Informal talk

Display or project an image of a beautiful church building – or, if you are in one, draw attention to some of its finer features. Invite people to imagine that they are in the Gospel story they have just heard, that Jesus is in the building, and someone is saying how beautiful it is, pointing things out to Jesus. Ask everyone to consider how they would react if Jesus then interrupted to say, ‘You know, all of this, all that you admire, it will be gone; there will only be a pile of rubble left.’ Invite some people to share their reaction.

Ask everyone what questions they would have, and what they might want to say. But instead of answering those questions, invite people to listen again to Jesus. Now he is saying that it’s not only the building; there will be wars and factions, earthquakes and famines. Ask people how that makes them feel. Does it remind them of anything we can recognise today? Are they worried?

Invite people to listen again to Jesus, because now he is saying, ‘Don’t worry about these things.’ Change the displayed image to the words of the well-known poster: ‘Keep calm and carry on’ (there are many examples on the internet). Ask one or two people (perhaps arranged in advance) to tell their story – of a time when God has helped them to remain or become calm in the face of fears and worries. Then invite everyone to look back over their own story, and to consider whether there have been any moments like that in their lives. Display a final poster image with words ‘Keep calm, and know that I am God (Psalm 46.10).’