Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 15:1-8
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. [2] He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. [3] You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. [6] Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Story:
We need to remain rooted in Christ if he is to produce good fruit within us, yet it's so tempting to go it alone. This is a story about Ant-ipathy, an ant who thought he didn't need his family and especially his father.
Ant-ipathy Leaves the Column
"Now stay together, children, and follow me," ordered Ant-arctic. Ant-arctic was always cold, and tended to march so quickly that it was sometimes difficult for the children to keep up. Ant-ipathy didn't much care for marching, and he certainly didn't care for marching quickly.
"I don't want to go," he complained to his father.
"You're coming whether you like it or not," retorted Ant-arctic. "We have a lot of work to do today. We need to collect leaves and sticks to build the new nursery, and we need to find food for the colony. Besides, you'll never make a soldier ant if you don't learn to march in line."
"Huh!" muttered Ant-ipathy under his breath. He wasn't at all sure he wanted to be a soldier, since it sounded like nothing but hard work. But he didn't dare say anything out loud.
"C'mon," said Ant-elope encouragingly. Ant-elope was Ant-ipathy's brother, but he was much faster and more agile than Ant-ipathy. "C'mon, you can do it. I'll help you."
But Ant-ipathy muttered crossly, "This is just stupid. I'd do much better by myself. Why should I do all this work for the colony? From now on I'm going to work for myself."
"But you can't!" exclaimed Ant-idote, one of his sisters. "You'll never make it on your own. We're strong because we stick together and follow Father."
"Huh!" scoffed Ant-ipathy again. "I don't need him. I'm off." And with that he slipped out of the line of scurrying ants and made his way towards some sweet nectar he had spotted.
The nectar was in the form of a rotten apple, lying temptingly on the ground. Ant-ipathy began to eat and eat and eat. After a while he was so full of apple that he could hardly move. He didn't notice the huge anteater skulking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to flick out its long tongue. Neither did he notice the wasp buzzing angrily over his head, or the woodpecker sitting on the branch of the tree fixing him with its greedy, beady eye.
Ant-ipathy began to stagger back home, but to his horror discovered he had no idea of the way. He had only ever marched in a column before. He had never been out on his own, and he didn't know which way to turn. For a moment he rested under a fallen leaf, because he had eaten so much that he kept running out of breath. But as the anteater, the wasp and the woodpecker each prepared to pounce, Ant-ipathy staggered off once more, this time fortunately hidden under leaves.
Ant-ipathy walked and walked and walked, until his feet were so sore that he thought he'd never be able to walk another step. By now he was frightened and lonely, and he longed to be back with his brothers and sisters, under the supervision of his father.
'Ant-idote was right,' thought Ant-ipathy mournfully. 'I wish I was back with them all, helping to build the nursery and forage for food for the colony. That was such a worthwhile existence. Why did I allow myself to stray from the path? If only I hadn't lost contact with my Father!'
As darkness fell, Ant-ipathy prepared to spend the night alone. He doubted that he would survive the night, for so many pairs of hostile eyes were watching his every move. But just then he heard the sound of hundreds of marching feet, stomp, stomp, stomping in a steady rhythm. Ant-ipathy could hardly believe his ears. He knew it was the column, returning home after a successful day. With a heart full of joy Ant-ipathy scurried out of his hiding place and rejoined his family.
"Ant-ipathy!" exclaimed his sister. "I'm so glad to see you again! Are you going to stay with us now?"
And Ant-ipathy replied fervently, "For ever and ever! I'll never leave this column again, for I've discovered that more than anything in the world, I do want to be a soldier ant!"
Activity:
You need:
Two bunches of good grapes, one purple, one
white
Two bunches of smaller or wizened grapes, one purple, one
white
Some grape juice
A bottle of wine
Ask the children which grapes they would prefer to eat. Let them try both purple grapes and white grapes, noticing the difference in taste (one variety will be sweeter than the other.) Point out that different grapes are used for different purposes. Those which make good wine are awful to eat. Those which make good grape juice may not make good wine. (Let them taste the grape juice, and if you're encouraging children to take Communion, let them taste the wine too, preferably Communion wine.) Some grapes taste sweeter than others, some have a tough skin, some have seeds, others are seedless. But all varieties are great when they're used for the right purpose.
Now show them the wizened grapes, and point out that they're no use for anything. The point about grapes is that they must be good fruit no matter what the colour or what their purpose.
Link this in with people. We all have different tasks in life and some are good for one thing, some for something else. We have different coloured skins, some of us are sweeter than others but some are thin-skinned. Others have tougher skins and can take disappointment and hassle more easily.
But if we don't remain rooted in Jesus, we become wizened and useless. Sometimes Jesus may need to prune us - to cut away the bits in us that are no good - and that may be a painful process. Sometimes we may need a good load of manure, and that may be messy and uncomfortable but will aid our growth enormously.
Diary Time: For details, click here.
Let the children draw a vine with bunches of grapes hanging from it. Ask them what might constitute "pruning" and what might constitute "manure" in life. Ask them to write down times when they have felt life is hard for some reason, and point out that this may have been Jesus' way of pruning or adding manure. Try to get them to see that they are stronger after coping with difficult times. Finally, ask them how they can remain rooted in Jesus, and get them to write down their responses (regular prayer, Bible reading, church etc.)
Intercession:
Lord of the vine, keep our church firmly rooted in you, so that we may grow strong and produce good fruit. Help us to accept any necessary pruning in order to keep us spiritually healthy.
Lord of the vine, many regions in the world have no harvest because the soil is poor or the weather conditions are not right. Help us to remember those who are often hungry and to give generously in order to make sure that they are properly fed.
Lord of the vine, may our community become increasingly aware of the strength and nourishment we receive from you. Help us to go out amongst the people and express your love for them in our behaviour and care.
Lord of the vine, some of our friends need extra help from you because they are sick. As we hold them within your presence, pour your healing love into them ....
Blessing:
May you be so strongly rooted in the Vine
that you are willing to be pruned,
and ready to receive the goodness of manure,
in order to produce much good fruit.
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.
