 Home
|
The Service
|
Prayer
Points
|
Resources
|
| Step 1 - Finding
the Way
Step 2 - Following the Tracks Step 3 - Reflections Step 4 - Praying for Each Other |
Footprints
The Service
What footprints are we following? Time to consider together the clues, tracks and footprints we are following as we travel through our lives.
Contents
Footprints, in front of us and behind Possible directions we could take How do we read the tracks? Where do the footprints lead? (There aren’t ‘right’ ways and ‘wrong’ ways, diversions and dead-ends have their place too.) Who has left all these footprints in front of us? Where are they leading? Questions about the direction and goals of our lives Where can we pick up the footprints to follow? One answer is the Bible and we can treat readings like Isaiah 2 or Micah 6:8 as places to find footprints to follow.
Method
Lay out different sorts of footprints or trails leading away from the worship focus, such as animal tracks, human feet, wheelchair, child’s feet, a person with a stick, blind person with a white stick, guide dog etc. (See Resources for printable tracks and prints)
Include dead-ends, difficult routes with obstacles and also straightforward routes.
Have a red spot marking the place where the leader stands, showing that there are tracks before us and behind. During the service we will be trying out some of the routes indicated by the tracks.
Step Two – Following the
tracks
What footprints are we following?
Groups follow two tracks from the entrance to the worship area, collect clues and bring them to the front. Their starting point at the entrance will be known as ‘Mount Zion’ as referred to in the readings in Step One, for a reason which becomes clear in future Steps.
Contents
The footprints of the disciples
These lead to dead-ends and to impasses because the disciples...
Have given up, are disappointed and bowed down Judas is guilty and has hanged himself Know the enterprise has failed Are bereaved and have become self-centred Think passively, focussing on themselves and their situation Have a picture in their minds of their friend in the agony of execution Believe that no one has ever known such despair
The footprints of the women and Joseph of Arimathea
These lead along a more direct path because the women
Accept the situation Make the best of things Go beyond themselves and their grief Want to bid a dignified farewell Show a last act of love Think actively, focussing on Jesus Have a picture in their minds of their dead friend fittingly prepared for burial The grave is empty. Jesus had talked about this. The women believe without seeing Jesus and they report it to the men. Peter runs to the tomb. Seeing it empty with his own eyes, does he now have proof for resurrection? Did the women also follow a trail into a dead-end?
Method
As the two groups follow their respective trails they will find objects related to their story. When they bring them to the front the leader uses them to help the group and the congregation reconstruct each version of the story (Luke 24:1-12), bringing out the points outlined above. The disciples’ version having a subdued, disappointed tone, the women’s story is excited and hopeful.
A possible option would be to prepare a dramatic conversation between one or two members of each of the two groups, detailing their experiences.
Clues found along the disciples’ trail might include the page of a Jerusalem tabloid newspaper with a story headed ‘Jesus – the new King?’; thirty pieces of silver; padlock key
Clues found along the women’s trail might include aromatic oil; pieces of the stone in front of the grave (a clue to Joseph of Arimathea’s story); some linen cloth.
What is resurrection?
Contents
Take up the theme of ‘Remembering’ Tell the story of the Emmaus road (Luke 24:13-35) Witnessing to the Easter story – what is resurrection? Being strengthened by the bread – breaking and sharing Take the perspective of the crucified one, looking from the communion table into the community
Method
Tell the Emmaus story. Place broken bread centrally in the worship area or on the communion table. Ask the congregation to move and turn so that everyone is behind the table where the broken bread is, and take a piece of bread. Now everyone holding the broken bread, can look outward from the cross towards the people of the community. At the same time they can see, at the back of the worship area, symbols and flags of the European countries and a globe or world map.
Step Four – Praying
for each other
Contents
Children, young people and adults lead the intercession, still facing outwards if possible There are topics for prayer from each country in Prayer Points Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer Song Offertory Blessing (with actions as follows)
Words |
Actions |
| God, source of power | Extend open hands in front of you |
| Strengthen us | Arms at your side, lightly making a fist with each hand |
| God, source of love | Extend open hands in front of you |
| Flow through us | Move your hands in front of you from your head downwards |
| God, source of peace | Extend open hands in front of you |
| Bless us | Left hand on your heart, right hand on your neighbour’s shoulder. |
| Amen |
Method
All those leading intercession receive a national flag (see Resources for printable flags) and use the corresponding prayer (see Prayer Points ). A suitable chorus or ‘Kyrie’ is sung between each prayer or group of prayers. At the end of worship everyone receives a souvenir footprint as they leave on which they can write important memories or reflections from the service.
Taking it further
The theme can be explored in more depth in the children’s and youth groups as well as in class, cell or discussion group. Some groups may like to take a walk around the area on the trail of ‘hope’ or ‘resurrection’ clues or even to find ways of making and leaving such clues in the community.
