top of page

Gathering

 

In Zacchaeus’ world
things must have looked different
for once he could look down on things
look down on people
look down on the saviour
It gave him perspective
since everyone until then
looked down on him
until the moment
Jesus looked up to him
brought him down
and made Zacchaeus the example
for everyone else to look up to

In this worship place
may we look neither down at
or up to each other
simply be with
each other
on level ground
in this place of God

Let us worship
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All-Age Prayer

 

Loving God
when we are tall
or short
when we are right
or wrong
when we are here
or there
when we are good
or bad
when we are big
or small
when we are white
or black
when we are one thing
or the other
thank you that you don’t notice
what the world notices
thank you that you notice us
someone who wants to find you
among all the branches
roadways
questions
doubts
Thank you
that we don’t need to find you

You find us
even if we try and camouflage ourselves
or hide away

Thank you
for finding us

All-Age Beginnings

 

What kind of leaf is this… (show pictures)

Oak leaf
Beach leaf
Bayleaf
Table leaf
Tea leaf
Gold leaf
Fly leaf-let
Sycamore leaf

Which reminds us… hopefully of someone who became partial to tree climbing… particularly sycamore trees… He climbed them because he was looking for the light… and you’d have thought… if he just looked up… he would see it… through the leaves… and branches… towards the sky…

Instead… this man who was longing for light… looked down through the leaves and branches… and there is was… the light of God… looking up at him… and asking.. .Can I come to yours for tea…

Zacchaeus

               Luke  19:1-10

Reflection

 

In Zacchaeus’ world
things must have looked different
for once he could look down on things
look down on people
look down on the saviour
It gave him perspective
since everyone until then
looked down on him
until the moment
Jesus looked up to him
brought him down
and made Zacchaeus the example
for everyone else to look up to

In this worship place
may we look neither down at
or up to each other
simply be with
each other
on level ground
in this place of God

Let us worship

Response Activity

 

Zacchaeus is a great story:
a wee man who seems to have a reputation
as a sinner, a bad man, a thief
though that might not be accurate
and you’ll need to read the sermon
to find out more about how this story
is often misinterpreted
but let’s go with it for now
a wee man
with a bad reputation
who chooses to turn over a new leaf
(see what I did there)
which is something you can do
when you are in a tree

We would like to invite you
again only if you feel comfortable
to come and turn over a new leaf
on our tree
by taking a leaf
turning it over
and taking it with you
with a wee turn-over-a-new-leaf blessing on it
a wee Zacchaeus gift for you all

​

(We had a step ladder representing the tree - upon which Zacchaeus sat to tell the story beforehand - and we placed green cards with a sycamore leaf printed on one side with a blessing or hope printed on the other such as 'Go in Peace' or 'Behold I make all things new beginning with you'.)

 

bottom of page