MacGregor Children Sermons
Sixth Sunday in Lent (April 8, 2001)
Passion/Palm Sunday (Sixth Sunday in Lent)
Liturgy of the Palms
Lk 19:28-40
Ps 118:1-2, 19-29
Liturgy of the Passion
Isaiah 50:4-9 a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49
*****
I want to tell you about a girl named Sufee. Well, actually "Sufee" wasn't
her real name. It is short for Sufelindea Plunk. Sufee's mother took her to
the doctor's office for some tests because she had been sick a lot. The nurse came
into the room and said, "Stick out your finger." The nurse took her finger with
one hand and said, "Now, you are going to feel a little sting."
Sufee took her hand back and put both hands under her legs.
"Now Sufee,"said her mother, "Be a brave girl and Mommy will be
proud of you."
It seemed to Sufee that she heard that a lot of, "Be a brave girl." When
she heard noises outside her bedroom window and wanted to sleep with her parents, her
father said, "Be a brave girl and go back to your room." When Sufee
didn't want to play the piano in front of all those people at the recital, her piano
teacher said, "Be a brave girl; we are all proud of you."
That night, after the visit to the doctor's office, when Sufee was getting
ready to say prayers, she asked her mother, "Why do I have to be brave? I don't
like being brave."
"Sufee," her mother said, "If you weren't brave you would
miss out on the
best things. If you weren't brave, you wouldn't go to school. You wouldn't
take your medicine, and you wouldn't get well. Being brave brings some of the
very best things."
"Yes," her father said, "Remember how brave Jesus was when he rode the
donkey into Jerusalem? Maybe he got scared, but he didn't run away.
Being brave doesn't mean you don't get scared. It means you don't run
away. If he had run away, we would never have heard of Jesus. We would
never have learned how much God loves us. There would be no church, no one would
sing 'Jesus Loves Me'."
"All of that because Jesus was brave?" Sufee asked.
"Yes, all of that and much more because Jesus was brave." said her father.
"Then I want to be brave too," said Sufee.
"You are brave." said her mother.
"No, but I want to be brave like Jesus," said Sufee.
"We all want to be brave like Jesus," said her father. "Why don't we
ask
God to help us be brave like Jesus right now."
So they put their hands together and bowed their heads and Sufee's father
prayed like this: "Dear God, sometimes we get scared and think we can't do what
needs to be done. Help us be brave like Jesus. Aman.
Third Sunday in Lent (March 18, 2001)
Luke 13:1-9
Isaiah 55:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8
I Corinthians 10:1-13
*****
I want to tell you a story about a girl named Eggnitty. Now Eggnitty and
her father went to the
fair one afternoon after school. There were lots of people at the fair and
lots of things to see.
"I want to see the sheep," said Eggnitty.
So they saw the sheep, and Eggnitty wished she had some sheep of her own.
"Now I want to see the big pigs," said Eggnitty.
They saw the pigs, and Eggnitty wished she had some pigs of her own.
"What about the big cows?" said Eggnitty.
They saw the cows and bulls next, and Eggnitty wished she had some cows of
her own.
Walking back toward the rides, she saw someone eating cotton candy.
"I want some cotton candy," said Eggnitty.
While she was eating the cotton candy, she saw someone with corn on a stick.
"I want a corn on a stick," said Eggnitty.
Then she saw someone eating a hot dog and got one of those, then some pie
and ice cream, then a
coke. Then they got to the rides.
"I want to ride the one that goes round and round, not the little one, the
big one," said Eggnitty.
So she did, and she threw up and had to go home.
That night Eggnitty brushed her teeth and got ready for bed. Her father and
mother came into her
room and sat next to her on the bed.
"How do you feel," said her mother.
"Not so good, " said Eggnitty.
"I guess not," said her mother. "It sound as if you ate everything at
the
fair. I'm glad you didn't
eat the sheep too."
"Could we have a sheep, a real one, a baby one in the back yard?" said
Eggnitty.
"Skitty," said her mother, "do know why you got sick at the fair?"
"No," said Eggnitty.
"Because you want everything you see," said her mother.
"I can't help it," said Eggnitty.
"I know one thing that will help it," said her mother.
"What?" said Eggnitty.
"When I want everything I see, I decide to want what I can't see instead,"
said her mother.
"What's that?" said Eggnitty.
"I say to myself, 'I want Jesus more than that,'" said her mother. "I
can't
see Jesus, but I want
Jesus more because Jesus is better than what I see."
"Oh," said Eggnitty. "Does Jesus come with cotton candy?"
"Sometimes," said her mother, "but I don't have to eat it. I like
Jesus
better."
Then they said a prayer like this: "Dear God, we love you more than
anything else. Help us want
the things that are good for us. Amen."
Second Sunday in Lent (March 11, 2001)
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13:31-35
*****
I want to tell you a story about a boy named Irskin. Now Irskin didn't like
to eat peas, or most any other green vegetable for that matter, but peas
were his worst. He would say, "I hate peas."
And his father would say, "Peas are good for you. They'll make you grow up
big and strong."
"But, I don't like them," Irskin would say.
"It doesn't matter. They are important for your body, and you are going to
eat them, or you won't get any dessert," his mother would say.
Then one suppertime his father said, "Irskin, remember the last time we had
this discussion? You sat there and stared at your peas until the rest of us
were finished and eating our peach cobbler. The longer you sat there the
worse the peas looked to you and the better the cobbler looked to you until
you had to get up and go to your room. Do you remember that?" asked his
father.
"Yes," said Irskin, "I remember."
Then his father said, "If you will eat your peas early, the dessert will be
sweeter and your night will be better. You can change what will happen."
Irskin hadn't thought about it that way. He decided he didn't want to be
miserable like last time, so he got busy and ate his peas. In fact from
that night on, he would always eat his peas first so everything else would
taste better. In fact, he would arrange his plate so that the things he had
to eat were first and the things he liked to eat were last. Then he would
eat straight across the plate with the meal getting better as he went.
That night when Irskin and his parents were getting ready to say prayers,
his mother said, "Irskin, I am proud of you."
"How come?" said Irskin.
"Because you chose not to make yourself miserable at the supper table," said
his mother.
"How did I do that?" asked Irskin.
"You chose to eat your peas and not throw a fit, and look, the peas turned
into such a little thing you don't even remember it, " said his mother.
"Oh," said Irskin.
"And I think God is happy with you too," said his father.
"Why God?" asked Irskin.
"Because God doesn't like you to be miserable. God is always happy when you
choose to be happy," said his father. And they prayed a prayer like this:
Dear God, we thank you for showing us the right things to do, and we thank
you for Irskin's choosing to do the right thing, the hard thing, now instead
of putting it off until later. Amen.
Transfiguration Sunday (February 25, 2001)
Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)
I want to tell you a story about a boy named Ziglunt. Now Ziglunt and a
friend were playing in his room.
"Let's play with your Super Friends," said his friend.
"Yeah," said Ziglunt, "I painted Spiderman with glow-in-the-dark
paint."
"Let's see," said the friend.
"We'll have to make the room dark," said Ziglunt. "You close the door
and
I'll close the curtains."
"There's still too much light," said Ziglunt.
"What's that light over by your bed?" said the friend. "It's kinda'
blinking."
"Oh," said Ziglunt, "that's my 'Jesus light.' It comes on when the
room
gets dark."
"You call it a 'Jesus light?'" said the friend.
"Yes, because it keeps me from getting scared at night, monsters, you know,"
said Ziglunt.
"Your scared of the dark," said the friend.
"I'm scared of monsters," said Ziglunt.
"There's no such think as monsters," said the friend.
"Maybe," said Ziglunt, "but in the dark you don't know, do you?"
"What do you mean?" said the friend.
"If you can't see, you don't know what's going to get you," said Ziglunt.
"One time I kicked the bed and my toe started bleeding."
"But that's not a monster," said the friend.
"It's a monster if it hurts you," said Ziglunt. "So my Jesus light
keeps
the monsters away."
That night when Ziglunt had all his 'Super Friends' put away and his teeth
brushed, his parents came in to read a Bible story and say prayers. After
the Bible story, Ziglunt said, "Why do we call my night light a 'Jesus
light?' I forget."
"Remember one time when you woke up scared and crying?" said his father.
"No," said Ziglunt.
"Well, I came in and held you and told you that I was here and Jesus was
here and no monsters were here," said his father.
"That's when we got you a night light," said his mother, "so you would know
that Jesus was here and no monsters were here. Then you said it was your
'Jesus light.' That's why we call it a 'Jesus light.'
"Oh," said Ziglunt.
"I think you gave it a good name," said his father. "Because when you
think
you are going to be scared you can say, 'Wait, Jesus is here and I can see.
I don't have to be scared.'"
Ziglunt thought that was pretty good.
Then they said a prayer like this: "Dear God, thank you for letting us see
that everything is going to be okay so we won't be scared. Amen"
Seventh Sunday After Epiphany (February 18, 2000)
Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40
1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
Luke 6:27-38
*****
I want to tell you a story about a girl named Araminta. Now Araminta and
her mother went to the park one day. "I'll sit here and read my book,"
said
her mother. "You go play on the Jungle Gym."
So Araminta played and her mother sat on a park bench and read. There was
another girl on the Jungle Gym,
"Hi," said the girl.
"Hi," said Araminta.
"Want to play on the swings," said the girl. "I'm going to play on
the
swings."
"Okay," said Araminta.
So they got on the swings side by side and made their swings go together.
The two swings went back and forth together as if they were tied together
with a rope but there was no rope just two girls doing the exact same thing.
"Let's pretend we are birds," said the girl.
"Let's pretend we are airplanes," said Araminta.
Then Araminta remembered the cookies her mother brought in her purse. She
had seen her wrap two cookies in plastic wrap and put them in her purse.
"Don't go away," said Araminta, "I'll be back in a minute."
Araminta stopped her swing, got down and went over to the park bench where
her mother was watching.
"Could I have a cookie?" said Araminta.
"Sure," said her mother, and she opened her purse, got out the two cookies
and unwrapped them.
"Here's a cookie for you and you can take the other cookie to your new
friend," said her mother.
"The other cookie is for later," said Araminta.
"You don't want to give your friend a cookie?" asked her mother.
"Then I won't have one for later," said Araminta.
"Who made these cookies?" asked her mother.
"You did," said Araminta.
"Can I make more cookies later, do you think?" asked her mother.
"I guess so," said Araminta.
"If I promise to make you more cookies, do you think you can give this one
to that girl?" asked her mother.
"I guess so," said Araminta. And she did.
That night when Araminta had brushed her teeth and put her toys away and
read a Bible story, her mother said, "Araminta, I'm so proud of you."
"How come?" said Araminta.
"Because you did what God told us to do," said her mother.
"What?" said Araminta.
"You gave the girl on the swing your other cookie, your only other cookie,"
said her mother.
"But you promised you would bake some more cookies," said Araminta.
"I know," said her mother, "but two cookies were all you had then and you
gave one away. That's what God told us to do. 'Love one another.'"
"If you give stuff away, does God promise to make you some more?" said
Araminta.
"Yes," said her mother, "God promises to make me some more or something
I'll
like even better."
"So, if I give my cookie away, you'll always make me better cookies," said
Araminta.
"I'll try," said her mother but only God can do better and better.
Then they said a prayer like this: "Dear God, thank you for promising to
give to us so we can give to others. Amen"
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany (February 11, 2000)
Jeremiah 17:5-10 Psalm 1 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Luke 6:17-26
*****
I want to tell you a story about a little girl named Maudine. Now, Maudine
had a don't-want-to day. Anything her mother wanted her to do, she didn't
want to. In the morning her mother wanted her to put on her shoes so they
could get in the car so her mother could go shopping.
"Go to your room and put your shoes on," her mother said.
She went to her room, but she didn't put her shoes on. When her mother came
in, pretty as a picture and smelling the way mommies smell when they are
ready to leave, her mother found that she was not ready and got angry. She
put Maudine's shoes on and tied them real tight.
"Now," she said, "let's go." And headed down the hall.
Maudine followed her out the bedroom door and then stopped.
"Hurry," said her mother.
Then Maudine started taking the smallest baby steps you've ever seen, just
pushing one foot a little forward then the other. Her mother came back and
said, "That will be all of that." And took her by the arm and hustled her
out the door.
At the store Maudine sat down by the dolls and wouldn't move when her mother
wanted to go look at dresses. That was how the day went. She and her big
sister shared a bedroom and a bed. After prayers, after the lights were out
that night, Maudine thought her sister was on her side of the bed, so she
pushed her over. Then her sister hollered at her. Her sister showed her
the center of the headboard and drew a line with her hand down the bed, but
Maudine thought the line she drew was crooked, so they started arguing about
where the center was. Just then Mother came in, turned on the lights and
said, "Maudine Faye, I am fed up with you."
"What does 'fed up' mean?" asked Maudine.
"It means I will not take any more of your contrary behavior," her mother
said.
"What will you do?" asked Maudine.
"I'm thinking about that." said her mother, "if you won't behave, maybe
I'll
just leave."
"Leave?!" said Maudine's sister, "You can't leave."
"You wouldn't leave," said Maudine.
"Well," said her mother, "if you won't behave, and I can't stand it, what
do
you think I should do?"
"Spank her," said her sister.
"I'm asking Maudine," said her Mother, "Maudine, what do you think I should
do."
"Do what Jesus would do?" said Maudine.
"What is that?" asked her mother.
"You would stay with us." said Maudine.
"Okay, Maudine, if you know what Jesus would do, then treat me that way,"
her mother said.
Maudine had stopped thinking about the line down the center of her bed and
started thinking about how Jesus would treat her mother. So, they said a
prayer again that night.
Dear God, thank you for not leaving us. Help us treat each other the way
you treat us. Amen.
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany (February 4, 2000)
Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13) Psalm 138 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11
*****
I want to tell you a story about a girl named Uluomgo.
"I know what God said," said Uluomgo.
"What did God say?" said her father.
"Love one another," said Uluomgo.
"How do you know God said that?" said her father.
"Because I learned it in Sunday School," said Uluomgo.
"Because it is in the Bible," said her father. And he got his big Bible,
opened it up and showed Uluomgo where it was written. He put her finger
right on the page where it was.
"God said that?" said Uluomgo.
"Jesus said that," said her father.
"Then I want to say it too," said Uluomgo. And she did. "Love
one
another." "Love one another." She walked around the house
saying "Love one
another."
She pulled at her sister's doll until her sister let go and she said, "Love
one another."
She saw one cookie left on the table and ate it. Her sister cried. Uluomgo
said, "Love one another."
She got a crayon to write on her bedroom wall. She was going to write "Love
one another," but she could only make the first letter, so she scribbled the
rest.
"What are you doing?" said her father.
"I'm writing what God said," said Uluomgo.
"What did God say?" said her father.
"Love one another," said Uluomgo.
"You're not loving one another when you make a mess on your wall," said her
father. I'll have to work really hard to clean that off. That's not loving
one another."
"I'm one another," said Uluomgo, "and I love to write on the wall."
"No," said her father, "you are just one. I'm the another."
"'Love one another' means love me too," said her father. "It means
love
your sister too."
"God said that?" said Uluomgo.
"God said that," said her father. "So when you say 'Love one another'
you
should be nice to your sister and nice to me. Don't say what God said and
then be mean to us."
"Oh," said Uluomgo. "I'm sorry I wrote on the wall."
"I forgive you," said her father.
"I'll help you clean it up," said Uluomgo.
"Thank you," said her father.
When they were finished cleaning up the wall, her father said, "Now that,
Uluomgo, is loving one another just the way God said."
"What is?" said Uluomgo.
"Working together to clean up the wall," said her father. "Now you
know
what God said and you do what God said."
Then they said a prayer like this: "Dear God, thank you for telling us what
to do and thank you when we do it. Amen"
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany (January 28, 2000)
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
I Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30
*****
I want to tell you a story about a girl named Ishka. Now Ishka was playing
at a friend's house when her friend said, "Mommy is talking on the phone,
let's paint our fingernails."
"Will it be okay?" said Ishka.
"We'll be careful," said her friend.
So, they went into the mother's bathroom where the fingernail polish was on
the little table.
"Here," said Ishka's friend, "you paint your fingernails pink."
"I want to paint them red," said Ishka.
"No, I want red," said her friend. And she held the red bottle away from
Ishka.
"Look what you did!" said Ishka.
"What?" said her friend.
"You spilled it," said Ishka.
Just then the mother came in.
"What's going on here?" said the mother.
"Ishka made me spill it," said the friend.
"I didn't," said Ishka. "She came in here."
"Well, I think it is time for you to go home, Ishka," said the mother.
Ishka was crying when she came in her house.
"What's the matter?" said her mother.
"Mrs. Simpson made me come home," said Ishka. Then she told her mother
what
had happened.
"I didn't do anything," said Ishka.
"You helped," said her mother. "I think we should go back over to the
Simpson's right now so you can say you are sorry."
"Let's go later," said Ishka.
"I'll call to see when we can go," said her mother.
That night when Ishka had her room ready for bed time, her mother came in
for prayers. She tucked Ishka in the covers and sat beside her on the bed.
"I'm proud of you, Ishka," said her mother.
"How come?" said Ishka.
"Because you told Mrs. Simpson you were sorry," said her mother.
"But I didn't do anything," said Ishka.
"You went into the bathroom where the fingernail polish was, didn't you?"
said her mother.
"Yes," said Ishka.
"You didn't say, 'We shouldn't play there,' did you?" said her mother.
"No," said Ishka.
"Then you helped your friend do a bad thing. When you go along and when you
don't say anything, you help people do bad things," said her mother.
"Oh," said Ishka, "how do I stop that?"
"We are going to ask God to tell us what to say the next time, okay?" said
her mother.
"That's good," said Ishka.
Then they said a prayer like this: "Dear God, help us see when bad things
are going to happen so we can say 'No' to them. Amen."
First Sunday After Epiphany (January 7, 2000)
Isaiah 43:1-7 Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
*****
I want to tell you a story about a boy named Dulf. Now Dulf was in a
Christmas play. It was his first Christmas play. He was a shepherd, but he
thought he would rather be a wise man. They had better costumes. After
church, after everyone had sung, "We Three Kings," Dulf asked his father,
"What are wise men?"
"What do you mean," said his father, "like the 'Three Wise Men?'"
"Yes, those wise men," said Dulf.
"Those men were called 'Wise Men' because they watched for God," said his
father.
"What did they do to watch for God?" said Dulf.
"They watched the sky for God," said his father. "We know that."
"Is that why they followed a star?" said Dulf.
"Well, that is how they found the start," said his father, "but God had to
tell them what the star meant."
"What did the star mean?" said Dulf.
"Maybe God said, 'If you want to see me, just follow the big star,'" said
his father. "They were wise men because they wanted to see God, and they
knew where to look."
"Nobody else knew where to look?" said Dulf. "Why couldn't everybody
see
the star?"
"Everybody could see the star, but only the wise men knew what it meant,"
said his father. "What we see isn't enough. God has to tell us what it
means."
"Were they surprised when they found just people?" said Dulf.
"What do you mean 'just people,'" said his father.
"Well God said 'If you want to see me, follow the star.' Then they just see
people, Mary and Joseph and Jesus," said Dulf. "Maybe they thought they
were in the wrong house."
"They knew it was the baby right away," said his father, "because they got
down on their knees in front of Jesus just the way people used to do in
front of kings, and they gave him the gifts they brought, gifts for a king."
"How did they know Jesus was the one?" said Dulf. "He was just a
baby."
"Remember, Dulf," said his father. "What we see isn't enough.
God has to
tell us what it means. God had to tell them it was Jesus. They couldn't
tell just by looking."
"So can I be a wise man?" said Dulf.
"Let's see," said his father. "When you get the Bethlehem, will you
bow
down and give your gift to the sheep?"
"No," said Dulf.
"Will you give your gift to the donkey?" said his father.
"No, that's silly," said Dulf.
"Well, will you give your gift to Joseph, then?" said his father.
"Not Joseph," said Dulf.
"What about Mary?" said his father.
"Not Mary either," said Dulf.
"So who?" said his father.
"The baby Jesus!" said Dulf.
"How do you know its the baby Jesus?" said his father.
"I just do," said Dulf.
"No, it's because God told you. That makes you a wise man," said his
father. "Let's say 'thank you' to God for that."
Then they prayed a prayer like this: "Dear God, thank you for telling us
where you are. Thank you for letting Dulf be a wise man. Amen.
First Sunday After Christmas Day (December 31, 2000)
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17 Luke 2:41-52
*****
I want to tell you a story about a girl named Heckuba. Now Heckuba's mother
said, "We're going to visit your cousin Selma tomorrow."
"Do we have to?" said Heckuba.
"We haven't been to her house in a long time," she'll be glad to see you.
"Couldn't we go to see Courtney instead?" said Heckuba.
"You were just as Courtney's house yesterday," said her mother.
"Yes, but Courtney has a pretty house," said Heckuba. "Selma's house
is
little and ugly and she doesn't' have anything fun to play with."
"Maybe she got some toys for Christmas," said her mother.
"She never gets anything but clothes," said Heckuba.
"Does that mean you don't like your cousin Selma?" said her mother.
"No, she's okay," said Heckuba. "I just don't like her stuff."
"So you only want to go where the stuff is better?" said her mother.
"It's more fun," said Heckuba.
"It's more fun for you," said her mother, "but what is more fun for cousin
Selma?"
"I don't know," said Heckuba.
"What if Jesus had said, 'A manger is no fun. I don't want to go there?'
What if Jesus had never come to see us?" said her mother.
"I don't know," said Heckuba. "We wouldn't have any Christmas I
guess."
"So, let's pretend we are like Jesus and go see Selma to make her happy,"
said her mother. "Let's take some flowers to make her house happy."
"I could take my new Barbies to play with," said Heckuba.
"Now you are talking like Jesus," said her mother. "I like
that."
That night after they had visited cousin Selma, Heckuba's mother came into
her bedroom to see if she were getting ready for bed. She helped her pick
up her room then they say on the bed together to talk. "Did you have a good
time at Selma's today?" said her mother.
"It was fun," said Heckuba.
"So, do you think Jesus had fun coming to see us?" said her mother.
"What do you mean?" said Heckuba.
"Well, a manger in a stinky barn isn't a very nice place?" said her mother.
"Do you think he was glad to come see us anyway?"
"I don't know," said Heckuba, "was he?"
"Yes, he was glad," said her mother.
"Why?" said Heckuba.
"Because he wanted to be with us," said her mother. "And he wants to
be
with us right here, right now too."
Then they said a prayer like this: "Dear God, thank you for wanting to be
here with us and think you for our wanting to be at Selma's house today too.
Amen"
Advent 4 (December 24, 2000)
Micah 5:1-5a
Luke 1:47-55 (or Psalm 80:1-7)
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45[46-55]
*****
I want to tell you a story about a boy named Tiglath. Now, Tiglath said to
his friends at school, "I know what Christmas is about."
"That's nothing," said one of his friends. "Everybody knows
that."
"No," said Tiglath. "I know what Christmas is really about. My
Sunday
School teacher told me. It's about Jesus coming."
"No it's not," said another friend. "It's about Santa Claus
coming."
"You don't know," said Tiglath.
"I know nobody sings, 'Here comes Jesus. Here comes Jesus...'" said the
friend. Then everyone started laughing and shoving and the bell rang to go
back in from the playground.
That night when Tiglath and his father were getting ready to say prayers,
Tiglath asked, "Is Christmas about Santa Claus coming or about Jesus
coming?"
"Where did you get that question?" asked his father.
"The Sunday School teacher said it was about Jesus, but the kids at school
say it's about Santa Claus," said Tiglath.
"Oh, I see," said his father. "Do you remember when your bother was
born?"
"Yes," said Tiglath.
"Do you remember Grandma and Grandpa coming to see the new baby?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember that they brought you a present when they came?"
"Yes," said Tiglath. "It was a remote control car."
"So, what was that day about? Was it about your baby brother or about your
new toy? Which is more important, your brother or the toy?"
Tiglath had to think about that.
"Well, which one changed your life more, your bother or the toy?"
"My brother," said Tiglath.
"Exactly. So, if we say Christmas is about Jesus coming, we're talking
about the baby Jesus being born. If we say Christmas is about Santa Claus
coming, we're talking about getting toys. Which do you think is more
important?"
"Jesus coming is more important," said Tiglath.
And they said a prayer like this: Dear God we thank you for toys at
Christmas, but most of all we thank you for the baby Jesus. Amen.
Advent 2 (December 10, 2000)
Malachi 3:1-4
Luke 1:68-79
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6
I would like to tell you a story about a girl named Baloubet. It was
Saturday morning when Baloubet's mother said, "Christmas is coming. Have
you made your list?"
"Oh, yes," said Baloubet. "I want lots of things. I want a
'Veggie-tale
Video' and a scooter and a 'Gameboy' and ...
"That's good," said her mother, but I meant your other list.
"What other list?" said Baloubet.
"Your list for other people," said her mother.
"Oh," said Baloubet. "I forgot."
"Well, it's not too late," said her mother. "Here, I'll help you.
I'll say
a name and you tell me what they might want for Christmas."
"That's hard," said Baloubet.
"It is hard," said her mother, "but it's not too hard. Let's start
with
your little brother. What does he want?"
"He's too little to want anything," said Baloubet.
"Think," said her mother. "What does he like?"
"He likes my dolls," said Baloubet.
"Good," said her mother, "we'll put a doll by his name. Now, what
about
Grandma. What does she want for Christmas."
"She likes things I color for her," said Baloubet.
"Then we'll put 'color a picture' by her name," said her mother. "And
what
do I want for Christmas?"
"You always want me to clean up my room," said Baloubet, "but that isn't a
Christmas present."
"It could be," said her mother. "You could do this: make a little
card that
says 'one free clean room any time.' Then decorate it and put it in a
Christmas envelope with my name on it. Then sometime when I want you to
clean your room with no arguments, I can just give you the card and you will
do it. How about that?"
Baloubet had to think about that.
That night when her mother came into her room to see if she were ready for
bed, Baloubet wanted to talk more about her other Christmas list.
"We didn't put God on the Christmas list," said Baloubet.
"What do you mean?" said her mother.
"Maybe God wants something for Christmas too," said Baloubet.
"That's a good idea," said her mother. "What do you think God wants
for
Christmas? What should we put down by God's name?"
"We could put 'go to church,'" said Baloubet. "God likes that."
"That's good. What else?" said her mother.
"What about coloring a picture of the baby Jesus?" said Baloubet.
"Or you could tell someone the story of the baby Jesus," said her mother.
"There are lots of things that God wants for Christmas," said Baloubet,
"just like me."
It made her happy to know things she could give God for Christmas.
Then they said a prayer like this: "Dear God, thank you for the baby Jesus
and for helping us with our Christmas lists. Amen"
Advent 1 (December 3, 2000)
Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Thesssalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36
*****
I would like to tell you a story about a girl named Inge. Inge had two
older sisters. And the two older sisters were in Girl Scouts. Inge watched
her sister go to Girl Scout meetings, and she wished she could go and be a
part of the real important things they did. She asked her mother if she
could go, but her mother said, "Inge, you're not old enough to go."
Inge said, "Well, when will I be old enough to go?"
"Soon," said her mother, "soon."
Soon turned out to be a long time for Inge, but finally the day came for
Inge to join the Brownies. She got a little brown jumper and a little brown
hat with a little brownie on the front. She got half- socks with a little
brownie on it. Her mother even bought her some brown shoes. She was really
dressed up to go to her first meeting. She thought it was just wonderful.
Well, later when she and her mother and father and sisters were on their way
to church, she said to her mother, "I heard about belonging to Jesus. How
do I know that I belong to Jesus? I don't have a uniform like for Brownies.
I know I belong to the Brownies because I have a uniform. How do I know
that I belong to Jesus."
Her mother said, "Where do you go on Sunday morning?"
"I go to Sunday School to learn about Jesus," Inge said.
"What's that book in your hand?" asked her mother.
"It's the Bible," said Inge.
"And the Bible has all the stories about Jesus," said her mother.
"Oh," said Inge.
That night, when Inge and her parents were getting ready to say prayers, her
father said, "Who reads stories about Jesus?"
"We do," said Inge.
"That is because we belong to Jesus," said her father.
"Who talks to Jesus every night before going to bed?" asked her mother.
"We do," said Inge.
"That is because we belong to Jesus," said her mother.
Then they prayed a prayer like this: Dear God, thank you for making our fam
ily your family. We belong to you. Amen.
Pentecost 23 (November 19, 2000)
1 Samuel 1:4-20
1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25
Mark 13:1-8
*****
I want to tell you a story about a boy named Rastorimple. Now Rastorimple
had been sick a lot.
Finally the doctor said he would have to stay in bed a long time in order to
get well.
"When can I go out and play, Mommy?" said Rastorimple.
"When you get well," said his mother.
"When is that?" said Rastorimple.
"We don't know," said his mother. "Only God knows."
So, Rastorimple's father moved Rastorimple's bed out of his little bedroom
and into the living
room. He put the bed by the big window that looked out on the front yard so
Rastorimple could
see the sky and the trees and the people.
"Oh, look," said Rastorimple one day. "It's snowing. Can I go
out ant
play?"
"No," said his mother you have to stay in bed.
"When can I go out and play?" said Rastorimple.
"When you get well," said his mother.
"When is that?" said Rastorimple.
"We don't know," said his mother. "Only God knows."
So, his mother got Rastorimple's Bible story book, sat down by his bed by
the window with the
snow falling and read him a story about God and Jesus coming to help people.
When she finished Rastorimple said, "I'm never going to get well. I hate
this bed. I hate my toys.
I hate my books. God and Jesus aren't going to come help me."
"I know it is hard to stay in bed," said his mother, "but you will get well
and you will go out and
play again."
"When?" said Rastorimple.
"We don't know," said his mother. "Only God knows."
"I'll probably be dead first," said Rastorimple.
"No," said his mother. "Christmas will come first."
Rastorimple started thinking about Christmas. He started thinking about the
lights. He started
thinking about the baby Jesus. He started thinking about the presents. He
remembered the
electric train he got last Christmas.
"When Daddy comes home, could he set up my electric train?" said
Rastorimple, "Right here on
the floor by the bed?"
That night after Rastorimple had watched his train go round and round on the
floor by the bed, he
shut it off because it was time for prayers and to close the curtains on the
big window by his bed.
"Do you remember last Christmas when you got the electric train?" said his
father.
"Oh, yes," said Rastorimple.
"But, that was a long time ago," said his father.
"No, but I remember," said Rastorimple.
"So, Christmas is not so far away for you then," said his father.
"You can
remember last
Christmas and you know another Christmas is coming."
"I guess so," said Rastorimple.
"Then getting well and getting to go out and play are not so far away for
you either," said his
father. "That's how God does things."
"What do you mean?" said Rastorimple.
"Remember when you were well before?" said his father.
"Yes," said Rastorimple.
"Well, just like Christmas comes again, getting well comes again too," said
his father.
Then they said a prayer like this: "Dear God, thank you for making us well
the last time and the
next time."
Pentecost 22 (November 12, 2000)
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Psalm 127
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44
*****
I would like to tell you a story about a girl named Vincula. It was Sunday
afternoon when Vincula asked her mother, "How can I love God?"
"What do you mean?" asked her mother.
"Well, in Sunday School Mrs. Ziffel said we should love God, but I don't
know how to love God. Could you show me?" said Vincula.
"I think so," said her mother. "Let's go out in the back yard and
practice
loving God."
So, they went out in the backyard where there was a big flower pot with a
pretty flower in it.
"First," said her mother, "we are going to love this flower."
"How do we do that?" said Vincula.
"Can you make your hands move?" asked her mother.
"Yes," said Vincula.
"Can you make your legs move?" asked her mother.
"Yes," said Vincula. "That's silly. I can make everything
move."
"Good," said her mother. "Then make yourself move over to the
watering can
and bring the flower a drink of water."
And Vincula gave the flower a nice drink.
"There," said her mother, "you just loved the flower."
"I did?" said Vincula.
"Yes you did," said her mother, "because you used your hands and feet and
everything to give the flower a good gift, your gift. You could have used
your hand to smash the flower. You could have used your feet to run off and
leave the flower, but you didn't. You loved the flower instead."
That night when Vincula had taken her bath and brushed her teeth and gotten
ready for bed, her mother sat down on the bed with her to say prayers.
"You didn't tell me how to love God," said Vincula. "You were going
to tell
me. Then we watered the flower instead."
"We did, didn't we?" said her mother. "But now I'm going to tell you
how to
love God. First get under the covers. Now, hug your Teddy Bear."
"Am I loving God yet?" said Vincula.
"Almost," said her mother.
"Now remember the pretty flower and how you gave it a drink," said her
mother. "That was God's flower, you know."
"I know," said Vincula. "God made everything."
"That's right," said her mother. "And when you watered the flower,
God
said, 'Look, Vincula loves me. She's watering my flower'"
"God said that?" asked Vincula.
"I think so," said her mother.
Then they said a prayer like this: "Dear God, we love you and we want to
help you. Amen."
Children's Sermon for All Saints Day
November 1, 2000
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 or Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 24
Revelation 21:1-6a
John 11:32-44
*****
I want to tell you a story about a girl named Scarlet. One Sunday afternoon
Scarlet came into the living room where her mother was reading a book. When
her mother put the book down, Scarlet said,
"How do you get to be a Saint?"
"Why do you want to know that?" said her mother.
"Well, we were talking about saints in Sunday School. The teacher showed us
some pictures of saints with light all around their heads. How do you get
light all around your head like that?" said Scarlet.
"You could take a yellow marker and color around a picture of your head,"
said her mother.
"Would that make me a saint?" said Scarlet.
"No, only God can make you a saint, said her mother. The light around the
heads in the pictures tells us that God was very close to these people.
Remember the story about the first church when God came and made all the
people look as if they had fire on the heads?"
"Was the fire real?" said Scarlet.
"The light was real," said her mother, "and it looked like fire."
"So, how do I get to be a saint with light all around my head?" said
Scarlet.
"Do you remember a man named Paul who lived when Jesus did and started lots
of churches?" said her mother.
"I think so," said Scarlet.
"If Paul were here right now, he'd call you a saint," said her mother.
"He would?" said Scarlet, "Why?
"Because he called everybody in the church saints," said her mother.
"Even the children?" said Scarlet.
"Yes, even the children, because he knew that God was close to the church
and everone in it," said her mother."
"So, he would call me 'saint Scarlet?'" said Scarlet.
"I think he would," said her mother.
"Does that mean God is real close to me?" said Scarlet.
"It does, and what's more it means all the other saints are close to you,
all of them including the ones that have already gone to heaven," said her
mother.
"The ones in the picture book?" said Scarlet.
"Yes, those and lots that aren't in the picture book," said her mother.
"All the saints are close to you because God is close to you. Let's tell
God how special that makes us feel, OK?"
Then they prayed a prayer like this: "Dear God, thank you for coming near
us to make us bright and good, and thank you for all the saints that showed
us how to be bright and good. Amen."
Pentecost 20 (October 29, 2000)
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22)
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 10:46-52
*****
I want to tell you a story about a boy named Squirple. Now Squirple had a
new baby sister, and on Sunday he had stood up with his daddy and mommy and
his grandparents in church for the pastor to baptize his sister. It was fun
getting to go up where everything happens, where the candles are and the big
cross. He watched his sister to see what she would do when the pastor put a
whole handful of water on her head. The pastor said, "Margaret Ann, I
baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit." Everyone was real quiet and watched. Squirple thought something
was going to happen, but nothing happened. His sister didn't cry. She just
looked all around. The pastor gave her back to Squirple's father, and they
all went and sat down. Later, Margaret Ann, started crying and had to
leave. Squirple wanted to go too, but his daddy said he could stay with
him.
Later that week when they were getting ready for prayers in Squirple's
bedroom, his mommy and daddy sitting on the end of his bed, Squirple said,
"Can Maggie say, 'Jesus'?" (They were calling Margaret Ann "Maggie".)
"No," said Squirple's father, "She is just a baby. She can't say any
words."
"Well," said Squirple, "Corey says if she can't say 'Jesus', she can't be
baptized."
Corey was Squirple's friend next door who went to a church that doesn't
baptize babies.
Squirple's father said, "Squirple, can Maggie say 'mommy'?"
"No," said Squirple, "She can't say anything, all she does is cry."
"Yes, but when she cries, Mommy knows she is calling her, and I know she is
calling me. Isn't that right?" said his father.
"I quess so," said Squirple.
"So, when she cries, Jesus knows she's calling him too, don't you think?"
siad his father.
"Oh," said Squirple, "I never thought about that."
Then his mother said, "Squirple, even though it sounds to you as if Maggie
is crying, it sounds to God that she is calling Jesus. So, that is why we
baptized Maggie."
"You mean crying is like words to God?" asked Squirple.
"Can be," said his mother. "Can be."
Then they said a prayer like this: Dear God, we thank you for hearing us
when we cry and knowing we are your children. Amen.
Pentecost 19 (October 22, 2000)
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
Ps. 104:1-9, 24, 35c
Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 10:35-45
*****
I want to tell you a story about a girl named Skanecktody. Can you say
Skanecktody?
"How big is God?" said Skanecktody to her mother one day.
"Well, let's just see," said her mother. "Is God bigger than your puppy
dog?"
"God is bigger than my puppy," said Skanecktody.
"Is God bigger than your are then?" said her mother.
"God is lots bigger than I am," said Skanecktody.
"Is God bigger than Daddy?" said her mother.
"God is bigger than Daddy too," said Skanecktody.
"Is God bigger than our house?" said her mother.
"God is bigger than that," said Skanecktody
"Is God bigger than the mountain?" said her mother.
"Yes," said Skanecktody, "bigger than the mountain."
"Is God bigger than the moon?" said her mother.
"The moon is little," said Skanecktody.
"Is God bigger than the sky, then?" said her mother.
"I think God is bigger than the sky too," said Skanecktody.
"Then I think God must be the biggest there is," said her mother.
"But, how big is that?" said Skanecktody.
"Big enough to love your puppy and big enough to love you and big enough to
love Daddy and me," said her mother.
"And big enough to love the mountain and the moon and the sky?" asked
Skanecktody.
"Yes, God is that big too," said her mother. "And you know what that
means?"
"No, what?" said Skanecktody.
"It means that God is big enough to take care of us always," said her
mother.
That made Skanecktody and her mother so happy they had to talk to God right
then, so they prayed a prayer like this, "Dear God, thank you for being the
biggest and the best. Amen"
Pentecost 18 (October 15, 2000)
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Psalm 22:1-15
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:17-31
*****
I want to tell you a story about a boy named Nanogin. Now Nanogin had a
birthday, an electric train birthday. Yes, he told his parents he wanted a
diesel engine and his grandfather that he wanted a cattle car with real cows
that went in and out and his other grandfather that he wanted an oil tanker
and his aunt Tilda that he wanted a Caboose. When he opened his presents,
he got even more than he had expected. He had track and switches and a
transformer to make the engine run. When it ran it even sounded like a real
train. It was wonderful. It was so wonderful that he didn't want to play
with anybody at the party. He just wanted to play with the train.
After everyone had gone home, he was still playing with the train. His
mother sat down next to him as the train whizzed around the track. "Who
gave you the car with the big spotlight on it?" she asked.
"I forget," said Nanogin.
"Who gave you the caboose?" she said.
"I forget," said Nanogin. And he made the train whistle as it went by.
"Who gave you the tank car?" she said.
"I forget," said Nanogin.
His mother got up and left the room. When she came back she had some little
cards folded to stand up like tents. On each card was a name.
"Stop the train," said Nanogin's mother. "I have something for each car to
carry."
"What?" said Nanogin.
"The name of the person who gave it to you," said his mother.
She helped Nanogin remember who gave him each car and put the card with the
right name on top of it.
"Now," said his mother, "start the train again and read the names every
time
they go by."
Nanogin did, and it was fun. Then his mother scooped the cards off the top
of the cars as they went by and said, "Now see if you can put the right
names on the cars and think about the person that gave it to you when you
do."
Nanogin got all the names right that time.
"I think you are ready," said his mother.
"Ready for what?" said Nanogin.
"Ready to write a nice thank-you note to each person who gave you a birthday
present," said his mother. And he did. He stopped playing with the train
and sat at his desk with the cards his mother gave him and wrote
thank-you's.
"Oops," said his mother, "we forgot someone to thank."
"Who?" said Nanogin.
"We forgot to send God a thank-you," said his mother.
"How do we do that?" said Nanogin.
"Well, first we think about all the people God gave us to love, and then we
thank God for the train and everything."
It made Nanogin happy to think about the people who love him and about God
who loves him most of all. Then they prayed a prayer like this: "Dear God,
thanks for the fun train and the people who love me and most of for you.
Amen."
Pentecost 17 (October 8, 2000)
Job 1:1; 2:1-10
Psalm 26
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-16
*****
I want to tell you a story about a boy named Taliesin. (Tal-lee-YES- sin)
Taliesin asked, "May Robby come with us to eat lunch?"
"If it is OK with his mother, " said his mother.
"O boy," said Taliesin. "Robby, go call your mom."
When they got to the restaurant, Taliesin said, "May Robby and I go play in
the play room?"
"You can go," said his mother, "if you take your little brother with
you."
"Aw, Mom," said Taliesin. "Why does he have to come?"
His mother took him into a corner where his little brother couldn't hear,
bent down eye to eye with Taliesin and whispered, "Your little brother looks
up to you. He wants to be like you. I want you to show him how to be a big
boy and a good boy. Will you do that?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Taliesin.
That night when his mother came into the bedroom to see if he were ready for
prayers, Taliesin said, "Why does Ian look up to me? I don't like it."
"Taliesin, honey, the reason he looks up to you is because you are a
wonderful person and you do interesting, fun things," said his mother.
"Am I a wonderful person?" asked Taliesin.
"Yes, you are," said his mother, "and you will always have people looking
up
to you, especially your little brother."
"But, he bothers me," said Taliesin.
"I know," said his mother. "But, remember that people were always following
Jesus around wanting to be where he was. Maybe they bothered him sometimes,
but Jesus never told them to go away."
"Did Jesus have a little brother following him around?" asked Taliesin.
"I think he did." said his mother. "And one time when the big people were
not letting the children see Jesus, he stopped and made sure the little
children got to be were he was. And do you know what?"
"What?" said Taliesin.
"You can let your little brother come along just like Jesus let them come
along," said his mother.
Then they said a prayer, "Dear Jesus, thanks for letting all of us follow
you. Amen."
Pentecost 15 (September 24, 2000)
Proverbs 31:10-31
Ps. 1
James 3:13 4:3, 7-8a
Mark 9:30-37
*****
I want to tell you a story about a girl named Orpah. Now, one night when
Orpah and her parents were getting ready to say prayers, Orpah said, "I want
to take Karate lessons."
"Oh," said her mother, "Why do you want to learn Karate?"
"So I can beat up Charlie Stout," said Orpah.
"Why do you want to hurt Charlie?" said her mother.
"Because he bothers me all the time," said Orpah.
"What does he do?" asked her father.
"When I'm riding my bicycle on the sidewalk, he blocks me with his bicycle
and makes me ride in the grass and wreck. Then he laughs at me. He throws
dirt clods at me when I'm playing in the back yard. He thinks I don't see
him because of the fence, but I know he's the one. He doesn't duck fast
enough. I see him. And today when Mindy and I were setting up our lemonade
stand on our sidewalk, he put rocks in the pitcher of lemonade while we were
in the house getting napkins. He's mean, and I want to beat him up,''
Orpah said. "Charlie sounds real mean," said her father. "Would you like
for your mother and me to go talk to his parents. We can do that faster
than you can learn Karate."
"Just make him stop bothering me," said Orpah.
"We can help him stop," said her mother, "if he wants to stop, if he really
isn't that mean. But if he really is mean, he won't stop. If you would
like to visit a Karate class, we could do that, but you can't beat up
everyone that's mean."
"I don't want to beat up everybody," said Orpah. "I just want to beat up
Charlie."
"Yes," said her father, "but what happens after you beat him up? Who's
next?"
"I'm not thinking about who's next," said Orpah. "I'm just talking about
beating up Charlie."
"What about letting God beat up Charlie?" asked her mother.
"What do you mean?" asked Orpah.
"Well," said her mother, "God is better at changing people and getting
even,
than we are. After we've done all we can do to help Charlie treat you
better, we'll let God do the rest. Let's start by praying for Charlie."
And they prayed a prayer like this: Dear God, we need your help with
Charlie. Please, talk to him and show us how to talk to him. Amen.
Pentecost 16 (October 1, 2000)
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
(Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29) Old Testament Lesson in 1997
Palm 124
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50
*****
I want to tell you a story about a boy named Raja. Now Raja's father took
him to the park to play in the big sand pile. "Raja," he said, "you stay
here and play in the sand while I sit on the bench over there." So, his
father took his newspaper and sat on the bench. Raja took his little shovel
and put sand in his bucket. Then he went over to a girl who was also
playing in the sand.
"Want some sand?" he asked.
"Okay," the little girl said.
Raja put his shovel in the bucket and scooped out some sand.
"Hold out your hand," Raja said to the little girl.
The little girl held out both hands, and Raja poured the sand into her
hands. It ran down her arms and through her fingers and she laughed.
"You want some more sand?" asked Raja.
"Okay," said the little girl.
So, Raja took another scoop of sand, but this time when she put out her
hands, he poured the sand on her head. She began to cry. Her mother came
right over. She got down so she could look right in Raja's eyes and said,
"That was not nice. If you can't play nice, you may not play in the sand
pile."
You know what Raja said back to the lady? He said, "You aren't the boss of
me."
That night when Raja and his father were getting ready to say prayers. They
talked about what had happened that day in the sand pile in the park.
"That lady isn't the boss of me," Raja said again.
"Who is the boss of you, then?" said his father.
"You are, " said Raja.
"And who else?" asked his father.
"I don't know," said Raja.
"What about Jesus? Is Jesus the boss of you?" asked his father.
"I guess so," said Raja.
"So what would Jesus say to you when you dumped sand on the girl's head?"
asked his father.
"I don't know," said Raja.
"Think again," said his father.
"Maybe he would tell me to stop," said Raja.
"That's good," said his father. "I'm proud of you. You know what Jesus
would say. Now, what would you do if Jesus said stop?"
"I would stop," said Raja.
"So, maybe that lady was telling you for Jesus," said his father. "Did you
think about that?"
"No," said Raja. "I didn't think about that."
"Raja," said his father, "you know when we bow our heads in church; you
know
what that means?"
"It means we are praying," said Raja.
"Yes," said his father, "and it also means Jesus is the boss of us."
Then they said a prayer like this: "Gracious God, we thank you that you are
the boss of us so we know what to stop doing and what to start doing.
Amen."