The basic idea is that people follow through the worship service together in small groups around tables set up in a cafe style. In the centre of each group is a series of envelopes numbered from 1-10. At the start of the worship we arrange everyone into groups of about 6 people. They begin by opening envelope number 1 and follow the instructions inside. When a bell rings the group open the next numbered envelope and follow the instructions inside. That's it! The beauty of this worship experience is that it doesn't need to be led. It's up to the groups to make it happen.
10 different people produced the 10 different envelopes that followed through the story of the journey to Emmaus in Luke 24. This was the sequence.
1. Chill/preparation - stand and read prayer together, walk around and find a table to sit at while listening to the music track being played
2. Emmaus Road story - read story from bible round table and create iconic candle kit
3. The hiddenness of God (Luke 24:13-16) (see attached file below)
4. Downcast (Luke 24:17-18) On the table were parsley and salt water. 'What has made your soul downcast this week? Spend some time silently reflecting on ways in which you have wounded your life, the lives of others and the life of the world. When you are ready, take some parsley, dip it into the salt water and eat it. The salt water represents tears of repentance; the parsley represents new life that will grow.’ Then we said a confession prayer from Iona together.
5. Storytelling part 1 - sharing our own stories (Luke 24:19-27)
6. Storytelling part 2 - hearing God's story (Luke 24:19-27)
7. Welcoming the stranger (Luke 24:28-29) - 'the flight to Emmaus': we fill in landing cards for one another - it's how we welcome strangers to a country nowadays, and filling in the questions for the person sitting next to you makes you no longer strangers.
8. Breaking bread (Luke 24:30-31) the liturgy we used is here
9. Burning hearts (Luke 24:32-35) (see attached file below)
10 Prayer and blessing