Description
The four great resources written and compile by Beth Waldron Anstice on offer this week comprise two Creative Bible Engagement possibilities, one interactive Prayer of Confession idea and an integrated Music/Prayer suggestion based on Psalm 139 using the song “Jesus Knows All About Me”.
The first bible engagement idea draws on three of the readings set for today – 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Psalm 139 and 2 Corinthians 4:7. These passages are messages from three very different parts of the bible. The story of Samuel is from the history stories of the Israelites in the Iron age, Psalm 139 is from the poetic Book of Psalms and 2 Corinthians 4:7 is from a letter to Greek followers of Jesus in the first century. Each of them though speaks about the message of God being hidden – hidden from the grown-ups but given to a child, hidden in the very deepest spirit of a person even before they know it’s there, hidden in ordinary everyday lives, chipped and broken like pots.
The second bible engagement idea, focusing on 1 Samuel 3:1-11, is offered as a 4-step process followed by a prayer. This won’t be too hard at all, but just to be sure everyone stays on track together it would be good idea to have someone prepared beforehand to lead the process. It begins with just the grown-ups reading – but don’t worry, everyone will get a turn!
“Hush, hush, whisper who dares…” One of the blessings of gathering together each week in worship is the opportunity to stop, to lift our eyes and hearts from the things normally demand our attention, and to pray. Yes, we pray for ourselves, those around us and the wider world. Yes, we pray prayers of praise and thanksgiving. Yes, we pray our prayers of confession – saying sorry to God – that we might make a fresh start in our following of Jesus and living in God’s good ways.
The final resource, an integrated song/prayer experience centred on Psalm 139, explores how thoroughly God knows all of us. The Psalm affirms that God knows all about us, inside and out, everything we think or feel or do or say or experience, everywhere we go, everything that happens to us – all of this is known by God.
