Week: Creativity and Presence
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Creator God, who formed us from dust, breathe in us again. We’re ready for the new things that You want to show us and say to us and even create through us today.
Hildegard of Bingen was born in 1098, in what is today a part of Germany. She was a very creative woman who learned how to worship God in many different ways, just like today’s Bible verses tell us to.
Read by Asaph
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:4b-5 (NCV)
From the age of three, Hildegard received visions from God; these were a bit like dreams, but they happened when she was awake. During her visions, she felt like God spoke to her through all five of her senses – she saw and heard things, but she also tasted, smelt and felt that God was with her.
When she grew up she became the leader of a monastery – which is a kind of church – in a town called Bingen in Germany, and this is why she’s known as ‘Hildegard of Bingen’! Hildegard led her church by using all of her gifts and talents. As well as telling people what God had shown her in her visions, she was also a preacher, an author and she also wrote plays. She was a medical expert, caring for the sick and training other people to do the same. And as well as all that, Hildegard was a musician, writing 77 pieces of worship music. One of these is called ‘Canticles of Ecstasy’ and it’s still popular, almost 1000 years later!
Hildegard was good at lots of things. Let’s pause and talk about today’s question which is: What skill or activity have we always wanted to try but we haven’t yet?
Hildegard was only 3 years old when she heard God speaking to her. Her story reminds us that God wants to speak to each and every one of us! And there are loads of ways that God can do this, not just through visions and dreams.
Loving God, we ASK you to speak to each one of us, in whatever ways you want to! Help us to recognise when you are saying something to us.
Hildegard shows us that we can love God and serve God in all sorts of different ways. She used her many skills and abilities to tell people about Jesus. Let’s ASK God to help us do the same.
Loving God, as we do the things we love – whether its sports or clubs or creative hobbies or simply being with our friends and family – help us share Your love with everyone we meet.
Loving God, we say YES to using all of the skills and abilities that we have to love you and serve you, and to help other people come to know you too.
Pause
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Asaph is 9 years old. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his younger sister Adelina, father and mother. He enjoys riding his bike, camping, reading, playing flag football and watching Bible Project videos. Asaph is kind and smart and loves hanging out with friends!
