There is a 2022 updated version of this post with lots more stuff - see archive at left.
Bible Readings: Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99, 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, Luke 9:28-43
About the images:
Upper: Photo by Tamar Dolev.
Lower: Sunset from Norfolk Island. My photo so please feel free to use it. If you want to know more about this beautiful island, then visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Island
Decor of the worship space:
Decorate the focal point of your worship space with any combination of heaps of lit candles, spotlights, and white and gold material.
Listening Song: Great Light of the World
By Bebo Norman on his album, Myself When I Am Real (pictured at left), 2002, or on WOW 2004.
Kids Story: Reflections
Place a large mirror in adim part of your church and put the lighted Christ candle on it. Give each kid (with supervision if necessary) a tea light. Ask them to light their tea lights from the Christ candle and place them on the mirror. The effect should speak for itself.
Kid's Story:
I have a collection of large cards with dinner plate sized round faces drawn on them - each face reflecting a different emotion; eg tired, scared, surprised, sad, happy, excited, puzzled etc etc. The transfiguration lends itself very much to a retelling of the story using these cards to reflect the emotions of the disciples. You can either hand out the faces and get kids to hold up the one they have when they think that is how the disciples must have felt or you can hold up a relevant card at the relevant time and ask the kids (and the congregation?) to reflect the same face. It can be lots of fun.
Film Clip: Amelie
(pictured at right) Show the clip where Amelie walks the blind man across the road. As she does so, she begins to detail all the things around him so that she gives him his sight.
Discussion Questions: For the film clip or as stand alones
To think about by yourself: When have you felt closest to God's glory?
Brainstorm: How did it make you feel?
Together: Why do you think God sometimes is revealed in these ways?
How has the experience impinged on your daily life?
How are we able to reflect god's glory on to other people?
What happens when we do?
Drama: We Can't Tell You
Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena johnson, (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 61 (pictured at left). Based on the gospel reading.
Sermon Starter: Space Jump
Liken the disciples experience on the mountain to the Theatre Sports game, Space Jump, and then compare the game with the business and diversity of modern life.
Story: A Candle in the Darkness
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 17 (this book is pictured in an earlier blog). When I first told this story, I illustrated it with a self lighting candle in that you cannot put out God's light.
Story:Spiritual Disciplines
Found in Story 664 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured in an earlier blog). Goes well with the Corinthians reading.
Story: Testimony
Found in Story 719 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured in an earlier blog). Goes well with the Corinthians reading.
Story: Reflected Son-light
Index 2166 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990
Story: Wouldn't He stick Out?
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 203 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Poem: Transfiguration
By Bruce Prewer and found his site at www.textweek.com (see my links at left) under Prayers, Prefaces, Litanies, etc. on the Transfiguration C page.
Prayer: Transfiguration
This is a great three reader prayer written by Roddy Hamilton and found on his Mucky Paws blog (see my links) in his Archives for February 16 2007.
Response Activity:
Project or give everybody a copy of 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 and ask them to underline the part that gives them the most hope. Be generous with time to do this - make it a spiritual exercise. Then ask them to share their response with two other people.
Response Activity:
Give each person a small candle or tea light and ask them to light it at their main meal each day this week to remind themselves of God's love for them and that they are reflectors of God's light.
Response Activity:
Brainstorm ideas on how your congregation can be a light in the community? As each idea is suggested, write it on a separate piece of paper. Put them around the walls. Give everybody three stickers each and ask them to put a sticker on the three which excite them the most.
After the service, give the six with the most dots to a member of your church council or leadership team :-) !!
Listening Song: Great Light of the World
By Bebo Norman on his album, Myself When I Am Real (pictured at left), 2002, or on WOW 2004.
Kids Story: Reflections
Place a large mirror in adim part of your church and put the lighted Christ candle on it. Give each kid (with supervision if necessary) a tea light. Ask them to light their tea lights from the Christ candle and place them on the mirror. The effect should speak for itself.
Kid's Story:
I have a collection of large cards with dinner plate sized round faces drawn on them - each face reflecting a different emotion; eg tired, scared, surprised, sad, happy, excited, puzzled etc etc. The transfiguration lends itself very much to a retelling of the story using these cards to reflect the emotions of the disciples. You can either hand out the faces and get kids to hold up the one they have when they think that is how the disciples must have felt or you can hold up a relevant card at the relevant time and ask the kids (and the congregation?) to reflect the same face. It can be lots of fun.
Film Clip: Amelie
(pictured at right) Show the clip where Amelie walks the blind man across the road. As she does so, she begins to detail all the things around him so that she gives him his sight.
Discussion Questions: For the film clip or as stand alones
To think about by yourself: When have you felt closest to God's glory?
Brainstorm: How did it make you feel?
Together: Why do you think God sometimes is revealed in these ways?
How has the experience impinged on your daily life?
How are we able to reflect god's glory on to other people?
What happens when we do?
Drama: We Can't Tell You
Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena johnson, (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 61 (pictured at left). Based on the gospel reading.
Sermon Starter: Space Jump
Liken the disciples experience on the mountain to the Theatre Sports game, Space Jump, and then compare the game with the business and diversity of modern life.
Story: A Candle in the Darkness
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 17 (this book is pictured in an earlier blog). When I first told this story, I illustrated it with a self lighting candle in that you cannot put out God's light.
Story:Spiritual Disciplines
Found in Story 664 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured in an earlier blog). Goes well with the Corinthians reading.
Story: Testimony
Found in Story 719 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured in an earlier blog). Goes well with the Corinthians reading.
Story: Reflected Son-light
Index 2166 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990
Story: Wouldn't He stick Out?
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 203 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Poem: Transfiguration
By Bruce Prewer and found his site at www.textweek.com (see my links at left) under Prayers, Prefaces, Litanies, etc. on the Transfiguration C page.
Prayer: Transfiguration
This is a great three reader prayer written by Roddy Hamilton and found on his Mucky Paws blog (see my links) in his Archives for February 16 2007.
Response Activity:
Project or give everybody a copy of 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 and ask them to underline the part that gives them the most hope. Be generous with time to do this - make it a spiritual exercise. Then ask them to share their response with two other people.
Response Activity:
Give each person a small candle or tea light and ask them to light it at their main meal each day this week to remind themselves of God's love for them and that they are reflectors of God's light.
Response Activity:
Brainstorm ideas on how your congregation can be a light in the community? As each idea is suggested, write it on a separate piece of paper. Put them around the walls. Give everybody three stickers each and ask them to put a sticker on the three which excite them the most.
After the service, give the six with the most dots to a member of your church council or leadership team :-) !!
1 comment:
Thank you for the responsive ideas. Giving members of the congregation something to take home provides a devotional aid for personal use but also enables them to remember the theme of the service during the week. I may well use the brainstorm idea because the service I am leading this Sunday is an ecumenical one.Two small village churches will be coming together for worship. Giving them an opportunity to think of ways they can be light in the village could be a really positive thing to do.
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