The Apple Pip
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
His friends and followers said to Jesus, "Increase our faith!" In our worship today let us explore faith and ask that he might increase our faith too.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I feel anxious and worried.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I find it hard to believe that you will always care for me.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I envy other people because of their great faith.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 17:5-10 (NRSV)
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" [6] The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
[7] "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? [8] Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? [9] Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? [10] So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!' "
Story:
A mustard seed is about the size of a grain of rice, but grows into a tree large enough and leafy enough to offer shade. We only need about as much faith as grain of rice to make all the difference to our lives.
In this story, Toby Mouse and Fluffy Cat doubt each other, with sad consequences.
The Apple Pip
"How big," asked Toby Mouse, "is a mustard seed? Is it as big as a house?"
Fluffy Cat paused. She was sitting on her red velvet cushion, fastidiously washing her pure white fur. She had no idea how big mustard seeds were, but she didn't want to appear ignorant to her tiny friend. "Not quite," she said thoughtfully.
Toby Mouse danced around her, making her tail swish. She hated it when he did that, but he was always so persistent. "Well, how big then? As big as -as -" Toby Mouse searched for inspiration. "As big as a chair?"
Fluffy Cat thought that was unlikely. She had a hazy idea about seeds because once when her Master had planted some she had immediately dug them all up with her claws and had been shouted at for her trouble. Her Master had even thrown an old boot at her. Fluffy Cat bridled at the undignified memory.
She shook her head. "Not as big as a chair. Humans have to carry seeds in their hands, so they can't be too big."
"Oh!" Toby Mouse hadn't thought of that. "What exactly are seeds, then?" he wanted to know.
Fluffy Cat was on safer ground here. "You plant them in the ground and they grow into plants and things."
"Oh!" Toby Mouse ceased his aggravating dancing as he digested this piece of information. "Like daffodils, you mean?"
"Hmm," murmured Fluffy Cat uncertainly. Then she brightened. "More like those little pips you get inside apples. They're kind of seeds. If you plant those, you get apple trees."
Toby Mouse's eyes widened and he gasped. "D'you mean that just one of those tiny pips will grow into a whole tree? That can't be true! They're so small and trees are so big. How could something that small grow into something so big? You must be wrong!"
Fluffy Cat was annoyed. She was fairly sure that she was right, but not absolutely certain. Put like that, it did sound a bit unlikely, but she wasn't about to admit that to Toby Mouse. Fluffy Cat yawned. "You mice are so stupid," she said, crossly. "If you had half a brain cell, you'd know." Then she curled up on her red velvet cushion and closed her eyes.
Toby spent a little longer doing his best to irritate Fluffy Cat by pulling her whiskers and dancing on her cushion, but she took no notice. Besides, he wanted to know the answer to his question and it was clear that Fluffy Cat wasn't going to help any further.
Toby Mouse darted back into his little house behind the skirting board and nibbled a piece of cheese to help him think. Then he had a blinding flash of inspiration. He would plant an apple seed and see what happened!
Toby ran out of his little house and began to rummage through the rubbish bin. He discovered a half-eaten apple core and settled down to enjoy the rest, but he made sure to keep the pips in his mouth. Then he scampered outside, found a patch of earth and began to dig. When he thought the hole was big enough he spat the pips into it and covered it up again. Then he went back indoors to tell Fluffy Cat how clever he had been.
Toby Mouse went out every day to look at the patch of earth, but nothing happened. After a while he began to jeer at Fluffy Cat, "You think you're so clever! But you're wrong! Pips don't grow into trees - I've proved it!"
Fluffy Cat was angry and upset and felt very foolish, all at the same time. She didn't like being proved wrong. She refused to play any more with Toby Cat and she chased him away when he came to share her food. They became enemies instead of friends and spent their time growling and spitting at each other.
Then one day, many months later, Fluffy Cat wandered out into the garden. She was astonished to discover a tiny apple tree emerging from the soil where Toby Mouse had buried the apple pips. Fluffy Cat forgot how much she hated Toby Mouse. She forgot that they were enemies now and didn't play together any more. And she forgot her dignity. She raced into the house, calling for Toby. "Come outside! Come and see what I've found!"
Toby Mouse was so intrigued that he too forgot that they were enemies. He forgot that Fluffy Cat didn't share her food any more. And he forgot that they didn't play together or talk to each other. He scampered outside and stared in amazement.
"You were right, Fluffy Cat," he said humbly.
"But you were the one who proved it," Fluffy Cat responded magnanimously.
"You know," said Toby Mouse thoughtfully, curling up beside Fluffy Cat on the red velvet cushion. "If I'd believed in and trusted you, and you'd believed in and trusted yourself, about as much as that tiny apple pip, we'd never have had all these months of hating each other. We only needed a tiny seed of faith but we couldn't find it and that ruined our lives. I'm sorry, Fluffy Cat. I'll never doubt you again."
Fluffy Cat preened a little and washed her whiskers. Then she settled down to sleep, keeping only half an eye on Toby Mouse.
Activity:
You need:
An empty yoghurt pot for each child
White paper
Scissors
Glue
Felt tip pens or crayons
Kitchen roll
Cotton wool
Packet of mustard cress seeds
Water
Wash the yoghurt pot and peel off the wrapper. Cut the white paper to size and glue it onto the outside of the pot.
Paint on it eyes, a nose and a mouth, to make a face.
Wet some scrunched-up kitchen roll and push this into the pot followed by a thin damp layer of cotton wool, leaving a gap of about 2cm below the top of the pot.
Sprinkle a mixture of the mustard cress seeds on top of the cotton wool pressing them down lightly. Point out how small the seeds are and explain that this is mustard cress, but that mustard seeds are not much bigger. Tell the children that mustard seeds grow into trees large enough for birds to roost in them, but that these seeds will grow into green "hair" on their pot person. Tell the children that if they believe and trust in Jesus just a tiny amount, Jesus can use that tiny amount of faith to help them.
Tell the children to take the pot home and leave the pot in a warm light place. They can look daily for signs of growth which should happen after about a week, but they need to check that the cotton wool remains damp and add a little water if necessary. Let them bring their pots back when the hair is fully grown and if you like, make sandwiches using the cress.
Prayers:
Faithful God, you are always there when we need you and always ready to help us. Help our tiny amount of faith to grow big and strong so that we in the church are ready and able to work with you.
Faithful God, the world situation sometimes seems hopeless for there are always wars and violence and hatred amongst people. Give us sufficient faith to trust and believe that you hear our prayers and act upon them in your own good time.
Faithful God, I often forget you in my daily life, for there is so much to do. But I know that you never forget me. Increase my faith so that my tiny mustard seed grows into a big, strong tree.
Faithful God, when those we love are sick or in trouble, we have nowhere else to turn. Help them and heal them, Lord, as we name them before you.....
Blessing:
May you have the faith to move mountains,
To grow in strength
and to trust utterly in the Lord your God.
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.
His friends and followers said to Jesus, "Increase our faith!" In our worship today let us explore faith and ask that he might increase our faith too.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I feel anxious and worried.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I find it hard to believe that you will always care for me.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I envy other people because of their great faith.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 17:5-10 (NRSV)
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" [6] The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
[7] "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? [8] Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? [9] Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? [10] So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!' "
Story:
A mustard seed is about the size of a grain of rice, but grows into a tree large enough and leafy enough to offer shade. We only need about as much faith as grain of rice to make all the difference to our lives.
In this story, Toby Mouse and Fluffy Cat doubt each other, with sad consequences.
The Apple Pip
"How big," asked Toby Mouse, "is a mustard seed? Is it as big as a house?"
Fluffy Cat paused. She was sitting on her red velvet cushion, fastidiously washing her pure white fur. She had no idea how big mustard seeds were, but she didn't want to appear ignorant to her tiny friend. "Not quite," she said thoughtfully.
Toby Mouse danced around her, making her tail swish. She hated it when he did that, but he was always so persistent. "Well, how big then? As big as -as -" Toby Mouse searched for inspiration. "As big as a chair?"
Fluffy Cat thought that was unlikely. She had a hazy idea about seeds because once when her Master had planted some she had immediately dug them all up with her claws and had been shouted at for her trouble. Her Master had even thrown an old boot at her. Fluffy Cat bridled at the undignified memory.
She shook her head. "Not as big as a chair. Humans have to carry seeds in their hands, so they can't be too big."
"Oh!" Toby Mouse hadn't thought of that. "What exactly are seeds, then?" he wanted to know.
Fluffy Cat was on safer ground here. "You plant them in the ground and they grow into plants and things."
"Oh!" Toby Mouse ceased his aggravating dancing as he digested this piece of information. "Like daffodils, you mean?"
"Hmm," murmured Fluffy Cat uncertainly. Then she brightened. "More like those little pips you get inside apples. They're kind of seeds. If you plant those, you get apple trees."
Toby Mouse's eyes widened and he gasped. "D'you mean that just one of those tiny pips will grow into a whole tree? That can't be true! They're so small and trees are so big. How could something that small grow into something so big? You must be wrong!"
Fluffy Cat was annoyed. She was fairly sure that she was right, but not absolutely certain. Put like that, it did sound a bit unlikely, but she wasn't about to admit that to Toby Mouse. Fluffy Cat yawned. "You mice are so stupid," she said, crossly. "If you had half a brain cell, you'd know." Then she curled up on her red velvet cushion and closed her eyes.
Toby spent a little longer doing his best to irritate Fluffy Cat by pulling her whiskers and dancing on her cushion, but she took no notice. Besides, he wanted to know the answer to his question and it was clear that Fluffy Cat wasn't going to help any further.
Toby Mouse darted back into his little house behind the skirting board and nibbled a piece of cheese to help him think. Then he had a blinding flash of inspiration. He would plant an apple seed and see what happened!
Toby ran out of his little house and began to rummage through the rubbish bin. He discovered a half-eaten apple core and settled down to enjoy the rest, but he made sure to keep the pips in his mouth. Then he scampered outside, found a patch of earth and began to dig. When he thought the hole was big enough he spat the pips into it and covered it up again. Then he went back indoors to tell Fluffy Cat how clever he had been.
Toby Mouse went out every day to look at the patch of earth, but nothing happened. After a while he began to jeer at Fluffy Cat, "You think you're so clever! But you're wrong! Pips don't grow into trees - I've proved it!"
Fluffy Cat was angry and upset and felt very foolish, all at the same time. She didn't like being proved wrong. She refused to play any more with Toby Cat and she chased him away when he came to share her food. They became enemies instead of friends and spent their time growling and spitting at each other.
Then one day, many months later, Fluffy Cat wandered out into the garden. She was astonished to discover a tiny apple tree emerging from the soil where Toby Mouse had buried the apple pips. Fluffy Cat forgot how much she hated Toby Mouse. She forgot that they were enemies now and didn't play together any more. And she forgot her dignity. She raced into the house, calling for Toby. "Come outside! Come and see what I've found!"
Toby Mouse was so intrigued that he too forgot that they were enemies. He forgot that Fluffy Cat didn't share her food any more. And he forgot that they didn't play together or talk to each other. He scampered outside and stared in amazement.
"You were right, Fluffy Cat," he said humbly.
"But you were the one who proved it," Fluffy Cat responded magnanimously.
"You know," said Toby Mouse thoughtfully, curling up beside Fluffy Cat on the red velvet cushion. "If I'd believed in and trusted you, and you'd believed in and trusted yourself, about as much as that tiny apple pip, we'd never have had all these months of hating each other. We only needed a tiny seed of faith but we couldn't find it and that ruined our lives. I'm sorry, Fluffy Cat. I'll never doubt you again."
Fluffy Cat preened a little and washed her whiskers. Then she settled down to sleep, keeping only half an eye on Toby Mouse.
Activity:
You need:
An empty yoghurt pot for each child
White paper
Scissors
Glue
Felt tip pens or crayons
Kitchen roll
Cotton wool
Packet of mustard cress seeds
Water
Wash the yoghurt pot and peel off the wrapper. Cut the white paper to size and glue it onto the outside of the pot.
Paint on it eyes, a nose and a mouth, to make a face.
Wet some scrunched-up kitchen roll and push this into the pot followed by a thin damp layer of cotton wool, leaving a gap of about 2cm below the top of the pot.
Sprinkle a mixture of the mustard cress seeds on top of the cotton wool pressing them down lightly. Point out how small the seeds are and explain that this is mustard cress, but that mustard seeds are not much bigger. Tell the children that mustard seeds grow into trees large enough for birds to roost in them, but that these seeds will grow into green "hair" on their pot person. Tell the children that if they believe and trust in Jesus just a tiny amount, Jesus can use that tiny amount of faith to help them.
Tell the children to take the pot home and leave the pot in a warm light place. They can look daily for signs of growth which should happen after about a week, but they need to check that the cotton wool remains damp and add a little water if necessary. Let them bring their pots back when the hair is fully grown and if you like, make sandwiches using the cress.
Prayers:
Faithful God, you are always there when we need you and always ready to help us. Help our tiny amount of faith to grow big and strong so that we in the church are ready and able to work with you.
Faithful God, the world situation sometimes seems hopeless for there are always wars and violence and hatred amongst people. Give us sufficient faith to trust and believe that you hear our prayers and act upon them in your own good time.
Faithful God, I often forget you in my daily life, for there is so much to do. But I know that you never forget me. Increase my faith so that my tiny mustard seed grows into a big, strong tree.
Faithful God, when those we love are sick or in trouble, we have nowhere else to turn. Help them and heal them, Lord, as we name them before you.....
Blessing:
May you have the faith to move mountains,
To grow in strength
and to trust utterly in the Lord your God.
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.
