On Sunday night I shared with the youth worker from our local church at Frankston, Hannah Dungan in leading a contemporary service which ended up being very much an all-age experience. One aim was to connect with people from the annual Somers youth camp, so we shaped the service around a Bible story from the camp - Genesis 18 where three messengers visit Abraham and Sarah, aged 99 and 90, to tell them they will have a child.
My idea was to make it experiential. So we tried to imagine Middle Eastern tribes sitting by a tent under a night sky a few thousand years ago, sharing a meal and telling stories. We set up a tent with fairy lights. I spent Saturday preparing Middle Eastern finger food. We sat people on rugs with cushions and made the meal a part of the worship.
Call to Worship - from my Entertaining Angels service
This the place where angels
Visit those waiting in hope
This the place where angels
Visit those longing for rest
This the place where angels
Visit those who yearn for justice
This the place where angels
Visit those needing good news
This the time where angels
Visit those with work unfinished
This the time where angels
Visit the barren and bereft
This the time where angels
Visit those listening in the shadows
This the time where angels
Visit those ready for new birth
Wait and you might meet the unexpected
Watch and you might glimpse the holy
Listen and you might hear whispers of hope
Come and worship God with us.
We used night sky photos from pexels.com
We had a special visitor/guest in each of the tree tribes who was served first.
I set up the story by talking about how stories shape us and about how unlikely messengers can change our lives, and then told some of the background of the story of Abram and Sarai.
We had a story-teller with each tribe who then told the story of Genesis 18 and 21.
I invited people to reflect on the story in silence with eyes closed, then Hannah led them in some Godly Play-type 'wondering'.
I used Ken Medema's song "Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying" with prayers for others.
Young people were involved in leading music and prayers, and as food servers.
Apart from the crazy one hour setup time, the evening seemed to go really well.