Wildflower Paper
Here’s a lovely activity for autumn or spring, perfect for a Harvest Festival, Hallowe’en light party, Messy Church or Easter garden party. Also perfect for the parable of the mustard seed, the sower and the soils, that bit about Apollos watered but God made it grow, wheat and tares, the reapers overtaking the sowers, etc.
I know it’s a bit early to be mentioning the ‘C’ word, but I might be making a bunch of these for Christmas presents this year.
Hand-made paper with wildflower seeds makes an eco-friendly, cheap and thoughtful gift for anytime of year. Plant in the autumn or spring to get a feast for the eyes and for the bees.
Click here – Wild Flower Paper – for a free, 3-page PDF of how to make your own paper with simple ingredients you have at home. There is a version using a paper frame (with instruction on how to make one) and a version without for a more ‘hand-hewn’ effect.
I’
ve even found a snazzy little gif showing the (frame) process – messy, but such fun! But don’t worry, even three-year-olds can make paper with the ‘smoosh it around with your hands’ technique.
The PDF starts with this verse:
Jesus said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, although he does not know how.”
(Mark 4:26-27)
This helps us think about how we may sow the seed of God’s kingdom, by our lives, by our words or by our deeds, but it is up to God how that seed grows. We don’t need to worry about how a person will react to God’s love, our job is to show it.
So why not make some little wild flower hearts and write ‘God Loves You’ on the front. Then give them out to random strangers. You never know what a seed might do.
Liturgy Resources for Proper 23
Hebrews 4:12-16
Confession and Absolution
Our souls are laid bare in the sight of the one to whom we must render an account. Therefore, let us confess our sins to Almighty God, who is rich in mercy and abounding in steadfast love and compassion.
In the silence, recall the last day, the last week, and lay your words, deeds and thought before God.
[pause]
The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
In the silence, recall Jesus, who took upon himself all the sin of the world, to bring us before God washed clean from all stain of guilt.
[pause]
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
God who is gracious, forgive you all your sins and restore to fullness of life.
Amen.
Blessing and Dismissal
Go not with weeping but with rejoicing.
Go not in weakness but in strength.
Go not with faith hearts, but strengthen by the Spirit
Go as children of the Father and disciples of the Son.
And the blessing …
The strength of the Lord be with your spirit.
Amen.
The Reflectionary 