Anyone got any ideas for openng worship?

[Ulysees]

I go to a Christian course every wed night and this wednesday coming it's my turn to open with worship. I thought I'd do a meditation? Tbh I'm not sure what to do? Some of the people who've done it have gone a bit over the top and it's taken ages but I want to try to get the balance right. One lady used pebbles and we all prayed whilst holding them but I don't want to copy

Any ideas are much appreciated.

Hi Ulysees, what are you studying in your course (if you don't mind me asking?). I haven't been in a meditation group for a long time, but it's good to get people focussing on the Word of God, I think. You could maybe read a passage from Psalms/Isaiah on encouragement, strengthening their faith and salvation, then spend 10 mins or so contemplating the reading?

Hand out pieces of paper. Ask each person to write on it the cares that they bring with them that form a barrier between themselves and their evening of study, and fold the paper up. Put the pieces of paper in a bowl, and as you do so ask each person to commit their worries to God's hands. Place the bowl where it can be seen, and remind everyone that just as the bowl holds the papers, so God is holding their troubles. Keep on repeating this as people pray. Then ask everyone to try and approach the evening with open hearts and clear minds as God has their worries in hand. You might like to promise to burn the pieces of paper unread if you don't all know each other well.

I'd be interested in hearing about your course, too. I did a two year course run by our local diocese which was very interesting.

Hi, thank you for the ideas

My course is the bishop's faith and life course. Am rushing at the moment but will pop back later to talk more.

The course I did was the bishops' course, too. Is it country-wide or are we in the same diocese? (Chelmsford)

No I'm in Co Durham. Ours is only 9 months long though so I wonder if it is the same one?

I just found a meditation on the net based on Genesis 28. I'm going to use that as this part of the course is focusing on the OT so it seems apt. Think I'll finish with a short prayer and that should do?

That sounds good. No, our course must be different, it was over two years'. I never passed it in the end as I had dd1 towards the end, and I'd had a really awful birth and things were quite hard, so I couldn't resume my studies. The diocese refused to give me a certificate - my tutor was furious, esp. given the circumstances!

Sorry, just realised I'd already said it was two years...

Sounds fine, Ulysees. Hope it goes well for you tomorrow.