Archive for the ‘Ideas’ Category

Drawing the Bible at the Christian Resources Exhibition

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Last week SGM Lifewords hosted an artist in residence at the Christian Resources Exhibition at Sandown Racecourse, Esher. Beginning on Tuesday morning with a plain white stand, including walls, floor and furniture, artist Abi Spendlove had turned the space into a riot of colour by closing time on Friday.

Twelve words that sum up the story of the Bible were used as a starting point for the illustration. Visitors to the stand were invited to add their own words, and guide the evolving artwork. Some chose words that had personal meaning to them, others added theological truths or Biblical principles. The result was a vibrant visual conversation about the Bible and the story that it tells.

The live art event was part of TWELVE, a SGM Lifewords project that will explore the story of the Bible through the creative arts as part of the Biblefresh initiative. Over the next year, a series of artists will create an anthology of artworks on the theme of the story that the Bible tells. Downloadable resources will be available for reading the Bible in community, and the TWELVE journal will provide fresh thinking through articles and conversations about the Bible.

You can find out more at 12words.org, and view a gallery of images.

Meet the Cast in Highfield

Monday, January 18th, 2010

We love hearing about creative mission initiatives from our supporters, and sharing our best ideas. After last year’s Meet the Cast hunt around Mapperley, a church in Southampton read about it in Interact and was inspired to do something similar.

Nativity characters were hidden in shops around Highfield, and shoppers were invited to track them down. The first 50 participants to find them all received free coffee vouchers for a nearby coffee shop, where there was a short follow up time.

If you’ve tested some creative ideas this Christmas, let us know about them and we’ll share them here on the blog.

Inspire your summer

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

inspire-your-summer

Inspiring Prayer posters

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Orders have been pouring in for our new booklet for historic churches, Inspiring Prayer. The booklet of prayers is designed for those new to prayer, and those seeking new ways to engage with God, and features beautiful hand-drawn illustrations.

If you’re using the booklet in your church, you can now print off and display matching posters. We have selected ten prayers and turned them into printable downloads. You can view and download the whole range from our historic churches site.

Lent begins today

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

In the traditional church calendar, the season of Lent begins today. It’s one of those events of the church calendar that is still noted by popular culture, alongside Easter and Christmas. The idea of ‘giving something up’, or ‘detox-ing’ seems to hold a certain appeal in a culture that usually favours excess.

As it resonates with many people, I wonder how the church can best engage with that interest. Maybe running courses on money and debt, or addiction. Or maybe Tearfund’s idea of linking lent to climate change, and calling people to a carbon fast as an expression of love for their neighbours.

What do you think? Is your church running events this lent?

From 1 Corinthians with love

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

If you own a website or write a blog, you can embed the Loves me, loves me not presentation on it.

It is enough just to copy and paste the following code.

<object height="400" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://blog.sgmlifewords.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/card4.swf"></param>
<param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><embed src="http://blog.sgmlifewords.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/card4.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="opaque" height="400" width="500"></embed></object>

Thank you

Christian proclamation of hope in a world of separation

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Biblical faith is imbued with a radical hope that the last word in history belongs to God, and that God’s last word is not one of judgment but of new creation. (…) Christians live in the midst of a world which is marked by various kinds of division and alienation. Yet the stance of the church remains one of hope, grounded not in what human beings can do, but in the power and abiding desire of God to transform fracture and fragmentation into unity and wholeness, death-giving hatred into life-giving love.

© World Council of Churches

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new!

NIV, Revelation 21:1-5a

Christians face to face with a plurality of religions

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

In a great hymn of praise, the prophet Isaiah speaks of all tears being wiped away and a rich feast for all people and nations! One day, asserts the prophet, all the peoples of the earth will praise God and rejoice in the salvation he offers. The Lord for whom we have waited is the host at the eternal feast in Isaiah’s song of praise.

© World Council of Churches

On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine — the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.

NIV, Isaiah 25:6-9

Christians face to face with disease and suffering

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

How often Jesus encounters the sick and is willing to heal them!
Common to all our still separated churches is the awareness of our Lord’s compassion for the sick. Christians have always followed his example, by healing the sick, building hospitals, dispensaries, organizing medical missions and caring not only for the souls but also the bodies of God’s children.

© World Council of Churches

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

NIV, James 5:13-15

Christians face to face with discrimination and social prejudice

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

In his earthly ministry, Jesus showed himself to be particularly sensitive regarding the common humanity of all men and women. He continually denounced discrimination of all sorts and the pride which some of his contemporaries derived from it . The just are not always those whom you would imagine. Contempt has no place in the hearts of believers.

© World Council of Churches

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

NIV, Isaiah 58:6-12