Action Confessions

This is the second of three posts in quick succession to help friends and others who lead All-age services and want to engage both children and adults

Action Confessions for All-age services.

Explain to the  congregation we are going to make simple actions as we make our confessions and ask their co-operation in doing so, so that the children are encouraged to think about what we are all doing.

Actions follow as a prayer of being sorry is said. For example

• ·      Fist held aloft – we’re sorry for the times we are unnecessarily angry
• ·      Hands in front of eyes – sorry for the times we don’t see how we can be helpful
• ·      Hands over ears – for when we do not listen to what God wants of us
• ·      Hand in front of mouth – for when we fail to tell the good news to someone

After each pray a short ‘sorry’ prayer. Then sing ‘Lo-or-d we’re sorry’ (We use the Russian Orthodox Kyrie which can be found among other places in ‘Hymns Old and New’ No. 774.

At the end, finish with a simple absolution or to keep it plain for the children and those not familiar with liturgy a prayer of thanksgiving that we are forgiven and that if we mean what we have prayed, our wrongdoings are washed away and we start afresh from that moment in the strength of the Lord.

More All-age ideas can be found at All-Age ideas Index