Let us join together to use this time for rest and relaxation within the preence of our Lord.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we are lazy and don't do what you want us to do.
Lord, have mercy.Jesus, sometimes we are too busy and wilfully refuse to take time off.
Christ, have mercy.Jesus, help us to manage our time and our own physical and emotional needs.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. [31] He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. [32] And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. [33] Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. [34] As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. [54] When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, [55] and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. [56] And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Story:
Jesus often took time out for rest and relaxation and made sure his disciples did the same.
Holidays are about taking time out for relaxation and refreshment, but sometimes children can feel left out if all their friends go away and they themselves are left at home. And bored children don't get refreshed, they get into mischief! This is a story about Paul, who discovered the real meaning of 'holiday' through doing something he later deeply regretted.
Paul's Holiday
Paul was bored. Most of his friends had gone away on holiday and he was left by himself.
"Don't get into mischief," called his mother as he wandered down the street, kicking at an empty Coke can.
Soon, Paul noticed the Hurst gang. He normally steered clear of them because he knew they were trouble, but today he had nothing else to do. He decided to follow them, keeping at a distance but watching to see what they were about. He began to enjoy it, for it felt a bit like being a detective.
The Hurst gang picked up some stones and threw them at the school windows. Then they lit a piece of paper and pushed it into the Royal Mail post box, roaring with laughter. Paul was horrified, but entranced as well. It was very exciting. He peeped out from the bush where he was hiding to see what would happen next, but that was a big mistake. At once the leader of the gang spotted him.
"Get him!" the leader cried. Paul took to his heels, but it was no good. He was soon overtaken by the bigger boys.
"What shall we do with him?" they asked the leader as they dragged Paul back.
Paul thought quickly. "I'll join you," he offered. He didn't want to join them and he was terrified, but it was better than being beaten up by them.
"Huh!" sneered the leader. "What've you got to offer? You have to bring something with you if you want to join our gang."
Paul swallowed nervously. He had nothing. Then he had a brainwave. It might just be enough to get the gang off his back.
"We could go to the church," he said, "it's always open, but there's never anyone about. We could trash it. It'd be fun."
The gang looked at each other and their eyes glittered. They hadn't thought of the church before.
Paul led them through the huge, unlocked door. It was quiet in the church and Paul immediately felt the sense of peace which always filled him when he was alone in church. But it didn't stay with him long, for the gang were racing up and down the aisles. Some of them had even jumped over the altar rail, and one was sitting on the altar.
Paul was appalled, although he wasn't sure why. It was even worse when the boys left empty crisp packets and coke cans sprawled over the altar, and then started to light every candle they could find. Paul was afraid the crisp packets would catch fire and the whole church would go up in flames.
But worse was happening elsewhere. The leader and some of the other boys had been roaming around the church and had discovered the fire extinguishers. Now they were spraying the whole church with a thick layer of grey powder. It was a terrible mess.
When they'd had enough, the boys left, jeering and laughing and jauntily slamming the great door behind them. Paul stayed for a moment or two, nearly in tears. The church looked like a disaster zone and Paul felt deeply ashamed and somehow alienated from God. Paul slunk out and went home.
Soon everyone knew about the damage in the church, and harsh words like "vandalism" were used repeatedly. Paul stayed at home and refused to go out. He didn't say a word. But he discovered he felt ill and was unable to eat. He couldn't sleep very well either, for his sleep was punctuated by nightmares in which the police came to arrest him.
After two or three days, Paul felt so ill that he stayed in bed. His mother was worried about him, but also puzzled.
"You don't have a temperature," she said, "I wonder what the problem is?" Paul turned on his side and refused to answer.
Later that day, Paul had a visitor. The Reverend Phelps had heard that Paul was ill, and had come to visit him. He sat by the bed and looked kindly at Paul. Then he said casually, "Awful mess in the church last week."
With that, Paul burst into tears. "I'm so sorry," he wept. "I didn't mean it to be like that. Will God hate me for ever?"
The Reverend Phelps shook his head. "No, Paul," he said. "God loves you very much indeed, in spite of what you've done." He hesitated a moment, then he added, "You haven't been away on holiday this year, have you, Paul?"
Miserably, Paul shook his head.
Mr Phelps continued, "Do you know that the word 'holiday' comes from 'holy day'? Holy days - and special places - are given to us by God for us to enjoy. They give us refreshment and make us feel a lot better. That's why people go away on holiday, but you can get the same effect from church because it's a special place. When people go into church alone, they often like to kneel at the altar. That gives them a deep sense of peace, because they know they meet with God there. That's why people were so upset with the damage in the church, Paul. It took away their special place, their holy day or holiday."
Then Paul understood why he'd felt so uneasy at the boys' lack of respect in the church, especially around the altar. It had violated his own sense of peace and destroyed his own awareness of God's presence.
"Will God ever come back to the church?" he asked Mr Phelps.
"God never went away," declared Mr Phelps. "You took yourself away from God, by what you did. Now, would you like to come back to church and tell God how sorry you are?"
Paul nodded.
The mess in church had all been cleared away, and Paul felt God's presence immediately. It was hard to say sorry to God, but easier with Mr Phelps there to help him. Afterwards, Paul felt as though a great weight had been lifted from him.
"This is my holiday - or holy day!" he said to Mr Phelps. "I'm refreshed and renewed. And I'll never damage God's house again. It's too special for that." And he meant every word.
Activity:
You need:
As many different holiday postcards as you can
find.
Pens.
Spread the postcards out on a table and invite the children to look at them. Ask the children to choose for themselves the postcard which they like best. Then ask the children to explain what it is they like about the postcard. Use the opportunity to talk about special places (remembering that for some children who have never been away from home, their special place might be their bedroom, or a den in the garden). Talk about the church and why it's a special place, and explain about the different parts of the church. You could explain that the altar is regarded as especially significant, because it especially represents God's presence. The children could write a prayer thanking God for special places, on the back of their postcards and the prayers could then be offered in church.
Diary Time: For details, click here.
Talk about holidays and invite the children to share with you their memories of the best holiday (at home or away) that they can remember. Be aware that some children may never go away on holiday, and make sure to include them in the discussion. Ask the children what was so special, and then point out that God is pleased when we enjoy ourselves. Remind the children that "holiday" was originally "holy day", and talk about Church festivals and feast days. Then invite the children to write or draw in their diaries.
Intercession:
God of rest and refreshment, may our church be a haven where people can come to meet with you. Help us to respect our church so that it may remain a holy place, but help us also to keep it in the middle of real life.
God of rest and refreshment, we pray for those in authority as they seek to find sufficient time and relaxation for themselves. May they return to office with renewed vigour after their holidays, determined to seek the best for all people under their jurisdiction.
God of rest and refreshment, enable us to enjoy our holidays, whether at home or away. Help us to set aside sufficient time for relaxation and for our families, and help us to return to work refreshed and ready to go.
God of rest and refreshment, we hold within your presence those who are too sick to enjoy holidays, and those who have suffered the death of someone they love. May they know your strength and support and love, and may they emerge into good health. We remember especially ...
Blessing:
May you find rest and refreshment
during your holiday period,
and may you be very aware
during this time
of God's immense love for you.
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.
