Tarika And Amy
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus calls us to be ready for him, for we shall encounter him at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. In our worship today, let us prepare to meet with Jesus.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we don't bother to make ourselves ready for you.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes it doesn't occur to us that we might meet with you.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we miss you because we haven't expected you.
Lord, have mercy.
Story:
God is with us and around us the whole time, but we seldom spot God. This is a story about two strange little girls who see God in each other in unexpected ways and where nobody else has been able to see God.
Tarika and Amy
The new girl smiled shyly as she was introduced to the class. Everyone crowded round her at play time, for they wanted to see what she was like. She'd come from another country so didn't speak English very well, but she smiled a lot and quite a few children wanted to play with her.
But later that day in class, the new girl suddenly screamed. Then she seemed to explode with anger, kicking and shouting and shrieking and tearing round the classroom. Nobody knew why. The whole class went silent and watched with fear and horror. One of the classroom assistants took the new girl out and the teacher explained to the rest of the class that Tarika had special needs.
They had quite a discussion about special needs and the class agreed that children with special needs needed special attention and help. But at the next play time, most people kept well away from Tarika and some were nasty to her, calling her names and teasing her until she cried.
Amy hung about silently, staying quite near to Tarika but not saying anything. Amy had special needs too and knew what it felt like to be different from the rest of the class. Amy didn't have many friends because she found it difficult to keep up with the other children. She couldn't seem to think as quickly as they did and she was way behind in her work.
Over the next weeks and months, the class got used to Tarika and her tantrums. Nobody really liked her because it was difficult to understand what she said in her funny accent and it was kind of scary when she exploded with anger. But the children found that if they kept their distance, they were safe from Tarika's rages.
Amy didn't understand that she should keep away from Tarika if she wanted to be safe. It didn't occur to Amy that she might be in danger from Tarika's sudden violent outbursts. Besides, she liked Tarika. She liked her shy smile which lit up her face and she detected a warmth deep inside Tarika which she felt when she hovered near. Besides, Tarika tolerated Amy. Tarika didn't make Amy feel stupid and somehow or other, although they hardly ever spoke, Amy knew that Tarika accepted her.
So Amy and Tarika were often seen together. They made an odd pair and most other children ignored both of them or occasionally teased them, but somehow, neither of them minded too much. They just stared at those who teased them until they went away and neither Tarika nor Amy discussed the teasing with each other.
One day, when Amy was away from school because she was ill, Tarika came round after school. She had never been to Amy's home before and Amy was surprised that Tarika knew where she lived. Tarika just said, “Hello,” then she handed Amy a chocolate bar, turned on her heel and went away.
Amy was thrilled. She knew she had a true friend at last. She knew too that she didn't have to think of anything to say, she simply had to be herself. And she accepted Tarika just as Tarika accepted her. When Tarika flew into her rages, Amy waited quietly by her side until Tarika was spent. Then they picked up where they had been before and went on.
A deep friendship developed between the two girls and lasted for the whole of their lives. Even when they were both grown up and living lives of their own, they would often find each other and spend a few quiet hours in each other's company.
Everybody else thought it was a very odd friendship. But both Tarika and Amy knew that they had seen God in each other and that made their friendship more special than anything else in the whole world.
Activity:
You need:
A number of chairs to form a fort.
One person mans the fort. The aim of the others is to reach the fort without being spotted. They can come from any direction and as fast or as slowly as they like, but if they are spotted by the person in the fort, they are out and must sit where they are on the floor. The winner is the person who reached the fort first without being spotted, or if nobody manages that, the person who has got the closest. Take it in turns to man the fort until everyone has had a go.
Then ask the children how easy or difficult it was to reach the fort unseen. Ask them how difficult it was to be the keeper of the fort and keep an eye on everyone at the same time. Ask them how they could have reached the fort more successfully (by working together as a team rather than by working alone as individuals.) Point out that we have to be alert to spot things happening and we have to be alert to spot Jesus or God. Ask the children what sort of characteristics they might look for in other people if they want to see the God within them (love, joy, peace etc – Galatians 5:22--23.) Point out that God is often to be found in unexpected people and unexpected places.
Prayers:
Ever--present God, in our church keep us alert so that we are ready for you when you come to us. Help us to look always for the good and never for the bad so that we are able to spot you in each other.
Ever--present God, may our world become ready for your presence. Help us to prepare for peace and good will and to avoid war and ill will. Be present especially in those nations which are at war, helping people to learn to love instead of to hate.
Ever--present God, fill us all with your love, joy and peace so that other people will be able to see you within us. And help us to respond to their needs.
Ever--present God, we ask you to heal those who are sick as we name them before you...
Blessing:
May you be filled with God's spirit
So that love shines from you
like a beacon drawing others to God.
And may 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 calls us to be ready for him, for we shall encounter him at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. In our worship today, let us prepare to meet with Jesus.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we don't bother to make ourselves ready for you.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes it doesn't occur to us that we might meet with you.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we miss you because we haven't expected you.
Lord, have mercy.
Story:
God is with us and around us the whole time, but we seldom spot God. This is a story about two strange little girls who see God in each other in unexpected ways and where nobody else has been able to see God.
Tarika and Amy
The new girl smiled shyly as she was introduced to the class. Everyone crowded round her at play time, for they wanted to see what she was like. She'd come from another country so didn't speak English very well, but she smiled a lot and quite a few children wanted to play with her.
But later that day in class, the new girl suddenly screamed. Then she seemed to explode with anger, kicking and shouting and shrieking and tearing round the classroom. Nobody knew why. The whole class went silent and watched with fear and horror. One of the classroom assistants took the new girl out and the teacher explained to the rest of the class that Tarika had special needs.
They had quite a discussion about special needs and the class agreed that children with special needs needed special attention and help. But at the next play time, most people kept well away from Tarika and some were nasty to her, calling her names and teasing her until she cried.
Amy hung about silently, staying quite near to Tarika but not saying anything. Amy had special needs too and knew what it felt like to be different from the rest of the class. Amy didn't have many friends because she found it difficult to keep up with the other children. She couldn't seem to think as quickly as they did and she was way behind in her work.
Over the next weeks and months, the class got used to Tarika and her tantrums. Nobody really liked her because it was difficult to understand what she said in her funny accent and it was kind of scary when she exploded with anger. But the children found that if they kept their distance, they were safe from Tarika's rages.
Amy didn't understand that she should keep away from Tarika if she wanted to be safe. It didn't occur to Amy that she might be in danger from Tarika's sudden violent outbursts. Besides, she liked Tarika. She liked her shy smile which lit up her face and she detected a warmth deep inside Tarika which she felt when she hovered near. Besides, Tarika tolerated Amy. Tarika didn't make Amy feel stupid and somehow or other, although they hardly ever spoke, Amy knew that Tarika accepted her.
So Amy and Tarika were often seen together. They made an odd pair and most other children ignored both of them or occasionally teased them, but somehow, neither of them minded too much. They just stared at those who teased them until they went away and neither Tarika nor Amy discussed the teasing with each other.
One day, when Amy was away from school because she was ill, Tarika came round after school. She had never been to Amy's home before and Amy was surprised that Tarika knew where she lived. Tarika just said, “Hello,” then she handed Amy a chocolate bar, turned on her heel and went away.
Amy was thrilled. She knew she had a true friend at last. She knew too that she didn't have to think of anything to say, she simply had to be herself. And she accepted Tarika just as Tarika accepted her. When Tarika flew into her rages, Amy waited quietly by her side until Tarika was spent. Then they picked up where they had been before and went on.
A deep friendship developed between the two girls and lasted for the whole of their lives. Even when they were both grown up and living lives of their own, they would often find each other and spend a few quiet hours in each other's company.
Everybody else thought it was a very odd friendship. But both Tarika and Amy knew that they had seen God in each other and that made their friendship more special than anything else in the whole world.
Activity:
You need:
A number of chairs to form a fort.
One person mans the fort. The aim of the others is to reach the fort without being spotted. They can come from any direction and as fast or as slowly as they like, but if they are spotted by the person in the fort, they are out and must sit where they are on the floor. The winner is the person who reached the fort first without being spotted, or if nobody manages that, the person who has got the closest. Take it in turns to man the fort until everyone has had a go.
Then ask the children how easy or difficult it was to reach the fort unseen. Ask them how difficult it was to be the keeper of the fort and keep an eye on everyone at the same time. Ask them how they could have reached the fort more successfully (by working together as a team rather than by working alone as individuals.) Point out that we have to be alert to spot things happening and we have to be alert to spot Jesus or God. Ask the children what sort of characteristics they might look for in other people if they want to see the God within them (love, joy, peace etc – Galatians 5:22--23.) Point out that God is often to be found in unexpected people and unexpected places.
Prayers:
Ever--present God, in our church keep us alert so that we are ready for you when you come to us. Help us to look always for the good and never for the bad so that we are able to spot you in each other.
Ever--present God, may our world become ready for your presence. Help us to prepare for peace and good will and to avoid war and ill will. Be present especially in those nations which are at war, helping people to learn to love instead of to hate.
Ever--present God, fill us all with your love, joy and peace so that other people will be able to see you within us. And help us to respond to their needs.
Ever--present God, we ask you to heal those who are sick as we name them before you...
Blessing:
May you be filled with God's spirit
So that love shines from you
like a beacon drawing others to God.
And may 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.
