Bunker Stands Alone
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus said that life would not be easy for Christians, but calls us to stand up for our beliefs. In our worship today let us acknowledge and explore the difficulties of standing as a Christian in today's society.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we find it easier to go with the flow than to stand against other people.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the number of people who ignore you.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we fail to stand up and be counted for you.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 12:49--56 (NRSV)
Story:
It's difficult to be different and to stand apart from the crowd, especially for children and young people, and it may be a long while before those who stand apart feel justified in their stance. But this what Jesus called us to do.
Bunker Stands Alone
Bunker always knew he was different, although he was never sure why. His earliest memory was running, leaping, skidding across the field with his brothers and sisters, then scooting down the passage into the burrow whenever there was a loud noise or some other sign of trouble. Bunker was never afraid at such times. He thought it was a great game and he always tried to be the last to disappear into the burrow, so that the others would know he was the bravest of them all.
Bunker had to be brave, because he was different. Being brave was the only way he felt the other rabbits would accept him.
Bunker's mother told him why he was different. "You aren't a wild rabbit," she said. "Wild rabbits always have brown fur, but your fur is the colour of coal. We discovered you when you were very tiny. You must have been born to a pet rabbit, then the owners threw you out because they couldn't look after you."
Bunker gulped down a big, black tear. "What happened then?" he asked in a small voice.
"Why, then we took you in and you became one of our family with a father and a mother and lots of brothers and sisters." And she groomed Bunker's fur in the way that he loved.
He felt better then because he was fairly sure that his parents loved him, but he still felt different. He still felt as though he didn't quite belong, so he made up for it by being the bravest and the most daring of all the rabbits.
One day, Bunker ventured into a strange field with his brothers and sisters. There were delicious green cabbages just waiting to be eaten by small and hungry rabbits. Bunker led the dive into the cabbages, but then he stopped. The cabbages smelt odd. He nibbled tentatively at the edge of a cabbage leaf. It tasted strange.
"I don't think we should eat these," he exclaimed.
His brothers started to mock him and deride him. His sisters laughed at him. "Bunker's afraid," they cried. "Bunker's a coward," crowed his brothers in delight. And they began to eat with gusto, pausing every now and then to sneer at Bunker.
"I'm not a coward," shouted Bunker angrily. "I'm not afraid!"
"Prove it then," shrieked his sisters. "Come and join us, Bunker the bunny with no guts!"
Bunker was very upset. He was tempted to dive right in there and then and eat more than all of them put together, but something still held him back. He somehow felt that it was wrong, so he hung his head in shame at his brothers' taunts and went on feeling hurt by his sisters' scorn, but he didn't join in.
When they all went home, Bunker's parents were cross with him. "All that good food and you didn't eat any?" they scolded. "Then it's off to bed with no supper for you. You're such a naughty bunny."
Bunker felt angry and miserable and hurt and upset and stupid, all at the same time. How could he have been such a fool? He was now very hungry indeed.
Next day, Bunker's whole family went back to the cabbage field, but Bunker refused to go with them. He had to stay at home and nibble what little grass he could find. He went on feeling very hungry indeed.
Over the coming weeks and months the whole rabbit colony raided the cabbage field. They ate and they ate and they ate, until they were all fat and sleepy. But Bunker remained thin and hungry and alone.
Some months later, when the cabbages were finished and all but forgotten, one of Bunker's brothers found he had difficulty moving his leg. He was quickly followed by another brother and a sister. Gradually the whole family became full of aches and pains and had difficulty in walking. Gone were the games and the fun, for it spread throughout the whole colony and only Bunker was unaffected.
They sent for the rabbit doctor. As he examined each rabbit in turn, his face grew long and sombre.
"What have you eaten?" he asked. "It looks as though you've eaten food which has been sprayed by the farmer. You all have rabbit paralysis, all except Bunker."
Bunker nursed all those rabbits back to health all by himself. And after that, they always believed him when he warned them. Bunker never again had to stand alone.
Activity:
You need:
Pocket--size cards and pens for each child.
Play a game with the children. Gather everybody at one end of the room, then tell everyone with blue eyes to run to the other end. Tell everyone with brown eyes to run to the middle. This may include everyone, or you may have one or two people left who have grey or hazel or green eyes. Make a mental note of who's left.
Gather everyone at the end again and tell everyone who is wearing trainers to run to the other end. Again, note who is left.
Continue in this vein, thus isolating first two people, then one person. There are all sorts of examples you can use, like those who like beefburgers, those who are vegetarian, those who own playstations, those who walk to school etc.
At the end of the game, gather all the children together and ask who enjoyed the game. Find out whether those who were isolated enjoyed being isolated. How did it feel to be alone? Was it difficult? Would they have preferred to be like the rest?
Go on to discuss how difficult it might be to stand up for Jesus or for truth or for right. Tell the story of Peter's denial of Jesus (Matthew 26:69--75 or Mark 14:66--72) and ask why Peter denied Jesus?
Finally, give out the cards and pens and invite the children to write and illustrate a prayer which they feel they could use if they ever find themselves standing alone. Collect in the cards and pray through them, then let the children take their cards home with them.
Prayers:
Courageous God, you have taught us that your ways are not necessarily the same as the ways of our society. Help us in your church to determine the right ways and to reject the wrong ways. When society despises us, give us the courage to stand up and be counted.
Courageous God, may Christians throughout the world stand for truth and justice and the well--being of all humanity. May we never rest while our televisions show pictures of deprivation, disaster and suffering, but do all that we can to right the inequalies in our world.
Courageous God, when hurt and pain and scorn come our way because we are Christians, give us the strength to stand proudly for what we know to be right. May we never deny you in order to be one of the crowd, but do always what is right in your eyes.
Courageous God, we pray for the sick and bereaved and for those who are sad or lonely, anxious or depressed. May they know you as their friend and helper, and may their burdens be eased. We name before you for your healing touch.....
Blessing:
May you know such love in your hearts
that you stand strong and carefree
before the Lord.
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.
Jesus said that life would not be easy for Christians, but calls us to stand up for our beliefs. In our worship today let us acknowledge and explore the difficulties of standing as a Christian in today's society.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we find it easier to go with the flow than to stand against other people.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the number of people who ignore you.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we fail to stand up and be counted for you.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 12:49--56 (NRSV)
Story:
It's difficult to be different and to stand apart from the crowd, especially for children and young people, and it may be a long while before those who stand apart feel justified in their stance. But this what Jesus called us to do.
Bunker Stands Alone
Bunker always knew he was different, although he was never sure why. His earliest memory was running, leaping, skidding across the field with his brothers and sisters, then scooting down the passage into the burrow whenever there was a loud noise or some other sign of trouble. Bunker was never afraid at such times. He thought it was a great game and he always tried to be the last to disappear into the burrow, so that the others would know he was the bravest of them all.
Bunker had to be brave, because he was different. Being brave was the only way he felt the other rabbits would accept him.
Bunker's mother told him why he was different. "You aren't a wild rabbit," she said. "Wild rabbits always have brown fur, but your fur is the colour of coal. We discovered you when you were very tiny. You must have been born to a pet rabbit, then the owners threw you out because they couldn't look after you."
Bunker gulped down a big, black tear. "What happened then?" he asked in a small voice.
"Why, then we took you in and you became one of our family with a father and a mother and lots of brothers and sisters." And she groomed Bunker's fur in the way that he loved.
He felt better then because he was fairly sure that his parents loved him, but he still felt different. He still felt as though he didn't quite belong, so he made up for it by being the bravest and the most daring of all the rabbits.
One day, Bunker ventured into a strange field with his brothers and sisters. There were delicious green cabbages just waiting to be eaten by small and hungry rabbits. Bunker led the dive into the cabbages, but then he stopped. The cabbages smelt odd. He nibbled tentatively at the edge of a cabbage leaf. It tasted strange.
"I don't think we should eat these," he exclaimed.
His brothers started to mock him and deride him. His sisters laughed at him. "Bunker's afraid," they cried. "Bunker's a coward," crowed his brothers in delight. And they began to eat with gusto, pausing every now and then to sneer at Bunker.
"I'm not a coward," shouted Bunker angrily. "I'm not afraid!"
"Prove it then," shrieked his sisters. "Come and join us, Bunker the bunny with no guts!"
Bunker was very upset. He was tempted to dive right in there and then and eat more than all of them put together, but something still held him back. He somehow felt that it was wrong, so he hung his head in shame at his brothers' taunts and went on feeling hurt by his sisters' scorn, but he didn't join in.
When they all went home, Bunker's parents were cross with him. "All that good food and you didn't eat any?" they scolded. "Then it's off to bed with no supper for you. You're such a naughty bunny."
Bunker felt angry and miserable and hurt and upset and stupid, all at the same time. How could he have been such a fool? He was now very hungry indeed.
Next day, Bunker's whole family went back to the cabbage field, but Bunker refused to go with them. He had to stay at home and nibble what little grass he could find. He went on feeling very hungry indeed.
Over the coming weeks and months the whole rabbit colony raided the cabbage field. They ate and they ate and they ate, until they were all fat and sleepy. But Bunker remained thin and hungry and alone.
Some months later, when the cabbages were finished and all but forgotten, one of Bunker's brothers found he had difficulty moving his leg. He was quickly followed by another brother and a sister. Gradually the whole family became full of aches and pains and had difficulty in walking. Gone were the games and the fun, for it spread throughout the whole colony and only Bunker was unaffected.
They sent for the rabbit doctor. As he examined each rabbit in turn, his face grew long and sombre.
"What have you eaten?" he asked. "It looks as though you've eaten food which has been sprayed by the farmer. You all have rabbit paralysis, all except Bunker."
Bunker nursed all those rabbits back to health all by himself. And after that, they always believed him when he warned them. Bunker never again had to stand alone.
Activity:
You need:
Pocket--size cards and pens for each child.
Play a game with the children. Gather everybody at one end of the room, then tell everyone with blue eyes to run to the other end. Tell everyone with brown eyes to run to the middle. This may include everyone, or you may have one or two people left who have grey or hazel or green eyes. Make a mental note of who's left.
Gather everyone at the end again and tell everyone who is wearing trainers to run to the other end. Again, note who is left.
Continue in this vein, thus isolating first two people, then one person. There are all sorts of examples you can use, like those who like beefburgers, those who are vegetarian, those who own playstations, those who walk to school etc.
At the end of the game, gather all the children together and ask who enjoyed the game. Find out whether those who were isolated enjoyed being isolated. How did it feel to be alone? Was it difficult? Would they have preferred to be like the rest?
Go on to discuss how difficult it might be to stand up for Jesus or for truth or for right. Tell the story of Peter's denial of Jesus (Matthew 26:69--75 or Mark 14:66--72) and ask why Peter denied Jesus?
Finally, give out the cards and pens and invite the children to write and illustrate a prayer which they feel they could use if they ever find themselves standing alone. Collect in the cards and pray through them, then let the children take their cards home with them.
Prayers:
Courageous God, you have taught us that your ways are not necessarily the same as the ways of our society. Help us in your church to determine the right ways and to reject the wrong ways. When society despises us, give us the courage to stand up and be counted.
Courageous God, may Christians throughout the world stand for truth and justice and the well--being of all humanity. May we never rest while our televisions show pictures of deprivation, disaster and suffering, but do all that we can to right the inequalies in our world.
Courageous God, when hurt and pain and scorn come our way because we are Christians, give us the strength to stand proudly for what we know to be right. May we never deny you in order to be one of the crowd, but do always what is right in your eyes.
Courageous God, we pray for the sick and bereaved and for those who are sad or lonely, anxious or depressed. May they know you as their friend and helper, and may their burdens be eased. We name before you for your healing touch.....
Blessing:
May you know such love in your hearts
that you stand strong and carefree
before the Lord.
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.