We have drawn together resources for use in groups that include multi-sensory ideas for each month of the year, except August. Each one is set out as a possible programme based upon a theme beginning with the letter “P”. Each contains Bible verses, worship songs, activities and resources all related to that theme.
You can use the whole programme as presented, but you will more likely want to adapt it to your own group’s situation or take from it one or more items that appeal. These are designed to help church groups or Torch Fellowship Groups be creative in their engagement with the Gospel and fully inclusive of sighted, blind and partially sighted people. Our aim is to enable everyone to participate in genuinely meaningful and inclusive worship. And we hope too that that these monthly multi-sensory themed worship ideas might stimulate you and your group to come up with your own ideas.
The beginning of the year is often marked with parties that will enable us to consider the invite to his kingdom that Jesus extends to everyone to participate in.
Welcome
Word
Worship
Workshop
If you could invite a famous guest to your party — an historical figure, a fictional character, or a current celebrity — who would you choose and why?
Or
This is a game you can play around the table. The first player begins, “I went to a party and I ate asparagus” (or any other food beginning with the letter “A”). The next person repeats the sentence, including the “A” word, and a “B” word (for example I went to a party and I ate asparagus and I ate a blancmange.) Try to keep going until you have completed the alphabet.
Or
Have several bowls of crisps available — with as wide a variety of flavours as you can find — and ask each table to identify the different bowls.
Luke 14:15-24 — The parable of the great banquet
When a well-heeled host gave a small dinner party, it was the custom to issue two invitations. The first went out before the big day; the second was dispatched once the feast was ready. To accept the first invitation and then decline the second was counted a shameful discourtesy.
Jesus was dining with a prominent Pharisee when one of the assembled guests made a pious observation: “Blessed are those who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” He had in mind the promise of Isaiah 25:6 “… the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples …” But the OT prophecy was merely God’s first invitation, and now Jesus had come to call the people to take their places: “The time has come … The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” The parable of the great banquet is indeed glorious good news. We are saved not by our own efforts but through God’s gracious invitation.
But it also stands as a solemn warning to those who snub his invitation. Though the great and the good get the invites that they would surely have expected they are occupied by things they think much more important. The Master sends out his servants on the street and the places go to those who never got party invitations: poor people: blind people; disabled people. But there’s no mistake - the second invitation is made – ‘that my house will be full’ says the master.
Lord for the years
God is working his purpose out
Father, although I cannot see
Lord of the ages,
You are our beginning and our end.
Everlasting God, we place our days within your care.
Eternal God, we trust you.
For your faithfulness in the past, we thank you;
For your constant care we praise you;
For our future in your love, we place ourselves
Into your keeping and offer our lives for your service;
Through Jesus Christ, your eternal Son,
Our Saviour. Amen
You will need: a cake, birthday cake candles and holders, enough for each one (maybe one per table). (Leaders please use your discretion and extra support with the candles).
Place the cake in the centre of the table and give everyone a candle and holder. The lead person on each table should make sure everyone is able to participate. Take it in turns to light your candle and thank God for what has encouraged or challenged you during the group’s meeting or something that has occurred recently. Then add your candle to the cake.
NB. Please ensure that the owners of the premises in which you meet are comfortable with the use of lighted candles.
… or …
You will need: a brand new diary or journal with totally blank pages; an old diary or journal with all the pages written on — the scruffier the better!
Pass the new diary around the group and encourage them to feel the fresh, clean pages and smell the newness of the paper. Does it look inviting? If this was theirs, would they feel a sense of anticipation at filling in the fresh clean pages?
Then pass round the old diary. Make the point that this started out like the first. Now it’s full of history — good things like holidays, celebrations, coffee with friends; unexpected things like a funeral, an emergency dental appointment, deadlines to be met.
It’s fair to assume that the new diary will end up looking like the old one eventually, filled with joys, surprises, shocks and routines.
Our days are in God’s hands — we can trust him for all the unwritten pages of this coming year/season. And every day is a new opportunity for a fresh start with him.
Close by reading 2 Corinthians 5:17,19 from the Message “… Anyone united with the Messiah (Jesus) gets a fresh start, is created new … God puts the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins …”
Please note that the theme for
February is Pancakes. If it would assist in the planning of services or group
meetings we can forward you in advance a copy of the entire collection of
programmes for the year. Please contact David Palmer on 01858 438260 or email: davidp@torchtrust.org
Torch Trust provides Christian
resources and activities for people with sight loss.
© The Torch Trust for the Blind