Active worship
Activities based on John 13.31-35
A simple worship activity for all ages
Give out small, rough and irregular stones (small enough for people to carry around). Ask people to look at their stone, its colours, its markings, its roughness. Ask them to imagine what its journey might have been before it rested in their hand today. Pass round a bowl or jug of cold water, and a bowl containing gold glitter. Ask people to dip their stones in the water, then in the glitter and to shake off any excess (the water is not essential, but it will help the glitter to stick to the stone). Now ask them to look at it again: how has it changed? Invite people to share their thoughts with the person next to them.Ask people now to imagine that the stone represents them, that its journey represents their life’s journey, and that the glitter represents everything in their lives that reflects the light and glory of the risen Lord. Invite them to reflect on their lives, and to try and identify any moments that ‘sparkle’ because of a particular experience of encounter with, or feeling close to, Jesus. If appropriate, people could share these thoughts too, but some may not wish to do so.Now invite people to come and put their stones close to the Easter garden (see A simple worship activity for all ages on page 21), or in another appropriate place, to represent placing themselves close to the risen Christ. When all have returned to their places, end with a prayer of thanksgiving for those ‘sparkly’ moments, and that all present may remain close to the risen Lord.
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Caring, sharing
In advance, rehearse a circle dance with a small group of people, using the song ‘Caring, sharing, loving, giving‘ (Further resources). Demonstrate the dance, and then repeat it, inviting all those present to join in. The song is short and simple, and the dance will not take long to learn or demonstrate.
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Love’s endeavour
Read out loud, as poetry, the words of ‘Morning glory, starlit sky’ (also known as ‘Love’s endeavour, love’s expense’ and found in many hymn books). Invite people to read the words again for themselves (either from their hymn book, or project them) and to reflect silently on Jesus’ example of sacrificial living, and his command (from today’s Gospel reading) to ‘Love one another as I have loved you’.
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May I sit here?
Share your response to the reading ‘May I sit here?’ (see Present the Gospel) – if it was not used earlier, the poem could be read out now. Invite people to reflect on the words, and to share with those sitting next to them how it challenges their church and their own daily lives.
Are there people whom they would find it difficult to sit next to, whether in church or in daily life – if so, why? What can they do about it?
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