Boris In The Forest
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus calls us to welcome everyone in his name. In our worship today let us consider how we welcome others and what causes people to feel as though they are outsiders.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I'm so shy that I'm unable to approach anyone I don't know.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I'm afraid of saying the wrong thing and putting my foot in it.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, I don't think it's my job to welcome other people. It's the job of the church officials.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Matthew 10:40-42 (NRSV)
"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. [41] Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; [42] and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple--truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."
Story:
We usually fail to welcome people not because we want to be unkind, but because we don't know what to say or how to approach them. But our failure can be so hurtful that those new people never come again.
This is a story about Boris, who although appearing to other animals as belligerent and aggressive, was actually very unsure of himself.
Boris In The Forest
Boris was alone and rather frightened. He had run into the forest and hidden as soon as his mother had spotted the hunters and cried out to him. Boris had blindly dashed under the nearest cover he could find and had lain there trembling, listening to the shots as they echoed in his ears. He never saw his mother again and could only guess at what had happened to her.
Boris had stayed under cover for four days, until hunger drove him out. He had never had to fend for himself before and was unsure how to go about it. In the end, Boris followed his nose. It seemed the only thing to do, and it was a suitably snuffly snout to follow. Boris snuffled and sniffed, rooted and raided until he discovered some delicious wild mushrooms. He was soon happily chomping away, not noticing how far he was drifting from his hideout.
Suddenly he was disturbed by a roar. Boris looked up, startled. Towering over him was a huge stag with antlers lowered. Boris fled. He didn't stop until he could run no further. Then he slowed to a trot. When he spotted a hedgehog trudging through the undergrowth, Boris was delighted. Here was an animal which was much smaller than he was. Perhaps this animal could be a friend instead of a foe.
With his snout, Boris pushed gently at the hedgehog. But to his dismay, the hedgehog curled into a ball of sharp spikes which stabbed viciously at Boris. He backed off, stumbling away in yet another direction. Soon he came across a small herd of fallow deer. They raised their heads curiously, regarding Boris with soulful eyes, but they made no attempt to communicate with him. Boris grunted a greeting, but the deer ignored him, returning to their grazing when they saw that he posed no threat.
Boris felt more and more lonely. It seemed that nobody wanted to know him. After that he met a fieldmouse, a shrew and a mole and grunted his greeting at them, but they each took one look at Boris and scurried away.
Boris lay down in a crumpled heap, sad and lonely and frightened. It was a big forest for such a little boar. Just then he was roused by a loud barking and a large dog raced towards him. Boris staggered to his feet and made to run, but he was so tired by now that his legs refused to move. And when he heard human voices accompanying the dog, he was so scared that he froze. Vivid memories of humans with guns came into his mind and he waited for the shot.
But the shot never came. Instead a small group of children surrounded Boris, exclaiming over him. "Oh look! It's a little wild boar! Isn't he cute? Can we take him home?"
Boris shrank away from the eager faces. He wanted company, but human company was the last thing he needed. But as the children gently petted him, Boris began to relax. He never wanted to see the forest again. None of the animals had been kind to him, as the children were being kind. None of the animals had spoken to him, as the children were speaking to him. None of the animals had stroked him, as the children were stroking him.
Boris made up his mind and went with the children. He never returned to the forest, but for the rest of his life lived happily as a domestic pig in the children's family.
Activity:
You need:
A5 size plastic wallets
A5 size cards in a variety of colours
Pens, felt-tips or crayons
Laptop computer
Printer
Discuss a "Church Welcome Pack" with the children. What details would they want to know if they were moving to a new church for the first time? Time of services? Sports clubs? Coffee mornings? Useful phone numbers? Brownies, Cubs, Youth Clubs etc? A Christian greeting? Prayers?
When you have decided which items would be useful, get the children to work in pairs and to design appropriate cards. Use one card for each different area.
If you like, transfer the children's artwork and ideas onto computer and print out. Use as a welcome pack for new people in the church.
Intercession:
Welcoming God, help us to be aware of newcomers in our congregation. Give us the skills to welcome them warmly without overwhelming them and to offer them genuine friendship.
Welcoming God, in your eyes no-one is an outsider. May we avoid condemning people by placing them in rejected groups of creed or race or behaviour, but regard everyone as an individual who is precious in your sight.
Welcoming God, may I learn to put my shyness behind me even if that means taking up my cross to follow you. Take away my fear so that I am able to approach new people in a friendly spirit. And remind me that it really is my job to welcome newcomers.
Welcoming God, we pray for all who are sick. May they know that they are loved and supported by all their friends and are deeply loved by you. We pray especially for ..
Blessing:
This week may you
Make one new friend
And make one person
especially and unexpectedly happy.
And the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you now,
be in your homes and in your families
and with all those whom you love
and for whom you pray,
now and always.
Amen.
Jesus calls us to welcome everyone in his name. In our worship today let us consider how we welcome others and what causes people to feel as though they are outsiders.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I'm so shy that I'm unable to approach anyone I don't know.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I'm afraid of saying the wrong thing and putting my foot in it.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, I don't think it's my job to welcome other people. It's the job of the church officials.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Matthew 10:40-42 (NRSV)
"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. [41] Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; [42] and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple--truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."
Story:
We usually fail to welcome people not because we want to be unkind, but because we don't know what to say or how to approach them. But our failure can be so hurtful that those new people never come again.
This is a story about Boris, who although appearing to other animals as belligerent and aggressive, was actually very unsure of himself.
Boris In The Forest
Boris was alone and rather frightened. He had run into the forest and hidden as soon as his mother had spotted the hunters and cried out to him. Boris had blindly dashed under the nearest cover he could find and had lain there trembling, listening to the shots as they echoed in his ears. He never saw his mother again and could only guess at what had happened to her.
Boris had stayed under cover for four days, until hunger drove him out. He had never had to fend for himself before and was unsure how to go about it. In the end, Boris followed his nose. It seemed the only thing to do, and it was a suitably snuffly snout to follow. Boris snuffled and sniffed, rooted and raided until he discovered some delicious wild mushrooms. He was soon happily chomping away, not noticing how far he was drifting from his hideout.
Suddenly he was disturbed by a roar. Boris looked up, startled. Towering over him was a huge stag with antlers lowered. Boris fled. He didn't stop until he could run no further. Then he slowed to a trot. When he spotted a hedgehog trudging through the undergrowth, Boris was delighted. Here was an animal which was much smaller than he was. Perhaps this animal could be a friend instead of a foe.
With his snout, Boris pushed gently at the hedgehog. But to his dismay, the hedgehog curled into a ball of sharp spikes which stabbed viciously at Boris. He backed off, stumbling away in yet another direction. Soon he came across a small herd of fallow deer. They raised their heads curiously, regarding Boris with soulful eyes, but they made no attempt to communicate with him. Boris grunted a greeting, but the deer ignored him, returning to their grazing when they saw that he posed no threat.
Boris felt more and more lonely. It seemed that nobody wanted to know him. After that he met a fieldmouse, a shrew and a mole and grunted his greeting at them, but they each took one look at Boris and scurried away.
Boris lay down in a crumpled heap, sad and lonely and frightened. It was a big forest for such a little boar. Just then he was roused by a loud barking and a large dog raced towards him. Boris staggered to his feet and made to run, but he was so tired by now that his legs refused to move. And when he heard human voices accompanying the dog, he was so scared that he froze. Vivid memories of humans with guns came into his mind and he waited for the shot.
But the shot never came. Instead a small group of children surrounded Boris, exclaiming over him. "Oh look! It's a little wild boar! Isn't he cute? Can we take him home?"
Boris shrank away from the eager faces. He wanted company, but human company was the last thing he needed. But as the children gently petted him, Boris began to relax. He never wanted to see the forest again. None of the animals had been kind to him, as the children were being kind. None of the animals had spoken to him, as the children were speaking to him. None of the animals had stroked him, as the children were stroking him.
Boris made up his mind and went with the children. He never returned to the forest, but for the rest of his life lived happily as a domestic pig in the children's family.
Activity:
You need:
A5 size plastic wallets
A5 size cards in a variety of colours
Pens, felt-tips or crayons
Laptop computer
Printer
Discuss a "Church Welcome Pack" with the children. What details would they want to know if they were moving to a new church for the first time? Time of services? Sports clubs? Coffee mornings? Useful phone numbers? Brownies, Cubs, Youth Clubs etc? A Christian greeting? Prayers?
When you have decided which items would be useful, get the children to work in pairs and to design appropriate cards. Use one card for each different area.
If you like, transfer the children's artwork and ideas onto computer and print out. Use as a welcome pack for new people in the church.
Intercession:
Welcoming God, help us to be aware of newcomers in our congregation. Give us the skills to welcome them warmly without overwhelming them and to offer them genuine friendship.
Welcoming God, in your eyes no-one is an outsider. May we avoid condemning people by placing them in rejected groups of creed or race or behaviour, but regard everyone as an individual who is precious in your sight.
Welcoming God, may I learn to put my shyness behind me even if that means taking up my cross to follow you. Take away my fear so that I am able to approach new people in a friendly spirit. And remind me that it really is my job to welcome newcomers.
Welcoming God, we pray for all who are sick. May they know that they are loved and supported by all their friends and are deeply loved by you. We pray especially for ..
Blessing:
This week may you
Make one new friend
And make one person
especially and unexpectedly happy.
And the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you now,
be in your homes and in your families
and with all those whom you love
and for whom you pray,
now and always.
Amen.
