Mr Skillett Is Very Worried
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to worship:
Jesus said to his disciples, "Where is your faith?" In our worship today let us explore how we would answer that question.
Invitation to confession:
Jesus, when life's storms sweep over us,
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when we cannot tune into you and assume you are asleep,
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when we fear we are perishing,
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 8:21-25
But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."
[22] One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they put out, [23] and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. [24] They went to him and woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. [25] He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?"
Story:
When we allow fear to rule our behaviour, we tend to panic and things go from bad to worse. Jesus told his friends to have faith, because although they still had to face the storm, they were protected from harm.
In this story, when Mr Skillett loses faith, he panics and becomes very unhappy. His anxieties rule his behaviour until he stops and listens to the wisdom of a friend.
Mr Skillett Is Very Worried
Mr Skillett was feeling rather anxious. Although he had been an adult for a very long time, he suspected that he was still growing. The trouble was, since he was as tall as a bus and as thin as two pieces of paper stuck together, Mr Skillett was already far too tall to be measured. Even with a step ladder, nobody could get near enough to the top of Mr Skillett's head to measure him.
"Never mind, dear," said Mrs Round in a warm, comforting voice. She helped herself to a large slice of fruit cake to help her ponder Mr Skillett's problem. It didn't help quite as much as she had anticipated, so she unwrapped a bar of chocolate and began to munch thoughtfully. Then she drank a mug of tea.
Then she felt better so she said, "It'll be all right in the end, you'll see."
Mr Skillett replied "Harrumph!" It was a cross between a cough and a grunt, and saved him having to respond properly. But he still felt worried. It was fine for Mrs Round, who only came up to his knees and was as round as she was high. Nothing seemed to faze her. She was always of the opinion that "all's well that ends well." Mr Skillett wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but Mrs Round seemed so certain of the truth of it and so content in her belief that he hadn't the heart to ask her.
Mr Skillett already had to fold himself in three in order to get through Mrs Round's little round door into her little round house. Once inside he had to flop into an armchair immediately, because he couldn't stand up. If he grew any more, what would he do? He'd never be able to fit into Mrs Round's house and if he couldn't visit her, he'd lose his dearest friend.
That night, Mr Skillett tossed and turned in his very long bed. However much he tried, he couldn't sleep. His mind was full of his height and the more he thought about it, the taller he thought he was. Soon he was picturing himself as a huge giant who was so tall that everyone else seemed like ants and he began to worry that he might tread on them.
In the morning he felt exhausted and very, very worried. He couldn't think of anything else. He felt very unhappy. In desperation, Mr Skillett sought the help of Dr Black. He had to find Dr Black during daylight hours, because even the white of Dr Black's eyes and his teeth were black and since he always dressed in black from head to foot, the doctor was completely invisible at night.
Dr Black listened carefully as Mr Skillett poured out all his worries. Then he said, "Why don't you ask Mrs Round how she would feel if you were unable to fit into her house?"
Mr Skillett looked shocked. "I couldn't do that! I'm sure she'd be upset if I didn't visit her. She never went out you know, before we met. Suppose she went back to that?"
"Perhaps you should trust her," suggested Dr Black.
So Mr Skillett returned to Mrs Round and in fear and trepidation asked her how she would feel if he could never come and visit her again.
Mrs Round frowned, which was unusual for her because nothing about her was in straight lines. Then her face cleared and she said, "Why, I'd just come and visit you instead!"
Mr Skillett was so happy that he laughed out loud. 'Now I know what it means,' he thought to himself. 'Mrs Round is quite right. All's well that ends well indeed!' And after that, he completely forgot to worry ever again.
Activity:
You need:
Various containers with: cooked, cold spaghetti in a little sauce
a fur glove
a ballon with a little water inside
a spiky hairbursh
anything else you can think of!
2 Blindfolds
Tell the children that they have to guess what's in the containers. Choose two children to be blindfolded and send them out of the room so that they cannot hear what you say to the remaining children. Tell the children that you're going to play a trick. You're going to tell one child that there are only nice things to feel in the containers, but you're going to tell the other child that the containers have worms, a furrry animal, a dead man's finger (if you can get a balloon that shape!) and a hedgehog.
Have the first child in and say s/he has to guess what's in the containers by feeling the contents, but not to worry, because it's all nice things to feel. Watch the child's reaction as s/he feels the various contents and see whethers/he guesses correctly.
Have the second child in and say that it's quite difficult to guess what's in the containers, so you're going to give a clue. Then suggest that they might feel worms or a furry animal etc. Watch the child's reaction and see whether s/he guesses correctly.
Then ask the two children what it felt like to them. Were they scared? Anxious? Did they believe you? Did they trust you not to harm them?
Explain that we can always trust God, even when awful things happen in our lives and it seems as though God is asleep and can't hear our prayers. Just as you would never harm any of the children, so God will protect them from harm and evil if they trust him.
Prayers
Caring God, may we in your Church trust you so completely that we are prepared to follow wherever you may lead.
Caring God, be with those who feel they have lost everything including hope. Fill them with your courage and enable them to see that you are always there for them.
Caring God, when things go wrong in our lives, help us to remember that you are with us even when you seem to be asleep. Give us the strength to face what must be faced and to know that you are always with us.
Caring God, we pray for those who are sick, asking that you may touch them and heal them. We name them before you ...
Blessing
May God fill you with faith,
Arm you with strength
And enable you with wisdom.
And 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 to his disciples, "Where is your faith?" In our worship today let us explore how we would answer that question.
Invitation to confession:
Jesus, when life's storms sweep over us,
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when we cannot tune into you and assume you are asleep,
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when we fear we are perishing,
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 8:21-25
But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."
[22] One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they put out, [23] and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. [24] They went to him and woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. [25] He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?"
Story:
When we allow fear to rule our behaviour, we tend to panic and things go from bad to worse. Jesus told his friends to have faith, because although they still had to face the storm, they were protected from harm.
In this story, when Mr Skillett loses faith, he panics and becomes very unhappy. His anxieties rule his behaviour until he stops and listens to the wisdom of a friend.
Mr Skillett Is Very Worried
Mr Skillett was feeling rather anxious. Although he had been an adult for a very long time, he suspected that he was still growing. The trouble was, since he was as tall as a bus and as thin as two pieces of paper stuck together, Mr Skillett was already far too tall to be measured. Even with a step ladder, nobody could get near enough to the top of Mr Skillett's head to measure him.
"Never mind, dear," said Mrs Round in a warm, comforting voice. She helped herself to a large slice of fruit cake to help her ponder Mr Skillett's problem. It didn't help quite as much as she had anticipated, so she unwrapped a bar of chocolate and began to munch thoughtfully. Then she drank a mug of tea.
Then she felt better so she said, "It'll be all right in the end, you'll see."
Mr Skillett replied "Harrumph!" It was a cross between a cough and a grunt, and saved him having to respond properly. But he still felt worried. It was fine for Mrs Round, who only came up to his knees and was as round as she was high. Nothing seemed to faze her. She was always of the opinion that "all's well that ends well." Mr Skillett wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but Mrs Round seemed so certain of the truth of it and so content in her belief that he hadn't the heart to ask her.
Mr Skillett already had to fold himself in three in order to get through Mrs Round's little round door into her little round house. Once inside he had to flop into an armchair immediately, because he couldn't stand up. If he grew any more, what would he do? He'd never be able to fit into Mrs Round's house and if he couldn't visit her, he'd lose his dearest friend.
That night, Mr Skillett tossed and turned in his very long bed. However much he tried, he couldn't sleep. His mind was full of his height and the more he thought about it, the taller he thought he was. Soon he was picturing himself as a huge giant who was so tall that everyone else seemed like ants and he began to worry that he might tread on them.
In the morning he felt exhausted and very, very worried. He couldn't think of anything else. He felt very unhappy. In desperation, Mr Skillett sought the help of Dr Black. He had to find Dr Black during daylight hours, because even the white of Dr Black's eyes and his teeth were black and since he always dressed in black from head to foot, the doctor was completely invisible at night.
Dr Black listened carefully as Mr Skillett poured out all his worries. Then he said, "Why don't you ask Mrs Round how she would feel if you were unable to fit into her house?"
Mr Skillett looked shocked. "I couldn't do that! I'm sure she'd be upset if I didn't visit her. She never went out you know, before we met. Suppose she went back to that?"
"Perhaps you should trust her," suggested Dr Black.
So Mr Skillett returned to Mrs Round and in fear and trepidation asked her how she would feel if he could never come and visit her again.
Mrs Round frowned, which was unusual for her because nothing about her was in straight lines. Then her face cleared and she said, "Why, I'd just come and visit you instead!"
Mr Skillett was so happy that he laughed out loud. 'Now I know what it means,' he thought to himself. 'Mrs Round is quite right. All's well that ends well indeed!' And after that, he completely forgot to worry ever again.
Activity:
You need:
Various containers with: cooked, cold spaghetti in a little sauce
a fur glove
a ballon with a little water inside
a spiky hairbursh
anything else you can think of!
2 Blindfolds
Tell the children that they have to guess what's in the containers. Choose two children to be blindfolded and send them out of the room so that they cannot hear what you say to the remaining children. Tell the children that you're going to play a trick. You're going to tell one child that there are only nice things to feel in the containers, but you're going to tell the other child that the containers have worms, a furrry animal, a dead man's finger (if you can get a balloon that shape!) and a hedgehog.
Have the first child in and say s/he has to guess what's in the containers by feeling the contents, but not to worry, because it's all nice things to feel. Watch the child's reaction as s/he feels the various contents and see whethers/he guesses correctly.
Have the second child in and say that it's quite difficult to guess what's in the containers, so you're going to give a clue. Then suggest that they might feel worms or a furry animal etc. Watch the child's reaction and see whether s/he guesses correctly.
Then ask the two children what it felt like to them. Were they scared? Anxious? Did they believe you? Did they trust you not to harm them?
Explain that we can always trust God, even when awful things happen in our lives and it seems as though God is asleep and can't hear our prayers. Just as you would never harm any of the children, so God will protect them from harm and evil if they trust him.
Prayers
Caring God, may we in your Church trust you so completely that we are prepared to follow wherever you may lead.
Caring God, be with those who feel they have lost everything including hope. Fill them with your courage and enable them to see that you are always there for them.
Caring God, when things go wrong in our lives, help us to remember that you are with us even when you seem to be asleep. Give us the strength to face what must be faced and to know that you are always with us.
Caring God, we pray for those who are sick, asking that you may touch them and heal them. We name them before you ...
Blessing
May God fill you with faith,
Arm you with strength
And enable you with wisdom.
And 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.
