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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

 

‘Water, water, everywhere.’

Think about the significance of the water in this week’s Gospel reading:
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

There’s been a lot of news about water this January. Firstly, the floods that followed a cold snap at the start of the year and threaten again with more cold weather on the way. Listening to and watching the coverage about why this is happening and what can be done it seems that despite flood defences, dredging and sand bags sometimes the water can’t be held back.

Then there are the incredible images of parts of Los Angeles on fire (BBC; Guardian). The LA fire department are heroically trying to battle the fire dropping tonnes of water on the blaze in an attempt to bring it under control, but the combination of dry ground and high winds is making this a very difficult task.

Finally, there’s an incredible story this week of a hiker who was lost for 13 days in New South Wales but managed to survive on a muesli bar, foraging for berries and, crucially, drinking water from creeks. It is a well-known fact that a human being can only survive around three days without liquid, so the water in the Australian mountain creeks gave the lost Hadi Nazari a chance of survival.

Water that can’t be held back, water fighting a dangerous fire and water for survival. In many ways the water in the story of Jesus’ baptism wraps all of this week’s water stories together:

As Jesus emerges from the River Jordan and his three years of ministry on the earth begin, a flood is released across humankind; an unstoppable wave of love and truth that will forever change all who come into contact with it.

We also know that Jesus’ message of love, grace and transformation is ultimately the only thing that defeats the fires that rage across this world. The fires of war, hate, misinformation, sadness, and all that afflicts us in this world – although overwhelming at times – can be put out by this life-giving water.

Lastly, in this Baptism story, the man who emerges from the water offers us more than just survival. He gives us fullness, completeness and everlasting joy.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

Water prayers

You will need: star shapes cut out of paper (ordinary photocopying paper works fine), shallow trays or dishes of water placed around the worship area, spare pencils

• Give out the stars and invite people to write a prayer on each with a pencil.
• Once each prayer is written, fold over each point to the centre of the star. (If you are using a five-pointed star when folded it will look like a pentagon).
• Take the star to the trays of water and, in turn, place them upon the surface of the water. The stars will unfold to reveal the prayers.
• Pray for each other around the trays of water

 

Isaiah prayer

Use the words from Isaiah at the start of the passage in John. Invite people to use some of the images and turn them into a prayer for today. For example, you could pray for people who are currently living with crooked paths such as war-torn places, that they would see God’s salvation or for people caught in the dark valleys of poor mental health to feel lifted up.

‘…Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’

 

Ignatian questions

Invite people to read v21-22 and imagine themselves at the scene. Use the following Ignatian questions to think about the story:

1. What emotions arose as you read this story? Invite God into those emotions.
2. What might those emotions be revealing? 
3. Were there any images that stood out to you? What did you notice about those images?
4. Was something new revealed in this story that you hadn’t noticed before? What might God be wanting to show you in this revelation?

 

Questions for discussion

• How does the image of water resonate in our spiritual lives?

• Do you feel overwhelmed by the fires that rage in this world or full of hope that the flood of God’s love will bring transformation to humankind, or somewhere in-between?! Talk about how you feel with your neighbour.

Fiona Dorman is a freelance leadership consultant and mediator.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

Water is a vital part of this morning’s story. At the moment of his baptism Jesus is introduced by John and then acknowledged by God as the Messiah. In my imagination the water is calm and clean, and the day is warm and sunny. Meeting God in these waters is an appealing concept.

Water has featured in our weather over the first few days of the New Year. First, we had torrential rain, then heavy snow. Where I live we had five inches! As this has melted it has flowed into already over-full waterways and onto saturated ground, resulting in devastating flooding. There are multiple active flood warnings across England as I write. This water is dirty and cold; meeting God here does not sound as appealing.

Yet we cannot always choose where God meets us. Sometimes it is in the warm, clean water of life, when things are going well. At other times God meets us in the cold and dirty water of life, when we are struggling.

 

Questions for discussion

• What sustains us during the difficult times?
• Does it feel different when God meets us in the good times?
• How can we be present for others when they are struggling with dirty flood water, both literally and figuratively?

You may have young people in your group whose homes have been flooded. This event is likely to have been traumatic. It might be advisable to have an extra person present in case this discussion raises difficult memories.

Victoria Etherington is children’s, youth and family’s ministry leader for the Yorkshire North and East Methodist District.

 

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