesus, it is less about making my life better and more about serving, giving up, letting go for others.

Reflect upon your desire and offer a prayer that speaks of that desire.

by Theresa Cho

A Sunday (3) in the Life of a Pastor/Mother: Casualties

Today was one of those days in which I should have just crawled back into bed. Actually, the whole week was like that. Already my energy was low from having to plan and lead a 6-hour presbytery retreat for 50 council members and committee chairs a couple of days ago. With me being presbytery moderator and my husband being a committee chair it was just easier to not take the kids to school that day. But I digress . . . today was another day. In fact, I literally thought it was a different Sunday than the one I had planned for.

You see, today was a day we call “Interactive Sunday,” where we set up interactive prayer stations in worship. On these Sundays, we don’t have any Sunday School programs because the stations are meant to be intergenerational. Only yesterday morning, did I wake up and realize the mix-up. Now, you can say, “Theresa, everyone does that every now and then.” Except that, I literally spent the week planning for both the interactive prayer stations and Sunday School this Sunday without realizing it. It was as if my right brain and my left brain weren’t aware of what the other was thinking. Usually I would just shrug it off but I am aware that next Sunday we have a guest preacher because my Head of Staff will be having hip replacement surgery this week and no Sunday School planned. So, it will be all me for a while.

With all this on my mind, this pastor/mother was a bit frazzled. Running 15 minutes late, I rushed the kids into the car, ignored the empty gas light that was on, and managed to accidentally drop my 3 year old on the ground while taking her out of her car seat. My saving grace really is my congregation, who after noticing the mix-up of programs, volunteered to help me put together an impromptu Sunday School program for next week.

Luckily the casualties were minor this time for this frazzled mom: I lost a few more brain cells; my son was only mildly neglected; and my baby girl has a little scraped arm. Nothing that McDonald’s can’t fix.

by Theresa Cho

Interactive Prayer Stations on Hunger Awareness

“The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.'” (Matthew 22.8-9)

The parable of the Wedding Banquet speaks of a wedding reception that was fit for a king and yet all those typically considered unworthy were invited to the feast. There was plenty for all. In the month of October, my church focused the whole month on hunger awareness. Interactive prayer stations are a wonderful opportunity for people to reflect on their participation, experience, and thoughts on hunger issues in the community and the world.

The interactive prayer stations are meant to be intergenerational. (For more specific instructions on layout, purpose, design, and more ideas, you can view previous posts tagged under “Interactive Prayer Stations.”) You can see more pictures of these prayer stations here.

Interactive Prayer Station #1: Appetizer

Materials: Basket, Leftover Communion Bread

These are the leftovers from last Sunday’s communion. Is grace offered only for some or for all? How do you approach food that already has “bites” taken out of it?

How might others feel getting our leftovers?

for themselves?

for their children?

for their future?

take time to let this settle into you now . . . invite God to place this in your faith journey.

Interactive Prayer Station #2: Main Course

Materials: Stone Soup Story, Pencils, Paper

NOTE: The story Stone Soup was read before the interactive prayer stations. Participants were instructed to bring a vegetable or ingredient from their pantry to worship.

Tell your own story about food, of being hungry, of having plenty, of sharing or of receiving.

reflect on the significance of this now . . . invite God to add this to your faith journey.

Interactive Prayer Station #3: Dessert

Materials: Dessert Plate, Fork, Knife, Spoon, Dinner napkin, Pencils, Paper, Paper Coin Boxes

What action do you intend to take as you step away from your meal and as you acknowledge Jesus as the bread of life, for all people?

You may wish to take a coin box and return it at the end of the month, to feed a family or two in our Harvest Pantry Ministry.

allow this to become part of you now . . . invite God to add this to your faith journey.

by Theresa Cho