Grandma's Computer
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
On this Trinity Sunday let us worship together in the name of God the Creator, Jesus the Christ, and God's Holy Spirit.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we forget that you are a three-in-one God. Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes our worship is one-sided and we become skewed. Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we find theological concepts too difficult and so we don't bother to work at understanding them. Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 16:12-15 (NRSV)
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. [13] When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. [14] He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. [15] All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Story:
The doctrine of the Trinity, the three-in-one God, is difficult to understand and difficult to explain without falling into heresy! This little story attempts to make some sense out of a very ancient concept.
Grandma's Computer
Glenda was very thrilled. Her grandma had at last bought a computer, which meant that Glenda could get in touch with her whenever she wanted. Glenda thought happily of the drawings and notes she could email, and the photos from school which she could scan and send to Grandma.
On the day that Grandma's computer was due to be delivered, Glenda sent her a very special email and waited anxiously for Grandma's response. Nothing happened that day, but Glenda's Dad said it was a bit too soon to expect anything. Grandma had to get used to the computer first.
Glenda sent emails every day for a week, but received no reply from Grandma. Glenda felt a little disconsolate so left it alone for a day or two, but then she sent her latest school photo, which showed her in her netball gear. She was rather proud of it.
Still no response from Grandma.
In the end, Glenda's Dad telephoned grandma.
"I keep waiting," explained Grandma. "but nothing comes."
Glenda's Dad said, "You have to plug in the computer and switch it on at the wall. Then you have to press a little button on the tower – you know, that box thing that comes with the television screen."
"Oh!" said Grandma. "Nobody told me that!"
Glenda tried again. She resent all the previous emails and sent a new one as well, and waited for Grandma's reply. But still nothing happened.
Then quite suddenly, a week later, just when she was giving up hope of ever being able to communicate with Grandma, Glenda received her first email from Grandma. She was so excited that she telephoned Grandma and asked her how she had managed it.
"Well," confided Grandma, "that nice Mr Owens from next door popped in. He showed me how to switch on and boot up and then he told me that I needed an email programme and he found one for me. I had to choose a username and password. Then he showed me how to connect to the internet. Now I've found all those lovely emails you sent and the wonderful netball photo and I'm so delighted, that I'm going to email you every day."
Glenda was delighted too. She thought a lot about Grandma and her computer. She said to her dad, "It's no good having the equipment if you're not connected, is it? And you can't get connected until someone shows you how. My teachers showed me how at school, but poor Grandma didn't have anyone to show her how until Mr Owens helped her."
Glenda's dad nodded. "You're quite right. And I suppose God is a bit like that. A bit like a computer or a computer programme. He's there, but you have to be connected to him if you want to experience him."
Glenda frowned. "But who's the teacher? Who shows us how to connect to God?" Then her face cleared. "Oh! I get it! Jesus is the teacher and the Holy Spirit is the connection. Do you, know, I think I'll just email grandma and tell her that. She'll be thrilled."
So she did and Grandma was thrilled.
Activity:
One way of demonstrating the Trinity is by using ice, water and steam – but this is actually heretical because God exists all the time in all states. God isn't either-or, but both-and!
Jesus is God in a human being, so teaches us how to reach our own highest potential. And the Holy Spirit is God within us, so is our lifeline and our means of communicating with God.
Perhaps a way of demonstrating the relationship between the three "persons" of the Trinity is to use a perpetual motion executive toy (God) which is run by a battery (Holy Spirit). Without the battery, the toy is motionless. With the battery working, the toy is in perpetual motion. But it needs someone (Jesus) to flick the switch and start the battery.
Intercession:
Three-in-one God, help our church to be fully rounded and integrated as you are fully rounded and integrated within yourself. May we avoid prejudice and all that causes unbalance, but rest secure in you.
Three-in-one God, our world is out of balance because it favours the rich and famous. May we never forget the poor, the lonely and those who are not noticed. Help us to open our eyes and see.
Three-in-one God, we find some things easier to do than others. Help us to work on all aspects of ourselves, so that we may be ready to face any challenges.
Three-in-one God, we pray for the sick and those who mourn. May they know your love and your comfort. We remember especially...
Blessing:
May God the Holy Trinity
Fill you with his love,
Empower you for action
And lead you to do his will.
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.
