Jesus said, "Keep awake, for you do not know either the day or the hour when the Lord will come to you." In our worship today, let us pledge to make sure we are properly prepared for the coming of God.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I'm bored and I can't be bothered to prepare properly.
Lord, have mercy.Jesus, sometimes I'm tired and I can't be bothered to prepare properly.
Christ, have mercy.Jesus, sometimes I'm lazy and I can't be bothered to prepare properly.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Matthew 25:1-13 (NRSV)
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. [2] Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. [3] When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; [4] but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. [5] As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. [6] But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' [7] Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. [8] The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' [9] But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' [10] And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. [11] Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' [12] But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' [13] Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Story:
It's easy to be lazy and to leave until tomorrow things we don't like doing. But we never know what we might miss if we're not prepared. We especially miss out on all the good things God has waiting for us if we're too lazy to spend a little time talking with God and getting to know God.
In this story, Lazy Linda loses out on a lot of fun because she can't be bothered with the little things which really matter.
Lazy Linda
"Linda," called her mother, "when you've finished with your chewing gum, don't throw it down in the street. Wrap it in a piece of paper and put it in the bin."
"O.K," said Linda. But she didn't have any paper and she couldn't be bothered to look for any, so she threw her gum down in the street.
Next day, Linda's Mum said, "Tie the lace of your trainer, Linda. Otherwise you'll fall over it. And we don't want any accidents, since we're going on holiday to the seaside tomorrow."
"O.K," said Linda. But she was too excited about the holiday to bother about laces or trainers, so she just carried on running.
Suddenly Linda felt a wrench in her ankle. Her loose lace had stuck on yesterday's chewing gum and Linda went flying. She landed in a heap with her leg at an awkward angle and she felt terrible pain flood her leg.
"Ouch! Ouch!" she screamed. "Help me, someone!"
Someone did help her. Someone rang for an ambulance and the paramedics came. They lifted Linda carefully onto a stretcher and took her to hospital.
The doctor X-rayed Linda's leg and pronounced it broken. "We'll put a plaster on your leg," he said. "It'll soon mend, but you mustn't walk on it for three months."
The hospital loaned Linda a wheelchair and in the beginning she was quite proud of her plaster and her wheelchair. But it wasn't much fun at the seaside. The wheelchair refused to wheel over sand, so Linda had to sit in the chair on the promenade, watching the rest of the family making sandcastles. And Linda wasn't allowed to get the plaster wet, so she couldn't go near the sea. She had to sit in her chair on the promenade and watch the rest of the family splishing and splashing and swimming in the waves. And Linda couldn't go on any of the rides at the funfair. She had to sit in her chair and watch the rest of the family swooping and shrieking, laughing and giggling.
'If only,' thought Linda to herself, 'I had thrown away my gum properly like Mum said! If only I had tied my laces properly like Mum said! Then I would have been ready for our holiday at the seaside. I shall never be lazy again, because you just don't know what a brilliant time you might miss. Nobody will ever be able to call me Lazy Linda again.'
And do you know, they couldn't, because after her leg was mended, Linda was never lazy again.
Activity:
You need:
A sheet of A4 card and a sheet of A4 paper for each
child
A few heavy books
Scissors
Pencils
Rulers
Felt tips
or crayons
Glue
Prepare for Advent by making an Advent calendar.
Start by talking to the children about Advent. Tell them that Advent is the season of waiting for Jesus to come at Christmas and that it starts in three week's time.
The children should draw a grid of 28 boxes (4x7) on their piece of paper, with a border of about 0.5cms around each box. They should number each box, starting with the date of Advent Sunday, then each day until December 24. They should then cut around three sides of each box, to make little numbered doors. When all the doors have been cut, place the paper under a heavy book to keep the doors flat.
Draw the grid again on the card, making sure that all margins are exactly the same size as on the paper grid. The children should draw suitable pictures inside each box on the card, ending with a picture of the stable scene in the last box. They may need some suggestions for pictures and could draw a star, a candle, a snowman, Santa Claus, a variety of toys, a Christmas tree, etc.
When the pictures are finished, glue the paper over the card, putting dabs of glue on the borders between the cut edges. Take the Advent Calendar home, either for themselves, or for a gift.
Intercession:
Unexpected God, help our church to be always ready to receive you. May we spend sufficient time in our prayers to properly connect with you, so that we recognise you when you come to us.
Unexpected God, sometimes our politicians seem to concentrate on short-term solutions at the expense of long-term satisfaction. Encourage those who rule us to think ahead and work towards the long-term good of our planet and of the human race.
Unexpected God, when I feel tired or lazy I tend to reduce my connections with you because I can't be bothered to make any effort. Give me the will to attempt more so that I will be ready to meet with you when my time comes.
Unexpected God, fill those who are sick with your love and healing power. We pray especially for
Blessing:
May your preparations be thorough,
Your timing good
And your heart ready to receive our Lord.
And the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you now,
be in your homes and in your families
and with all those whom you love
and for whom you pray,
now and always.
Amen.
