Praxis Is Left Behind
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
John the Baptist called people to repent, for he told them that the kingdom of heaven had come near. In our worship today let us explore what it means to be close to the kingdom of heaven.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, remind me to turn towards you.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, make me aware of your kingdom.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, nudge me into the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Matthew 3:1-12 (NRSV)
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, [2] "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." [3] This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.' "
[4] Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, [6] and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
[7] But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bear fruit worthy of repentance. [9] Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. [10] Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
[11] "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [12] His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Story:
John the Baptist told the people that they must repent (turn towards God) because the kingdom of God was close by. Our problem is often that we're unable to spot the kingdom of God even though it's very close to us, so we fail to appreciate it.
This is a story about Praxis, that naughty pixie whose skin changes colour according to his moods. In this story Praxis is lonely and fed up, because he thinks he has nothing to do and no friends. But then he discovers that God had given him plenty to do if only he noticed it, and had sent him plenty of friends, if only he accepted them.
Praxis Is Left Behind
Praxis, the pixie whose skin changed colour according to his moods, was very blue. His skin was as blue as blue could be. It wasn't a bright, sky blue, but the deep blue of the ocean on a winter's day. Praxis was feeling very sorry for himself and very lonely.
He had been so naughty that when all the other pixie children had been taken away on an outing, Praxis had been left behind. "We can't trust you to behave yourself, Praxis," the school teacher had said sternly, "so you must stay behind until you learn how to act in public. We can't risk any anti-social behaviour by our pixie children when they're out and about."
Praxis had begged and implored and pleaded, but in vain. Then he had changed colour to a virtuous orange and had promised faithfully to be good, but the school teacher's mind was made up and he wouldn't budge. Praxis turned an angry red and began to shout something very rude at the school teacher, whereupon the school teacher smirked knowingly and said, "There! Just as I said! You don't know how to behave!" So all the pixie children had gone on their outing, leaving Praxis behind.
Praxis slumped down against the trunk of the old oak tree. He closed his eyes tightly and prayed, "Please God, give me something to play with and find me some friends." Then he opened his eyes expectantly and waited for some toys to magically appear and a bunch of friends to come marching round the corner.
Nothing happened. Praxis sighed miserably. He picked up a handful of acorns and began to throw them at the nearest toadstool. Then he kicked at a large beetle scurrying through the leaves at his feet. Then he spotted a young squirrel peeping shyly through the fronds of some pampas grass. Feeling irritated with the young squirrel, Praxis turned dark red and got up to chase the squirrel, who fled into the branches of the oak tree where Praxis was unable to reach him.
Praxis returned to being blue. 'It's not fair,' he thought to himself. 'Everyone's having fun except me. I have no friends and nothing to play with.' And he felt quite red and angry that God had ignored his prayer.
Then he watched curiously as a little colony of ants marched through the grass at his feet, carrying a large leaf. Praxis was so intrigued that he forgot to be angry and he forgot to be blue. He began to settle into a pale lemon colour as he followed the ants to see where they were going with such urgency. He followed them to their anthill, then watched in amazement as they scurried inside with their leaf, but another colony marched out and began to follow one another in a very straight line, to find food.
Praxis watched the ants coming and going for quite a long time before he realised that he wasn't alone. While Praxis' attention had been on the ants, the young squirrel had crept close and was now sitting warily by Praxis' side.
Praxis was feeling a lot better, so this time when he saw the squirrel, he grinned. "Do you want to play hide and seek?" he asked.
The squirrel's eyes shone with delight, but he turned tail and disappeared. Praxis was just beginning to feel blue again when the squirrel returned, this time followed by all his brothers and sisters. Praxis taught them all to play hide and seek, and had a wonderful game with them.
When the pixie children returned, the school teacher called Praxis over. "Well?" he demanded. "Are you sorry now for your naughty ways? You must have had a miserable time by yourself, and that's what happens to naughty pixies."
But Praxis gazed at him with large, innocent eyes. "I've had a wonderful time," he said. "I didn't miss your outing at all because I've thrown acorns and kicked at beetles, I've watched ants and I've made a whole host of new friends. There's such a lot to see and do, even when you're by yourself. You just have to spot it."
And he smiled a broad, sunny smile as he turned a beautiful, healthy, rosy pink.
Activity:
Continue with the Jesse Tree. This week represent the prophets and kings. You could have a star of David, and a crown, and a burning bush (for Moses), and a plumb line for Amos, and pictures of the prophets or their names. You could have John the Baptist as the last of the prophets. Hang your symbols on the next branches up on your Jesse Tree.
A prayer for the hanging of the symbols:
Thank you God, for special people who teach us and lead us. Help us to be ready for Christmas so that we can welcome baby Jesus into our hearts once more. Amen.
Light again the first candle on the Advent Wreath, and light the second candle. The second candle represents the Prophets - our teachers in the faith. A prayer for lighting the second Advent candle:
We light this candle to give thanks for the prophets, who prepared the way for God's people in the Old Testament. Thank you God, for sending the prophets to help people get ready for Jesus. May we too be prepared for Jesus this Christmas. Amen.
Prayers:
God, the centre of our being, help us in the church to search diligently for you until we find you. Encourage us to look for you in the right places and remind us that you are seen within every human being and in every situation.
God, the centre of our being, help our world leaders to recognise you at the centre of their being. May all they do in politics be centred around you, so that peace may come upon our earth.
God, the centre of our being, teach us to be vulnerable in our dealings with each other. May we realise that you are always with us and that if we wish, we can be part of your kingdom right now.
God, the centre of our being, we pray especially for those who will soon be part of your kingdom after death. May those who are dying be strong and courageous as they face their final journey, knowing that they will soon be with you totally and in eternity.
Blessing:
May you look around you
to discover the kingdom of God
right now, right where you are.
And may the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be with you, be in your homes
And in your families,
With those whom you love
And with those for whom you pray,
Both now and always. Amen.
John the Baptist called people to repent, for he told them that the kingdom of heaven had come near. In our worship today let us explore what it means to be close to the kingdom of heaven.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, remind me to turn towards you.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, make me aware of your kingdom.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, nudge me into the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Matthew 3:1-12 (NRSV)
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, [2] "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." [3] This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.' "
[4] Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, [6] and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
[7] But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bear fruit worthy of repentance. [9] Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. [10] Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
[11] "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [12] His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Story:
John the Baptist told the people that they must repent (turn towards God) because the kingdom of God was close by. Our problem is often that we're unable to spot the kingdom of God even though it's very close to us, so we fail to appreciate it.
This is a story about Praxis, that naughty pixie whose skin changes colour according to his moods. In this story Praxis is lonely and fed up, because he thinks he has nothing to do and no friends. But then he discovers that God had given him plenty to do if only he noticed it, and had sent him plenty of friends, if only he accepted them.
Praxis Is Left Behind
Praxis, the pixie whose skin changed colour according to his moods, was very blue. His skin was as blue as blue could be. It wasn't a bright, sky blue, but the deep blue of the ocean on a winter's day. Praxis was feeling very sorry for himself and very lonely.
He had been so naughty that when all the other pixie children had been taken away on an outing, Praxis had been left behind. "We can't trust you to behave yourself, Praxis," the school teacher had said sternly, "so you must stay behind until you learn how to act in public. We can't risk any anti-social behaviour by our pixie children when they're out and about."
Praxis had begged and implored and pleaded, but in vain. Then he had changed colour to a virtuous orange and had promised faithfully to be good, but the school teacher's mind was made up and he wouldn't budge. Praxis turned an angry red and began to shout something very rude at the school teacher, whereupon the school teacher smirked knowingly and said, "There! Just as I said! You don't know how to behave!" So all the pixie children had gone on their outing, leaving Praxis behind.
Praxis slumped down against the trunk of the old oak tree. He closed his eyes tightly and prayed, "Please God, give me something to play with and find me some friends." Then he opened his eyes expectantly and waited for some toys to magically appear and a bunch of friends to come marching round the corner.
Nothing happened. Praxis sighed miserably. He picked up a handful of acorns and began to throw them at the nearest toadstool. Then he kicked at a large beetle scurrying through the leaves at his feet. Then he spotted a young squirrel peeping shyly through the fronds of some pampas grass. Feeling irritated with the young squirrel, Praxis turned dark red and got up to chase the squirrel, who fled into the branches of the oak tree where Praxis was unable to reach him.
Praxis returned to being blue. 'It's not fair,' he thought to himself. 'Everyone's having fun except me. I have no friends and nothing to play with.' And he felt quite red and angry that God had ignored his prayer.
Then he watched curiously as a little colony of ants marched through the grass at his feet, carrying a large leaf. Praxis was so intrigued that he forgot to be angry and he forgot to be blue. He began to settle into a pale lemon colour as he followed the ants to see where they were going with such urgency. He followed them to their anthill, then watched in amazement as they scurried inside with their leaf, but another colony marched out and began to follow one another in a very straight line, to find food.
Praxis watched the ants coming and going for quite a long time before he realised that he wasn't alone. While Praxis' attention had been on the ants, the young squirrel had crept close and was now sitting warily by Praxis' side.
Praxis was feeling a lot better, so this time when he saw the squirrel, he grinned. "Do you want to play hide and seek?" he asked.
The squirrel's eyes shone with delight, but he turned tail and disappeared. Praxis was just beginning to feel blue again when the squirrel returned, this time followed by all his brothers and sisters. Praxis taught them all to play hide and seek, and had a wonderful game with them.
When the pixie children returned, the school teacher called Praxis over. "Well?" he demanded. "Are you sorry now for your naughty ways? You must have had a miserable time by yourself, and that's what happens to naughty pixies."
But Praxis gazed at him with large, innocent eyes. "I've had a wonderful time," he said. "I didn't miss your outing at all because I've thrown acorns and kicked at beetles, I've watched ants and I've made a whole host of new friends. There's such a lot to see and do, even when you're by yourself. You just have to spot it."
And he smiled a broad, sunny smile as he turned a beautiful, healthy, rosy pink.
Activity:
Continue with the Jesse Tree. This week represent the prophets and kings. You could have a star of David, and a crown, and a burning bush (for Moses), and a plumb line for Amos, and pictures of the prophets or their names. You could have John the Baptist as the last of the prophets. Hang your symbols on the next branches up on your Jesse Tree.
A prayer for the hanging of the symbols:
Thank you God, for special people who teach us and lead us. Help us to be ready for Christmas so that we can welcome baby Jesus into our hearts once more. Amen.
Light again the first candle on the Advent Wreath, and light the second candle. The second candle represents the Prophets - our teachers in the faith. A prayer for lighting the second Advent candle:
We light this candle to give thanks for the prophets, who prepared the way for God's people in the Old Testament. Thank you God, for sending the prophets to help people get ready for Jesus. May we too be prepared for Jesus this Christmas. Amen.
Prayers:
God, the centre of our being, help us in the church to search diligently for you until we find you. Encourage us to look for you in the right places and remind us that you are seen within every human being and in every situation.
God, the centre of our being, help our world leaders to recognise you at the centre of their being. May all they do in politics be centred around you, so that peace may come upon our earth.
God, the centre of our being, teach us to be vulnerable in our dealings with each other. May we realise that you are always with us and that if we wish, we can be part of your kingdom right now.
God, the centre of our being, we pray especially for those who will soon be part of your kingdom after death. May those who are dying be strong and courageous as they face their final journey, knowing that they will soon be with you totally and in eternity.
Blessing:
May you look around you
to discover the kingdom of God
right now, right where you are.
And may the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be with you, be in your homes
And in your families,
With those whom you love
And with those for whom you pray,
Both now and always. Amen.
