At the end of this post you’ll find your liturgy resources for this week’s passages, where we have three stories about following. Or not. The Old Testament readings show either the call of Elisha in 1 Kings 19, or Elisha doggedly following Elijah and talking over his mantle in 2 Kings 2. Then in the … More Following, or not – I Ki 19, Psalms 16 & 77, Gal 5, Luke 9
I’ll admit it. I put my hand up and confess. I find the endless ‘Alleluias’ irritating. I mean, they’re OK on Easter Day: ‘He is risen indeed, Alleluia!’ That’s fine. But if you say the daily office between Easter and Pentecost, every third word is Alleluia it seems, and I can’t wait to be rid … More Ascension – Luke 24, Acts 1, Eph 1
I just received a brief thank you note for a devotional I wrote for 6th May. I sometimes wonder if the stuff I write makes any difference, so you can imagine how much that note encouraged me. A little sugar goes a long way. The devotion, Grace upon Grace, is reproduced below, and I commend … More Grace upon Grace – plus craft and liturgy
This week’s resources: Confession and Absolution, Blessing and Dismissal based on Isaiah’s vision of God in the temple, and Peter’s similar response to the miraculous catch of fish. All-age, interactive prayers on the theme of ‘Holy’ from 1 Peter with BSL signing and video Luke 5 all age drama – ‘Funny Fish’ Reflections on Isa … More Liturgy Resources (with VIDEO!) Holy, holy, holy
Here are two simple, child-friendly liturgies for making Christingles and for lighting Advent candles. You can use them for all-age worship, for school events, for Messy Church or for regular services. Obviously, the Chocolate Orange Christingle also works with regular oranges. The Advent prayers (below) can be used one each week, or all at once … More Simple Liturgies for Advent – Christingle / Advent Candle Prayers
In case you have not seen them in, here is a reissue of some of my most popular Advent resources. Some have been very slightly updated, with the links here being to most recent, but the original posts having all the helpful make-along photos and videos to help you. Also, check out all my Advent … More Advent Makeables and Meditations
I told myself I wasn’t going to write a Nativity this year – too much other stuff going on. And if this was going to be a book, it needed to be out about two months ago. But the muses struck and the idea formed, so here it is, the Nativity I promised myself I … More Christmas Gone Worng + MP3!
This fab interactive Christingle is great for a school assembly, all-age worship or Messy Church. Follow the clues to build up the Christingle bit by bit and find out what each part means. As the elements are found and brought up, you can assemble larger versions on a giant Christingle at the front or a … More Christingle Treasure Hunt
Activity – Have you seen your face? This is great for an up-front demo, hilarious at a youth group, and perfect for Messy Church – particularly good in a daddy-daughter pairing. You will need: Large selection of make-up / face paints / hair accessories One mirror Camera to take embarrassing photos What to do: Put … More Have you seen your faith? (Deut 4:1-9, Mark 7:1-23, James 1:17-27)
Yes, that’s right: ‘sore winner’, not sore loser. Many of us have experienced the terrifying wrath of a four-year-old who can’t cope with losing at snakes and ladders. Some of us will have been that four-year-old, but hopefully most of us grow up and learn to accept that, in every game of winners and losers, … More How not to be a Sore Winner
The Reflectionary 