When Simon's Dad Went Away
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Let us welcome Jesus into our worship today, and receive the peace that he offers us.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I doubt that you are with me.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I am not aware of your presence.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I refuse your peace.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 20:19-31 (NRSV)
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [20] After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
[24] But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
[26] A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [27] Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." [28] Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" [29] Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. [31] But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Story:
It is difficult to have peace inside ourselves if we are full of doubts. The implication of today's story is that the gathered disciples received Jesus' peace, but that Thomas was not at peace because he was unable to believe. But once he had met the risen Christ, he too was filled with peace.
When Simon's Dad Went Away
When Simon was eight, his father disappeared. One day he was there, the next he had gone. Simon's mother told Simon and his brother Ted that Dad had gone abroad on business.
Simon missed his Dad, who had been great for playing football and taking the children to football matches. He'd also been good at talking to Simon and listening to him and taking him seriously, something that not all adults did. But Simon was also aware that adults had to work, so he accepted his Dad's absence without too much fuss.
From time to time a picture postcard would arrive especially for the children and on each of their birthdays, Dad would ring up and talk to them.
Simon's Mum was sad without her husband. Sometimes Simon would hear her crying and go in to give her a special hug. She didn't go out much now, which was a shame, but she said there was no-one to look after the two children. Simon assured her they would be OK on their own, but she wouldn't hear of it.
One day, Simon's older brother Ted came home in tears. Simon was astounded, because Ted hardly ever cried.
"What's up?" asked Simon.
Ted wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and sniffed. "You're too young. You wouldn't understand."
"Yes I would! Tell me!"
Ted's eyes filled with tears again and he said, "It's Dad. He's not abroad. He's in prison."
Simon was so shocked that his mouth fell open. Then he was filled with a boiling rage and he punched Ted on the mouth. In the ensuing kafuffle their mother came in. "Now then! What's all this? Stop hitting each other this minute!"
"It's his fault," cried Simon, sulkily. "He's a liar! He said Dad's in prison, but I know he can't be 'cos he sends us cards from all the places he's been." But as glanced at his mother for support, he began to doubt. Her face was sombre and she looked as though it could possibly be true.
"Where did you hear this, Ted?" she asked.
"At school. Everyone knows -- except us! They all said that's why you don't go out any more, because you're so ashamed."
"What did he do?" asked Simon in a shaky voice. He felt terrible.
His mother's eyes looked hurt. "You've known your father all your life. Have you ever known him to tell a lie? Or to do anything to hurt you in any way? Or to be unreliable? No, of course not! So why do you believe the words of some silly children over your Dad?"
Simon and Ted both flushed and looked at the ground. "Don't know," mumbled Simon.
He didn't dare say so, but he still felt unsure. Everyone believed his Dad was in gaol and his mother hadn't actually denied that. Simon didn't know what to believe. He was in turmoil and deeply unhappy.
A week later Simon's dad came home. He was bronzed and fit and he had presents for the whole family. He had video films too of the country where he had been. Now Simon knew the truth, he was at peace at last. But he said, "Why didn't you tell us, Mum? Why did you let people go on with all those false rumours?"
"Because my job is top secret," answered Simon's dad. "I work for MI5 and I'm bound by the Official Secrets Act. Your mother told you the truth -- I was abroad on business." He looked at both the boys and added quietly, "You were unhappy because you didn't believe in me. If you had trusted me and believed your mother, you would have been at peace. Now you know the truth, so we can all be happy again together."
And Simon was so happy he felt like dancing.
Activity:
You need:
Various obstacles for an obstacle race
Blindfolds.
Divide the children into teams and give each team a blindfold. Explain that this race is about belief and trust (faith). They must blindfold the first member of the team and you trust them to do this properly without trying to cheat to give their team an advantage. The second member of the team must then take the blindfolded member by the hand and guide them around the obstacles. When all the obstacles have been safely negotiated, pass the blindfold onto the next team member and so on until all have had a go at both guiding and being blindfolded. The first team to finish is the winner. You could vary this by having the "guides" call out directions instead of leading by the hand, but this would be more difficult.
Afterwards, ask the children how it felt to have to rely on someone else to guide them. Ask how it felt to be the guide.
Talk about Thomas' doubts and ask the children how those doubts were resolved. Ask how they can follow Jesus today and explain that "faith" means believing and trusting in Jesus.
Prayers:
Risen Lord, may our church be open and honest in facing any doubts and questions. Give us the courage to always seek the truth, wherever it might lead.
Risen Lord, we pray for all those whose lives are destroyed because of other people's lies and manipulations. We especially remember before you all who are imprisoned through rigged trials or false evidence. Give them strength and keep them full of your hope.
Risen Lord, if our lives are damaged through other people or through our own actions, give us your peace in our hearts and keep us close to you.
Risen Lord, heal the sick, strengthen weak knees and support those who are tired. We especially name before you ....
Blessing:
May you meet with the risen Lord this week.
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 came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Let us welcome Jesus into our worship today, and receive the peace that he offers us.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I doubt that you are with me.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I am not aware of your presence.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I refuse your peace.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 20:19-31 (NRSV)
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [20] After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
[24] But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
[26] A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [27] Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." [28] Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" [29] Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. [31] But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Story:
It is difficult to have peace inside ourselves if we are full of doubts. The implication of today's story is that the gathered disciples received Jesus' peace, but that Thomas was not at peace because he was unable to believe. But once he had met the risen Christ, he too was filled with peace.
When Simon's Dad Went Away
When Simon was eight, his father disappeared. One day he was there, the next he had gone. Simon's mother told Simon and his brother Ted that Dad had gone abroad on business.
Simon missed his Dad, who had been great for playing football and taking the children to football matches. He'd also been good at talking to Simon and listening to him and taking him seriously, something that not all adults did. But Simon was also aware that adults had to work, so he accepted his Dad's absence without too much fuss.
From time to time a picture postcard would arrive especially for the children and on each of their birthdays, Dad would ring up and talk to them.
Simon's Mum was sad without her husband. Sometimes Simon would hear her crying and go in to give her a special hug. She didn't go out much now, which was a shame, but she said there was no-one to look after the two children. Simon assured her they would be OK on their own, but she wouldn't hear of it.
One day, Simon's older brother Ted came home in tears. Simon was astounded, because Ted hardly ever cried.
"What's up?" asked Simon.
Ted wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and sniffed. "You're too young. You wouldn't understand."
"Yes I would! Tell me!"
Ted's eyes filled with tears again and he said, "It's Dad. He's not abroad. He's in prison."
Simon was so shocked that his mouth fell open. Then he was filled with a boiling rage and he punched Ted on the mouth. In the ensuing kafuffle their mother came in. "Now then! What's all this? Stop hitting each other this minute!"
"It's his fault," cried Simon, sulkily. "He's a liar! He said Dad's in prison, but I know he can't be 'cos he sends us cards from all the places he's been." But as glanced at his mother for support, he began to doubt. Her face was sombre and she looked as though it could possibly be true.
"Where did you hear this, Ted?" she asked.
"At school. Everyone knows -- except us! They all said that's why you don't go out any more, because you're so ashamed."
"What did he do?" asked Simon in a shaky voice. He felt terrible.
His mother's eyes looked hurt. "You've known your father all your life. Have you ever known him to tell a lie? Or to do anything to hurt you in any way? Or to be unreliable? No, of course not! So why do you believe the words of some silly children over your Dad?"
Simon and Ted both flushed and looked at the ground. "Don't know," mumbled Simon.
He didn't dare say so, but he still felt unsure. Everyone believed his Dad was in gaol and his mother hadn't actually denied that. Simon didn't know what to believe. He was in turmoil and deeply unhappy.
A week later Simon's dad came home. He was bronzed and fit and he had presents for the whole family. He had video films too of the country where he had been. Now Simon knew the truth, he was at peace at last. But he said, "Why didn't you tell us, Mum? Why did you let people go on with all those false rumours?"
"Because my job is top secret," answered Simon's dad. "I work for MI5 and I'm bound by the Official Secrets Act. Your mother told you the truth -- I was abroad on business." He looked at both the boys and added quietly, "You were unhappy because you didn't believe in me. If you had trusted me and believed your mother, you would have been at peace. Now you know the truth, so we can all be happy again together."
And Simon was so happy he felt like dancing.
Activity:
You need:
Various obstacles for an obstacle race
Blindfolds.
Divide the children into teams and give each team a blindfold. Explain that this race is about belief and trust (faith). They must blindfold the first member of the team and you trust them to do this properly without trying to cheat to give their team an advantage. The second member of the team must then take the blindfolded member by the hand and guide them around the obstacles. When all the obstacles have been safely negotiated, pass the blindfold onto the next team member and so on until all have had a go at both guiding and being blindfolded. The first team to finish is the winner. You could vary this by having the "guides" call out directions instead of leading by the hand, but this would be more difficult.
Afterwards, ask the children how it felt to have to rely on someone else to guide them. Ask how it felt to be the guide.
Talk about Thomas' doubts and ask the children how those doubts were resolved. Ask how they can follow Jesus today and explain that "faith" means believing and trusting in Jesus.
Prayers:
Risen Lord, may our church be open and honest in facing any doubts and questions. Give us the courage to always seek the truth, wherever it might lead.
Risen Lord, we pray for all those whose lives are destroyed because of other people's lies and manipulations. We especially remember before you all who are imprisoned through rigged trials or false evidence. Give them strength and keep them full of your hope.
Risen Lord, if our lives are damaged through other people or through our own actions, give us your peace in our hearts and keep us close to you.
Risen Lord, heal the sick, strengthen weak knees and support those who are tired. We especially name before you ....
Blessing:
May you meet with the risen Lord this week.
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.
