There's hope then for the rest of us: our offspring might at some stage relieve us of the belongings we have been keeping all these years

I hadn't thought of that but think you may be right. I think a successful sermon might also be one where people go out thinking differently or in a different way. Its difficult - my mother was very interested in sermons but my mind doesn't work in the same way so they mostly pass me by!

Would you be able to put this comment on the blogpost - then anyone who reads the blog can see it too! Thanks

Interesting - and what about the congregation?! I do find preachers make assumptions about congregations and don't seem to realise that some of them may have been going to church and listening to sermons for over 70 years and could cope with something that is a bit less basic.

Thanks for your insights Rachel, you always say what I want to say much better than me!

I'm not that convinced by top down change, even if it is initiated by local clergy who could perhaps be seen as working from the bottom up: meristemweb.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/t...

This is Out of the Box which is a spin off from Godly Play but more portable. There are more Christian stories than those shown as there are several in development: outofthebox.org

Have you come across Godly Play and Out of the Box?

It's important to be critical of your own denomination materials as well. I do a lot of adaptation for my own context. Some publications advocate for this.

Prayer is action

Does layout affect this? I currently worship in a small church that often sits in a semicircle and chat before the service doesn't bother me (mostly happens at the door though). But if I am sitting in pews or rows I feel really irritated by people chatting or gossiping.

Really enjoyed reading it 😊

Sung evensong at Ely cathedral. I am not very musical so sat there absorbing the atmosphere and looking at the archways of infinite possibilities.

Intercessions (lay led) were very thoughtful and prayerful. I thanked her and she said she reads all the Bible readings very carefully then looks at different sets of intercessions before adapting. I just read the Bible readings and adapt David Adam! Interesting sermon about what is victory?

I told the Emmaus story using Out of the Box at two tiny rural churches. Very interesting discussions, especially when I asked "how would you symbolise Easter?"