The Poisonous Plants
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." In our worship today, let us explore how we can love one another.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, when we show not our love for each other, but our dislike of one another, Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when we pretend to love one another whilst harbouring hate in our hearts, Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when we don't understand how to love one another, Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 13:31-35 (NRSV)
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. [32] If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. [33] Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' [34] I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Story:
Jesus loved human beings so much that he was able to be tough with them when he had to be. This story explores the concept of tough love.
The Poisonous Plants
Jasper had lots of sisters but no brothers. As the only male rabbit in the burrow apart from his father, Jasper came in for lots of tidbits and delicious snacks. He was always given the heart of the lettuce and the choicest sweet, young, green beans. It was Jasper who got to sample the new cabbages just as they emerged from the ground and it was Jasper who had the first nibble at the roses in the garden.
Everybody loved Jasper, even his sisters who sometimes pretended to be annoyed with him. His aunts adored him, his mother worshipped him and his father was glad to have some male company in an otherwise entirely female burrow.
Being surrounded by such love, Jasper was a confident young rabbit. He loved to explore and often wandered further afield than was good for him. His mother would warn him about the dangers of crossing the busy road and regale him with tales of the unknown and therefore dangerous crops that grew in the fields on the other side of the road. His father could remember rabbits who had been killed by the traffic on the road and his aunts huddled together in fear when they recalled the sad story of the rabbit who had eaten delicious green shoots which had proved to be poisonous.
Jasper listened to all these stories with interest, but since he feared nothing and nobody, he saw no reason to curb his natural curiosity. He therefore determined to cross the busy road and to nibble the crops which grew in the field on the other side.
Jasper's opportunity came a day or two later. When his sisters were busy learning how to make burrows and how to find the sweetest grass to nibble, Jasper slipped away. He raced down to the big road where he waited, his little nose and whiskers quivering, until all was silent. Then he darted across the road in perfect safety. He immediately began to nibble the broad beans in the first field, but was chased on his way by an angry hare who didn't care for strange rabbits.
For the first time in his life, Jasper was frightened. Nobody had chased him in anger before. He ran and ran until he could run no more, then he squirmed under some large, feathery plants and lay as still as he could. When he had regained his breath and was certain the hare had given up on the chase, Jasper cautiously emerged. He sniffed at the air and began to nibble the feathery fronds. They tasted so good that Jasper ate and ate and ate until he could eat no more. He felt rather funny, but he didn't care. He simply lay down again and went to sleep.
It was hours later when Jasper awoke. He staggered to his feet and began to set off on the long journey home. Somehow, he couldn't run very well and he couldn't think very well. His legs didn't work as well as they usually did. But he felt very contented and happy and not at all worried. When he reached the road, Jasper forgot to stop and listen. As he began to meander across the road, a car roared down upon him at great speed. Jasper escaped by a whisker, but he still wasn't worried. He felt very odd, but he also felt as though he hadn't a care in the world.
When he finally lurched home, Jasper's sisters were looking frightened. His mother was sobbing and his aunts were nowhere to be seen. But his father was furious. He dragged Jasper into the burrow, shouting at him all the time. Jasper began to feel rather ill, but his father took no notice. By now his mother had dried her tears and Jasper looked at her pleadingly, but her face was like stone and she turned her back on him.
Jasper's parents locked him in the burrow and refused to let him out. They fed him on stale bread and water and wouldn't let any of his sisters go near him for a week. When he told his parents that he felt ill, they retorted that it was his own fault.
"The aunts warned you," said his mother. "They told you about the field with the poisonous plants, but you went straight there and ate them. You're lucky to be alive. Don't expect any sympathy from any of us."
Jasper felt very sorry for himself and his week alone in the burrow seemed to last forever. He ouldn't understand how all his family could be so nasty to him, for he thought they loved him. But he never tried to cross the busy road again and he never went back to the field with the poisonous plants.
Activity:
You need: A large sheet of paper Coloured pens Small pieces of different coloured paper (to make a mosaic). These could be cut from magazine pictures, to symbolise the world. Glue
Ask the children what they could draw to symbolise love, and get them to draw that symbol in the centre of the paper (they may draw a heart). Then ask them which Christian symbols speak to us of love (Jesus' arms outstretched on the cross, the spear whcih pierced his side releasing blood and water - said to be the sign of a broken heart, a dove showing God's peace for the world, a fish showing the love of Christians for God and for each other, etc.) Let the children draw these symbols around the central symbol. Then make a mosaic of the whole design, by filling in the outlines with small pieces of coloured paper.
Write "Symbols of love" across the top and display in church.
Intercession:
God of love, may our church be so filled with your love that we are able to be honest with each other and support each other even when we disagree.
God of love, may our world begin to express love for each other rather than hatred, so that your peace may reign on earth.
God of love, help us to understand the concept of tough love. May we have the courage to express our love in ways that are right, even if those ways may sometimes be scary.
God of love, pour your love into all who are sick that they may know how deeply you care for them. We especially ask your love for ....
Blessing:
May the God of love enfold you in his arms and enable you to offer tough love to all whom you meet. 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.
Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." In our worship today, let us explore how we can love one another.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, when we show not our love for each other, but our dislike of one another, Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when we pretend to love one another whilst harbouring hate in our hearts, Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when we don't understand how to love one another, Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 13:31-35 (NRSV)
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. [32] If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. [33] Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' [34] I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Story:
Jesus loved human beings so much that he was able to be tough with them when he had to be. This story explores the concept of tough love.
The Poisonous Plants
Jasper had lots of sisters but no brothers. As the only male rabbit in the burrow apart from his father, Jasper came in for lots of tidbits and delicious snacks. He was always given the heart of the lettuce and the choicest sweet, young, green beans. It was Jasper who got to sample the new cabbages just as they emerged from the ground and it was Jasper who had the first nibble at the roses in the garden.
Everybody loved Jasper, even his sisters who sometimes pretended to be annoyed with him. His aunts adored him, his mother worshipped him and his father was glad to have some male company in an otherwise entirely female burrow.
Being surrounded by such love, Jasper was a confident young rabbit. He loved to explore and often wandered further afield than was good for him. His mother would warn him about the dangers of crossing the busy road and regale him with tales of the unknown and therefore dangerous crops that grew in the fields on the other side of the road. His father could remember rabbits who had been killed by the traffic on the road and his aunts huddled together in fear when they recalled the sad story of the rabbit who had eaten delicious green shoots which had proved to be poisonous.
Jasper listened to all these stories with interest, but since he feared nothing and nobody, he saw no reason to curb his natural curiosity. He therefore determined to cross the busy road and to nibble the crops which grew in the field on the other side.
Jasper's opportunity came a day or two later. When his sisters were busy learning how to make burrows and how to find the sweetest grass to nibble, Jasper slipped away. He raced down to the big road where he waited, his little nose and whiskers quivering, until all was silent. Then he darted across the road in perfect safety. He immediately began to nibble the broad beans in the first field, but was chased on his way by an angry hare who didn't care for strange rabbits.
For the first time in his life, Jasper was frightened. Nobody had chased him in anger before. He ran and ran until he could run no more, then he squirmed under some large, feathery plants and lay as still as he could. When he had regained his breath and was certain the hare had given up on the chase, Jasper cautiously emerged. He sniffed at the air and began to nibble the feathery fronds. They tasted so good that Jasper ate and ate and ate until he could eat no more. He felt rather funny, but he didn't care. He simply lay down again and went to sleep.
It was hours later when Jasper awoke. He staggered to his feet and began to set off on the long journey home. Somehow, he couldn't run very well and he couldn't think very well. His legs didn't work as well as they usually did. But he felt very contented and happy and not at all worried. When he reached the road, Jasper forgot to stop and listen. As he began to meander across the road, a car roared down upon him at great speed. Jasper escaped by a whisker, but he still wasn't worried. He felt very odd, but he also felt as though he hadn't a care in the world.
When he finally lurched home, Jasper's sisters were looking frightened. His mother was sobbing and his aunts were nowhere to be seen. But his father was furious. He dragged Jasper into the burrow, shouting at him all the time. Jasper began to feel rather ill, but his father took no notice. By now his mother had dried her tears and Jasper looked at her pleadingly, but her face was like stone and she turned her back on him.
Jasper's parents locked him in the burrow and refused to let him out. They fed him on stale bread and water and wouldn't let any of his sisters go near him for a week. When he told his parents that he felt ill, they retorted that it was his own fault.
"The aunts warned you," said his mother. "They told you about the field with the poisonous plants, but you went straight there and ate them. You're lucky to be alive. Don't expect any sympathy from any of us."
Jasper felt very sorry for himself and his week alone in the burrow seemed to last forever. He ouldn't understand how all his family could be so nasty to him, for he thought they loved him. But he never tried to cross the busy road again and he never went back to the field with the poisonous plants.
Activity:
You need: A large sheet of paper Coloured pens Small pieces of different coloured paper (to make a mosaic). These could be cut from magazine pictures, to symbolise the world. Glue
Ask the children what they could draw to symbolise love, and get them to draw that symbol in the centre of the paper (they may draw a heart). Then ask them which Christian symbols speak to us of love (Jesus' arms outstretched on the cross, the spear whcih pierced his side releasing blood and water - said to be the sign of a broken heart, a dove showing God's peace for the world, a fish showing the love of Christians for God and for each other, etc.) Let the children draw these symbols around the central symbol. Then make a mosaic of the whole design, by filling in the outlines with small pieces of coloured paper.
Write "Symbols of love" across the top and display in church.
Intercession:
God of love, may our church be so filled with your love that we are able to be honest with each other and support each other even when we disagree.
God of love, may our world begin to express love for each other rather than hatred, so that your peace may reign on earth.
God of love, help us to understand the concept of tough love. May we have the courage to express our love in ways that are right, even if those ways may sometimes be scary.
God of love, pour your love into all who are sick that they may know how deeply you care for them. We especially ask your love for ....
Blessing:
May the God of love enfold you in his arms and enable you to offer tough love to all whom you meet. 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.
