Bible Readings: Genesis 1:1-5, Psalm 29, Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1:4-11
About the Images:
Upper Left: In rural (and increasingly suburban) Australia, when the water pours out of the top of our rainwater tanks like this, there is cause for rejoicing. It means the dust is gone and all around us everything is washed clean - the very leaves and blades of grass sparkle. It also means that we don't have to worry about our household water supply for a while. This is my photo, and our tank, so feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Upper Right: This is my photo from the front of our place at dawn (for more info visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gippsland_Lakes) with a line from the song below by Caedmon's Call. Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities.
Middle Left: A free Heartlight image - see my links column at left
Middle Right: Beaches never fail to remind me of God's creative power. This is Hervey Bay in NSW (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hervey_Bay). This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Lower Left: This is another free Heartlight image - see my link column at left.
Lower Right: another lovely Ceredo Barredo image - see my link column at left.
Listening Song: Who Y
ou Are
ou AreBy Caedmon's Call on their album, In the Company of Angels (pictured at left) or on WOW 2003 .
Children's activity during the service: Rainsticks
Have the children quietly make rainsticks as you worship - use them towards the end of the service during a reaffirmation of baptismal vows or the benediction or during a hymn or song. A rainstick is made from a tube of cardboard with a handful of rice inside with both ends sealed with sticky tape. They can be decorated any way the kids wish.
Have the children quietly make rainsticks as you worship - use them towards the end of the service during a reaffirmation of baptismal vows or the benediction or during a hymn or song. A rainstick is made from a tube of cardboard with a handful of rice inside with both ends sealed with sticky tape. They can be decorated any way the kids wish.
Dramas and Prayers: Baptism of Jesus
Found in Hay and Stardust by Ruth Burgess, Wild Goose Publications 2005, ISBN 1 905010 00 1, pages 228ff.
Film Clip: When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
(pictured at right) There is a great scene in this film where Zachary and one of the boys discusses the meaning of baptism.
Discussion: When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
1. Is Zachary Beaver right about baptism?
2. What does it mean for you to be baptised?
3. Do we change when we are baptised? If so, how?
2. What does it mean for you to be baptised?
3. Do we change when we are baptised? If so, how?
Drama: In the Beginning Found in Lets Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 7ff (pictured at left).This voice/reader drama is based on Genesis 1.
Drama: Someone Really Great
Found in Mega Drama 3 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109178 (v.3), page 50-51 (pictured at right). This puppet or people drama matches up very well with the gospel reading.
Discussion Questions:
1.When did you first realise that the life God has given you was good and valuable, that God was pleased with you.
2. What changed for Jesus when he was baptised?
3. What changed fro the world when jesus was baptised.
3. What changed fro the world when jesus was baptised.
4. What is the blessing for us in baptism?
5. How are we changed in baptism?
5. How are we changed in baptism?
6. What is the significance of baptism for us?
Testimonies:
Instead of having everyone discuss the above questions, ask one or two people beforehand to prepare a three minute answer to one or a couple of the questions as part of the sermon or teaching time. An added bonus to this exercise is that it is a great way to encourage people to discover their preaching and leadership gifts within the congregation.
Instead of having everyone discuss the above questions, ask one or two people beforehand to prepare a three minute answer to one or a couple of the questions as part of the sermon or teaching time. An added bonus to this exercise is that it is a great way to encourage people to discover their preaching and leadership gifts within the congregation.
Story: Baptism
A modern story about baptism found at http://www.gobinumc.org/new_page_6.htm - scroll down to Case 2.
A modern story about baptism found at http://www.gobinumc.org/new_page_6.htm - scroll down to Case 2.
Meditation: The Creator's MeditationBy Grace Krag and found in Building Worship Together by Martha Keys Barker and the Fisherfolk, Celebration, 1983, ISBN 0906309212, page 92ff (pictured at left). This goes very well with the Genesis reading. This reading goes very well with selected images and the following music: Grace by Moby from his album, Songs (pictured at right).
Poem: a Summers day by Mary Oliver
Read the poem and then use the last words of the poem as follows: These words are a brilliant reassurance and challenge to each one of us as we consider our baptisms and our journey through life – wherever we are on that journey! Have a reassurance card with the words "Your one wild and precious life" on it. Words to this effect were probably running around in Jesus’ head as he was baptised. He knows he is loved and belongs to God who is pleased with him – just as do we when are baptised. Have a second challenge card with the words "What will you do with your one wild and precious life" on it. Jesus also knows he is about to start his ministry – a big ask! The dove signifies the reassuring presence of the Holy Spirit. A huge reassurance for us as well as we live our wild and precious lives. Get people to choice either one or both cards to take home with them.
Response Activity:
Set up three stations around your worship space. Encourage people to visit all three stations but in any order they wish.
Station 1: Have a stack of printed creeds or affirmations of baptism or your church's baptism service available. Encourage people to softly say the reading aloud at their own pace. Reassure people ahead of time that they will not be a distraction to others - they will make a gentle worshipful hum. If you really think people will be bothered, either play soft music in the background or encourage them to go outside to read it.
Station 2: Have a sand bowl, the Christ candle and tapers available and a note of instruction in a dim part of the worship space. Ask people to light a taper from the Christ candle and sit and watch the flame for awhile remembering that just as the flame is a light in the dark, so too, they can, with God's help, be lights of hope, peace and justice in a dark world.
Station 3: This station is very similar to the benediction activity below. Stand beside the baptismal font and as each person comes up to you, mark their foreheads with a cross and say..."Name (whatever it is) God is pleased with you." After doing this, ask them to sit in a quiet space and think about/pray about what these words mean to them.
Benediction:
Have the font near the exit (if a movable font) or have the congregation exit past the font and as each one passes, pour a little water over their hands and say their name and the words "God is pleased with you". Alternatively have people do this to each other as they leave.
Station 1: Have a stack of printed creeds or affirmations of baptism or your church's baptism service available. Encourage people to softly say the reading aloud at their own pace. Reassure people ahead of time that they will not be a distraction to others - they will make a gentle worshipful hum. If you really think people will be bothered, either play soft music in the background or encourage them to go outside to read it.
Station 2: Have a sand bowl, the Christ candle and tapers available and a note of instruction in a dim part of the worship space. Ask people to light a taper from the Christ candle and sit and watch the flame for awhile remembering that just as the flame is a light in the dark, so too, they can, with God's help, be lights of hope, peace and justice in a dark world.
Station 3: This station is very similar to the benediction activity below. Stand beside the baptismal font and as each person comes up to you, mark their foreheads with a cross and say..."Name (whatever it is) God is pleased with you." After doing this, ask them to sit in a quiet space and think about/pray about what these words mean to them.
Benediction:
Have the font near the exit (if a movable font) or have the congregation exit past the font and as each one passes, pour a little water over their hands and say their name and the words "God is pleased with you". Alternatively have people do this to each other as they leave.
Also:
Poem and prayer: by the Jordon
Poem and prayer: by the Jordon
Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 68 (pictured at left). These are based on the gospel reading.Lots of Useful Stuff
Found in The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual 2015 by Jenee Woodard (Ed.), Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2014, page 5ff (pictured at right).
By Ruth Burgess in Dandelions and Thistles: Biblical Meditations from the Iona Community by Jan Sutch Pickard (ed.) Wild Goose Publications, 1999, ISBN 1901557146, page 13 (pictured at left).Based on the Genesis reading.
Found in Multi-Sensory Message by Dave Maclure, Scripture Union, 2008, ISBN 9781844272730, page 7 (pictured at right). Connected with the Genesis reading.
Drama: Our Good Fridge
Found in Mega Drama 3 by Verona Johnson (ed) Openbook, 2002, ISBN 0859109178 (v.3), page 43 (pictured above) . This drama is based on the Genesis reading.
Poem: It is Shed
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (pictured at right) in the Summer section and based on the Mark reading.
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page12 (pictured at left). This poem is based on the Genesis reading.
Poem: God's Week
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 14 (pictured at left). This poem is based on the Genesis reading.
Poem: Let There Be Light
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 17 (pictured above left). This poem is based on the Genesis reading.
Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 146ff (pictured at left). This is based on the Mark reading.
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