David And Jonathan, Best Friends
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Jesus didn't reject anyone, even those who were liars and cheats. By a simple act of friendship Jesus turned Zaccheus' life around. In our worship today let us consider friendship and all that it means.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, there are some people I don't like.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, there are some people I reject.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, there are some people I keep out of my circle of friends.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 19:1-10 (NRSV)
He entered Jericho and was passing through it. [2] A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. [3] He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. [4] So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. [5] When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." [6] So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. [7] All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." [8] Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." [9] Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
Story:
The Old Testament story of the friendship between David and Jonathan is a great tale of loyal friends.
Jesus didn't just take pity on Zaccheus, he made friends with him. This means that Jesus was as committed to Zaccheus as David was committed to Jonathan.
True friendship is friendship with no strings attached, which remains committed and loyal under all circumstances.
David And Jonathan, Best Friends
Jonathan was a prince, the son of a king. Jonathan first saw David the shepherd boy when David killed Goliath the giant with a single stone thrown with his shepherd's sling. From that moment onwards, David and Jonathan became the best of friends. David came to live in the palace as a musician, so the two boys grew up together and became inseparable. They learned to hunt together and practised shooting with their bows, they played together and wrestled together.
David became like an adopted son to the king and Jonathan was very happy with his father the king and his new friend, David.
When the two boys grew up it became clear that David would be a mighty warrior. The king put David in charge of the army and David led the army to victory in many battles. Jonathan too was a brave warrior and defeated many enemies.
But then things started to go wrong. David was such a fearless warrior that the king gradually became jealous of him. The king felt that all the people adored David more than they adored him, even though he was king. The king turned against David because he thought that David might try to kill him and become king in his place.
Jonathan didn't know what to do. He loved his father but he also loved his friend, David. As the king's son he might have expected to become king himself one day, but he didn't want to fight David for the throne, even though his father thought he should.
Eventually, the king became so jealous of David that David's life was in danger. The king was out to kill him. One day at shooting practice, Jonathan called out a warning to David, telling him to run for his life for the king had made plans to kill him.
David had to live as an outlaw after that, but Jonathan still remained loyal to him. He met with David secretly and told him that he (David) would become king while Jonathan himself only wanted to be his deputy.
Sadly, Jonathan died in battle before that could happen. David was so sad when his friend died that he wrote a special song called a "lament" for Jonathan, a song which exists to this day. And David himself later buried Jonathan.
Although David went on to become king and to live to a great age, he never had another friend quite like Jonathan.
Activity:
You need:
A sheet of fairly stiff square coloured paper for each child
Scissors
Wrapped chocolates
A small card for each child
Pens or felt-tips
Sticky tape
Help the children to make gift boxes, as in the diagram. Put a chocolate in each gift box and get the children to write on their small card a message to their best friend. Attach the card to the box. The children should take their boxes home to give to their best friend.
Prayers:
God of love, help us to make friends with people outside the church as well as people inside the church. May we learn the marks of true friendship and be loyal to our friends at all times.
God of love, we pray for friendship between all nations of the world. May those who hate, learn to love. May those who resent, learn to forgive. May those who are strong be generous and understanding towards those who are weak. And may our world live in peace together.
God of love, when we are cross or upset with our friends, help us to understand and to remain faithful to them. May we be there when our friends need us, even if it's difficult to stand alongside them.
God of love, when our friends are sick, help us to support them in any way we can. We pray for those who are sick, asking you to heal them ...
Blessing:
May you value and love your friends
as they value and love you.
May your friendships be deep
and rewarding, as the friendship
of Jesus is to you.
And 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 didn't reject anyone, even those who were liars and cheats. By a simple act of friendship Jesus turned Zaccheus' life around. In our worship today let us consider friendship and all that it means.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, there are some people I don't like.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, there are some people I reject.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, there are some people I keep out of my circle of friends.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 19:1-10 (NRSV)
He entered Jericho and was passing through it. [2] A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. [3] He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. [4] So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. [5] When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." [6] So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. [7] All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." [8] Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." [9] Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
Story:
The Old Testament story of the friendship between David and Jonathan is a great tale of loyal friends.
Jesus didn't just take pity on Zaccheus, he made friends with him. This means that Jesus was as committed to Zaccheus as David was committed to Jonathan.
True friendship is friendship with no strings attached, which remains committed and loyal under all circumstances.
David And Jonathan, Best Friends
Jonathan was a prince, the son of a king. Jonathan first saw David the shepherd boy when David killed Goliath the giant with a single stone thrown with his shepherd's sling. From that moment onwards, David and Jonathan became the best of friends. David came to live in the palace as a musician, so the two boys grew up together and became inseparable. They learned to hunt together and practised shooting with their bows, they played together and wrestled together.
David became like an adopted son to the king and Jonathan was very happy with his father the king and his new friend, David.
When the two boys grew up it became clear that David would be a mighty warrior. The king put David in charge of the army and David led the army to victory in many battles. Jonathan too was a brave warrior and defeated many enemies.
But then things started to go wrong. David was such a fearless warrior that the king gradually became jealous of him. The king felt that all the people adored David more than they adored him, even though he was king. The king turned against David because he thought that David might try to kill him and become king in his place.
Jonathan didn't know what to do. He loved his father but he also loved his friend, David. As the king's son he might have expected to become king himself one day, but he didn't want to fight David for the throne, even though his father thought he should.
Eventually, the king became so jealous of David that David's life was in danger. The king was out to kill him. One day at shooting practice, Jonathan called out a warning to David, telling him to run for his life for the king had made plans to kill him.
David had to live as an outlaw after that, but Jonathan still remained loyal to him. He met with David secretly and told him that he (David) would become king while Jonathan himself only wanted to be his deputy.
Sadly, Jonathan died in battle before that could happen. David was so sad when his friend died that he wrote a special song called a "lament" for Jonathan, a song which exists to this day. And David himself later buried Jonathan.
Although David went on to become king and to live to a great age, he never had another friend quite like Jonathan.
Activity:
You need:
A sheet of fairly stiff square coloured paper for each child
Scissors
Wrapped chocolates
A small card for each child
Pens or felt-tips
Sticky tape
Help the children to make gift boxes, as in the diagram. Put a chocolate in each gift box and get the children to write on their small card a message to their best friend. Attach the card to the box. The children should take their boxes home to give to their best friend.
Prayers:
God of love, help us to make friends with people outside the church as well as people inside the church. May we learn the marks of true friendship and be loyal to our friends at all times.
God of love, we pray for friendship between all nations of the world. May those who hate, learn to love. May those who resent, learn to forgive. May those who are strong be generous and understanding towards those who are weak. And may our world live in peace together.
God of love, when we are cross or upset with our friends, help us to understand and to remain faithful to them. May we be there when our friends need us, even if it's difficult to stand alongside them.
God of love, when our friends are sick, help us to support them in any way we can. We pray for those who are sick, asking you to heal them ...
Blessing:
May you value and love your friends
as they value and love you.
May your friendships be deep
and rewarding, as the friendship
of Jesus is to you.
And 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.
