Boat in the midst of the storm

Have a large backdrop painted blue (blue sea and sky).

Create a boat cut-out to place on the “sea” backdrop.

Provide blue paper “wave” cut-outs. (Ensure colour is not too dark to see the writing on it.)

Ask congregants to write on the “waves”: what issues or realities they are experiencing that might be causing crises? These could be personal, communal, societal, etc.

Encourage congregants to place these waves all around the boat.

Invite congregants to think about how God, through Jesus and the church community, offers assurance, help or support – a safe place in the boat – during these times.

Take the time to validate the things that have or can cause chaos.

Reflect on how to help one another in extending Jesus’s arms of comfort and assurance.

Drawing comfort

Who has demonstrated Jesus’ comfort and assurance to you? Draw or take a picture of them.

If they give you consent, share the photo publicly with a word of thanks.

With permission, send your story and photo to photo@mwc-cmm.org to share with the global Anabaptist family.

Reader’s Theater: Jesus Calms the Storm

Based on Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)

Parts: NARRATOR, JESUS, ALL (congregation as the disciples)

Feel free to adapt the script to Matthew or Luke’s version of the story. Also, feel free to add sound effects for the storm, either recorded or a portion of the congregation live.

NARRATOR
Jesus had been teaching and healing all day in Capernaum, near the Sea of Galilee.
When evening came, Jesus said to his disciples,

JESUS
Let us go over to the other side

NARRATOR
Leaving the crowd behind, the disciples took Jesus along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him,

ALL
Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?

NARRATOR
Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves

JESUS
Quiet! Be still!

NARRATOR
Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

JESUS
Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

NARRATOR
They were terrified and asked each other,

ALL
Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!

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Adapted from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Reader’s Theater: Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41) © 2014 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia. (Revlisad.com)