Active worship
Activities based on Matthew 11.2-11
A simple worship activity for all ages
Divide your congregation into two. One half (Group A) will voice the question: ‘What do you see?’ The other half (Group B) will make the response: ‘Go and tell everyone what you see.’ Invite people to join in this act of worship and challenge, copying the actions made by the leader.
Group A: What do you see?
Leader: The blind can see (place hands over eyes, then remove).
Group B: Go and tell everyone what you see.
Group A: What do you see?
Leader: The deaf hear (place hands over ears, then remove).
Group B: Go and tell everyone what you see.
Group A: What do you see?
Leader: The lame walk (limp, then run on the spot).
Group B: Go and tell everyone what you see.
Group A: What do you see?
Leader: Lepers are cleansed (brush your skin).
Group B: Go and tell everyone what you see.
Group A: What do you see?
Leader: The dead are raised (crouch down and then leap up).
All: Go and tell everyone what you see.
W E A
Rejoice!
Ask people to imagine that a part of your worship space is God’s highway. Read Isaiah 35.8 and 35.10. Invite everyone to walk or dance along it while singing an uplifting worship song that you know well (so no books/words are needed). Invite those who are unable or do not wish to join in the dance to play percussion instruments or wave ribbons as they sing.
W E
Share it!
Give everyone a gift tag. As people hold their gift tag, invite them to thank God for good things they receive. Then, ask them to think about what good things they can give this week (it could be a gift or a practical action). Encourage everyone to put their gift tag somewhere prominent as a reminder.
W S A
Paths in the desert
You will need large trays of sand. Invite people to reflect on (and share with God) any doubts or difficulties that they or someone they know may be experiencing, while tracing a pathway through the sand with their finger. Encourage people to ponder (and ask God) where their ‘path’ is leading them.
E S
Spiritual styles abbreviations
W Word E Emotion S Symbol A Action
Read our Spiritual Styles articles