Easter. Not Your Typical Love Story
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Easter. Not your typical love story. AN INTERGENERATIONAL WORSHIP RESOURCE FOR EASTER Easter is a celebration of the Good News of God’s love, demonstrated in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These worship planning notes are prepared to coincide with the Easter 2013 postcard campaign of the Uniting Church SA. Notes INTERGENERATIONAL WORSHIP USING THIS WORSHIP RESOURCE Intergenerational (all-age) worship is, first and These notes have been prepared by the foremost, worship — an encounter between Children and Family Ministry Team of Mission God and God’s people; a dialogue in which Resourcing SA to help congregations plan God speaks and people respond, both in the Easter worship involving children and families as worship service and in their lives. well as youth, young adults, middle-aged and older people. Intentionally intergenerational worship allows this dialogue to take place in a variety You may make as many copies of the notes as of ways, engaging several senses needed for your worship planners and leaders. The use of music and other copyright elements is focuses on a clear theme and connects that not covered in this permission. theme with the lives of the worshipers Read through all the material. Discuss it as a provides worshipers (young and old) with an planning team. You may use any of the ideas experience they can remember and talk that are appropriate in your situation or the about in their homes entire sample service. encourages interaction and dialogue If you use the resource, we would appreciate among people of the various generations your letting us know what you do. Send a brief takes seriously the understanding that people email to [email protected]. of all ages worship together in the body of Bible quotations, unless otherwise noted, are Christ. People of all ages can also plan from the New International Readers Version. worship, invite people to worship, and lead worship For other intergenerational worship ideas see: recognises and values the children present in http://sa.uca.org.au/cfm/ministry- the worshiping congregation and ‘the child leaders/resources/all-age-worship/ within’ each adult. CHILDREN AND FAMILY MINISTRY 1 MISSION RESOURCING SA CONTENTS This year the Easter postcard campaign goes well beyond letterbox drops. There will be an Notes advertising campaign livening up buses across Bible texts ......................................................... 2 Adelaide, posters and much more.’ Theme ............................................................... 2 Planning ............................................................ 2 Postcards cost $65 per 1000. Invitation and advertising ............................. 2 Posters $10 for 10 Hospitality ......................................................... 3 Order online sa.uca.org.au/postcards Worship space and visuals ............................ 3 Registrations close Wednesday 13th February. Music ................................................................. 3 Enquiries to the Communications Team Something to do ............................................ 4 (08) 8236 4249 or email [email protected]. Something to talk about ............................... 4 Something to take home .............................. 4 Worship leaders ............................................... 4 PLANNING Sermon .............................................................. 4 It’s good to have an intergenerational team to Upsizing and downsizing................................ 5 plan an intergenerational worship event. A Rehearsal ......................................................... 5 special team of at least three people, What is love? ......................................................... 6 representing the youngest, the middle and the oldest thirds of the congregation can work with Not your typical love story .................................. 8 the pastor/minister/priest or lay ministry team. Easter prayers ........................................................ 9 Bible study ............................................................ 10 The team may also draw on people who have abilities in the areas of hospitality, music, drama, My love story skit ................................................. 11 visual arts and technology. Love story puppet characters ......................... 12 Planning as an intergenerational team can be a Love story colouring page................................ 13 valuable experience for all involved. ‘God’s love’ (song) ............................................ 14 Suggested planning steps: A sample worship plan ...................................... 15 1. Begin with prayer, and trust God’s Spirit to BIBLE TEXTS guide your planning. The Revised Common Lectionary texts for Easter 2. Look through these notes to see how they Sunday 2013 are: can help in planning the service God is leading you to hold. Acts 10:34–43 — Peter tells Cornelius that he was a witness to the events of Easter 3. Use your regular worship plan together with or Isaiah 65:1–25 — The LORD will create new these notes and other resources to develop heavens and a new earth a worship outline. Psalm 118:1,2,14–24 — The Lord’ love goes on 4. Flesh out the outline, considering your own forever people, traditions and facilities. 1 Corinthians 15:19–26 — Victory beyond the 5. Work with worship leaders to plan details: grave who does what, when and how. John 20:1–18 (or Luke 24:1–12 )— The events INVITATION AND ADVERTISING of Easter morning The first people to notify about your service are POSTCARD THEME the members of your congregation. Begin early The worship theme has been suggested by the to let them in on the excitement of what is being 2013 Easter postcard produced by Uniting planned. Encourage them to catch the vision of Church SA Communications Team: a deliberately multi-generational Easter experience. ‘The fairy-tale idea of love — or for adults, the romantic comedy genre — spins a great story Make use of the Presbytery and Synod’s ‘Easter. but in reality, offers an unrealistic, often Not your typical love story’ campaign resources unachievable idea of how to give and receive in your promotion. Encourage members to use love. the postcard as a personal invitation to family members or others in the community. ‘That’s why this year our Easter postcards are celebrating a far greater love story — one that is Also consider using the A3 poster enlargement real, gutsy and captures a love for all people. of the postcard image as a printed notice in a local gathering place (eg a shopping centre) or The front of the card features fairy tale on a signboard in front of your church. characters. On the back is the statement: Easter is about love. This worship service is about Easter, Not your typical love story. love. Members of your congregation can show CHILDREN AND FAMILY MINISTRY 2 MISSION RESOURCING SA their love for their extended families, friends and project images electronically) in creating neighbours by inviting them to worship with memorable visual impact for all worshipers. them at Easter. Children can invite older You may have seasonal paraments, banners or people. Older people can invite children — other decorations that you always use for Easter. particularly those who do not worship regularly. Check them out and see if they need Easter in Australia tends to be a time when refurbishing. The post card image can be a families ‘go away’. For some congregations this starting point for a different visual approach. It may mean that there will be people returning to may be used alongside other Easter spend the weekend with grandparents. Worship decorations. can be an important part of that family For the sample service you will need puppets or weekend. For some congregations, it means posters representing the postcard characters. that many regular worshipers will be away — You will also need a Bible and/or lectern opening up space in your building for lots of hanging with the words God’s Love Story and visitors. And for congregations in or near holiday the heart-in-hand image from the postcard. venues, it provides a great opportunity to connect with your transient population. Easter. Not your typical love story. has the God’s potential of helping people to re-connect with Love Jesus and his church. Story HOSPITALITY Hospitality is the responsibility of all members of the congregation. Those people who invite and bring other people MUSIC to the service have the primary responsibility for Many people who worship with you take in looking after their special guests. information and express themselves more easily A designated HOSPITALITY TEAM may have with music than in other ways. So make sure that special responsibility for: you provide music that they can respond to. being aware of the safety aspects of the Much of the music in worship involves worship space, eg location of alternate congregational singing. Remember that visitors exits, location of first aid equipment, identity may not be familiar with — or comfortable with of people with first aid training — this practice. Invite people to sing when they . greeting people as they arrive are comfortable doing so, or just to listen. helping people to get settled Your regular instrumentalists and vocalists Pay special attention to the very young, the (organist, band, choir) may perform some music very old and people with physical disabilities. as well as leading/accompanying Seat them where they will be able to congregational singing. Display song words in see/hear, but not