Adult & All Age
Ideas for a focal point with adults and all ages
Make available heart-shaped pieces of paper and pens. Some pieces may have messages of love and greeting already written on them. Some worshippers may want to write a greeting themselves and offer their ‘heart of love’ to someone they do not know in the congregation. Children may be offered heart-shaped lollies or love-heart sweets (though check that the messages are suitable).
Ideas for a focal point with adults and all ages
Provide pictures of people in uniforms or recognised modes of dress and ask worshippers to reflect upon what they represent and how you would know if they are worthy representatives.
Children & Young People
Activities to gather children and young people
For children
Before the session, create a photo montage using photos from magazines. The pictures should depict unconditional love, e.g. a mother and her baby. Include a wide variety of people in different situations. You might like to choose one picture and explain to the children how you think it shows unconditional love. Use this as an opportunity to explain the idea of unconditional love.
Alternatively, read the story Guess how much I love you (see Resources ).
For young people
This activity is designed to introduce the theme of love, which is at the heart of the covenant.
You will need: a large sheet of paper with the following Greek words written on it: Storge, Phileo, Eros, Agape; pens.
Ask the group to write on the sheet anything they can think of to do with the words.
Explain that they are different names for love in Greek.
Ask them if they know the difference or what kind of love they represent. Storge: affection, as of a parent for a child; phileo: friendship, loyalty to friends; eros: passionate love, with sensual desire; agape: unselfish, generous, looks after others.
Loving God, we are your children
Loving God,
we are your children. We know you love us,
and so we gather ready to worship you.
Amen.
In the conflict of the world and our lives
In the conflict of the world and our lives,
we come together to learn about your love for us
and how we can touch the hearts of others.
Amen.