Grandma's Birthday Present
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus promised his friends that great power would be available to them when he had finally disappeared from this earth. That power came on the Day of Pentecost. In our worship today let us explore what sort of power this was and whether it is still available to us.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I have difficulty connecting with things that happened 2,000 years ago.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I assume that all your power was in the past, belonging to a by-gone age.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I'm afraid in case your power is available now and I have to do something about it.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. [2] And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. [3] Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
[5] Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. [6] And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. [7] Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? [9] Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, [11] Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." [12] All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" [13] But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
[14] But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. [15] Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. [16] No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
[17] 'In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
[18] Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
[19] And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
[20] The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
[21] Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
Story:
The story of Pentecost is a story of immense power transforming the people who were filled by that power.
In today's story, a small girl sees something unexpectedly transformed by power and enjoys the consequences.
Grandma's Birthday Present
Sarah was excited. Today was Grandma's birthday and Sarah's Daddy always organised a special treat for Grandma on her birthday. Even better, that treat nearly always involved the rest of the family, and that included Sarah.
Last year, they had all gone for a ride on the London Eye and Sarah could remember every minute of it, looking down over the whole of London from high in the sky. She didn't know what this year's treat entailed because it was always a surprise, but she had seen even her Dad looking excited.
Sarah could hardly keep still. She kept hopping about from one foot to the other, longing for the treat, but no-one seemed in much of a hurry.
"You just have to wait patiently," laughed her Dad. "After all, it is Grandma's treat, not yours."
At last they set off, after lunch. They drove to Grandma's house first to pick up Grandma who sat in the back with Sarah. Then they drove on -- and on, and on!
Eventually they arrived at what seemed to be a large empty field. Sarah jumped out of the car and ran over to the field, but her excitement was soon dampened. The field was covered by a huge cloth which was just lying there, with some ropes attached to its borders. Sarah ran over and felt the cloth. It was very heavy and she could only lift a small part of it.
Sarah's shoulders drooped and she walked back to the family with her head down.
"What's up, love?" asked her Dad.
Sarah shrugged. "There's nothing here. Just that old cloth thing which doesn't do anything. I want to go home."
"Hang on a bit," advised her father. "It may be just an old cloth now, but stay and see what happens when it has some power inside it."
Power inside it? Sarah was puzzled, but she was also intrigued. She stood and watched as some men carried a large basket onto the field. Sarah had never seen a basket so big. It looked as if her whole family could stand in it. The men attached the basket to the cloth with the ropes, then they seemed to set fire to the cloth with a kind of huge blow torch. Sarah jumped back in alarm.
Grandma laughed and put her arm round Sarah. "It's alright, love. Look! See what's happening to the cloth?"
Sarah did see. The cloth was slowly rising from the ground and filling out with air.
"It's like one of my balloons!" cried Sarah.
Grandma nodded. "That's exactly what it is. Soon it will be fully inflated. Then we'll all climb into that basket and go for a ride."
"A ride in the air in a grown-up balloon?" Sarah was so thrilled she couldn't keep still all over again.
Eventually, when they were riding in the basket up in the sky over towns and fields spread out way below them, Sarah looked up at the huge balloon spread out above them powered by fire, and wondered. She could hardly believe that just a short time ago it had been nothing but an old cloth. Now it was riding high, transporting them across the country for miles and miles.
Her Dad noticed her and winked. "Amazing what a bit of power can do, eh Sarah?" he said.
Activity:
You need:
Two balloons
Rubber bands
Used matches
Small squares of silver foil
A small prize, such as a tube of Smarties
Talk to the children about power. Explain that some things have potential power -- they don't do anything by themselves, but once you add some of your power to them, they can do surprising things. Show the children the balloons and say that they're just pieces of rubber which can't do anything, but that you're going to give them some power. Blow up one balloon and tie a knot in the neck. Then have a game, patting the balloon to each other. Explain that because the balloon is now full of air, it can bounce and float and be patted and moved.
Then blow up the other balloon, but instead of tying a knot in the neck, let it go. Explain that it was full of the air just like the other balloon, but that its power was shown differently.
If you dare, blow it up again until it bursts and explain that this time the same power made an explosion.
Compare this to the power of the Holy Spirit within each of us. Sometimes it's a power which enables us to live a good life. Sometimes it's a power which enables us to do amazing things, like the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. And occasionally it's an explosive power, such as St Paul experienced on the road to Damascus.
Now divide the children into groups and give each group some rubber bands, used matches and silver foil. They need to roll the silver foil into small balls. Their task is to work together to fashion something which will project the silver balls as far as possible. The teams which gets the silver balls to move the farthest, wins the prize.
When the children have finished, look at the winning design. You'll probably find that their rubber bands have been twisted more tightly than the other teams' and that they've been able to use matchsticks to increase the projection, so you could talk more about the work of the Holy Spirit within us sometimes being painful, but then releasing greater power.
Prayers:
Holy Spirit, God within, fill our church with your power. May we have the courage to move as the Spirit takes us and to respond to all your nudges so that amazing things begin to happen within our midst.
Holy Spirit, God within, so fill us all with your Spirit that there may be intense desire for human equality. May we be unable to rest until all mouths are filled, all diseases treated and all human needs met throughout your world.
Holy Spirit, God within, teach us to expect such amazing power from your Spirit that we are constantly seeking for it rather than contentedly sitting back expecting nothing. May we realise your power in anew way, starting today.
Holy Spirit, God within, so activate your Spirit within those who are sick that all their defences are rallied to fight the sickness and restore them to full health and strength. May they be supported by all our prayers, so that they know they are safely in your hands. We pray especially for ...
Blessing:
May you become aware
of the power of the Spirit
in your life today.
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 promised his friends that great power would be available to them when he had finally disappeared from this earth. That power came on the Day of Pentecost. In our worship today let us explore what sort of power this was and whether it is still available to us.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I have difficulty connecting with things that happened 2,000 years ago.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I assume that all your power was in the past, belonging to a by-gone age.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I'm afraid in case your power is available now and I have to do something about it.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. [2] And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. [3] Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
[5] Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. [6] And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. [7] Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? [9] Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, [11] Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." [12] All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" [13] But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
[14] But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. [15] Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. [16] No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
[17] 'In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
[18] Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
[19] And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
[20] The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
[21] Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
Story:
The story of Pentecost is a story of immense power transforming the people who were filled by that power.
In today's story, a small girl sees something unexpectedly transformed by power and enjoys the consequences.
Grandma's Birthday Present
Sarah was excited. Today was Grandma's birthday and Sarah's Daddy always organised a special treat for Grandma on her birthday. Even better, that treat nearly always involved the rest of the family, and that included Sarah.
Last year, they had all gone for a ride on the London Eye and Sarah could remember every minute of it, looking down over the whole of London from high in the sky. She didn't know what this year's treat entailed because it was always a surprise, but she had seen even her Dad looking excited.
Sarah could hardly keep still. She kept hopping about from one foot to the other, longing for the treat, but no-one seemed in much of a hurry.
"You just have to wait patiently," laughed her Dad. "After all, it is Grandma's treat, not yours."
At last they set off, after lunch. They drove to Grandma's house first to pick up Grandma who sat in the back with Sarah. Then they drove on -- and on, and on!
Eventually they arrived at what seemed to be a large empty field. Sarah jumped out of the car and ran over to the field, but her excitement was soon dampened. The field was covered by a huge cloth which was just lying there, with some ropes attached to its borders. Sarah ran over and felt the cloth. It was very heavy and she could only lift a small part of it.
Sarah's shoulders drooped and she walked back to the family with her head down.
"What's up, love?" asked her Dad.
Sarah shrugged. "There's nothing here. Just that old cloth thing which doesn't do anything. I want to go home."
"Hang on a bit," advised her father. "It may be just an old cloth now, but stay and see what happens when it has some power inside it."
Power inside it? Sarah was puzzled, but she was also intrigued. She stood and watched as some men carried a large basket onto the field. Sarah had never seen a basket so big. It looked as if her whole family could stand in it. The men attached the basket to the cloth with the ropes, then they seemed to set fire to the cloth with a kind of huge blow torch. Sarah jumped back in alarm.
Grandma laughed and put her arm round Sarah. "It's alright, love. Look! See what's happening to the cloth?"
Sarah did see. The cloth was slowly rising from the ground and filling out with air.
"It's like one of my balloons!" cried Sarah.
Grandma nodded. "That's exactly what it is. Soon it will be fully inflated. Then we'll all climb into that basket and go for a ride."
"A ride in the air in a grown-up balloon?" Sarah was so thrilled she couldn't keep still all over again.
Eventually, when they were riding in the basket up in the sky over towns and fields spread out way below them, Sarah looked up at the huge balloon spread out above them powered by fire, and wondered. She could hardly believe that just a short time ago it had been nothing but an old cloth. Now it was riding high, transporting them across the country for miles and miles.
Her Dad noticed her and winked. "Amazing what a bit of power can do, eh Sarah?" he said.
Activity:
You need:
Two balloons
Rubber bands
Used matches
Small squares of silver foil
A small prize, such as a tube of Smarties
Talk to the children about power. Explain that some things have potential power -- they don't do anything by themselves, but once you add some of your power to them, they can do surprising things. Show the children the balloons and say that they're just pieces of rubber which can't do anything, but that you're going to give them some power. Blow up one balloon and tie a knot in the neck. Then have a game, patting the balloon to each other. Explain that because the balloon is now full of air, it can bounce and float and be patted and moved.
Then blow up the other balloon, but instead of tying a knot in the neck, let it go. Explain that it was full of the air just like the other balloon, but that its power was shown differently.
If you dare, blow it up again until it bursts and explain that this time the same power made an explosion.
Compare this to the power of the Holy Spirit within each of us. Sometimes it's a power which enables us to live a good life. Sometimes it's a power which enables us to do amazing things, like the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. And occasionally it's an explosive power, such as St Paul experienced on the road to Damascus.
Now divide the children into groups and give each group some rubber bands, used matches and silver foil. They need to roll the silver foil into small balls. Their task is to work together to fashion something which will project the silver balls as far as possible. The teams which gets the silver balls to move the farthest, wins the prize.
When the children have finished, look at the winning design. You'll probably find that their rubber bands have been twisted more tightly than the other teams' and that they've been able to use matchsticks to increase the projection, so you could talk more about the work of the Holy Spirit within us sometimes being painful, but then releasing greater power.
Prayers:
Holy Spirit, God within, fill our church with your power. May we have the courage to move as the Spirit takes us and to respond to all your nudges so that amazing things begin to happen within our midst.
Holy Spirit, God within, so fill us all with your Spirit that there may be intense desire for human equality. May we be unable to rest until all mouths are filled, all diseases treated and all human needs met throughout your world.
Holy Spirit, God within, teach us to expect such amazing power from your Spirit that we are constantly seeking for it rather than contentedly sitting back expecting nothing. May we realise your power in anew way, starting today.
Holy Spirit, God within, so activate your Spirit within those who are sick that all their defences are rallied to fight the sickness and restore them to full health and strength. May they be supported by all our prayers, so that they know they are safely in your hands. We pray especially for ...
Blessing:
May you become aware
of the power of the Spirit
in your life today.
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.
