Fluffy Cat Meets Toby Mouse
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus told a story about someone who was unexpectedly full of kindness and compassion. In our worship today, let us ask ourselves whether we are Good Samaritans to those who really need our help.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we fail to notice those who are outside our own social sphere.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are so disgusted by poverty that we turn away.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we too walk by on the other side.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV)
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" [26] He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" [27] He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." [28] And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."
[29] But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" [30] Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. [31] Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. [32] So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. [33] But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. [34] He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [35] The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' [36] Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" [37] He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Story:
Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan to show that the most unexpected people can be full of God's spirit of generosity and compassion.
This is a story about Fluffy Cat and Toby Mouse, in which Fluffy Cat realises that not all mice are her sworn enemies.
Fluffy Cat Meets Toby Mouse
Fluffy Cat was a pampered pet. She was very beautiful, with a long, soft coat which was pure white. Most of her time she spent sitting on a red velvet cushion in the kitchen, washing and grooming her gorgeous fur. She preferred red velvet, because it showed off her fur to splendid advantage.
Most of the time she sat there, but despite her languid appearance, she always kept half an eye open to see what was going on around her. Just occasionally from the corner of her half open eye, Fluffy Cat would spot a tiny movement. Then she would spring with amazing liquid speed.
The family of mice who lived in a hole in the skirting board were terrified of Fluffy Cat. Whenever they timidly ventured so much as a trembling whisker into the kitchen, Fluffy Cat would pounce. It was almost impossible to gather food, for Fluffy Cat guarded even the tiniest of crumbs. Fluffy Cat hated the mice, and The Family who owned the house praised and petted Fluffy Cat and rewarded her with even finer food whenever she caught a mouse.
Toby Mouse was bolder than his brothers and sisters. He was also clever. He thought of a plan. "You distract Fluffy Cat by squeaking loudly, but never set foot out of the hole," he told his brothers and sisters. "I'll sneak up to Fluffy Cat's bowl and steal some of her food, enough to feed us all for a week. She won't even notice that it's gone."
But Fluffy Cat did notice and she hissed and spat with rage. She was furious that Toby Mouse had outwitted her and even more furious when he outwitted her again and again using the same plan. Somehow, once those mice began to squeak, Fluffy Cat never could bring herself to stay put. She instantly sprang off the velvet cushion and prepared to attack.
The Mouse family grew sleek and fat.
One hot summer's day, the kitchen door was left open. Fluffy Cat, preening herself on her red velvet cushion, failed to notice the large dog sniffing at the door, until she heard an ugly growl. She sprang off the cushion immediately, arching her back, showing her claws and hissing threateningly, but it was no good. The dog took no notice. He simply advanced on Fluffy Cat, his jaws slavering and a malicious gleam in his eyes.
Since the dog filled the whole doorway, there was no escape. Fluffy Cat was trapped. She shrieked in despair.
Suddenly a hoard of tiny mice appeared as if from nowhere. Led by Toby Mouse, they surrounded the dog, squeaking and chattering, nipping and darting hither and thither. The dog was flummoxed. He didn't know which way to turn. While he was diverted by the mice, Fluffy Cat slipped past him and fled into the safety of the garden.
After that, Fluffy Cat and Toby Mouse struck up a warm friendship and Fluffy Cat always shared her food with Toby Mouse, who continued to feed his whole family.
"You never know," thought Fluffy Cat wonderingly, "who your real friends are until you need them." Then she washed herself thoroughly, groomed her fur, lay down on her red velvet cushion and went to sleep, keeping one eye half open.
Activity:
You need:
A flip chart or whiteboard
Pens
A large sheet of paper
Felt tip pens for the children to use.
Elicit from the children a list of predatory animals and those they hunt, e.g, fox and chickens, eagle and rabbits, lions and antelope, etc. Write the lists on the board.
Ask the children why the predators hunt those particular animals (usually for food, although there may be instances of fear or simply aggression.)
Ask whether the predators themselves are ever hunted? (Sometimes by other animals, sometimes by human beings.)
Ask whether the children think it is a good thing or a bad thing for humans to hunt (kill) animals. They may decide that it is OK to hunt or kill animals for food, but not for any other reason.
Then go on to discuss the way human beings "hunt" each other - football hooligans, race riots, beating up paedophiles, excluding strangers by not including them, bullying at school.
Ask whether there might be a different way and how how we might make things better (being inclusive in our own small circles, refusing to take part in bullying or gang activities, welcoming newcomers etc.)
Finally, get the children to draw and colour a large picture of the story of the Good Samaritan. Round the edge, write the names of groups of people who tend to be excluded by our society or in school (travellers, children who look or act differently to the rest, sometimes children with disabilities or behavioural disorders). Also write the names of groups who don't act compassionately (football hooligans, vandals etc) and put a large red cross through each, both to indicate that Jesus died for them too and that we shouldn't therefore hate them, and to show that their behaviour is wrong.
Display the finished product in church and explain it to the congregation.
Prayers:
Compassionate God, help us to become a church which notices and welcomes strangers. May we behave in such a way that all who enter our doors feel at home.
Compassionate God, may we encourage a new world movement to reject violence and to find a gentler, more accepting and more open way to resolve our differences. And may we clearly tell our world leaders that we expect the same from them.
Compassionate God, remind us that charity begins at home, then spreads to all around. Teach us how to really love you and each other, and how to let that love overflow even to those we dislike.
Compassionate God, when people are sick or in trouble, we can easily see their need and our compassion is aroused. We pray for those who so desperately need your healing touch ...
Blessing:
May you begin to love those who dislike you,
Feel compassion towards the unlovable
And refuse to condemn any human being.
And 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 told a story about someone who was unexpectedly full of kindness and compassion. In our worship today, let us ask ourselves whether we are Good Samaritans to those who really need our help.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we fail to notice those who are outside our own social sphere.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are so disgusted by poverty that we turn away.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we too walk by on the other side.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV)
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" [26] He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" [27] He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." [28] And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."
[29] But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" [30] Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. [31] Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. [32] So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. [33] But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. [34] He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [35] The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' [36] Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" [37] He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Story:
Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan to show that the most unexpected people can be full of God's spirit of generosity and compassion.
This is a story about Fluffy Cat and Toby Mouse, in which Fluffy Cat realises that not all mice are her sworn enemies.
Fluffy Cat Meets Toby Mouse
Fluffy Cat was a pampered pet. She was very beautiful, with a long, soft coat which was pure white. Most of her time she spent sitting on a red velvet cushion in the kitchen, washing and grooming her gorgeous fur. She preferred red velvet, because it showed off her fur to splendid advantage.
Most of the time she sat there, but despite her languid appearance, she always kept half an eye open to see what was going on around her. Just occasionally from the corner of her half open eye, Fluffy Cat would spot a tiny movement. Then she would spring with amazing liquid speed.
The family of mice who lived in a hole in the skirting board were terrified of Fluffy Cat. Whenever they timidly ventured so much as a trembling whisker into the kitchen, Fluffy Cat would pounce. It was almost impossible to gather food, for Fluffy Cat guarded even the tiniest of crumbs. Fluffy Cat hated the mice, and The Family who owned the house praised and petted Fluffy Cat and rewarded her with even finer food whenever she caught a mouse.
Toby Mouse was bolder than his brothers and sisters. He was also clever. He thought of a plan. "You distract Fluffy Cat by squeaking loudly, but never set foot out of the hole," he told his brothers and sisters. "I'll sneak up to Fluffy Cat's bowl and steal some of her food, enough to feed us all for a week. She won't even notice that it's gone."
But Fluffy Cat did notice and she hissed and spat with rage. She was furious that Toby Mouse had outwitted her and even more furious when he outwitted her again and again using the same plan. Somehow, once those mice began to squeak, Fluffy Cat never could bring herself to stay put. She instantly sprang off the velvet cushion and prepared to attack.
The Mouse family grew sleek and fat.
One hot summer's day, the kitchen door was left open. Fluffy Cat, preening herself on her red velvet cushion, failed to notice the large dog sniffing at the door, until she heard an ugly growl. She sprang off the cushion immediately, arching her back, showing her claws and hissing threateningly, but it was no good. The dog took no notice. He simply advanced on Fluffy Cat, his jaws slavering and a malicious gleam in his eyes.
Since the dog filled the whole doorway, there was no escape. Fluffy Cat was trapped. She shrieked in despair.
Suddenly a hoard of tiny mice appeared as if from nowhere. Led by Toby Mouse, they surrounded the dog, squeaking and chattering, nipping and darting hither and thither. The dog was flummoxed. He didn't know which way to turn. While he was diverted by the mice, Fluffy Cat slipped past him and fled into the safety of the garden.
After that, Fluffy Cat and Toby Mouse struck up a warm friendship and Fluffy Cat always shared her food with Toby Mouse, who continued to feed his whole family.
"You never know," thought Fluffy Cat wonderingly, "who your real friends are until you need them." Then she washed herself thoroughly, groomed her fur, lay down on her red velvet cushion and went to sleep, keeping one eye half open.
Activity:
You need:
A flip chart or whiteboard
Pens
A large sheet of paper
Felt tip pens for the children to use.
Elicit from the children a list of predatory animals and those they hunt, e.g, fox and chickens, eagle and rabbits, lions and antelope, etc. Write the lists on the board.
Ask the children why the predators hunt those particular animals (usually for food, although there may be instances of fear or simply aggression.)
Ask whether the predators themselves are ever hunted? (Sometimes by other animals, sometimes by human beings.)
Ask whether the children think it is a good thing or a bad thing for humans to hunt (kill) animals. They may decide that it is OK to hunt or kill animals for food, but not for any other reason.
Then go on to discuss the way human beings "hunt" each other - football hooligans, race riots, beating up paedophiles, excluding strangers by not including them, bullying at school.
Ask whether there might be a different way and how how we might make things better (being inclusive in our own small circles, refusing to take part in bullying or gang activities, welcoming newcomers etc.)
Finally, get the children to draw and colour a large picture of the story of the Good Samaritan. Round the edge, write the names of groups of people who tend to be excluded by our society or in school (travellers, children who look or act differently to the rest, sometimes children with disabilities or behavioural disorders). Also write the names of groups who don't act compassionately (football hooligans, vandals etc) and put a large red cross through each, both to indicate that Jesus died for them too and that we shouldn't therefore hate them, and to show that their behaviour is wrong.
Display the finished product in church and explain it to the congregation.
Prayers:
Compassionate God, help us to become a church which notices and welcomes strangers. May we behave in such a way that all who enter our doors feel at home.
Compassionate God, may we encourage a new world movement to reject violence and to find a gentler, more accepting and more open way to resolve our differences. And may we clearly tell our world leaders that we expect the same from them.
Compassionate God, remind us that charity begins at home, then spreads to all around. Teach us how to really love you and each other, and how to let that love overflow even to those we dislike.
Compassionate God, when people are sick or in trouble, we can easily see their need and our compassion is aroused. We pray for those who so desperately need your healing touch ...
Blessing:
May you begin to love those who dislike you,
Feel compassion towards the unlovable
And refuse to condemn any human being.
And 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.
