The White Rose
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
At the wedding at Cana in Galilee, Jesus provided best quality wine for all the guests. We are his guests at his table today and he provides best quality wine for us. In our worship today let us enjoy all that Jesus provides for us.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we reject your wine.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we fail to appreciate the quality of all that you give us.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we receive your wine with hearts and souls which are not ready.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 2:1-11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, [2] and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. [3] When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." [4] "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." [5] His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." [6] Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. [7] Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. [8] Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, [9] and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside [10] and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." [11] This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Story:
The story of the wedding at Cana is thought to be St John's introduction to the Eucharist - the blood of Christ poured out so generously and so freely for all of us. Through this top quality wine we receive Life with a capital L - eternal life. But not everybody appreciates the gift.
This is a story about a gift which is not appreciated by everybody.
The White Rose
"Ouch!" exclaimed Zoe crossly as her friend Nadine dug her in the ribs with an elbow. "What?"
Nadine giggled and with a small toss of her head indicated a place somewhere behind Zoe. Zoe turned, but all she could se was an old woman, bent nearly double and carrying a heavy bag. "What?" she asked again, even more crossly. Zoe was often cross, although she was never sure quite why she felt so angry and so miserable. She thought it was probably because Nadine, her only friend, always acted so stupid.
"She's really old!" giggled Nadine, not noticing Zoe's anger.
"So what?" asked Zoe. "Who cares?"
"We could play a trick," whispered Nadine. "She'd never see us. We could pretend to be ghosts or something, and really frighten her."
But Zoe turned her back. "That's just stupid and boring," she said dismissively. But then she heard a shout. The old woman was calling and beckoning to them both.
"Oh no!" exclaimed Zoe. "What on earth does she want? You go, Nadine. You're the one that's interested in her."
Nadine pouted, but did what her friend suggested. But the old woman continued to call and to beckon, even as Nadine moved towards her. It was clear she wanted Zoe.
Zoe muttered rudely under her breath, but walked towards the old woman. She didn't much like old people who couldn't do anything and were so terribly slow. This old woman was even slower than most, probably because she was unable to stand up straight.
It felt a bit like being in a fairy tale. Zoe half expected the old woman to turn into a fairy godmother, but of course she didn't. When Zoe was close the old woman said, "You're unhappy, I can tell. My grandmother was a gypsy and I have the gift."
"Oh please!" said Zoe in disgust. "I don't believe in stuff like that."
"I want to give you something special," continued the old lady, just as though Zoe hadn't spoken. She rummaged in her bag and drew out a single white rose, which she handed to Zoe.
"Here," she said. "It's a symbol of peace. If you keep this rose and allow it to touch your heart, your misery and anger will disappear and you'll begin to understand how good your life is."
"Huh!" said Zoe rudely. She took the rose because she had to, but as soon as the old woman was out of sight, she tossed it into a waste bin.
Nadine was horrified. "What are you doing? Don't you want it? Can I have it?"
Zoe shrugged. "If you want. Stupid flower for a stupid person!" And she walked off.
Nadine retrieved the rose. It had a wonderfully delicate perfume and as she inhaled the scent, Nadine felt relaxed and content. She took the flower home and put it in water in a tiny vase. The rose bloomed and bloomed, and every time Nadine looked at it she felt good. When she thought it might not bloom any longer, she cut off a shoot and rooted it in some potting compost. To her delight, the cutting took. Soon she had a small plant which she tended with loving care and during the next summer, the rose blossomed with hundreds of beautiful white flowers, all with the same delicate perfume. Nadine planted the rose in the garden, and it continued to give her pleasure for the rest of her life.
She never forgot the old woman and her wonderful gift and she never forgot her friend Zoe.
But Zoe became more and more bitter and nothing ever pleased her.
'She could have had a really good life,' thought Nadine. "But she didn't want the gift and she couldn't see what a wonderful gift it was. Poor Zoe. I don't think she'll ever be happy.'
And Zoe never was.
Activity:
Today is a good opportunity for teaching about the wine of the Eucharist.
You need:
Several glasses containing a variety of drinks, including one with Communion wine and one with cough medicine
A tissue to use to wipe the glasses
Have a tasting competition with the children. Let them take a sip from each glass, taking care to wipe each glass carefully between sips. Alternatively, have a separate set of plastic glasses for each child. Ask them what they think is in each glass. Then ask them to rate the glasses with the best tasting drink first and the worst tasting drink last. The Communion wine or the cough medicine may well be rated worst tasting!
Then ask the children to rate the drinks in the order of importance. Here, the Communion wine or the cough medicine may be highest rated. If not, you can discuss why the children have chosen that particular order. Ask the children why cough medicine is important. Then ask them why Communion wine is important. Explain that just as medicine makes us better when we're ill, Jesus makes us better when we do wrong. Communion wine is a means of receiving God's goodness and grace.
Remind the children that when he was at the wedding, Jesus made gallons of top quality wine. He still gives us so much of his goodness and his love that it overflows, and it's top quality goodness. Communion wine is a symbol of this. Remind the children too about the Last Supper, when Jesus poured out wine and told his friends to remember him every time they drank wine. Tell them that when he died on the cross, Jesus was bleeding from his wounds and that we remember how he died for us when we drink Communion wine.
Intercession:
Generous God, you changed gallons of water into top quality wine. Change our Church into something which is top quality so that we are radiant with your light.
Generous God, you poured out your blood for us on the cross. We pray for all those who are imprisoned because of their beliefs and especially for those who give their lives for you.
Generous God, we offer you ourselves, asking you to change us from water into wine. Help us to follow you in all that we think or do so that we become like you.
Generous God, we ask you to heal those who are sick, especially ...
Blessing:
May you grow mellow
and strong like the best wine
and may the glory of God grow within you.
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.
At the wedding at Cana in Galilee, Jesus provided best quality wine for all the guests. We are his guests at his table today and he provides best quality wine for us. In our worship today let us enjoy all that Jesus provides for us.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we reject your wine.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we fail to appreciate the quality of all that you give us.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we receive your wine with hearts and souls which are not ready.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 2:1-11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, [2] and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. [3] When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." [4] "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." [5] His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." [6] Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. [7] Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. [8] Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, [9] and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside [10] and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." [11] This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Story:
The story of the wedding at Cana is thought to be St John's introduction to the Eucharist - the blood of Christ poured out so generously and so freely for all of us. Through this top quality wine we receive Life with a capital L - eternal life. But not everybody appreciates the gift.
This is a story about a gift which is not appreciated by everybody.
The White Rose
"Ouch!" exclaimed Zoe crossly as her friend Nadine dug her in the ribs with an elbow. "What?"
Nadine giggled and with a small toss of her head indicated a place somewhere behind Zoe. Zoe turned, but all she could se was an old woman, bent nearly double and carrying a heavy bag. "What?" she asked again, even more crossly. Zoe was often cross, although she was never sure quite why she felt so angry and so miserable. She thought it was probably because Nadine, her only friend, always acted so stupid.
"She's really old!" giggled Nadine, not noticing Zoe's anger.
"So what?" asked Zoe. "Who cares?"
"We could play a trick," whispered Nadine. "She'd never see us. We could pretend to be ghosts or something, and really frighten her."
But Zoe turned her back. "That's just stupid and boring," she said dismissively. But then she heard a shout. The old woman was calling and beckoning to them both.
"Oh no!" exclaimed Zoe. "What on earth does she want? You go, Nadine. You're the one that's interested in her."
Nadine pouted, but did what her friend suggested. But the old woman continued to call and to beckon, even as Nadine moved towards her. It was clear she wanted Zoe.
Zoe muttered rudely under her breath, but walked towards the old woman. She didn't much like old people who couldn't do anything and were so terribly slow. This old woman was even slower than most, probably because she was unable to stand up straight.
It felt a bit like being in a fairy tale. Zoe half expected the old woman to turn into a fairy godmother, but of course she didn't. When Zoe was close the old woman said, "You're unhappy, I can tell. My grandmother was a gypsy and I have the gift."
"Oh please!" said Zoe in disgust. "I don't believe in stuff like that."
"I want to give you something special," continued the old lady, just as though Zoe hadn't spoken. She rummaged in her bag and drew out a single white rose, which she handed to Zoe.
"Here," she said. "It's a symbol of peace. If you keep this rose and allow it to touch your heart, your misery and anger will disappear and you'll begin to understand how good your life is."
"Huh!" said Zoe rudely. She took the rose because she had to, but as soon as the old woman was out of sight, she tossed it into a waste bin.
Nadine was horrified. "What are you doing? Don't you want it? Can I have it?"
Zoe shrugged. "If you want. Stupid flower for a stupid person!" And she walked off.
Nadine retrieved the rose. It had a wonderfully delicate perfume and as she inhaled the scent, Nadine felt relaxed and content. She took the flower home and put it in water in a tiny vase. The rose bloomed and bloomed, and every time Nadine looked at it she felt good. When she thought it might not bloom any longer, she cut off a shoot and rooted it in some potting compost. To her delight, the cutting took. Soon she had a small plant which she tended with loving care and during the next summer, the rose blossomed with hundreds of beautiful white flowers, all with the same delicate perfume. Nadine planted the rose in the garden, and it continued to give her pleasure for the rest of her life.
She never forgot the old woman and her wonderful gift and she never forgot her friend Zoe.
But Zoe became more and more bitter and nothing ever pleased her.
'She could have had a really good life,' thought Nadine. "But she didn't want the gift and she couldn't see what a wonderful gift it was. Poor Zoe. I don't think she'll ever be happy.'
And Zoe never was.
Activity:
Today is a good opportunity for teaching about the wine of the Eucharist.
You need:
Several glasses containing a variety of drinks, including one with Communion wine and one with cough medicine
A tissue to use to wipe the glasses
Have a tasting competition with the children. Let them take a sip from each glass, taking care to wipe each glass carefully between sips. Alternatively, have a separate set of plastic glasses for each child. Ask them what they think is in each glass. Then ask them to rate the glasses with the best tasting drink first and the worst tasting drink last. The Communion wine or the cough medicine may well be rated worst tasting!
Then ask the children to rate the drinks in the order of importance. Here, the Communion wine or the cough medicine may be highest rated. If not, you can discuss why the children have chosen that particular order. Ask the children why cough medicine is important. Then ask them why Communion wine is important. Explain that just as medicine makes us better when we're ill, Jesus makes us better when we do wrong. Communion wine is a means of receiving God's goodness and grace.
Remind the children that when he was at the wedding, Jesus made gallons of top quality wine. He still gives us so much of his goodness and his love that it overflows, and it's top quality goodness. Communion wine is a symbol of this. Remind the children too about the Last Supper, when Jesus poured out wine and told his friends to remember him every time they drank wine. Tell them that when he died on the cross, Jesus was bleeding from his wounds and that we remember how he died for us when we drink Communion wine.
Intercession:
Generous God, you changed gallons of water into top quality wine. Change our Church into something which is top quality so that we are radiant with your light.
Generous God, you poured out your blood for us on the cross. We pray for all those who are imprisoned because of their beliefs and especially for those who give their lives for you.
Generous God, we offer you ourselves, asking you to change us from water into wine. Help us to follow you in all that we think or do so that we become like you.
Generous God, we ask you to heal those who are sick, especially ...
Blessing:
May you grow mellow
and strong like the best wine
and may the glory of God grow within you.
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.
