The Church by the Bridge - 100 Years of Good News
Whilst in Germany last Sunday, family friends took me to an all-age Service at their church. The weather was stunning and hot as everywhere that weekend and the church had – through the work of many the day before – prepared the garden to allow the Service to be taken outside.
The sung worship was led by a lady on an accordion and another lady on a 10 foot long alpine horn which she played beautifully – turns out you can play complete tunes with those, even if not the easiest thing to transport around.
The topic of the all-age Service was ‘daring to do’. This was based on the story of the prodigal son ‘daring to go back home’ after all his misendeavours.
In the light of the Service being ‘all-ages’ the minister and her team had prepared workstations all around the garden. The topic remained ‘daring to do’.
It started off with six short role plays around ‘daring to do’ addressed to all ages: ‘Daring to eat carrots’, ‘daring to stay at a friend’s house overnight’, ‘daring to start a new sport’, ‘daring – as a father – to take out a whole year of parental leave’, ‘daring – as a person more advanced in age - to move out of the ancestral home to live closer to family’.
After this the minister invited the congregation to try out practically the commitment of ‘daring to follow Jesus’ on the basis of various workstations which were suitable for all ages:
Daring to try a wheelchair out, daring to be led blindfolded around the garden, daring to fall backwards with church members catching you, daring to eat cornichons covered with whipped cream and daring to write prayers (!).
What struck me was how practical to all ages this Service was, particularly as we all have areas where we are reluctant to go forward in this or that step of faith in our everyday life, environment or life situation. Do we dare to go forward?
Perhaps the question is not, which this Service so beautifully and practically illustrated, ‘do we dare’ but ‘do we dare with Jesus by our side’?
With Jesus by our side, and with his promise to take our burdens and take his yoke which is light, we can indeed step forward with utter conviction that we are not alone in unfamiliar territory. This in the little things, as well as the big ones. Dare we trust Jesus?
Many of us know from personal experience that this question can only be answered by a resounding ‘YES!’.
Those that are still sitting on the fence – or are pondering on this or that small or big decision - I can only recommend to try it out, taking Jesus by his word: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ (Mt 11:28-30)
Do we dare?
Have a blessed week.
Kai