Darren recorded two reflections for this week’s bible readings for Project Reconnect, a worship resource that is published weekly to help congregations with their worship service.

All Age Reflection

Darren recorded two reflections for this week’s bible readings for Project Reconnect, a worship resource that is published weekly to help congregations with their worship service.

All Age Message – Baking with Darren

Liz Morris – July 18, 2021

Good morning. My name is Liz and I am delighted to be speaking this morning and grappling with the lessons of God’s word with you. Before we begin, let us pray. Almighty God, we come before you to ask that your presence fall on us, heal us and grow our knowledge of You. I ask that my words be from your mouth and be planted in the hearts of your people as we walk into a new week by your side. Amen.

As I stand here this morning, I am faced with the beginning of a new term. I am high school English teacher and have the pleasure of working alongside teenagers every day. I often have conversations with students that are more about their pastoral needs than their academic needs and a common phrase I say is “high school is hard”. There will be a number of you who are current teachers, retired teachers or the loved ones of teachers, and you know the realities of what the profession entails. Those feelings of apprehension and the knowledge that with the beginning of the term comes bone-aching tiredness and that sustained adrenaline rushing through me to get me through another ten weeks are all too prominent. How do I give more than the minimum to God?

This morning, I see people walking different seasons of life. For some of you, the exhaustion of parenthood is overwhelming the joy of it. Some of you are finding your hands are not as swift as they once were. There are children who have returned to school or are about to start again this week; and with that come mixed emotions and reactions. There are those of you who are in a position you did not think they would find yourself and it’s hurting. In all of this, where is God and how do we give more than a little?