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Advent in a Bag for Children
Around this time last year, I was delighted to stumble on a wonderful idea in the Facebook Group, Church, Christmas and Covid, ‘Advent in a Bag’ for children. We used it at St Clare’s in conjunction with a whole church activity on Advent Sunday when we made Advent Candles. A few weeks ago, one of…
Praying with Stones
There is a story that as a child St Clare would use small stones to help her to pray at night. She would hold a handful of stones, and each stone would represent one of her prayers. As she said each prayer, she would place the stone on her bedside table, a physical symbol of…
INCLUDED
Over the summer at St Clare’s we have run a service series on the theme ‘Included’. This is the concluding sermon. “Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”Matthew 24: 42 On Wednesday morning, I was chatting to my friend Steve, who’s the leader of another church a bit…
“Peace be with you”
Helen, a member of the St Clare’s community has written the following reflection on John 19: 9-29. 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”…
Angel Prayers
This simple prayer idea can work with all ages, and is perfect for Christmas services when you want to give some space for people to offer what’s on their hearts to God, even when there are little ones around (though you can use this with just grown ups). It can work with any number of…
Make your own Advent Candles
This super easy idea works for all ages, and was loved by our community when we made them on Advent Sunday. The idea was not mine (thank you to the person who suggested it) and I combined it with another idea that I got from a Facebook group (more on that later), but the idea…
Celebrating Angels
Angels are one of the best selling items in St Clare’s shop. People love angels, they seem to be a heavenly being that they are eager and willing to connect with. This is just one reason why we always make a special point of celebrating the feast of St Michael and All Angels on a…
Prayers of Clay
One of the things we try to do at St Clare’s is to make sure that all our senses are used in worship. These simple prayers allow people to use touch, sight and sound to pray, as well as some creativity. It also works really well with all ages. I can’t remember where I found…
The Old Testament in Ten
A ten-session bible study course designed to help people have a clear grasp of the Old Testament story and the most important themes, events and people. Introduction In 20 years of ministry both in parishes and now as a pioneer minister, one thing seems consistent. People lack confidence about the bible and in particular the…
Christ the King Meditation
Sunday 22nd November is the Feast of Christ the King. This meditation has been written to be used with the image on one of our Gazing Cards, copies of which are available to purchase from our online shop, or the image could be shared on a screen. The text is below or you can download…
Love Thy Neighbour
Helen, a member of St Clare’s Community asks: What does it means to love our neighbour? In turning to God and responding to his grace we are called, in love, to love and be loved. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us a lot about love, love is not the emotion it is often diluted to, it…
Finger Prayers
Sometimes, it’s not until something is taken away from you, that you realise how important it is. I hadn’t realised until lockdown, how much touch was an important aspect of our worship at St Clare’s. The hugs and handshakes as we arrive and at the peace; the feel of the bread in your hands and…
Gazing Prayers 2020
2020 has been an extraordinary year. Knowing how to process, how to reflect, how to pray about everything that has happened is challenging. As St Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans (chapter 8, verse 26), “we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for…
Good Friday 2020
Matthew 27: 45-54 45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘This…
Maundy Thursday 2020
Matthew 26: 36-46 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved,…
Wednesday of Holy Week 2020
Matthew 26: 6-16 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, ‘Why this…
Tuesday of Holy Week 2020
Matthew 22: 34-40 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with…
Monday of Holy Week 2020
Matthew 21: 2-14 Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”; but you are…
Prayer Trees
Our worship idea for March is hardly new… Prayer Trees! Lots of people use prayer trees in their churches or in worship, and our prayer trees were one of the most popular items on our stall at the Christian Resources Exhibition.Wanting to have a physical expression of our prayers is nothing new. Lighting candles is probably…
Paul the Polar Prayer Bear
Our February ‘worship idea’ is the story of Paul the Polar Prayer Bear, who began as a way to help us pray, but has become so much more… You will need: A cuddly toy A great name Your imagination… Introduction It all began when Naomi, one of our clergy heard about Bob the Intercessorsaurus, who…
A Story of Coming and Going, led by angels.
This is the story of one of our very first members at St Clare’s. A story of how she found us, and left us; a story of angels and of God’s healing love. It shouldn’t be like this but sometimes it’s very difficult going to church. Especially if there are tough things happening in your…
A box of blessings – Saying goodbye well in church
During 2020, we will be trying each month to share an idea for worship that has worked well at St Clare’s. We have often adapted other good ideas we have stumbled on, and you will no doubt do the same with our thoughts. This first idea is ‘A service of sending on’ for when someone…
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