Monday Rewrite

‘And now for the weather forecast. Tonight there’ll be storms and rain, gusts of high winds, and some thunder and lightning. We advise not going out unless you really have … Read on →

Tom the TV Gardener addresses the audience with the following monologue, as if presenting his TV programme. He holds a packet of tiny seeds in his hand. ‘Hello again, Tom … Read on →

Steve used the closet first, as the most impetuous of the flatmates he was bound to really. He snuck into the spare room late one night and shoved his disappointment … Read on →

One night two men met as they wandered through heaven. ‘I used to dream a lot,’ one said. ‘So did I,’ said the other. ‘And I went to Egypt once,’ … Read on →

Doesn’t look very spiritual or seem very holy. There’s sweat and dust and grim, grunting and huffing. There are toes stubbed and fingers trapped. The older ones have to stop … Read on →

Merchant. Where is it? Woman. Where’s what? Merchant. You know, the party. Woman. What party? Merchant. The street party. Woman. Well, there’s bit of a fuss going on over there, … Read on →

Two men sit talking in a first century bar. – It’s your round I believe. – No! Yours surely! – I don’t think so. Anyway, you’re in the money. – … Read on →

Her head is spinning. The colours colliding in her brain. She gasps as she runs, keeps glancing back to see if she can still see him. Half an hour ago … Read on →

‘Right, listen up,’ says Peter to the assembled bunch of perfect, 1st century, post-Day of Pentecost disciples, ‘you know this perfect 1st Century, post-Day of Pentecost church we go to? … Read on →

‘A few things I did not see… Two figures as close as breathing in the dark of night. A whispered hopeful conversation on a threshing floor. Leftover food discarded at … Read on →

Drawing on Acts 5 vv 17-21 Andrew has a cruel bruise on his cheek, not the side with the blackened eye, the other side. One or two of Peter’s fingers … Read on →

We are here again Lord, With our memories and recollections of last week. Our mistakes, problems, fears and regrets, Hopes, victories, achievements and meanderings. It’s who we are, Frail, vulnerable, … Read on →

He stands and stares at the skyline. Nothing. Not even tumbleweed floating by. Just an inner nudge, an elbow digging into the ribs of his soul, urging him on. If … Read on →

A prayer based on Psalm 51:1-12 Dear Lord, Life ambushes us, It’s the nature of things. This broken world side-tracks and distracts us, It is full of traps, temptations and … Read on →

He stared at the rocks, long and hard, heard the growling rumble in his stomach. They were the precise shape and size, would perfectly satisfy his hunger. In an instant … Read on →

Drawing on Numbers 21 vv 4-9, John 3 vv 14-21 Jesus looks at Nicodemus with compassion in his eyes, And his mind wanders back to that story he knows so … Read on →

And so the list begins. A way of life, a way of respect, A code of honour and health. Yet more – a description Of the God they serve, The … Read on →

The Lord spoke to Abram and Sarai And he changed their names, Seeing a new man, and a new woman, Seeing the people he had created, Seeing beyond the front … Read on →

(A prayer drawing on Exodus 3 vv 1-10) As we stroll, bumble and hurry Through the land of our daily lives, Doing the things we must do, The things we … Read on →

We so often feel we must come to You With the right words, the right feelings, The right account of ourselves from the last week. To be so spiritual, so … Read on →

Drawing on John 11 vv 20-29 Two sisters trapped in a painful wilderness, There was a brother too but he has gone, That’s why they are in this wilderness. Those … Read on →

Lord so many have served you down the years – Standing tall, taking risks, their heads above life’s parapet. Some trusted and saw miracles, Some trusted and gave everything for … Read on →

He knows they’ll need something for the journey. The road is hard out there, the weather can be unkind, and as for some of the fellow travellers…well. He knows they … Read on →

A series of intercessions based on Mary’s Song in Luke 1 verses 46b-55. One person reads the verses in bold, followed by the prayer suggestion and then a time of … Read on →

A reading based on the words of Isaiah 61 vv 1-4 and Luke 4 vv 14-21. Jesus looked at the faces before him. A crowd of questioning, hopeful, wondering, curious, … Read on →

A responsive story about Paul and Silas, a prison, and an earthquake! Taken from Acts chapter 16 verses 16-34. Teach the audience/congregation the 6 words and responses in bold below, … Read on →

We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth. The one who is full of patience, who is not afraid of silence, who does not need to fill … Read on →

‘What the frappucino you goin’ on about?’ At least that is the gist of what he says. ‘Frappin ‘ell, get the frap outta here,’ he froths, stings of spit firing … Read on →

There were nights, so many night, when she would slip close to his bed and just stand there, watching him sleep, startling him sometimes on the occasions when he woke … Read on →

Narrator: The Pharisees continued their ploys to try and trap Jesus. Pharisee: Teacher, we know you are a man of great integrity. You are very honest and always tell the … Read on →

He had a dream last night. The usual one. He’s standing at the foot of three crosses and the middle one is empty. Who was supposed to be on it? … Read on →

From our reporter in Jerusalem. It would surely be the most incredible ending in all history if the carpenter from Nazareth should somehow walk away alive and well from his … Read on →

Jesus kicks at a stone. It is hard against his foot, unyielding. The way life feels to him at the moment. The sun saps his energy and the loss of … Read on →

The other night I took a ramble through your mind while you went for a wander through mine. Afterwards we sat in silence for a while, a little in awe, … Read on →

I interviewed him lying on his side. Literally. He refused to go to a bar or a coffee shop. Either I lie down in the dirt next to him, or … Read on →

Moses, the reluctant follower, The one who thought his life was over, Out there tending sheep in the desert, Got a shock. Went to look at a few flames and … Read on →

A reading or solo mime. Click below to play the track. I was out a-walking, (Walk on, stop, look at audience) Just the other day – When I saw a … Read on →

The parables Jesus told were often surprising and humorous, taking the listener in unexpected directions, challenging their preconceptions about life and God. With that in mind, here’s a story which … Read on →

The prophet Jonah wandered aimlessly through the streets of his old home town. Before long a crowd gathered around him. And the comments came thick and fast. – Hey Jonah! … Read on →

Disciple Andrew wonders if Jesus has gone too far. – Jesus, I’m a bit worried – What about Andrew? – I think, well I sort of… you know… wonder if… … Read on →

Who knows what they saw? Those soldiers, hammers in hand, flecks of blood on their cheeks, still fresh, still warm. Who knows what made them stop and reassess. Just another … Read on →

A responsive reading based on two parables in Matthew 13 vv 44-46. This story contains 6 key words or phrases which are repeated at different points throughout the story. Whenever … Read on →