Have you ever looked around the people in your church and thought “There’s something a bit … fishy about them”? I know I have. But, just like when I sit in a traffic jam complaining about the congestion to which I am contributing, I am one of the fishy ones, too.
But take heart, gentle reader, fishy is good! Join me in pescatarian ponderings, fin-some frolics, as we consider Jesus’ calling of some rather smelly disciples.
I fancy sardines on toast for tea.
Swimming against the tide – Mark 1:14-20
Have you noticed how many turning arounds there are in today’s passage? As soon as they thought they’d got rid of the trouble maker in John, Jesus appears. His message? Repent – turn around – do a 180. Simon and and Andrew drop what they are doing (literally) and follow. James and John the same. They stopped going in one direction, turned around and started going the other.
Probably not popular with some people. Probably awkward and inconvenient. You know what it’s like in a crowded street (think York Shambles at Christmas); trying to go the opposite way to the crowd is hard work, but that’s what repent means. Here’s a craft and a puzzle to help us think about how Jesus calls us to swim against the tide.
Fishy Printing
You will need:
- A washing-up sponge
- scissors
- marker pen
- orange & red poster paint
- paper plates
What to do:
- Peel the scrubby side off the sponge
- Draw a fish outline on the sponge and cut it out
- Put a small squirt of red and a large squirt of orange paint on the plate
- Print a whole load or orange fish all facing the same way – leave a fish-sized gap in the middle
- Print one red fish facing the opposite way
- Add fishy faces and fins when the paint is dry, if you like
Or how about this puzzle?
You will need 8 matchsticks or pencils or straws.
Lay out four in a diamond shape and add a tail on the right and fins top and bottom.
The challenge is to make the fish swim in the opposite direction by moving only three sticks.
Here’s the solution, in case that’s too much brain work for this time
craft images from https://learncreatelove.com/fish-sponge-painting/
puzzle images from https://mightykiddo.com/blogs/brain-blox/puzzle-4-move-3-planks-to-make-the-fish-swim-in-the-opposite-direction
Liturgy Resources for Third Sunday after Epiphany
Psalm 62:5-12, Mark 1:14-20
Confession and Absolution
Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;
repent, and believe in the good news.” And then he said, “Follow me.”
Lord, we confess that we have not always lived like members of your kingdom.
Forgive us, Jesus
and help us to follow.
We have not always done what we know is right.
Forgive us, Jesus
and help us to follow.
We have not always thought what we would wish others to hear.
Forgive us, Jesus
and help us to follow.
We have not always said what you would have said.
Forgive us, Jesus
and help us to follow.
Lord Jesus, as you called ordinary men and women to follow you
and changed them from the inside out,
please change us:
forgive us, restore us, remake us in your image,
that we may tell the good news of your kingdom
and live as your disciples.
Amen.
Blessing and Dismissal
May your soul find rest in God alone.
May God be your rock and your salvation;
May you never be shaken.
May you pour out your heart to God,
and may you find your refuge.
And the blessing …
Follow Jesus as fishers of people,
and tell the good news of the kingdom.
We will follow; we will fish; we will tell.
The Reflectionary 