Here are five prayer stations that I prepared for a Synod-Presbytery Leaders Retreat for about 30 people early last week. The Retreat was co-ordinated by our Presbytery staff team. We were focusing on communication and community as a theme and so I suggested John chapter 1, reflecting on God's communication as Trinity, in Creation, in Jesus, and through the Spirit, as well as the connection between our experience of God, our experience of community, and how we communicate.
Call to Worship - Roddy Hamilton
Beginning: Word
the eternal breath
breathed
This was the Word
in God and of God
God’s being:
the word had no sound
but just presence
Beginning: Word
and from this breath
came all things
They were named
by the intent of God
And God’s longing for them
was so great
they became
Beginning: Word
where the intent of God
slipped into flesh
and in a breath became human
And the longing of humanity
like a light that shines
that leads
through the darkness
as the darkness stares
confused by the light
Song - God of Creation written by me
Prayers of Adoration and Praise - Experience the Word in the World
People were invited to go outside and experience Creation. They were asked to take a photo of what captured their attention and SMS the photo to my mobile phone. I put the photos into a slideshow and played it back with music later in the worship time.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. John 1:1-3
You are invited to spend some time contemplating the Logos among the land, the Word’s imprint in Creation. Take some time to walk, to see, to hear, to wait. Find a place to stop and be attentive to the Spirit of place.
Embodying the Word - Peter Batter
The amazing and multi-talented Peter Batten presented a clown piece based on John 1 on God creating light and darkness. Superb - whimsical, engaging, and thoughtful.
Reflection - Sunny Chen
Sunny lectures in New Testament Greek, and he briefly provided some insights into what the Greek words in John 1 about Word and human/flesh are about.
PRAYER STATIONS
1. John 1: 4-5, 9
Postsecret cards, blank cards, coloured pens, “Anthem” by Leonard Cohen on iPod, Belkin hub, headphones, candlestick and candle
2. John 1:6-8
iPhone theatre box, iPhone, headphones, Belkin hub, gaffer tape, Polestar Jesus video, magnetic poetry
3. John 1:10-11
Laptop, speakers, "White lady" video, Brian Eno "Lux" music
4. John 1:12-13
Ink pads, blank paper, The Saint John's Bible: Gospels - Acts
5. John 1:14, 16
Art books and images of Jesus, including
- The Christ We Share
- Imaging the Word
- Ars Sacra
- The Bible Through Asian Eyes
- On a Friday Noon
- Frank Wesley: Exploring Faith With a Brush
- The Passion in Art
- Holiness and the Feminine Spirit
- A Bloke Called Jesus
Holy Communion - Participatory Communion Liturgy written by me
Affirmation of Faith - Roddy Hamilton
ALL:
We believe in a word
that forms on the lips of the creator
and echoes in our souls:
a word that is LOVE.
MEN:
We believe in a word
that breaks the silence of evil
and disturbs the noise of ignorance:
a word that is LOVE.
WOMEN:
We believe in a word
that brings life out of death
and laughter with the morning:
a word that is LOVE.
MEN:
We believe in a word
that tears up the darkness
flooding it with light:
a word that is LOVE.
WOMEN:
We believe in a word
that speaks to all loneliness
with self-giving compassion and care:
a word that is LOVE.
ALL:
We believe in a word
that speaks to our futures
calling us by name,
to trust anew,
and believe once more
in a word called LOVE.
Song - "Christ Before Me" by Malcolm Gordon
Blessing - Jan Richardson from "Circle of Grace"
Photos by myself and Duncan Macleod.
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