It’s a bumper pack today, my lovelies: an all-age talk based on John 1 (and remember, ‘all-age’ doesn’t mean ‘just for the kids’), your lovely liturgy resources, and only two weeks to the launch of my latest book!
Pre-order at Amazon, Eden, Barnes and Noble, Waterstones etc and get a chonky big discount by using code labyrinth when ordering at the publishers, Darton, Longman and Todd
And I’m still taking bookings for my labyrinth workshops. January is almost full, and other months vary, so send me an email to grab your slot. fay (at) fayrowland.co.uk Sorry, international readers, UK only.
All-Age Talk
This fun demo talks about the need to know what we are looking for. You will gradually reveal the criteria (red, thin, rectangle, black & white) of what you are looking for, and volunteers from the congregation will suggest items from your box.
You will need:
A box containing the following items in order from top to bottom (examples below)
- something that fulfils none of the criteria
- something that is red, but neither thin nor rectangular
- something that is red and thin, but not rectangular
- something that is red, thin and rectangular, but not black and white
- a newspaper
Script
Hello every one, my name is ________ and today I’m looking for something. I think it might be in my box here, but I need some volunteers to help me look. Who would like to help me?
Now, what is it I’m looking for? Do you know? No. Hmmn. Have a look in my box and see what you can find.
Hmmn, a blue coat. No, I don’t think that’s what I’m looking for. Perhaps we need some clues. I know, if you all ask me, “What are you looking for?” that might jog my memory. Shall we try it?
Cong: “What are you looking for?” Ooh! Thank you. I’ve just remembered. The thing I’m looking for is red. Look in the box and find something red.
Hmmn, a red jumper. It’s certainly red, but I don’t think that’s what I’m looking for. Perhaps we need another clue.
Cong: “What are you looking for?” Ooh! I’ve just remembered. The thing I’m looking for is thin. Look in the box and find something red and thin.
Hmmn, a red shirt. It’s certainly red and thin, but I don’t think that’s what I’m looking for. We need another clue.
Cong: “What are you looking for?” Ooh! I’ve just remembered. The thing I’m looking for is a rectangle. Look in the box and find something red and thin and rectangular.
Ooh, a piece of red paper. It’s red, it’s thin and it’s a rectangle! Yay! But I still don’t think it’s quite what I’m looking for. One last clue.
Cong: “What are you looking for?” Ooh! I’ve just remembered. The thing I’m looking for is black and white. Look in the box and see what’s left.
Ah yes! A newspaper. It is thin, it is a rectangle, and it is black and white and read all over – gettit? Red, read, yes? OK, bad joke. A round of applause for our volunteers please.
Well, that took a few tries, but eventually I found what I was looking for. And I found it because I remembered what I was looking for. If you know what you are looking for, you are much more likely to find it – unless it’s in a teenager’s bedroom, in which case it is gone for ever.
Our passage today is about two disciples who were just starting to work out what they were looking for. They were disciples of John the Baptist to begin with, but when they saw him point to Jesus and say, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” they followed Jesus instead.
Jesus saw them following and asked, “What are you looking for?” They didn’t really know at the time, but they knew that there was something special about Jesus. “Where are you staying?” they asked him. Jesus replied with an invitation to get to know him better. “Come and see,” he said. “Come. And See.” And maybe they’d find what they were looking for.
I’ll leave you with a question. What are you looking for in life? Perhaps you know what it is, or you have some clues, or perhaps you have no idea. Wherever you are, Jesus gives you the same invitation. Come. And See.
Reading
As John the Baptist watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.”
Liturgy Resources for Second Sunday after Epiphany (A)
Psalm 40:1-11, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Confession and Absolution
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from us;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep us safe forever.
Secure in the knowledge that God forgives all who truly repent , we can say:
Happy are those who make the Lord their trust.
Here I am. I delight to do your will, O my God.
Blessing and Dismissal
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May you be enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind.
May you not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May you be strengthened to the end, that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And may the blessing of God, who is faithful and who calls you into the fellowship of his Son by the unity of the Spirit, be upon you and those you love, this day and for ever.
Amen.
Go in the power and peace of our God.
In the name of Christ, Amen.
The Reflectionary 