Jesus offers us the Bread of Heaven and the Water of Life. Let us join his feast this morning and eat and drink our fill.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, we often search for exotic food and drink.
Lord, have mercy.Jesus, sometimes we fail to be satisfied by plain bread or water.
Christ, have mercy.Jesus, help us to receive and enjoy the good gifts you offer us.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 6:24-35
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. [25] When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" [26] Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. [27] Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." [28] Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" [29] Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." [30] So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? [31] Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' " [32] Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. [33] For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." [34] They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." [35] Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Story:
Many people go through life feeling vaguely dissatisfied. They usually think this is because they want more - more material benefits, more money, a better house, etc - but actually it's because their soul is yearning for God.
This is a story about Tim who wanted more, but eventually was nourished by the Bread of Life.
Tim Wants More.
Tim wanted a new mobile phone for his birthday. He already had a mobile phone, but it was over a year old and already looked old-fashioned. Tim wanted one of those really cool phones which was slim and tiny and took pictures which you could send to your friends. Lots of people at school had a phone like that, and Tim felt really out of it with a phone which couldn't even send clipart.
His birthday came and went, but no mobile materialised. Tim felt fed up and miserable. When he grew up, he was going to have everything he wanted exactly when he wanted it.
By the next birthday, Tim had forgotten the mobile because he wanted a digital camera. On his birthday morning he unwrapped a camera, but it wasn't digital and it wasn't at all what he wanted. He felt fed up and miserable, and he sulked.
When Tim grew up, he was very successful. He had a great job and he earned enough money to buy everything he wanted, when he wanted. But he noticed that every time he bought something new he was happy for a time, but soon slumped back into feeling fed up and miserable. He couldn't understand it. He had everything he wanted, but it still wasn't enough.
Tim felt as though he was always looking for something more, but he didn't know what. He bought all the latest gadgets, but still had that feeling of wanting more. He felt guilty because he was never satisfied for long, but he couldn't do anything about it.
One day a friend invited Tim to a meal and a special talk about Jesus. Tim didn't really want to go but the friend was persuasive and Tim couldn't think of a water-tight excuse, so he went. The meal was great, and Tim really enjoyed meeting new people and chatting to them. And to his surprise, the video talk was exciting and interesting. When he was invited to sign up for ten more meetings like that, Tim didn't hesitate.
Over the weeks, Tim learned a lot about Jesus. And there came a time when Tim was invited to give his life into Jesus' care. Tim hesitated for a bit because the prospect was a bit scary, but he had a feeling this was very important, so in the end he said "Yes" to Jesus.
Tim's life completely changed. He began to give a lot of his money away to other people who needed it, and he got involved in his local church. When he looked back, he suddenly realised that he hadn't felt fed up or miserable for ages. What's more, that feeling of never having enough had completely vanished. Tim felt full and satisfied.
'I'm full of Jesus,' he thought to himself, 'and I know I shall never feel hungry for more again.' And he didn't.
Activity:
You need:
As many different types of bread as possible,
including some unleavened bread such as pitta bread
As many different
varieties of water as possible
Some Communion bread
Some Communion
wine
Flip chart and pens
Draw up the flip chart into columns. Label the different types of bread (a,b,c, will be fine) and label the columns on the flip chart to match. Then write the children's names down the flip chart. Have a bread and water tasting session. Give the children little pieces of bread to try, and note down all their preferences on the flip chart - you could ask them to give marks out of ten for the bread. Talk about flavour - which bread has the best flavour? What makes it taste good? Talk about bread being the staple diet for many countries, but that different countries make it differently, using different flour and different techniques. Talk about yeast, and the small amount that's needed to make a large loaf. Tell the children that in New Testament times bread was even more important than it is now, for there was much less variety of food to eat. Point out that Jesus called himself the "Bread of Life" because he showed people the best possible way to live, a way which would nourish them and keep them healthy and happy. We can continue to receive that nourishment which will keep us healthy and happy, and one way to receive it is through Holy Communion. Give the children the Communion bread to taste. Ask them what it tastes like. Tell them that it's special because it is blessed by God, and will give them God's special nourishment for their souls.
Do the same with the water, but you may discover that all water tastes quite similar. Talk about water as necessary for life and growth and being clean. (It can also be great fun!) Talk about the water of baptism, which is a picture way of saying that we grow towards God and that if we mess up, God will wash us clean. Then let the children sip a little Communion wine, and tell them that God nourishes us through the wine just as God nourishes us through the bread.
Finally, link broken bread and spilt wine with Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
Diary Time: For details, click here.
Ask the children if they can remember any occasions when they've felt especially nourished. This may be quite literal - a good meal - or it may be a memory of someone treating them with especial care, or of learning something really important for them. Ask them how they think God nourishes us, and what would happen if we didn't receive God's nourishment? They could write or draw something about their own special nourishment, or about how God might nourish them.
Intercession:
Bread of life, may we in your Church be aware of all that sustains and nourishes us and choose that path. Help us to identify all that hurts us or prevents us from following you, and help us to avoid that path.
Bread of life, may those in authority in countries, counties, work and schools be filled with your nourishment, so that they always care about those who are poor or disadvantaged in any way.
Bread of life, just a little yeast goes a long way, and you told us Christians to be like yeast. May we fulfil the role you have chosen for us, so that we are yeast for society, keeping society on the right tracks.
Bread of life, we commend to your care those who are sick or hurting in any way. May they relax in your presence and know your warmth and love and healing.
Blessing:
May the bread of life sustain you,
may you drink from the springs of eternal life,
and may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
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.
