Josie Runs Away
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
John the Baptist called people to turn to God for help and support. In our worship today let us follow his advice and turn to our Lord.
Invitation to Confession:
Lord Jesus, we are sorry for the times we turn away from you.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we are sorry for the times when we ignore you.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, turn your face upon us, that we may turn again to you.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. [9] Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
[10] And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" [11] In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." [12] Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" [13] He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." [14] Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
[15] As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, [16] John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
[18] So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Story:
"Repentance" is a difficult word for children to understand, and may carry unnecessary overtones of guilt for adults.
This is a story about turning back, to try to explain the meaning of "repentance".
Josie Runs Away
Josie was very, very angry. Just because her music had been rather loud, her father had yelled at her yet again. And her mother hadn't helped either. She had backed up Josie's father, and told Josie to turn her music off.
Josie was furious. All her friends were allowed to play them music as loudly as they wished, and whenever they wished.
Josie threw some clothes into her rucksack, snatched up her purse and flung out of the house. She marched down the street until she reached the railway station, then she climbed aboard the first train to come by.
She stared moodily out of the window for at least an hour, glad that there was no one else in the railway carriage. Then she felt bored, so with her headphones clamped tightly over her ears she stepped out of the train at the next platform.
She had no idea where she was, but it was rather exciting. Josie began to walk through the town, stopping off in a café when she felt hungry. When she went out again the afternoon was growing dark and she shivered a little, for it was getting cold.
She wandered her down to the town library but to it was already closing and she was unable to go in. She wondered how her family were feeling and hoped they were suffering. Serve them right for being so nasty to her.
Josie wondered where to go. As night fell it grew colder and colder and suddenly in the darkness Josie began to feel afraid. She didn't know where she was, she was hungry and tired, and at one point she thought she heard footsteps behind her.
Suddenly, Josie began to long for the warmth and comfort of home. She pictured her cozy bedroom, and she could almost feel her mother's arms wrapped around her.
Then she thought of her father's anger and she shivered. By now she badly wanted to go home, but she was afraid. Whatever would her parents say? Come to that, had they missed her at all? At the thought that maybe they wouldn't want her back, a tear began to slide down Josie's cheek. She sniffed, and rubbed her nose on her sleeve.
Then a man came up and began to speak to her. Josie was terrified. She knew never speak to strangers, and she had also heard the stories of girls who went missing and were later found murdered. But you
Josie began to run. As she fled down the street, she heard the man pounding behind her. It didn't take long for him to overtake her.
"Whoa there!" the man called. "I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to help. Would you like to come back with me and have a hot meal? I can give you a warm bed for the night."
'If you just help me now, God,' Josie prayed inside her head, 'I'll never run away it again. Please get me home safely. Please, please, please.'
Just as the man grabbed her arm, Josie heard a shout. The man looked up and fled. A policeman came running up to Josie and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Are you the lass that's gone missing?" he asked.
Josie nodded, shame-faced. "I'm sorry to have given you all this trouble," she mumbled.
"Well now," said the policeman. "I know some people who'll be very glad to see you back. Come on, let's go."
When Josie reached the police station, her mother and father were waiting for her. She flung herself into their arms and they all hugged as if they would never let go. Tears were running down all their cheeks.
"I'm so glad to be back," said Josie, "and I'm so sorry for all that I've done. Please forgive me. I shall never do anything like this ever again."
And she never did.
Activities:
(N.B. Today, tell all children about the Crib Service and invite them to come to the service dressed as angels or shepherds. You could also select two children to dress up as Mary and Joseph.)
Continue with the Jesse Tree. This week make symbols to represent the Angel Gabriel who announced to Mary that she was to have a baby, a lily or a rose to represent Mary the mother of Jesus, and something to do with woodwork to represent Joseph. You could also have a miniature crib, and shepherds and kings. Hang your symbols on the next branches up on your Jesse Tree.
A prayer for the hanging of the symbols:
Jesus, Light of the World, thank you for the angel Gabriel who told Mary that she was to be your mother. And thank you for Mary, for her courage and love and gentleness. Amen.
Light again the first and second candles on the Advent Wreath, and light the third candle. The third candle represents John the Baptist. A prayer for lighting the Advent candle:
We light this candle to give thanks for John the Baptist, who realised that Jesus was the Light of the World and prepared the way for him. Amen.
Intercession:
God of open arms, help your Church always to face your way and to follow in your footsteps. If your Church should stray from your path, help us to turn again and come back to you.
God of open arms, we pray for the world, especially for those areas where people live in terror and fear for their lives. We remember all those who have lost their lives through the hatred and violence of others, and we pray for those people.
God of open arms, remind us that you always welcome us back, no matter what we may have done. Give us the courage to face ourselves and our wrongdoing and to come back to you.
God of open arms, we ask you to open a channel of healing for those who are sick, as we hold them in the spotlight of your love. We name them before you...
Blessing
May your face be turned fully towards God
And may you bask in the warmth and light
Of God's love and grace.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be with you,
Be in your homes and in your families,
With those you love
and those for whom you pray,
both now and always. Amen.
John the Baptist called people to turn to God for help and support. In our worship today let us follow his advice and turn to our Lord.
Invitation to Confession:
Lord Jesus, we are sorry for the times we turn away from you.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we are sorry for the times when we ignore you.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, turn your face upon us, that we may turn again to you.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. [9] Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
[10] And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" [11] In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." [12] Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" [13] He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." [14] Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
[15] As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, [16] John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
[18] So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Story:
"Repentance" is a difficult word for children to understand, and may carry unnecessary overtones of guilt for adults.
This is a story about turning back, to try to explain the meaning of "repentance".
Josie Runs Away
Josie was very, very angry. Just because her music had been rather loud, her father had yelled at her yet again. And her mother hadn't helped either. She had backed up Josie's father, and told Josie to turn her music off.
Josie was furious. All her friends were allowed to play them music as loudly as they wished, and whenever they wished.
Josie threw some clothes into her rucksack, snatched up her purse and flung out of the house. She marched down the street until she reached the railway station, then she climbed aboard the first train to come by.
She stared moodily out of the window for at least an hour, glad that there was no one else in the railway carriage. Then she felt bored, so with her headphones clamped tightly over her ears she stepped out of the train at the next platform.
She had no idea where she was, but it was rather exciting. Josie began to walk through the town, stopping off in a café when she felt hungry. When she went out again the afternoon was growing dark and she shivered a little, for it was getting cold.
She wandered her down to the town library but to it was already closing and she was unable to go in. She wondered how her family were feeling and hoped they were suffering. Serve them right for being so nasty to her.
Josie wondered where to go. As night fell it grew colder and colder and suddenly in the darkness Josie began to feel afraid. She didn't know where she was, she was hungry and tired, and at one point she thought she heard footsteps behind her.
Suddenly, Josie began to long for the warmth and comfort of home. She pictured her cozy bedroom, and she could almost feel her mother's arms wrapped around her.
Then she thought of her father's anger and she shivered. By now she badly wanted to go home, but she was afraid. Whatever would her parents say? Come to that, had they missed her at all? At the thought that maybe they wouldn't want her back, a tear began to slide down Josie's cheek. She sniffed, and rubbed her nose on her sleeve.
Then a man came up and began to speak to her. Josie was terrified. She knew never speak to strangers, and she had also heard the stories of girls who went missing and were later found murdered. But you
Josie began to run. As she fled down the street, she heard the man pounding behind her. It didn't take long for him to overtake her.
"Whoa there!" the man called. "I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to help. Would you like to come back with me and have a hot meal? I can give you a warm bed for the night."
'If you just help me now, God,' Josie prayed inside her head, 'I'll never run away it again. Please get me home safely. Please, please, please.'
Just as the man grabbed her arm, Josie heard a shout. The man looked up and fled. A policeman came running up to Josie and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Are you the lass that's gone missing?" he asked.
Josie nodded, shame-faced. "I'm sorry to have given you all this trouble," she mumbled.
"Well now," said the policeman. "I know some people who'll be very glad to see you back. Come on, let's go."
When Josie reached the police station, her mother and father were waiting for her. She flung herself into their arms and they all hugged as if they would never let go. Tears were running down all their cheeks.
"I'm so glad to be back," said Josie, "and I'm so sorry for all that I've done. Please forgive me. I shall never do anything like this ever again."
And she never did.
Activities:
(N.B. Today, tell all children about the Crib Service and invite them to come to the service dressed as angels or shepherds. You could also select two children to dress up as Mary and Joseph.)
Continue with the Jesse Tree. This week make symbols to represent the Angel Gabriel who announced to Mary that she was to have a baby, a lily or a rose to represent Mary the mother of Jesus, and something to do with woodwork to represent Joseph. You could also have a miniature crib, and shepherds and kings. Hang your symbols on the next branches up on your Jesse Tree.
A prayer for the hanging of the symbols:
Jesus, Light of the World, thank you for the angel Gabriel who told Mary that she was to be your mother. And thank you for Mary, for her courage and love and gentleness. Amen.
Light again the first and second candles on the Advent Wreath, and light the third candle. The third candle represents John the Baptist. A prayer for lighting the Advent candle:
We light this candle to give thanks for John the Baptist, who realised that Jesus was the Light of the World and prepared the way for him. Amen.
Intercession:
God of open arms, help your Church always to face your way and to follow in your footsteps. If your Church should stray from your path, help us to turn again and come back to you.
God of open arms, we pray for the world, especially for those areas where people live in terror and fear for their lives. We remember all those who have lost their lives through the hatred and violence of others, and we pray for those people.
God of open arms, remind us that you always welcome us back, no matter what we may have done. Give us the courage to face ourselves and our wrongdoing and to come back to you.
God of open arms, we ask you to open a channel of healing for those who are sick, as we hold them in the spotlight of your love. We name them before you...
Blessing
May your face be turned fully towards God
And may you bask in the warmth and light
Of God's love and grace.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be with you,
Be in your homes and in your families,
With those you love
and those for whom you pray,
both now and always. Amen.
