Jesus said that many are called, but few are chosen. In our worship today, let us explore what might cause us to be chosen by God.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I'm bored by hearing about you.
Lord, have mercy.Jesus, sometimes I deliberately turn away from you.
Christ, have mercy.Jesus, sometimes I fail to follow you.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Matthew 22:1-14 (NRSV)
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: [2] "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. [3] He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. [4] Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' [5] But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, [6] while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. [7] The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. [8] Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. [9] Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' [10] Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. [11] "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, [12] and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' [14] For many are called, but few are chosen."
Story:
In Jesus' parable, those who were invited to the feast not only refused to come, but also destroyed the messengers.
In this story, the top maths group refuse the treat their teacher has prepared for them and do their best to destroy her resources.
Puzzle Corner
"You children have worked really hard all term and I have a treat for you," announced Mrs Higgins. "Instead of maths today, you can work through these number puzzles. They vary in difficulty. Some are easy, but some are quite tough. Work on your own, and enjoy the puzzles. Take these packs into the hall and work there."
Henry reluctantly took the packs from her. He was already feeling bored. He didn't feel like stupid number puzzles.
In the hall he threw the packs on the floor. "I'm not doing that," he declared. "Waste of time!"
Ben kicked a pack so viciously that it skidded the length of the hall. "I hate puzzles," he agreed. I'm not doing it either. Let's go on strike."
The other children looked uncertainly at the remaining packs. Then Christopher picked up a pack, emptied out the contents and threw them in the air so that they fluttered like confetti. The youngsters laughed with glee. Soon, all of them were busy destroying the packs and throwing the papers at each other. None of them bothered to look at the puzzles, so intent were they on their vandalism.
Just then the hall door opened. Mrs Higgins stood on the threshold, horrified. "How dare you!" she stormed, angrier than the children had ever seen her. "You will pick up all this rubbish, then you will report to the Head. Your parents will be informed and I will not have any of you in my maths class again."
Then she returned to the classroom. "Come along, all you other children," she said. "I have plenty more puzzle packs. You shall have the treat instead of those for whom it was intended. I'll help you and we'll all have fun together."
The other children were thrilled. They loved the puzzles and had a marvellous morning playing with numbers. It was so good, that it didn't feel like maths at all.
"I love number puzzles," said Hetty, who was hopeless at maths. "I'm so glad we're here."
And so were all the other children. As for that top group who were so naughty, they lost their opportunity for nobody allowed them to play with numbers ever again.
Activity:
You need:
In corner 1, several different (but quite short)
board games, such as Ludo and Snakes and Ladders
In corner 2, some
activities, such as throwing a beanbag into a bucket, magnetic darts, fishing
game
In corner 3, some pencil and paper games, such as simple Sudoku,
guessing the pop stars, a Bible quiz
Tell the children you have a games morning for them to give them a treat. Divide them into three groups and start each group off in one of the corners. After 6-8 minutes, play a chord on the piano (or use some other pre-arranged signal) and get the children to move to the next corner. After 6-8 minutes, repeat.
Have sufficient adults in each corner to keep each child's score and carry that score forward. At the end, award a prize to the child with the highest score and maybe a small token for each child who has taken part.
Then ask the children whether they enjoyed the morning. Ask them whether they think those children who are absent have missed something really good. Then tell them the parable in your own words and explain that those who reject Jesus miss out on something really good. If you have time, get the children to make a list of all the good things that Jesus gives us.
Intercession:
God of the banquet, when we are tempted to ignore you and to fill our time with useless pursuits, remind us that we can only find richness in you. Nudge us to explore that richness within our church and within our own lives.
God of the banquet, help people to glimpse what they are missing when they reject you. Give us the strength and the confidence to challenge social attitudes which marginalise you, and enable us to show your goodness in our lives.
God of the banquet, give us the clothes which are appropriate for your feast. May we be filled with love, honesty and openness and with a sense of humour which can enjoy your presence with us.
God of the banquet, we pray especially today for those who are close to your eternal feast. May they handle the process of death with dignity and enjoy their journey to you. Be with those they leave behind, that the pain and emptiness they feel might be filled by you.
Blessing:
May you respond to God's invitation
to his banquet. May you enjoy the company
and the fun and may your clothes
be perfect for the occasion.
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.
