Exodus: All Age Worship with Prayer Stations


Theme:


Exodus, with a focus on moving from slavery to freedom

Story:


The story of Exodus: Moses asking Pharoah to let his people go, the escape from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea.

Bible reading:


Paul's letter to Philemon, verses 8 - 21

Adult reflection:


A reflection on Paul's letter to Philemon from the Bible Reading Fellowship notes

Station 1: What does it mean to be free?




On the table display was a chain and a piece of matsos as a reminder of the Israelite's hurried journey on their way to freedom.

Words:


Slavery was all the Israelites had ever known... They had been slaves for over 200 years... What did it mean to be free?

Activity:


You may like to use the post it notes to write or draw some of the things that would be good about freedom and some of the things that would be difficult...



Station 2: Let my people go



This station was created by using a variety of green cloths draped over screens (and the church's metal candle screen!) At one end was the wooden cross. At the other was a lit candle.

Words:


We all have things that weigh us down. Worries, cares, regrets...

Prayer activity:


You may like to choose a stone to represent the things that weigh you down and leave it at the foot of the cross... You may like to walk back between the walls of water and think about the Israelites walking through the water to freedom...


Station 3: Could there be a scientific explanation?



This station was set up outside. A shallow tray of water was placed on the ground.

Words:

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land.

The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

The researchers Drews and Hans from the US Centre for Atmospheric Research and the University of Colorado had developed a theory about how a strong north easterly wind, blowing all night, might have parted the waters of the Nile (not the Red Sea). Their explanation was included on the board.

Activity:


You may like to experiment yourself to see if you can make a dry path for the Israelites to cross over...

Station 4: What does it mean to be free?



Words:


When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.



Miriam sang to them:

"Sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea"

Activity:


What would you use to make a prayer station to show what it was like to be freed from slavery?

"There's two ways. This way is blocked but they can go a different way. There's always another way."


How well did it work?



The station outside suggesting people experimented to find a way across the Red Sea was popular with the children who tried out earthquakes, tremor and wind... Some of the adults were persuaded to have a go as well!

This station also sparked a discussion about what makes a miracle.

The children also responded well to designing their own prayer station, while the adults discussed what things can enslave us...

Sarah