Jesus calms the storm – why not let him calm yours. Luke 8:22-25

What fun we had today at All Age Praise!

We explored the story of Jesus calming the storm and how he calms ours too. We sang some great songs; Thank you Lord for this fine day; Christ’s love is the best love; As the deer; Have you heard the raindrops, I the Lord of sea and sky and finishing and leaving to You shall go out with joy.

During the service, one of our younger people did the reading, and the story was re-enacted. The children had great fun sitting in a boat while the adults added the sound effects for wind, waves, lakes, being asleep, drowning and being afraid. It sounded quite like a farmyard with all the crashing, ooo-ing, snoring, aaah-ing, glugging and screeching. It took a while for the grown-ups to warm up to the idea, but in the end they did. I’m not sure who enjoyed it more; the children, the adults or yours truly!

After having done this interactive thingy with the youngsters, the older members explored the reading while the children went and produced collage storm pictures of their own.

We explored the fact that Christians need to have a personal relationship in Christ and to grow in faith through prayer, bible reading and coming together for study and worship. We thought about three deeper aspects of today’s reading:

• Trouble will come to each one of us;
• Conquest – troubles can be overcome through the strength of Christ – we only have to ask for his help
• Purpose – we too must be ready to fight the wrongs and injustice we see around us.

We also looked at parenthood, being able to approach God honestly and the ability to tell Him exactly what we think of Him; after all – He’s more than big enough to take it – and loves us more than enough to accept it!

And we left with this week’s thought that we must each ask God what He wants us to do for Him.

Deacon Olivia

For Further Reflection

It is interesting that Jesus is seen in the story as asleep. For many people in our world, indeed many of us perhaps, it appears that God is asleep (or absent) in face of the disasters and tragedies of the world and of our lives.

Where do we see signs of God's presence in the world ?

Peter K.