I just added some pictures from our service using prayer stations!
If you’re interested, go back to my post:
Lessons from Losers (who should have known better) :: 1.25.9 January 26, 2009
Lesson 2: Always Tell the Truth (even when a “half” lie in a foreign land about your beautiful wife being your sister might benefit you in the long run.)
Great night tonight – it was one of those nights I wasn’t sure would work.
Our lesson concept came from the story of Abram, when he fled to Egypt due to a famine. Scared that he would be killed because his wife was so beautiful and someone might want to get him out of the picture so they could take her, he asked her for permission to lie. To tell a half-truth really. To tell anyone who asked that she was his sister. They did, and sure enough, the Pharaoh (unhindered by the presence of a husband) took her in to be his own. Abram: soon to be Abraham, Father of a great nation = big fat liar. You can watch our Interesting Interview video to see our telling of the story.
So, to think about and learn from this loser’s lesson of the importance of truth in relationship, we played a game of Jenga. First we passed out the Jenga blocks and sharpies to everyone there. We had some write on their block a lie they had been told or had told. Some wrote a half-truth, some wrote a truth. We collected the blocks and I got a couple volunteers to come up and play a game. They were to pretend to be in a relationship with each other. And as they pulled a block, they read the statement written on it, as if they were saying to the other person. The rest of us added our thoughts, too. If we thought it was a truth we yelled, “That’s right!” If we thought it a half-truth, we groaned, “Mmmm, hmmmm?” And if we thought it was a lie, we sneered, “Ohhhh, nooooo!”
The game began – there were lots of funny moments. As they played I inserted some thoughts about truth telling.
1) If you think about it, it’s one of the first skills we learn all by ourselves, usually without the assistance of any parent or teacher. We don’t even need to have it modeled by someone else. We just have a natural talent for it, that blossoms automatically when we are really young. Just after we learn to talk, we learn to lie.
But we can fight that human nature in us. We have been given a new kind of example.
It’s what the early Christians were trying to do, too:
2 Corinthians 4:1-2
Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
2) So we can see already in our pretend couple that lies breakdown the stability of a relationship. You can’t tell the difference between a truth and a lie if you can’t trust the person.
A great example is from tonight’s loser: Abram.
He was thinking only of himself – the conversation with his wife went like this:
Genesis 12:12-13
As he drew near to Egypt, he said to his wife, Sarai, “Look. We both know that you’re a beautiful woman. When the Egyptians see you they’re going to say, ‘Aha! That’s his wife!’ and kill me. But they’ll let you live. Do me a favor: tell them you’re my sister. Because of you, they’ll welcome me and let me live.”
Now, the scripture says everything worked out fine -
God rescues Sarai -
Abram gets lots of stuff -
but don’t you know, there were consequences!
Relational consequences!
I’m not sure what the cultural equivalent of this scenario would be today, but I don’t think it would go well for the husband in the story. Lies destroy relationship. Slowly but surely – compounded over time – and trust becomes impossible.
3) So why is it so hard? A battle to tell the truth even with someone that we love the most!? Telling the truth is counter-cultural. The reality is our world tells us to lie, it teaches us to lie, it makes money on the lies…
The Bible is full of wisdom that would set us straight on the matter:
Proverbs 16:2 – Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good, God probes for what IS good.
Luke 6:26 – “There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests… Your task is to be true, not popular.
People in Jesus’ day were used to being lied to as well.
Do you know what Jesus’ most common way of starting a teaching was?
(78 times in the gospels) “I tell you the truth…”
He had to start with a statement of fact that would help them believe and trust that something with Jesus was different from the norm. He would tell the truth. More than that he IS the truth. Fighting against the flow of culture to stand up and be truthful is not the easy road – but it’s the only road (as Jesus said) that will set you free.
4) We’ve talked about the world in regards to truth telling, let’s talk about the church’s response. Does the church react the way they should when people come confessing their lies and moving toward truth? Are we Christ like when it comes to gracefully loving all people?
We walked through the story of Jesus talking with the Samarian woman at the well – John 4 – and let his example teach us about how we should respond to people struggling through a lie with grace rather than judgment.
I was going to make a 5th point, but about that time the Jenga tower came tumbling down. I had planned to do that dramatically on purpose as I brought it all back around to the way lies affect our relationships. I would have said… that when we build a relationship on mistrust and doubt (which is what happens when you have lies mixed with truths) you’re standing on shaky Jenga ground – and that is never going to last very long.
My prayer for all of us was that we would choose truth.
Even when it’s hard or embarrassing or when we might not benefit because of it.
We gave out the Jenga blocks to people as they left – to stick somewhere as a reminder to choose the truth.
We sang some songs, too: Beautiful One (Hughes), Indescribable (Tomlin) & I Will Lift My Eyes (Bebo Norman).
It was a good night!
Here are our prayer requests this week:
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes.
Please keep these things lifted up:
:: Susan Stamey and her Mother – Joyce Stamey. Joyce is scheduled to have knee replacement surgery tomorrow at Memorial Hospital. Joyce is 85 years old. They are scheduled to be at the hospital at 10:15. Please pray for successful surgery and please pray for Susan as she helps her Mother through recovery and therapy afterwards.
:: Sonya Cooper’s Aunt – Mary – is in Mexico undergoing treatment for very advanced cancer – pray for healing and safe travels and the family as they struggle with their grief.
:: Louise & Keith Kenney’s daughter in law – Michelle Kenney – in treatment for breast cancer. So far, so good, but she still has LOTS of treatment ahead – keep praying for her and her family (husband and two kids)!
:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – she’s doing good, but still struggling with several recovery issues. Her sister-in-law also just had emergency surgery for cancer – her name is Susan.
:: Pray for Britta Alton’s grandmother (Louise Kirby) – she had a full hip replacement – she’s 88! She’s doing much better this time around.
:: Jackie Anderson has an injured foot and is still struggling through some funk – please pray that she can continue to fight for healing and wholeness.
Lessons from Losers (who should have known better) 1.18.9 January 26, 2009
Until we are re-united with Christ, there are some things in THIS world that just won’t change.
One of those things is that humans will always find a way to mess up! I mean really, we can be such losers!
Each week of this series we will explore a different biblical figure who managed to screw up. We’ll learn from their mistakes and be challenged to choose God’s way over the way of the world. The good news is, God loves us losers and he isn’t giving up on us! He WOULD like us to learn already – so join us and maybe we can take these lessons to heart!
LESSON 1: Respect Authority (even when you’d make a better king than that authority and he chases you down and tries to kill you again and again.)
Tonight was a “Contemporary” Sunday – we had a sermon and it felt more like what people expect from a contemporary service. We try to do that only every once in a while. John (our pastor) gave a great message about David and his pretty extreme example of respecting authority. God calls us to pray for the leaders in our lives, whether we like them or not, whether we agree with them or not. This can be very hard, but that’s our calling – Jesus is pretty clear in his example to us.
We started by singing a couple songs: Song of Hope (Robbie Seay Band) & Everything Glorious (David Crowder). Then we walked through David’s story – beginning with a video piece that we made. A series of videos actually: Interesting Interviews with Brick Tanner. Special thanks to our actors IV & McKenzie! There will be a new one of these each week - each one is better than the last!
John told the story from 1 Samuel 26 of David NOT killing King Saul when he had the chance. He challenged us to learn from David’s example and find ways to bless those in authority over us. We drew obvious connections to current political issues. We thought through the situations in which we struggle with authority currently. Paul inspired us with his words from Romans 13:1;7
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
John wrapped up that message with a prayer exercise. We used a whiteboard to list out the different authority figures in our lives - people shouted out their ideas – we listed them on the board, so there was a visible list to keep us thinking. Then we passed out notes (looked like something a teacher would give you from school) and sharpies, and asked people to write a prayer for the authority figures in their lives. A prayer that God would help them with respect and honor and in turning away from the temptations to be stuck in complaint and grumbling. We wrapped up the night by singing How Great is our God (Tomlin) – the lyrics…name above all names…seemed brought home in a new way. And then From the Inside Out (Hillsong United). It was a good night!
Here are our prayer requests this week:
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes.
Please keep these things lifted up:
:: Starr Smith had surgery Friday – pray for quick recovery.
:: Sonya Cooper’s Aunt – Mary – is in Mexico undergoing treatment for advance cancer – pray for healing and safe travels and the family as they struggle with their grief.
:: Louise & Keith Kenney’s daughter in law – Michelle Kenney – in treatment for breast cancer. So far, so good, but she still has LOTS of treatment ahead – keep praying for her and her family (husband and two kids)!
:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – she’s doing good, but still struggling with several recovery issues. Her sister-in-law also just had emergency surgery for cancer – her name is Susan.
:: Pray for Britta Alton’s grandmother (Louise Kirby) – she did have to have a full hip replacement – she’s 88! She’s in rehab now. Pray her recovery goes better this time around.
:: Jackie Anderson has an injured foot and is still struggling through some funk – please pray that she can continue to fight for healing and wholeness.
The Water’s Edge :: Dust January 12, 2009
This was one of those in-between-two-series-nights. So we took the opportunity to do lots of singing, and to watch a Nooma. Noomas are 10-14 minute videos, that are high quality, from a unique perspective, and very affective videos by Rob Bell. I happen to think Rob is phe-nominal! So I’m a huge fan of the Nooma – he has also written several rock-my-face-off books. We watched DUST last night and then paired up to work through a series of discussion questions. FYI - each Nooma comes with a discussion guide full of thought provoking questions, so they can be used in many different settings to inspire, challenge and rock faces off.
Songs we started with: Salvation is Here (Hillsong United), Open Skies (David Crowder) & Song of Hope (Robbie Seay Band). After the discussion on the video we came back together with God Believes in You (Pierce Pettis).
The message, by the way, could be summarized in Rob’s benediction:
May you believe in God.
But may you come to see that God believes in YOU.
May you have faith in Jesus.
But may you come to see that Jesus has faith that you can be like him -
A person of love and compassion and truth.
A person of forgiveness, and peace, and grace, and joy and hope.
And may you be covered in the dust of your rabbi, Jesus.
The video really is awesome – I know you want to know about that “dust of your rabbi” stuff – you should go buy it online and watch it asap!
Our closing song set was: Unchanging (Tomlin), All We Need (Charlie Hall) & Marvelous Light (Charlie Hall).
Big crowd - singing – clapping – thinking – talking – it was a GREAT night! Next week we start our next series:
Lessons from Losers (who should have known better)
Here are our prayer requests this week:
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes.
Please keep these things lifted up:
:: Louise & Keith Kenney’s daughter in law – Michelle Kenney – in treatment for breast cancer. So far, so good, but she still has LOTS of treatment ahead – keep praying for her and her family (husband and two kids)!
:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – she’s doing good, but still struggling with several recovery issues. Her sister-in-law also just had emergency surgery for cancer – her name is Susan.
:: Pray for Britta Alton’s grandmother (Louise Kirby) – she did have to have a full hip replacement – she’s 88! So pray her recovery goes better this time around.
:: Jackie Anderson has an injured foot and is still struggling through some funk – please pray that she can continue to fight for healing and wholeness.
Wesley’s Covenant Service :: via Prayer Stations January 5, 2009
Sunday night was one of my favorite Water’s Edge experiences so far!
We took John Wesley’s traditional Covenant Service and created a series of Prayer Stations that helped put some extra thought and action into the words. I’m going to list below the seven stations with his words (in blue) and the instructions from the station. This should give you a good idea of the experience.
As people moved about the room from station to station we had worship music (with lyrics up) playing and lots of candles and it was just beautiful! Thanks to all who helped me set up (Eric and Katie!) and for those who participated. It was a blessing to be a part of it!
OPENING PRAYER
O God, Searcher of all our hearts,
you have formed us as a people and claimed us for your own.
As we come to acknowledge your sovereignty and grace,
and to enter anew into covenant with you,
reveal any reluctance or falsehood within us.
Let your Spirit impress your truth on our inmost being,
and receive us in mercy, for the sake of our Mediator, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER STATIONS:
Station 1) SERVICE -
Setting: Mirrors - expo markers & erasers – chairs and stools in front of the mirrors
Instructions: Sit down in front of a mirror – look at yourself. Read these words from the covenant.
Commit your selves to Christ as his servants. Give yourselves to him, that you may belong to him.
Christ has many services to be done.
Some are more easy and honorable; others are more difficult and disgraceful.
Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests, others are contrary to both.
In some we may please Christ and please ourselves.
But then there are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.
Look at yourself and ask God to reveal how he would like you to be his servant.
Read the words again. Then, writing on top of your image on the mirror – list your place(s) of service for the coming year – sit back and look at yourself again. Pray that God will give you the strength to follow through with this act of service. When you’re finished, use the eraser to wipe the mirror clean for the next person.
Station 2) SUBMISSION -
Setting: communion elements on a table, big free standing cross with white christmas lights wound around it.
Instructions: God has invited you to live under his authority, to live in the freedom that comes from following his lead, from salvation through his Son. Read the words from the covenant.
It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to be a servant of Christ.
Let us, therefore, go to Christ, and pray:
Let me be your servant, under your command.
I will no longer be my own.
I will give myself up to your will in all things.
Accepting Jesus’ death on the cross as the payment for our sin is what allows us to enter into God’s freedom and authority. As we partake of the bread and cup, we are remembering his sacrifice and renewing our covenant. Receive communion – The body of Christ broken for you – the blood of Christ shed for you. (take a piece of bread, dip it into the grape juice and eat both at once.)
When you say yes to Christ’s invitation you are also saying no to your selfish nature. To symbolize your willingness to place your identity in Christ – clip your name tag to the cross.
Station 3) SPECIFICS -
Setting: on a table laid a long strip of paper with the headings from the covenant written out in a series of columns, markers of different colors also on the table.
Instructions: The covenant you are making with God is specific, although the words from our service are general. As you move down the table read each general heading, write under it what you think the specifics are for your life that God is calling you to. What does he want you to do? What suffering might be needed? How might he use you? Where do you need to get out of the way? How are you full? Where are you emptied for his sake? What would it look like in your life, if you really did give it all to God’s pleasure and disposal? At each heading add your thoughts with a marker.
Be satisfied that Christ shall give you your place and work.
Lord, make me what you will. I put myself fully into your hands:
put me to doing,
put me to suffering,
let me be used by you, or laid aside for you,
let me be full, let me be empty,
I freely and with a willing heart give it all to your pleasure and disposal.
Station 4) CONFESSION -
Setting: a big bucket full of water, stones to drop into it, pillows to kneel down on ontop of a rug.
Instructions: Kneel down before God.
We can approach the throne of grace unashamed, but we still should do so in humility and with confession on our lips. On your knees, read these words from the covenant.
O righteous God, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, see me as I fall down before you.
Forgive my unfaithfulness in not having done your will, for you have promised mercy to me
if I turn to you with my whole heart.
God, you require that I shall put away all idols that distract me from you.
I here from the bottom of my heart renounce them all.
I have turned my love toward the world, but in your power
I will turn away from all temptations that will lead me from you.
For my own righteousness is riddled with sin, I am unable to stand before you.
Through Christ, you have offered to be my God again.
Jesus, I do here on bended knees accept Christ as the only new and living Way.
Now pick up a stone – hold it in your hand tightly and name it – let it represent one of the idols, or sins in your life, that distract you from living fully in God. Ask God to forgive you for that thing and then drop the stone in the water. As you watch it drop to the bottom, know that it is gone and forgotten. Then, do all in God’s power not to pick it back up again.
Station 5) COVENANT -
Setting: Words from the covenant written out like a big scroll – with a place at the bottom for people to make their mark, finger paint, wipes & a trash.
Instructions: Read the words from the covenant, written from the heart of one Christ follower as the voice of all Christ followers. If you agree with these words, and can claim them as your own – then put your finger into some paint and sign your name to the bottom. Also, like in a modern day covenenant, put your mark (a fingerprint) next to the lines that especially speak to you. When you’ve finished, use the supplies to clean up.
O blessed Jesus, I come to you, hungry, sinful, miserable, blind, and naked,
unworthy even to wash the feet of your servants.
I do here, with all my power, accept you as my Lord and Head.
I renounce my own worthiness, and vow that you are the Lord, my righteousness.
I renounce my own wisdom, and take you for my only guide.
I renounce my own will, and take your will as my law.
I do here covenant with you, O Christ, to take my lot with you as it may fall.
Through your grace I promise that neither life nor death shall part me from you.
Station 6) PLANS & PRAYER -
Setting: the Lord’s Prayer typed up and easy to read, calendar laid out, Bible open to read, a clock – plus the red yard and scissors.
Instructions: Part of your covenant to God is committing to some specific actions that will strengthen your relationship with God. Read through the words from the covenant and be encouraged to follow through with them – plan on it. Take a piece of string and tie it around your finger – let it be a reminder that you are called to follow through!
To make this covenant a reality in your life, listen to these admonitions:
Set apart some time to be spent alone before the Lord;
Consider what your sins are.
Be serious and in a spirit of holy awe and reverence.
Claim God’s covenant,
Rely upon God’s promise of giving grace and strength,
Trust not your own strength and power.
Resolve to be faithful.
With God’s power, never go back.
Be prepared to renew your covenant with the Lord.
Fall down on your knees, lift your hands toward heaven,
open your hearts to the Lord, as you pray.
Then secondly, consider this – another big part of your covenant is to be a part of the body of Christ – the church. Gather together with two or more people who are here at this station. Hold hands in small circle and together pray the Lord’s Prayer. When you finish hug each member of the circle saying – “the Lord be with you” and they should respond, “and also with you”
Station 7) THANKSGIVING -
Setting: lots of candles of different sizes, matches and something to collect burned ones, printed prayer from the covenant in small chunks.
Instructions: Our response to God should always include thanksgiving. Read through the prayer from the Covenant then add any additional thanksgivings – light a candle for them as you lift them up. Dare to whisper them out loud as you do so – as a public display of your grateful heart.
O God, our Covenant Friend,
you have been gracious to us through all the years of our lives.
We thank you for your loving care,
which has filled our days and brought us to this time and place.
We praise your holy name, O God.
You have given us life and reason,
and set us in a world filled with your glory.
You have comforted us with family and friends,
and ministered to us through the hands of our sisters and brothers.
You have filled our hearts with a hunger after you,
and have given us your peace.
You have redeemed us, and called us to a high calling in Christ Jesus.
You have given us a place in the fellowship of your Spirit
and the witness of your Church.
You have been our light in darkness
and a rock of strength in adversity and temptation.
You have been the very Spirit of joy in our joys
and the all-sufficient reward in all our labors.
You remembered us when we forgot you.
You followed us even when we tried to flee from you.
You met us with forgiveness when we returned to you.
Thank you for all your patience and overflowing grace.
CLOSING PRAYER:
And now, glory be to you, O God the Father,
From this day forward we shall look upon as our God and Father.
(touch your forehead – symbolic of your willingness to look to him as leader)
Glory be to you, O God the Son,
who have loved us and washed us from our sins in your own blood,
and now is our Savior and Redeemer.
(touch your chest – symbolic of the work he has done at the center of your being)
Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit,
who by your almighty power have turned our hearts from sin to God.
(touch your left shoulder, then your right – symbolic of the spirit surrounding you)
O mighty God, the Lord all powerful, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you have now become our Covenant Friend.
And we, through your infinite grace, have become your covenant servants.
So be it. And let the covenant we have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
Here are our prayer requests this week:
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes. Please keep these things lifted up:
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes. Please keep these things lifted up:
:: Louise & Keith Kenney’s daughter in law – Michelle Kenney - in treatment for breast cancer. So far, so good, but she still has LOTS of treatment ahead - keep praying for her and her family (husband and two kids)!
:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – her surgery went well - pray for quick recovery. Her sister-in-law also just had emergency surgery for cancer – her name is Susan.
:: Pray for Britta Alton’s grandmother (Louise Kirby) – she might have to have a full hip replacement if what they did before continues to not be enough – she’s 88!
:: Jackie Anderson has an injured foot and is still struggling through some funk – please pray that she can continue to fight for healing and wholeness.
