Grandma's Pendant
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus told stories to illustrate to the people God's gladness whenever anyone turned to him and chose life. There is still rejoicing in heaven whenever any one of us turns to God.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I think I'm too insignificant for you to bother with me.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with you.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with other people, but only with myself.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 15:1-10 (NRSV)
Story:
There is always delight when something which has been lost, is found, so God is always delighted when any of us return to him. In this story, Jack is afraid to tell the truth about a lost pendant, but his grandmother is so delighted when it is found, that nothing else matters.
Grandma's Pendant
Jack knew where the pendant was hidden, because he had hidden it. He had taken it on impulse, because it looked so pretty and he wanted to examine it further. He imagined it round his mother's neck, and thought he might try to buy a similar one for her birthday. He had only borrowed it for a while, but unfortunately the loss had been discovered and the frantic activity to find it had frightened Jack, so he had lied.
Now he was stuck. If he revealed that he knew here the pendant was, he'd be found out in his lie and he knew that would mean big trouble. So he pretended to search with all the rest. Maybe he would be able to slip it back later, when nobody was looking.
Searching for the pendant was a bit like a game, except that Jack knew exactly where it was. He kept wanting to shout out, "No! You're getting colder!" or "Yes! Keep going, you're getting warmer!" but he didn't dare.
He was sad about his grandmother's tears and uncertain why she crying over a pendant. How could a thing be so important to her? She was crying almost as much as she had cried when Grandfather died, and that crying had gone on for days.
After a bit, Jack and his cousins grew tired of hunting the pendant and wandered off to play hide and seek in the woods. But when they returned, there was a police car parked on the gravel drive and a policeman in uniform was talking to Grandma.
Jack was suddenly very scared indeed, especially when Grandma called them all over and told them that the policeman wanted to ask them all some questions. Jack felt sick with fear. He had seen police dramas on television and he knew that almost every suspect eventually revealed the truth. He didn't know what to do.
When it was his turn to be questioned, Jack was so anxious that before the policeman spoke, he blurted out, "I know where it is!" Then he screwed his eyes tight shut and waited for the policeman's fury to boil over him. But nothing happened. After a bit Jack cautiously opened one eye. To his surprise the policeman was smiling and didn't seem a bit fazed.
"Where is it, lad?" he asked kindly.
"Shall I fetch it" Jack asked, and the policeman nodded.
Jack collected the pendant carrying it very carefully and told the policeman why he had taken it.
"Come on," said the policeman, "we'll go together and tell your Grandma."
Jack gulped, but he took the policeman's hand and they went together to tell Grandma the whole sorry story.
Grandma said sternly, "You've put an awful lot of people to an awful lot of trouble, Jack. What do you say about that?"
Jack hung his head and said, "I'm sorry. It all kind of grew and I didn't know what to do."
Then grandma gathered him in her arms and hugged him. "Quite honestly, Jack," she confided, "I'm so glad to have it back that I don't care what happened! You see, it was the last gift Granddad gave me before he died, so it's the most precious thing I possess. But I'll tell you what. You can come and look at it any time you want, and one day you and I will go to the shops together and we'll try and find one just like it for your Mum. How would you like that?"
Jack hugged her back. He was so glad that the pendant was found and everything was alright again.
Activity:
(Complete the arrangements for the party, making sure that each child knows what is expected of him/her and making sure you all know how many are coming.)
For today's activity you need:
A large piece of paper on which you have drawn a maze (the easiest way to do this is to decide on the shape – square or round – then to draw the correct route. Then fill in all the rest of the shape, making sure that all other routs end in "walls". Or alternatively, use the maze offered here!)
A number of small objects such as tiny plastic toys from Christmas crackers or cereal packets to act as counters
Dice and a shaker
Draw a sheep in the centre of the maze and divide all "routes" of the maze into sections. The idea of the game is to throw the dice and move the number of squares shown by the dice. The object is to reach the sheep. If the children take the wrong route and reach a "wall" they will have to return, again by moving the number of squares shown by a throw of the dice.
After the game, talk about the frustrations and difficulties of not being able to see your way clearly and going into dead ends. Explain that life is like that for some people and God is naturally thrilled when such people find their way. Explain that Jesus helps people to find their way and that the children can always turn to Jesus and ask for help if they get in a muddle, for Jesus is always delighted to help anyone find the right way.
Prayers:
Searching God, it is so easy to stray from the right path, without knowing that we are doing so. Help your Church to look always for the correct way and when we are lost; remind us to look to you, the Light of the World, so that we may find ourselves back with you.
Searching God, many of our fellow human beings are lost within the world. We are all lured and seduced by the world's pleasures, and some never get to know you for themselves. Enable us to help seek out those who are lost, that they may find their way home.
Searching God, we place ourselves within your capable hands. Keep us to the right track and make us gently aware of any who have lost their way. May we be willing to journey alongside them until they are found again.
Searching God, you seek out those who are lost and hurting. We hold within your presence for your blessing, those who are sick or in any sort of pain. May they know that you can and will heal them and may they put their trust in you.
Blessing:
May you hold to the right path
Upon the hilltops
and down in the valley floors,
so that you might be found by 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.
Jesus told stories to illustrate to the people God's gladness whenever anyone turned to him and chose life. There is still rejoicing in heaven whenever any one of us turns to God.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I think I'm too insignificant for you to bother with me.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with you.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with other people, but only with myself.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 15:1-10 (NRSV)
Story:
There is always delight when something which has been lost, is found, so God is always delighted when any of us return to him. In this story, Jack is afraid to tell the truth about a lost pendant, but his grandmother is so delighted when it is found, that nothing else matters.
Grandma's Pendant
Jack knew where the pendant was hidden, because he had hidden it. He had taken it on impulse, because it looked so pretty and he wanted to examine it further. He imagined it round his mother's neck, and thought he might try to buy a similar one for her birthday. He had only borrowed it for a while, but unfortunately the loss had been discovered and the frantic activity to find it had frightened Jack, so he had lied.
Now he was stuck. If he revealed that he knew here the pendant was, he'd be found out in his lie and he knew that would mean big trouble. So he pretended to search with all the rest. Maybe he would be able to slip it back later, when nobody was looking.
Searching for the pendant was a bit like a game, except that Jack knew exactly where it was. He kept wanting to shout out, "No! You're getting colder!" or "Yes! Keep going, you're getting warmer!" but he didn't dare.
He was sad about his grandmother's tears and uncertain why she crying over a pendant. How could a thing be so important to her? She was crying almost as much as she had cried when Grandfather died, and that crying had gone on for days.
After a bit, Jack and his cousins grew tired of hunting the pendant and wandered off to play hide and seek in the woods. But when they returned, there was a police car parked on the gravel drive and a policeman in uniform was talking to Grandma.
Jack was suddenly very scared indeed, especially when Grandma called them all over and told them that the policeman wanted to ask them all some questions. Jack felt sick with fear. He had seen police dramas on television and he knew that almost every suspect eventually revealed the truth. He didn't know what to do.
When it was his turn to be questioned, Jack was so anxious that before the policeman spoke, he blurted out, "I know where it is!" Then he screwed his eyes tight shut and waited for the policeman's fury to boil over him. But nothing happened. After a bit Jack cautiously opened one eye. To his surprise the policeman was smiling and didn't seem a bit fazed.
"Where is it, lad?" he asked kindly.
"Shall I fetch it" Jack asked, and the policeman nodded.
Jack collected the pendant carrying it very carefully and told the policeman why he had taken it.
"Come on," said the policeman, "we'll go together and tell your Grandma."
Jack gulped, but he took the policeman's hand and they went together to tell Grandma the whole sorry story.
Grandma said sternly, "You've put an awful lot of people to an awful lot of trouble, Jack. What do you say about that?"
Jack hung his head and said, "I'm sorry. It all kind of grew and I didn't know what to do."
Then grandma gathered him in her arms and hugged him. "Quite honestly, Jack," she confided, "I'm so glad to have it back that I don't care what happened! You see, it was the last gift Granddad gave me before he died, so it's the most precious thing I possess. But I'll tell you what. You can come and look at it any time you want, and one day you and I will go to the shops together and we'll try and find one just like it for your Mum. How would you like that?"
Jack hugged her back. He was so glad that the pendant was found and everything was alright again.
Activity:
(Complete the arrangements for the party, making sure that each child knows what is expected of him/her and making sure you all know how many are coming.)
For today's activity you need:
A large piece of paper on which you have drawn a maze (the easiest way to do this is to decide on the shape – square or round – then to draw the correct route. Then fill in all the rest of the shape, making sure that all other routs end in "walls". Or alternatively, use the maze offered here!)
A number of small objects such as tiny plastic toys from Christmas crackers or cereal packets to act as counters
Dice and a shaker
Draw a sheep in the centre of the maze and divide all "routes" of the maze into sections. The idea of the game is to throw the dice and move the number of squares shown by the dice. The object is to reach the sheep. If the children take the wrong route and reach a "wall" they will have to return, again by moving the number of squares shown by a throw of the dice.
After the game, talk about the frustrations and difficulties of not being able to see your way clearly and going into dead ends. Explain that life is like that for some people and God is naturally thrilled when such people find their way. Explain that Jesus helps people to find their way and that the children can always turn to Jesus and ask for help if they get in a muddle, for Jesus is always delighted to help anyone find the right way.
Prayers:
Searching God, it is so easy to stray from the right path, without knowing that we are doing so. Help your Church to look always for the correct way and when we are lost; remind us to look to you, the Light of the World, so that we may find ourselves back with you.
Searching God, many of our fellow human beings are lost within the world. We are all lured and seduced by the world's pleasures, and some never get to know you for themselves. Enable us to help seek out those who are lost, that they may find their way home.
Searching God, we place ourselves within your capable hands. Keep us to the right track and make us gently aware of any who have lost their way. May we be willing to journey alongside them until they are found again.
Searching God, you seek out those who are lost and hurting. We hold within your presence for your blessing, those who are sick or in any sort of pain. May they know that you can and will heal them and may they put their trust in you.
Blessing:
May you hold to the right path
Upon the hilltops
and down in the valley floors,
so that you might be found by 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.
