Lucy Leaf's Fear
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
As we enter the dark season of Advent, representing the darkness of the world before the light of Christ came at Christmas, let us hold before God any darkness and suffering we ourselves experience, whether at school or at work or in our home lives. (Pause for a few moments silence.) Let us remember that Jesus Christ takes our darkness and suffering and transforms it for us.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, darkness can be scary. When we are afraid, Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, darkness can dampen our spirits and cause us to forget your good news. Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we actively seek out the darkness. Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 21:25-36
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. [26] People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [27] Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." [29] Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; [30] as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. [31] So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. [32] Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. [33] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. [34] "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, [35] like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. [36] Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Story:
It's very difficult for children to think beyond the immediate, so the Advent gospel readings full of doom and gloom need to be explained in some way.
This little story about Lucy Leaf takes the theme of resurrection after death.
Lucy Leaf's Fear
Lucy Leaf was scared. All her life, since the day she had first begun to emerge on the branch as a tiny, tightly curled bud, she had heard tales of winter.
"When the air grows cold and the wind screams you will surely die," they had said. They had edged it with, "and you will begin a new life in a different form," but Lucy had never really noticed that bit. She had got stuck on the "you will surely die," phrase.
Now Lucy shivered, for the air was getting colder by the day and the wind, although it wasn't yet screaming, was beginning to quietly roar. And one or two of Lucy's older brothers and sisters had already lost their fragile grip on the branch and had floated down to earth.
'This must be the beginning of winter,' Lucy thought, and she shivered again. What would happen to her?
Two days later there was such a gale that almost all the leaves were blown from the tree. Lucy ended up in a heap along with her brothers and sisters. She was quite surprised, for it hadn't been nearly as scary as she had expected. She had rather enjoyed the sensation of floating on the wind and now that she was on the earth, it was lovely and warm huddled up in a pile with her brothers and sisters.
After a while, a gardener came by with a garden broom. He began to sweep the leaves into even bigger piles and Lucy found herself right at the centre. It was wonderfully warm and Lucy noticed that all the leaves together began to generate their own heat. It was so comfortable that Lucy fell asleep.
She must have slept for many months, for when she opened her eyes again Lucy discovered that the air was fresher and brighter and that the sun was beginning to rise quite high in the sky again. She tried to yawn and stretch, but then she noticed a very strange thing. She no longer looked like a leaf. Somehow or other she had become one with her brothers and sisters and together they looked more like mulch than leaves.
But Lucy didn't have time for much more thought, for she heard the voice of the gardener and she felt herself lifted on his fork. "My!" he was saying, "those Autumn leaves have made some fine compost. They'll be a treat for the soil."
Lucy felt quite proud as the gardener dug her into the soil along with her brothers and sisters. It wasn't entirely comfortable being dug into the soil, but the pain didn't last long and Lucy soon settled. Then the gardener sprinkled new seeds into the soil and poured water over them. Lucy sighed contentedly. It was delicious.
Soon after this, she noticed another change. Slowly but surely she felt herself being drawn into the seed as the seed began to sprout. Then she felt herself being spread throughout the new growth and she knew that her goodness was enabling the seed to grow.
In time, Lucy became part of the trunk of a new tree. As each new crop of leaves grew on the branches, Lucy would tell them the age old legend. "When the air grows cold and the wind screams you will surely die," she said to them. But she always added, "but you're not to worry too much about that, because you will rise to new life. So winter is a time of hope, because although it looks dark and scary, it's simply a herald of wonderful things to come. Whatever you do, remember that and hold onto it."
And all the new leaves did.
Activity:
Advent is the time when we get ready for Christmas. Start a Jesse Tree (which shows the genealogy of Christ in the form of a tree) by painting and cutting out the first symbols in the history of the story of salvation - sun, moon, stars to represent Creation, an apple to represent the fall, an ark and a dove for the flood.
Hang the symbols on the bottom branches of the tree (this can be a Christmas Tree, or just a large twig, but remember it has to last until Christmas.) A prayer for the hanging of the symbols:
God our Creator, thank you for creating the world and for making human beings to be like you. We are sorry that things went wrong from the beginning, and thank you for sending Jesus to put things right. Amen.
The Advent Wreath has four dark candles (usually purple for the liturgical colour of Advent) in a ring of holly or dark greenery, around a central white or gold candle. One candle is lit each week of Advent, with the central candle lit on Christmas Day.
Light the first candle on the Advent Wreath. The first candle represents the Patriarchs - our fathers in the faith. A prayer for lighting the first candle:
We light this candle to give thanks for the Patriarchs, who first held faith in God. Thank you God, for sending Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to help people learn about you. And thank you for sending Jesus to be the light in a dark world. May Jesus be the light in our lives as we look forward to Christmas. Amen.
Intercession:
God of promises, when we feel despondent because so few people are interested in Church, remind us of your promise that your Holy Spirit will never leave the Church. May we face the future with the confidence and hope that resurrection always follows crucifixion.
God of promises, our world often seems dark and dreary because wars never cease and adverse weather conditions often cause suffering to thousands of people. Help us to understand and assist all who suffer in our world and to tell them of the hope you have promised to us through Jesus Christ.
God of promises, help us to be sensitive to those who feel that their life is dark and meaningless. May they become aware that you are the light of the world and that you will be light in their darkness.
God of promises, we pray for all who are sick or suffering. Be with those who have lost someone they love and who are in the darkness of bereavement. May all of those who suffer see your light and feel your love and healing power.
Blessing:
May your darkness be lightened
and your heart warmed.
May you relieve the suffering of others
and tell them of the light of Christ.
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.
As we enter the dark season of Advent, representing the darkness of the world before the light of Christ came at Christmas, let us hold before God any darkness and suffering we ourselves experience, whether at school or at work or in our home lives. (Pause for a few moments silence.) Let us remember that Jesus Christ takes our darkness and suffering and transforms it for us.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, darkness can be scary. When we are afraid, Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, darkness can dampen our spirits and cause us to forget your good news. Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we actively seek out the darkness. Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 21:25-36
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. [26] People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [27] Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." [29] Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; [30] as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. [31] So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. [32] Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. [33] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. [34] "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, [35] like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. [36] Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Story:
It's very difficult for children to think beyond the immediate, so the Advent gospel readings full of doom and gloom need to be explained in some way.
This little story about Lucy Leaf takes the theme of resurrection after death.
Lucy Leaf's Fear
Lucy Leaf was scared. All her life, since the day she had first begun to emerge on the branch as a tiny, tightly curled bud, she had heard tales of winter.
"When the air grows cold and the wind screams you will surely die," they had said. They had edged it with, "and you will begin a new life in a different form," but Lucy had never really noticed that bit. She had got stuck on the "you will surely die," phrase.
Now Lucy shivered, for the air was getting colder by the day and the wind, although it wasn't yet screaming, was beginning to quietly roar. And one or two of Lucy's older brothers and sisters had already lost their fragile grip on the branch and had floated down to earth.
'This must be the beginning of winter,' Lucy thought, and she shivered again. What would happen to her?
Two days later there was such a gale that almost all the leaves were blown from the tree. Lucy ended up in a heap along with her brothers and sisters. She was quite surprised, for it hadn't been nearly as scary as she had expected. She had rather enjoyed the sensation of floating on the wind and now that she was on the earth, it was lovely and warm huddled up in a pile with her brothers and sisters.
After a while, a gardener came by with a garden broom. He began to sweep the leaves into even bigger piles and Lucy found herself right at the centre. It was wonderfully warm and Lucy noticed that all the leaves together began to generate their own heat. It was so comfortable that Lucy fell asleep.
She must have slept for many months, for when she opened her eyes again Lucy discovered that the air was fresher and brighter and that the sun was beginning to rise quite high in the sky again. She tried to yawn and stretch, but then she noticed a very strange thing. She no longer looked like a leaf. Somehow or other she had become one with her brothers and sisters and together they looked more like mulch than leaves.
But Lucy didn't have time for much more thought, for she heard the voice of the gardener and she felt herself lifted on his fork. "My!" he was saying, "those Autumn leaves have made some fine compost. They'll be a treat for the soil."
Lucy felt quite proud as the gardener dug her into the soil along with her brothers and sisters. It wasn't entirely comfortable being dug into the soil, but the pain didn't last long and Lucy soon settled. Then the gardener sprinkled new seeds into the soil and poured water over them. Lucy sighed contentedly. It was delicious.
Soon after this, she noticed another change. Slowly but surely she felt herself being drawn into the seed as the seed began to sprout. Then she felt herself being spread throughout the new growth and she knew that her goodness was enabling the seed to grow.
In time, Lucy became part of the trunk of a new tree. As each new crop of leaves grew on the branches, Lucy would tell them the age old legend. "When the air grows cold and the wind screams you will surely die," she said to them. But she always added, "but you're not to worry too much about that, because you will rise to new life. So winter is a time of hope, because although it looks dark and scary, it's simply a herald of wonderful things to come. Whatever you do, remember that and hold onto it."
And all the new leaves did.
Activity:
Advent is the time when we get ready for Christmas. Start a Jesse Tree (which shows the genealogy of Christ in the form of a tree) by painting and cutting out the first symbols in the history of the story of salvation - sun, moon, stars to represent Creation, an apple to represent the fall, an ark and a dove for the flood.
Hang the symbols on the bottom branches of the tree (this can be a Christmas Tree, or just a large twig, but remember it has to last until Christmas.) A prayer for the hanging of the symbols:
God our Creator, thank you for creating the world and for making human beings to be like you. We are sorry that things went wrong from the beginning, and thank you for sending Jesus to put things right. Amen.
The Advent Wreath has four dark candles (usually purple for the liturgical colour of Advent) in a ring of holly or dark greenery, around a central white or gold candle. One candle is lit each week of Advent, with the central candle lit on Christmas Day.
Light the first candle on the Advent Wreath. The first candle represents the Patriarchs - our fathers in the faith. A prayer for lighting the first candle:
We light this candle to give thanks for the Patriarchs, who first held faith in God. Thank you God, for sending Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to help people learn about you. And thank you for sending Jesus to be the light in a dark world. May Jesus be the light in our lives as we look forward to Christmas. Amen.
Intercession:
God of promises, when we feel despondent because so few people are interested in Church, remind us of your promise that your Holy Spirit will never leave the Church. May we face the future with the confidence and hope that resurrection always follows crucifixion.
God of promises, our world often seems dark and dreary because wars never cease and adverse weather conditions often cause suffering to thousands of people. Help us to understand and assist all who suffer in our world and to tell them of the hope you have promised to us through Jesus Christ.
God of promises, help us to be sensitive to those who feel that their life is dark and meaningless. May they become aware that you are the light of the world and that you will be light in their darkness.
God of promises, we pray for all who are sick or suffering. Be with those who have lost someone they love and who are in the darkness of bereavement. May all of those who suffer see your light and feel your love and healing power.
Blessing:
May your darkness be lightened
and your heart warmed.
May you relieve the suffering of others
and tell them of the light of Christ.
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.
