This year we used the
metaphor of ‘setting sail’ as a theme for PRAYERhouse. We wanted to invite
people to ‘set sail’ into the unknown with God; learning by doing on their
journey.
To echo this emphasis on
journey we put together a range of themed rituals which were participatory and
progressive in nature – they built up, changed and transformed throughout the
weeks as different people engaged and invested.
Each ritual had three
approaches; DO, READ, THINK
Wave Wall:
Do: Grab a paint brush
and some pens and add your wave to the wave wall. Write scripture, reflections,
promises and prayers in the flow of the waves.
Read: An ode to a
surfer’s soul arch.
Follow link:
An ode to a surfer's Soul Arch
Think:
Look closely at the wave wall in front of you. Look at the colours and
contrasts and textures and surfaces and juxtapositions. Notice how the paint
has run and dripped and been worked and reworked. Make out the marks and
characters and symbols and words. Reflect on its journey.
Reflect
on your journey. How have you got to where you are now? How has the picture of
your life been painted? Where is God in the picture?
Driftwood:
Do: Take some sandpaper
and work away at the driftwood until you’ve created a smooth surface. Now take
some oil and rub it into the grain of the wood.
Read: Jesus the carpenter
story from Intimate with the Ultimate
Gerard Kelly
Download Jesus the carpenter Story-1
Think: Are there rough,
unworked areas of your life you need to bring before God the carpenter? Allow
God to remove the splinters and rub healing oil into your life.
What is God teaching you
at the moment? Close your eyes and allow God to take your hands and begin to
show you something new.
Dinghy:
Do: Sit it the dinghy and
put on the headphones and press play. Listen to the waves crashing around you
and imagine you’re at sea.
Read: Excerpt from John Ortberg’s ‘If you want to walk on
water, you’ve got to get out the boat’. Ortberg on Amazon
Think:
All human beings give their lives to something. Between this day and your last
you will give your life to something. The only question is; what will you give
your life to? Will it be worthy?
Is
it time to use your God-given talents in response to God?
As
you get out of the dinghy think of Peter stepping out of the boat and walking
towards Jesus on the water. Think about where and when you might step out in
faith?
Pool:
Do: Create an origami
boat by following the instructions. Set your boat afloat on the water and
gently blow on your boat so that it sails.
Read: Set Sail Prayers –
Inspired by Safespace community in
Telford
. See www.safespace.me.uk for more details or Download Set Sail Prayers-3
Think: If you were a ship
would you be stuck in port or sailing on the high seas? What are the deep
God-given desires of your heart? Are you aware of Gods calling on your life?
Where are the ‘unknowns’ God is calling you to set sail into with him?
Do: Sit in a deckchair.
Get comfy. Lose yourself in the images on the screen.
Read: Charlie Brown visits Lucy the psychiatrist Download Charlie Brown visits Lucy the psychiatrist-1
Think: Imagine being at
the back of the ship; where have you been? God says; I am who I am – I am your
God. I have seen all your history and I have heard all your prayers. Now I am
coming to transform you. Remember who you
are by remembering whose you are!
[Exodus 3]
Imagine being at the
front of the ship; where are you headed? God says; I know what I'm doing. I
have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to
give you the future you hope for. [Jeremiah 29]
Imagine not being able to unfold your deckchair; what is stopping you? God says; Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. [Matthew 11]
Coracle:
Do: Take some ribbon or wool and add your own layer of
weaving
Read: Story of St Brendan
– Extract from Navigatio Pocket
Liturgies Follow Link: Navigatio PL on PROOST
Think: Weaving is hard
work on your own, but adding to something is all about threading your own
creativity through something that’s already there, making a richer more diverse
pattern and getting involved first hand, interacting.
When you row a boat on
your own it’s hard going to get moving even slowly!
When you row in a team
the boat takes off with speed and eventually rises out of the water and when
you’re totally in time you glide out of the water skimming the surface with
almost effortless ease!
Think about how God made
us for one another, to interact with others, to enjoy each other’s company and
to make each other’s lives glide like an eight man canoe…
Can God use others to
reach you?
Does God use you to reach
others?
Do you let God speak into
your life like this??
Acts 2:45-47 Everyday
they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their
homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying
the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who
were being saved.
You write very well.
Posted by: Liana | April 27, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Thanks for using our stuff... glad you found it helpful :)
Posted by: Mark Berry | April 30, 2009 at 05:43 PM