Week: Mark's Gospel
As usual, 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.
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, or as he is better known J.R.R. Tolkien, is one of the most famous storytellers of all time. Let’s REFLECT on how the Bible describes Jesus as a storyteller too.
Read by Ruby
Matthew 13:1-3,34-35
At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories. All Jesus did that day was tell stories – a long storytelling afternoon. His storytelling fulfilled the prophecy: I will open my mouth and tell stories. I will bring out into the open things hidden since the world’s first day.
Matthew 13:1-3,34-35 (MSG)
J.R.R. Tolkien was born in 1892 in South Africa, but his family moved to England and that’s where he grew up. As a young man, he fought in, and survived, World War 1, and afterwards he became a University teacher, which is when he started writing. Tolkien is best known for writing The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings, two epic stories set in the fantasy world of Middle Earth, which is filled with Elves, Dwarves, Wizards, huge battles, a whole new language and even a few talking trees. Over the years, these books have been read by millions of families and have been turned into movies, TV shows and computer games.
Tolkien’s Middle Earth stories were inspired by his Christian faith, and he believed that by telling good stories, he could help people understand more about what God is like, and he could help people understand more about themselves too. Tolkien’s stories certainly do that, filled as they are with hope and faith and friendship, and the battle of good over evil.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question which is: If we were to make up our own stories, what would they be about? What sort of creatures or heroes or villains would we like to write about?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Creator God, we ASK You to inspire us and speak to us today… maybe through a story-book or a movie, a computer game or a piece of music, through science or nature or just something that we imagine in our minds. Speak to us, we’re listening.
Tolkien was friends with another famous writer called C.S. Lewis. When they met, Lewis didn’t believe in Jesus, but after listening to Tolkien talk about his faith, Lewis eventually decided to become a Christian too. C.S. Lewis then went on to write his own story-books – the Narnia series – which have introduced millions more families to the story of Aslan… which is really a story about Jesus.
Creator God, thank You for our friends. As we think of those who don’t yet know Jesus, we ASK You to give us opportunities to talk about why we believe in Jesus, so that maybe they too will become Christians, just like C.S. Lewis did.
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, we thank you for the lives that You have given to us. We may not meet many elves and wizards and talking trees, but every day of our lives is an adventure nonetheless, and we say YES to trusting You and following You, whatever You want us to do and wherever You want us to go.
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.
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Ruby is 12 and she lives in Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland with her family. Ruby is a gymnast who never sits still! She loves dogs (but her mum won’t get her one), she loves her friends and she’s always up for a laugh. Ruby would love to work with animals when she’s older.
