Active worship
Activities based on Luke 21.5-19
Spiritual styles abbreviations
W Word E Emotion S Symbol A Action
Further information on Spiritual Styles
A simple worship activity for all ages
This activity could follow the Informal talk or be used on its own. Prepare postcard-size cards with, on one side, an image of the inside of a beautiful church and underneath it a pile of rubble. Give everyone a card and a pen, and invite them to write on the blank side: ‘Keep calm, and know that I am God (Psalm 46.10)’, and to sign their name. When everyone has finished their card, invite them to offer their card to someone else as a personal reminder to ‘hang on’ to their faith even in difficult times. While this is being done, listen to or sing ‘Be still and know that I am God’. At the end, everyone should still have a card – though not the one they wrote. End by saying together either A prayer of approach or A prayer of praise and thanksgiving. W E
Talk about
Working in small groups, ask people to use their phones or other devices (this is a good opportunity for younger members to help those less confident with such things) to find out about someone who has been persecuted for their Christian faith, or who, due to particular circumstances, has publicly told the story of their faith. You could provide some examples from books, magazines, or printed from the internet, for those who don’t have the technological means. Invite the groups to share one insight from the story that they have discovered with the whole congregation. W A
How great thou art
Listen to the hymn ‘O Lord my God’, either sung by your music/choir group or as a recording (there are both traditional and modern styles available). Ask those who are listening to pay particular attention to the words. Invite people to reflect on how the words of this hymn offer encouragement to continue to follow Jesus and keep ‘hanging on’ to God. Those who wish to share their thoughts can be encouraged to do so, but also let those who wish to reflect on their own know that this is OK, too. E S
Word cloud
Display an example of a word cloud, and give out paper and coloured pens. Invite people to design their own word cloud, based on today’s Gospel reading. Encourage them to discuss with their neighbours which words should have greater prominence in the word cloud. W