All-Age Service: Jesus’ baptism

PRAYER / WORSHIP ACTIVITY

OPTION 1

5 minutes

Invite everyone to use their bodies to pray together. Read these instructions aloud, leaving a moment of quiet for people to pray silently or out loud:

Lie down on the floor, looking upwards. As you turn your gaze towards God, think about different aspects of his character and thank him for them.

Kneel down. As you kneel, confess any sin to God and say sorry.

Stand up and raise your arms. Ask God to fill you with all you need.

Stand in a circle and put your hand on the shoulder of the person on your right. Pray for God’s blessing on this person. Stand in a circle and face outwards. Pray for those who are not yet part of God’s family and for peace across the nations.

OPTION 2

10 minutes

Beforehand, gather or buy some cut spring flowers – crocuses, tulips, snowdrops, daffodils. If you are indoors, make a ‘desert’ either with play sand or with yellow material to resemble the sand. You could even put a couple of plastic camels and cacti in if you are feeling brave! If you have access to the outdoors, take this activity outside. Read the following verse together aloud: ‘The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy’ Isaiah 35:1–2.

Invite people to collect a flower and add it to the desert, thanking God for the hope that he brings us even when we feel we are in a desert. Finish by standing together around the desert and praying for those outside of the church who feel they have no hope.

STORY

10 minutes

Beforehand, record the ‘voice’ so that it can boom out at the appropriate moment. Give out three paper plates and pens to everyone. Read the story and, at various points, stop and ask them to draw a face to describe how they would be feeling if they were there (they should use both sides of the plates).

I want you to picture this scene with me: it’s hot. The ground is dusty and dirty. There is no NHS nor any social services. The rich are powerful and the poor have little. The Romans are feared and admired in equal measure. Roman gods are everywhere. And yet the Jews still hold on to this promise of a messiah, their promised rescuer. The Jews still worship Yahweh, their God who brought them out of Egypt.

Into this whirlwind arrives John the Baptist. He wears clothes made from camel’s hair and eats locusts with a honey dip on the side. He’s Bear Grylls with a message. He is preaching, telling people to turn away from their sins. He says he’s preparing the way for the Messiah. He baptises people, dunking them in the River Jordan once they have decided to turn back to God. John doesn’t mince his words – he tells it how it is.

And one day, in the middle of one of these baptism sessions, a hot, dusty man who makes things with wood for a living works his way through the crowds to find John. ‘Woooahhh!’ says John, taking a step back. ‘You have come to me? I’m the one who should be baptised by you, not the other way round!’

The crowd look on in confusion. John hasn’t reacted like this before. ‘This man is only a craftsman and trader, just like many of us,’ they mutter to each other. ‘In fact, he’s not even as successful as some of us!’ (Stop and ask the congregation to draw their first face.)

‘Don’t make a fuss, John,’ the man replies. ‘It’s time for this to happen and this is the proper way.’

‘OK then, Jesus. It would be my utter privilege.’ John takes a deep breath and leads Jesus into the murky waters of the river. The crowd breathe a sigh of relief. That was a bit uncomfortable and could have been embarrassing. The scene is over. Or so they think. (Stop and ask the congregation to draw their second face.)

Jesus leans into John’s arms as he is lowered into the water. Splashing away the dust and the grime from the day, John raises him back up again and at that moment, the eyes of the crowd turn upwards as it looks like heaven has opened. What on earth is going on? They shuffle their feet and feel scared. This wasn’t a normal baptism. (Stop and ask the congregation to draw their third face.)

A dove flies from the sky and lands on Jesus. The crowd suddenly feel the presence of God and a sense of enormous peace and wholeness. It was OK. This was good. They don’t need to be frightened. (Stop and ask the congregation to draw their fourth face.)

But then they hear the voice. ‘You are my son,’ the voice rumbles deep into their stomachs. It’s a voice of power, might, strength and authority. ‘I love you.’ The crowd sit down. Some people faint. ‘I am so pleased with you.’ (Stop and ask the congregation to draw their fifth face.)

The crowd watch as John and Jesus slowly make their way out of the water. They begin to whisper quietly among themselves. Who is this man? And whose is the voice, so loving and yet so awesome? (Stop and ask the congregation to draw their sixth face.)

Six weeks later, after Jesus has spent time fasting, praying and resisting the devil (his enemy) in the desert, they would find out just who this carpenter from Nazareth really was.

REFLECTIVE RESPONSE TO THE STORY

OPTION 1

5 minutes

Ask everyone to lay out the faces they have drawn and then think through their own response to this story. Is there one face in particular they most identify with? Take one more paper plate and write or draw their personal response. It could be a prayer, another face, a poem or a picture. Take this home as a reminder of what God has said.

OPTION 2

5 minutes

Have a large bowl / tub of water. Give everyone a stone and some pens. Lead them in this prayer:

God almighty, thank you that despite our responses to you, you come to us with love and with acceptance. You take our pain, our disappointments, our confusion and our sin and you transform it into something good.

Invite everyone now to draw or write on their stone something they would like to give up to God. Ask them to bring their stones to the water, placing them in the water and washing off the writing. Now write or draw on the stone something they feel God is going to give them instead. This stone can be taken home as a reminder.

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

10 minutes

Divide into mixed aged groups. Give the under-5s some card and blue, green and yellow tissue paper to make a collage of the sea but ensure that you include them in the discussion.