A call to poets at church

Andrewbarry   -  

Sometimes putting your thoughts down on paper is really helpful. Some at our church write out their prayers, others keep journals and still others write songs.

This may only appeal to some of you, but I’m calling on you, or anyone in your family to write some poems that we can share with each other.

We might share a couple each week at church and perhaps even put them together if we get enough entries. This is not a competition, but an opportunity to help us grow deeper and more united in Jesus Christ.

The idea is to write a poem (or lyrics of a song / rap)

  1. about following Jesus during covid OR
  2. about growing/struggling in this time OR
  3. about different ways people are coping OR
  4. a praise or meditation on God OR
  5. a prayer to God OR
  6. something more abstract / unusual

The poem does not have to mention COVID19. While some will be more direct, it would be good for others to cast a bigger focus than this present setback.

You can submit them anonymously if you’d prefer. It would also be great to have some written by kids. Most will be typed out, but you can also video yourself if you’d prefer.

Send them to me on email. By sending them in you give permission for us to read them out loud at church (by you or by someone else) and to compile them online or in a book at a later stage (if there is enough uptake). We might read one or two short ones each week at church during the next month.

Even if you don’t submit a poem, it might be a good exercise to write down a prayer to God that is honest with him about how you are going and what you are calling on him to do.

Andrew Barry

andrew.barry AT jac.org.au