Planning for this Series

This is the fifth and final week of the worship series. This week focuses on the renewal of things to come. Jeremiah 32:15 declares, “houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.” The waywardness that led to the lament and repentance of the Israelites is now leading to the hope of a new future in God.

As a response to the Word, encourage the congregation to seek renewal for themselves, for their communities, for their church, and/or for their world. For materials, you will need a bowl of water (or . . . if you have a fully-functioning duplicate of your “cracked cistern” from Week 1—meaning, it holds water—then use that). You will also need dissolvable strips of paper. Communicate that the water symbolizes the “living water” (again, reinforcing Week 1) we are craving. Encourage folks to write down something, or multiple things, that are in need of renewal. Invite them to come forward and to place their hopes for renewal (the paper strips) into the water as a sign that they are putting their hope for renewal in God, the Living Water. This ritual moment can be accompanied with music, or it may be done in silence.

If your congregation offers a children’s moment earlier in the service, you can easily modify this activity for the children.

Written by guest writer, Nelson Cowan, Ph.D. Liturgical Studies: Boston University School of Theology.