Dandy's Choice
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. If you want to know him, listen to his voice today.
Invitation to Confession:
Reading:
John 10:11-18
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. [13] The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. [17] For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. [18] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
Story:
Children have romantic ideas of adventure and excitement, but rarely see the cost behind the sacrifice of a life. This is a very simple story about Dandy, who gave up her life but discovered something wonderful.
Dandy's Choice
Dandy was frightened. She had never before heard her mother speak in such solemn tones.
"Children," Mrs Dandelion had said. "The time has come. Your colour has gone and you've all grown into beautiful dandelion clocks, so that the wind may huff and puff and blow you away. That's the way things work. So get ready. Be prepared to let go of your stalks and soar, soar, soar high up into the sky."
"I'm not doing that!" exclaimed Deep Yellow. Deep Yellow was the oldest of the dandelion children, and was usually the spokesman. He had been very proud of his deep yellow colour and was finding it difficult now that he was grey and wispy. "If we do that," he continued, "we're dead! We'll never see you again, Mother, and we'll never see each other again, either. I'm not going. I shall cling to my stalk for ever and ever."
There was a murmur of assent from all the other dandelion children.
Mrs Dandelion sighed. This was a difficult moment for her. "Children," she tried again, "if you don't go, awful things may happen to you - "
" - nothing can be worse than dying!" interrupted Deep Yellow, rudely. And all the dandelion children except Dandy began to sing in chorus, "We're not going! We're not going!"
Dandy was anxious for her mother. She could sense Mrs Dandelion's distress and she wanted to help, but poor Mrs Dandelion wasn't very good at expressing herself. She only had the vaguest notion that something bad might happen to her children if they didn't let go, and she only had the vaguest notion that something good would happen if they did let go.
"I'll go, Mother," said Dandy quietly. Mrs Dandelion wept with relief. All at once she knew deep down inside that her family would be saved through Dandy, although she didn't know how. Dandy's brothers and sisters continued to laugh and jeer at her, but they fell quiet with something like admiration as they saw Dandy deliberately loosening her hold on the stalk.
Dandy was frightened, and just before she let go, she nearly changed her mind. She didn't want to die, either. But somehow, she knew her mother was right and with a final flick she twisted herself free from the stalk. Then she was soaring high, high, high in the sky.
It was a strangely wonderful feeling floating on the breeze. Then Dandy felt herself begin to separate into tiny seeds and drift down to earth again. She had no idea how long she lay unconscious in the earth, for at times she felt cold and wet. But when she eventually opened her eyes again the sun was shining and the sky was blue. Dandy looked down and saw that a miracle had happened. She had given birth. All the little seeds of her had taken root and were beginning to grow into beautiful, tall yellow dandelions.
'My own children!' thought Dandy in amazement. 'I'm so glad I let go, for now I've been born again and I know that we dandelions will live for ever.'
But as for her brothers and sisters, they were all sprayed with weed killer and they never lived again.
Activity:
There are many ways to present the parable of the Good Shepherd to children. Godly Play uses beautifully crafted materials to tell the story slowly, inviting children to wonder aloud at the story. And there are many delightful glove puppets of sheep, or soft toy sheep, which can be used to attract children's attention and bring the story to life, especially if a glove puppet wolf or fox is used as well.
You need:
Cardboard cutouts of sheep - one for each child
Cotton wool (preferably small balls)
Glue
Felt tip pens
Glue the cotton wool onto the cardboard cutouts, and colour in a face with the felt tip pens. On the back, invite the child to write his or her name then add: "known and loved by Jesus." If you wish, you could extend this exercise by asking the children to make sheep for each member of the congregation, and give them out at some point during the service.
Diary Time:
Explain to the children that in the Middle East, sheep folds have no gate but simply a gap through which the sheep wander. A good shepherd would form the gate himself, by lying across the gap and so preventing wild animals from ravaging the sheep. In this country sheep are driven from behind by a shepherd and/or sheep dog, but in the Middle East the shepherd walks in front and the sheep follow their shepherd. For this to work, every sheep must know its own shepherd.
Invite the children to draw a picture of this.
Some of them may be able to think of times when other people have made sacrifices for them, or they have made sacrifices for others. They may like to write about this in their diaries, for every sacrifice is a little death in which we give something of ourselves in order that others might live a little better.
Intercession:
Good Shepherd, we pray for all who know themselves to be in your fold. Keep them safe and bless them. We pray too for those who are not in your fold either because they have strayed from it or because they don't know it's there. We ask you to keep them safe too, and to bless them.
Good Shepherd, we pray for all our leaders and teachers. May they be good shepherds of their flocks, always keeping the interests of their sheep at heart. May they so love their flock that they are prepared to lay down their lives for their flock.
Good Shepherd, help us to welcome other sheep into our fold. May we always keep the door open, knowing that you are the door and will protect us from all evil. Help us to give ourselves for your sheep, just as you gave yourself for us long ago, and continue to give yourself for us today.
Good Shepherd, may those who are sick or sad be healed by your touch. May they feel your love pouring into them, giving them hope and health. we name them before you now...
Blessing:
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. If you want to know him, listen to his voice today.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we fail to hear your voice.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we wilfully ignore your voice.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we wander far from the fold.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 10:11-18
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. [13] The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. [17] For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. [18] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
Story:
Children have romantic ideas of adventure and excitement, but rarely see the cost behind the sacrifice of a life. This is a very simple story about Dandy, who gave up her life but discovered something wonderful.
Dandy's Choice
Dandy was frightened. She had never before heard her mother speak in such solemn tones.
"Children," Mrs Dandelion had said. "The time has come. Your colour has gone and you've all grown into beautiful dandelion clocks, so that the wind may huff and puff and blow you away. That's the way things work. So get ready. Be prepared to let go of your stalks and soar, soar, soar high up into the sky."
"I'm not doing that!" exclaimed Deep Yellow. Deep Yellow was the oldest of the dandelion children, and was usually the spokesman. He had been very proud of his deep yellow colour and was finding it difficult now that he was grey and wispy. "If we do that," he continued, "we're dead! We'll never see you again, Mother, and we'll never see each other again, either. I'm not going. I shall cling to my stalk for ever and ever."
There was a murmur of assent from all the other dandelion children.
Mrs Dandelion sighed. This was a difficult moment for her. "Children," she tried again, "if you don't go, awful things may happen to you - "
" - nothing can be worse than dying!" interrupted Deep Yellow, rudely. And all the dandelion children except Dandy began to sing in chorus, "We're not going! We're not going!"
Dandy was anxious for her mother. She could sense Mrs Dandelion's distress and she wanted to help, but poor Mrs Dandelion wasn't very good at expressing herself. She only had the vaguest notion that something bad might happen to her children if they didn't let go, and she only had the vaguest notion that something good would happen if they did let go.
"I'll go, Mother," said Dandy quietly. Mrs Dandelion wept with relief. All at once she knew deep down inside that her family would be saved through Dandy, although she didn't know how. Dandy's brothers and sisters continued to laugh and jeer at her, but they fell quiet with something like admiration as they saw Dandy deliberately loosening her hold on the stalk.
Dandy was frightened, and just before she let go, she nearly changed her mind. She didn't want to die, either. But somehow, she knew her mother was right and with a final flick she twisted herself free from the stalk. Then she was soaring high, high, high in the sky.
It was a strangely wonderful feeling floating on the breeze. Then Dandy felt herself begin to separate into tiny seeds and drift down to earth again. She had no idea how long she lay unconscious in the earth, for at times she felt cold and wet. But when she eventually opened her eyes again the sun was shining and the sky was blue. Dandy looked down and saw that a miracle had happened. She had given birth. All the little seeds of her had taken root and were beginning to grow into beautiful, tall yellow dandelions.
'My own children!' thought Dandy in amazement. 'I'm so glad I let go, for now I've been born again and I know that we dandelions will live for ever.'
But as for her brothers and sisters, they were all sprayed with weed killer and they never lived again.
Activity:
There are many ways to present the parable of the Good Shepherd to children. Godly Play uses beautifully crafted materials to tell the story slowly, inviting children to wonder aloud at the story. And there are many delightful glove puppets of sheep, or soft toy sheep, which can be used to attract children's attention and bring the story to life, especially if a glove puppet wolf or fox is used as well.
You need:
Cardboard cutouts of sheep - one for each child
Cotton wool (preferably small balls)
Glue
Felt tip pens
Glue the cotton wool onto the cardboard cutouts, and colour in a face with the felt tip pens. On the back, invite the child to write his or her name then add: "known and loved by Jesus." If you wish, you could extend this exercise by asking the children to make sheep for each member of the congregation, and give them out at some point during the service.
Diary Time:
Explain to the children that in the Middle East, sheep folds have no gate but simply a gap through which the sheep wander. A good shepherd would form the gate himself, by lying across the gap and so preventing wild animals from ravaging the sheep. In this country sheep are driven from behind by a shepherd and/or sheep dog, but in the Middle East the shepherd walks in front and the sheep follow their shepherd. For this to work, every sheep must know its own shepherd.
Invite the children to draw a picture of this.
Some of them may be able to think of times when other people have made sacrifices for them, or they have made sacrifices for others. They may like to write about this in their diaries, for every sacrifice is a little death in which we give something of ourselves in order that others might live a little better.
Intercession:
Good Shepherd, we pray for all who know themselves to be in your fold. Keep them safe and bless them. We pray too for those who are not in your fold either because they have strayed from it or because they don't know it's there. We ask you to keep them safe too, and to bless them.
Good Shepherd, we pray for all our leaders and teachers. May they be good shepherds of their flocks, always keeping the interests of their sheep at heart. May they so love their flock that they are prepared to lay down their lives for their flock.
Good Shepherd, help us to welcome other sheep into our fold. May we always keep the door open, knowing that you are the door and will protect us from all evil. Help us to give ourselves for your sheep, just as you gave yourself for us long ago, and continue to give yourself for us today.
Good Shepherd, may those who are sick or sad be healed by your touch. May they feel your love pouring into them, giving them hope and health. we name them before you now...
Blessing:
May you be kept safe by the Good Shepherd.
May you follow the Good Shepherd every day of your life.
May you learn shepherding skills
and use them in caring for others.
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.
