Jo's First Camp
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus said that we must be utterly committed to him, even to facing danger and pain, if we want to follow him. In our worship today, let us ask him for help in this formidable task.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we are scared to stand up for you.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we love other things more than you.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are more concerned with our own image than with you.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 14:25-33 (NRSV)
Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, [26] "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. [27] Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? [29] Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, [30] saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' [31] Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? [32] If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. [33] So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
Story:
It is all too easy to rush into things without proper preparation and without realistically first counting the cost. In this story, Jo rushes to camp, but doesn't prepare properly and thus loses her enthusiasm for camping. Similarly, many people rush into Christianity without properly preparing and counting the cost, but quickly lose enthusiasm at the first sign of trouble.
Jo's First Camp
It was the first time Joanna had ever been to camp. Of course, down at the seaside she had slept in the church hall with all the other girls, but that wasn't the same as actually sleeping in a tent. Jo was so excited that she couldn't stop jumping around like a puppy.
"You won't like it so much if it rains," warned her mother. "You'll have to make sure that your bed doesn't touch the canvas, or water will come in and your bed will get soaked. That won't be much fun."
Jo yawned. She'd heard all these dire warnings before and never took any notice of them. It was just grown-up speak. Grown-ups always had to say something to spoil the moment.
At the camp, each tent had their own tent leader. The tent leader explained how to make their beds with plenty of newspaper underneath to keep out the cold, but Jo was busy exploring and didn't listen. Besides, making beds was boring and anyway, she was sure she knew exactly what to do. And since it was very hot weather, she really didn't expect to be cold. She dragged her camp bed over to the edge of the tent so that there was more room in the middle.
For once, Jo was anxious to go to bed. Going to bed in a tent was such a thrill that she could hardly wait to snuggle down into her sleeping bag.
The beginning of the night was so hot that Jo slept on top of her sleeping bag, but she woke up a little later feeling chilly, so crept inside. That was much better. But later still she woke again as a flash of lightening lit the sky and a loud clap of thunder made her shiver. She was a little scared, for she had never been under canvas in a thunderstorm before. Everyone else was peacefully sleeping, blissfully unaware of the majestic activity in the heavens. But Jo was cold again and she couldn't sleep.
She slipped out of bed to look for spare newspapers to pack underneath her sleeping bag, but none were left. As the thunderstorm increased in intensity, rain began to stream in torrents from the sky, and the temperature dropped even lower. Jo sat in her sleeping bag and hugged herself to keep warm, but it was no good. Then she got out of bed again and pulled on her jeans, a pair of socks and two sweaters over her pyjamas, which was better.
She tried to sleep again, but the night was too noisy for sleep and Jo grew increasingly fearful as the heavens crashed and burst around her. Suppose the tent was struck by lightening? Suppose they were all electrocuted in their beds? Suppose the campsite flooded and they drowned in their tents?
Jo felt colder and bleaker than ever. Then, just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, she realised that the rain was dripping onto her bed through a seam in the tent. She had pulled her bed too close to the side and she was getting soaked.
As Jo screamed and began to sob, the tent leader awoke. She immediately came over to Jo and began to comfort her, and in no time at all she'd found a dry, warm bed for Jo and sat with her while Jo finally fell asleep.
But it had been such an awful night that it spoiled the whole week for Jo and she never went camping again.
Activity:
You need:
Whiteboard and pens
Paper and pens
Today, start preparations for a party to be held in 2-3 week's time. You could make this a Harvest party, or hang it on any other relevant occasion.
Point out that good preparation is essential if the party is to run well, but that good preparation requires hard work. On the white board, list the sort of preparations you need, such as food and drink, games, people to invite, invitations.
Divide the children into groups and give each group a piece of paper. Let each group take one heading so that they are responsible for that area of the party. They should write down exactly how they will accomplish their part of the party. E.g. a list of the food and a list of people who will bring the food. If there is time, encourage them to begin to design and write invitations.
Next week, check that the preparations are going smoothly and put the final touches prior to the party.
Prayers:
Realistic God, when we in the church are bowled over by enthusiasm, help us to take stock, prepare properly and count the cost before we embark on any project.
Realistic God, help our world leaders to count the cost of allowing two thirds of the world population to subsist in poverty. May we all realise the link between terrorism and such injustice.
Realistic God, teach us all to be sensible and painstaking in our preparations to live like you. Enable us to follow you and to maintain our eagerness even when things are difficult.
Realistic God, we hold in your presence those of our friends who are sick, asking you to enfold them in your loving care and to touch them with your healing hands.
Blessing:
May you take time to prepare,
realistically count your costs
and enjoy your time following Jesus Christ.
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 we must be utterly committed to him, even to facing danger and pain, if we want to follow him. In our worship today, let us ask him for help in this formidable task.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we are scared to stand up for you.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we love other things more than you.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are more concerned with our own image than with you.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 14:25-33 (NRSV)
Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, [26] "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. [27] Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? [29] Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, [30] saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' [31] Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? [32] If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. [33] So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
Story:
It is all too easy to rush into things without proper preparation and without realistically first counting the cost. In this story, Jo rushes to camp, but doesn't prepare properly and thus loses her enthusiasm for camping. Similarly, many people rush into Christianity without properly preparing and counting the cost, but quickly lose enthusiasm at the first sign of trouble.
Jo's First Camp
It was the first time Joanna had ever been to camp. Of course, down at the seaside she had slept in the church hall with all the other girls, but that wasn't the same as actually sleeping in a tent. Jo was so excited that she couldn't stop jumping around like a puppy.
"You won't like it so much if it rains," warned her mother. "You'll have to make sure that your bed doesn't touch the canvas, or water will come in and your bed will get soaked. That won't be much fun."
Jo yawned. She'd heard all these dire warnings before and never took any notice of them. It was just grown-up speak. Grown-ups always had to say something to spoil the moment.
At the camp, each tent had their own tent leader. The tent leader explained how to make their beds with plenty of newspaper underneath to keep out the cold, but Jo was busy exploring and didn't listen. Besides, making beds was boring and anyway, she was sure she knew exactly what to do. And since it was very hot weather, she really didn't expect to be cold. She dragged her camp bed over to the edge of the tent so that there was more room in the middle.
For once, Jo was anxious to go to bed. Going to bed in a tent was such a thrill that she could hardly wait to snuggle down into her sleeping bag.
The beginning of the night was so hot that Jo slept on top of her sleeping bag, but she woke up a little later feeling chilly, so crept inside. That was much better. But later still she woke again as a flash of lightening lit the sky and a loud clap of thunder made her shiver. She was a little scared, for she had never been under canvas in a thunderstorm before. Everyone else was peacefully sleeping, blissfully unaware of the majestic activity in the heavens. But Jo was cold again and she couldn't sleep.
She slipped out of bed to look for spare newspapers to pack underneath her sleeping bag, but none were left. As the thunderstorm increased in intensity, rain began to stream in torrents from the sky, and the temperature dropped even lower. Jo sat in her sleeping bag and hugged herself to keep warm, but it was no good. Then she got out of bed again and pulled on her jeans, a pair of socks and two sweaters over her pyjamas, which was better.
She tried to sleep again, but the night was too noisy for sleep and Jo grew increasingly fearful as the heavens crashed and burst around her. Suppose the tent was struck by lightening? Suppose they were all electrocuted in their beds? Suppose the campsite flooded and they drowned in their tents?
Jo felt colder and bleaker than ever. Then, just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, she realised that the rain was dripping onto her bed through a seam in the tent. She had pulled her bed too close to the side and she was getting soaked.
As Jo screamed and began to sob, the tent leader awoke. She immediately came over to Jo and began to comfort her, and in no time at all she'd found a dry, warm bed for Jo and sat with her while Jo finally fell asleep.
But it had been such an awful night that it spoiled the whole week for Jo and she never went camping again.
Activity:
You need:
Whiteboard and pens
Paper and pens
Today, start preparations for a party to be held in 2-3 week's time. You could make this a Harvest party, or hang it on any other relevant occasion.
Point out that good preparation is essential if the party is to run well, but that good preparation requires hard work. On the white board, list the sort of preparations you need, such as food and drink, games, people to invite, invitations.
Divide the children into groups and give each group a piece of paper. Let each group take one heading so that they are responsible for that area of the party. They should write down exactly how they will accomplish their part of the party. E.g. a list of the food and a list of people who will bring the food. If there is time, encourage them to begin to design and write invitations.
Next week, check that the preparations are going smoothly and put the final touches prior to the party.
Prayers:
Realistic God, when we in the church are bowled over by enthusiasm, help us to take stock, prepare properly and count the cost before we embark on any project.
Realistic God, help our world leaders to count the cost of allowing two thirds of the world population to subsist in poverty. May we all realise the link between terrorism and such injustice.
Realistic God, teach us all to be sensible and painstaking in our preparations to live like you. Enable us to follow you and to maintain our eagerness even when things are difficult.
Realistic God, we hold in your presence those of our friends who are sick, asking you to enfold them in your loving care and to touch them with your healing hands.
Blessing:
May you take time to prepare,
realistically count your costs
and enjoy your time following Jesus Christ.
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.
