For New Years we had a station with a chalkboard some chalk, a whiteboard, a doodle board & the following:
Write something on the chalkboard, whiteboard, or doodle board.
Now erase it & see that you have a clean slate.
People typically think of New Year’s as a chance to start over fresh.
Now write something that you regret and ask god to erase it, give you a clean start, and empower you to live.
Wipe the board clean and imagine god giving you a fresh start.
Have some ideas you'd like to share? Please email me & let me know!
Thursday, April 28, 2005
SOAP
One week we had a really cool picture that had a pair of faucets & sink & soap. It was kind of sepia-tone looking. Anyway, we had that picture up, and a table full of props: a bar of soap, a pump with orange grit hand cleaner, a bottle of body wash, foam soap, & I think several other things & the following sign:
Think of all the ways you try to clean yourself
I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
Psalm 51
...Have mercy upon me, Oh God, according to your loving kindness; according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...
create in me a clean heart, oh god, and renew a steadfast spirit in me
Think of all the ways you try to clean yourself
I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
Psalm 51
...Have mercy upon me, Oh God, according to your loving kindness; according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...
create in me a clean heart, oh god, and renew a steadfast spirit in me
As I Am (The Violet Burning)
We had a couple portable CD players & had the song “As I Am” by The Violet Burning & had people read the lyrics & think about what it means for them.
AS I AM
Mary, she knows
In a world that’s dark, torn apart at the seams
She lifts up her eyes, up to the skies and sings,
“I am my beloved’s and he loves me as I am.”
Sometimes I cry
‘Cause the world, it’s dark – torn apart at the seams
I lift up my eyes, up the skies and sing,
“I am my beloved’s and he loves me as I am.”
Sometimes it’s hard
Though patiently, you wait for the time to see
Whose are you? (tell me) whose are you?
“I am my beloved’s and he loves me as I am.”
Light of the world, please come shine on me
My beloved
Sometimes I cry
‘Cause the world that’s dark, torn apart at the seams
Sometimes I cry for I am weak
“I am my beloved’s and he loves me as I am.”
Light of the world, please come shine on me
--------------------
We also had the following sheet up & paper to write on: How do you see yourself? How do you think others see you? How do you think God sees you?
AS I AM
Mary, she knows
In a world that’s dark, torn apart at the seams
She lifts up her eyes, up to the skies and sings,
“I am my beloved’s and he loves me as I am.”
Sometimes I cry
‘Cause the world, it’s dark – torn apart at the seams
I lift up my eyes, up the skies and sing,
“I am my beloved’s and he loves me as I am.”
Sometimes it’s hard
Though patiently, you wait for the time to see
Whose are you? (tell me) whose are you?
“I am my beloved’s and he loves me as I am.”
Light of the world, please come shine on me
My beloved
Sometimes I cry
‘Cause the world that’s dark, torn apart at the seams
Sometimes I cry for I am weak
“I am my beloved’s and he loves me as I am.”
Light of the world, please come shine on me
--------------------
We also had the following sheet up & paper to write on: How do you see yourself? How do you think others see you? How do you think God sees you?
Taboo
We had one week that brought up the question of what is considered taboo. We had a sign up with the following:
Taboo:
When the belief exists that saying a certain word or speaking of a certain topic is unacceptable, either
1) because it might evoke that thing,
2) it might be considered too sacred, or
3) perhaps it is too profane
What topics are taboo at church?
What things do we never talk about at church?
Why?
Should we have taboo subjects at church?
Taboo:
When the belief exists that saying a certain word or speaking of a certain topic is unacceptable, either
1) because it might evoke that thing,
2) it might be considered too sacred, or
3) perhaps it is too profane
What topics are taboo at church?
What things do we never talk about at church?
Why?
Should we have taboo subjects at church?
Drawing days of creation
We had a bunch of blank paper & colored markers & had people draw a picture of one of the days of creation (we had the days listed)
Pre Service Activity: PRAY
One week we had a large sign with the following and a bowl with some slips of paper – each slip had a different thing to pray for.
Pre-Service Activity…
PRAY
Take a slip of paper from the bowl & pray.
These were the slips that we had available:
Pray for the Bridge congregations: Rio Vista, Minder-Binders, & Scottsdale
Pray for the pastor
Pray for the worship leader
Pray for the children’s ministry
Pray for the youth group
Pray for your neighborhood
Pray for the walls of racial discrimination to fall down
Pray for healing in relationships
Pray for physical healing of people in the congregation
Pray for Rio Vista Center
Pray for a willingness to serve others
Pre-Service Activity…
PRAY
Take a slip of paper from the bowl & pray.
These were the slips that we had available:
Pray for the Bridge congregations: Rio Vista, Minder-Binders, & Scottsdale
Pray for the pastor
Pray for the worship leader
Pray for the children’s ministry
Pray for the youth group
Pray for your neighborhood
Pray for the walls of racial discrimination to fall down
Pray for healing in relationships
Pray for physical healing of people in the congregation
Pray for Rio Vista Center
Pray for a willingness to serve others
Write a way God has blessed you
We had a big red piece of felt-type cloth pegged to the wall & a few Sharpie pens. People wrote on the fabric based on the following instructions:
Write one way God has blessed you. Allow this cloth to serve as a reminder of God’s goodness.
Write one way God has blessed you. Allow this cloth to serve as a reminder of God’s goodness.
Ask God to speak to you
We have a game from Discovery Toys that has foam shapes that you can use to make patterns or designs. We put out that game & the following instructions:
Spend some time making a design or pattern and ask God to speak to you…
Spend some time making a design or pattern and ask God to speak to you…
What do you value?
We had an introspective work-sheet we gave out with the following:
Values
Whether you recognize it or not, you’ve got governing values.
Everyone does. Your values influence how you make decisions.
Your governing values reflect:
What is important to you
How you see the world
What you believe in
Ask
Imagine that you have an afternoon to spend as you like. Do you go to a park with your family? To lunch with friends? Finish up some work? Or maybe just go wherever the day takes you?
These decisions reflect values. Some are easy to define: I love my family. Some are more abstract: I enjoy being spontaneous. How you spend your time is often a good indicator of you values.
Make a list of things you value:
Activity
Pick an activity that helps you focus on one thing you value. Choose a day when you can do that activity.
For one day, keep a close record of how you spend your time. Record the details of your day. Do you spend most of your time on the things that are most important to you? Or do you spend most of your time on things that aren’t very important to you?
Values
Whether you recognize it or not, you’ve got governing values.
Everyone does. Your values influence how you make decisions.
Your governing values reflect:
What is important to you
How you see the world
What you believe in
Ask
Imagine that you have an afternoon to spend as you like. Do you go to a park with your family? To lunch with friends? Finish up some work? Or maybe just go wherever the day takes you?
These decisions reflect values. Some are easy to define: I love my family. Some are more abstract: I enjoy being spontaneous. How you spend your time is often a good indicator of you values.
Make a list of things you value:
Activity
Pick an activity that helps you focus on one thing you value. Choose a day when you can do that activity.
For one day, keep a close record of how you spend your time. Record the details of your day. Do you spend most of your time on the things that are most important to you? Or do you spend most of your time on things that aren’t very important to you?
Sin
On one table, we had a pile of envelopes & slips of paper & pens & the following sign:
Think of something bad you’ve done that you would like to make right. How could you right the wrong? Write it down on a slip of paper and seal it in an envelope. This is yours to keep as a reminder until you right the wrong.
On another table, we had a small bucket filled about a third of the way full with rocks. It was filled to the brim with water. We had a pile of rocks and the following sign:
Think of this bucket as representing your life. Think of the stones as deliberate acts of sin. Drop a stone in the bucket. Think about the cumulative effect of your choices. If the water in the bucket is the working of God in your life, how does a life of willful sin affect that?
Think of something bad you’ve done that you would like to make right. How could you right the wrong? Write it down on a slip of paper and seal it in an envelope. This is yours to keep as a reminder until you right the wrong.
On another table, we had a small bucket filled about a third of the way full with rocks. It was filled to the brim with water. We had a pile of rocks and the following sign:
Think of this bucket as representing your life. Think of the stones as deliberate acts of sin. Drop a stone in the bucket. Think about the cumulative effect of your choices. If the water in the bucket is the working of God in your life, how does a life of willful sin affect that?
Listen to God
We had a table with some lit candles & the following signs:
”So often when we speak with God, we do all the talking; take time now to listen, and see what God has to say to you.”
and
“…speak Lord, for your servant is listening. (I Samuel 3:9)”
”So often when we speak with God, we do all the talking; take time now to listen, and see what God has to say to you.”
and
“…speak Lord, for your servant is listening. (I Samuel 3:9)”
Share God's leading
We had a sign with the following:
SHARE with this group… (Hint, Hint… Invite a few people over)
WHAT is ONE direction, task, movement, or step you felt strongly that God gave you?
Did you do it? YES or NO
SHARE with this group… (Hint, Hint… Invite a few people over)
WHAT is ONE direction, task, movement, or step you felt strongly that God gave you?
Did you do it? YES or NO
Share one thing with a group of people
We had a circle of empty chairs and a sign with the following:
Sit down.
Look around the room.
Specifically invite people into this circle until all the chairs are full.
Get everyone’s name. Tell each other ONE SPECIFIC THING about your day.
After that, answer this… (everyone)
Would you rather recite poetry in a crowded theatre, or dance alone on an empty rooftop?
Now GO.
Sit down.
Look around the room.
Specifically invite people into this circle until all the chairs are full.
Get everyone’s name. Tell each other ONE SPECIFIC THING about your day.
After that, answer this… (everyone)
Would you rather recite poetry in a crowded theatre, or dance alone on an empty rooftop?
Now GO.
Monday, November 29, 2004
The Prayer Path Labyrinth
November 7, 14, and 21 we used the stations from the Prayer Path Labyrinth.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Candy vs Vegetables
Two weeks ago, with a Sunday on Halloween, we had a dish of candy (not the cheap stuff, but good stuff) and a vegetable tray. We then had a sign that said:
When you have to make a decision how do you know what the best choice is? Can you distinguish between what is good for you and what is just a sweet treat? How often do you take what is easy (sweet) rather than what is best (good for you)?
When you have to make a decision how do you know what the best choice is? Can you distinguish between what is good for you and what is just a sweet treat? How often do you take what is easy (sweet) rather than what is best (good for you)?
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