Holly And Michael
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
At Jesus' baptism God said, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." Let us so order our lives that God may say about us, "This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased."
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, when I fail to please you,
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when I'm sure I have pleased you, but have got it wrong,
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when I neither know nor care whether I have pleased you,
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Matthew 3:13-17 (NRSV)
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. [14] John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" [15] But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. [16] And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
Story:
Baptism tells us how God feels about us, and assures us that God is always there for us, no matter what we do or think or say, in a similar way to that which Holly demonstrated with her younger brother, Michael.
Holly And Michael
When Holly's baby brother Michael was born, he was so tiny that he couldn't do anything except cry, sleep and eat. But it didn't seem too long before he was sitting up and smiling, then crawling and finally walking. As soon as he started walking, little Michael began to fall over. Every time he fell over he would wail loudly and Holly or her Mum would come running.
Holly loved to pick up Michael and cuddle him and he would soon stop crying. As he grew older, Michael began to venture outside and to run around, but he still fell over from time to time. Then he would be covered in mud and Holly would cuddle him and take him indoors and pop him in the bath to wash him clean. He soon got covered in mud again, but Holly didn't mind. She loved Michael so much that she was always there for him, no matter what he did.
Soon after his second birthday, Michael began to talk. Quite often he spoke in scribble which only Holly could understand, but he began to learn more and more words and could soon speak in whole sentences. Holly spent hours playing with him and teaching him words and games. But sometimes Michael would throw a tantrum. To begin with, these tantrums frightened Holly. Michael would hold his breath until Holly thought he'd die, then he'd erupt into a terrifying rage in which he shrieked and screamed and drummed his heels on the floor.
Holly didn't know what to do. At first she would try to help Michael, but when he lashed out and hit her, she withdrew. After that, she got used to his tantrums (which were quite frequent) and would quietly wait until his anger was over. Then when he was spent and sobbing quietly, she would cuddle him until he was at peace again.
That pattern continued throughout their lives. Holly was always there for Michael when he needed her and when he didn't need her or want her, she quietly stayed away. Sometimes other people would tell Holly that Michael treated her badly and she should get angry with him or throw him out or refuse to see him ever again, but Holly would just smile and explain that she couldn't act in any other way because she loved Michael so much, even more than she loved herself.
After Holly died, when she was very, very old, she met God in Heaven. Holly was afraid that she wasn't good enough for God. But God smiled and cuddled her in his arms just like she used to cuddle Michael when he was small. And God whispered to her, "You know how much you love Michael? I love you just like that, only more. I'm here for you whenever you want me and when you don't want me, I'll quietly slip away. I'll pick you up and dust you down and wash you clean. I'll cuddle you and guide you and protect you. I've done that for you all your life, just as you've done it for Michael. I do that for all my children all through their lives, even though lots of them don't notice me and don't want me. But you noticed me, Holly. You are my beloved child and I'm well pleased with you."
And Holly was deeply happy with a huge happiness that she hadn't known existed, living with God for ever and ever.
Activity:
Try to attend a baptism service and point out the symbolism to the children:
1. The font is usually at the back of church nearest the point of entry because baptism marks entry into the church as a full member of the church.
2. Water is a sign of growth, to show that the baptised person grows towards God just as he or she grows physically. Water is also a sign of washing, to show that when the baptised person "falls down" and gets "muddy" inside, just as he or she falls down and gets muddy outside, he or she can be washed by God - called "forgiveness" by the Church.
3. Lighted candle is a sign that Jesus is light in the darkness. When life is dark and awful, the baptised person can turn to Jesus and ask for help. And when the baptised person is unsure which way to turn because life is complicated, Jesus will guide him or her.
4. The sign of the cross is an invisible badge which the baptised person wears for ever. The badge shows that they belong to Christ for the whole of their lives.
If you're unable to arrange a visit to a baptism service, baptise a doll and explain the symbolism as you go through the service.
Point out that after Jesus was baptised he was able to begin his ministry, because God was inside him through God's Holy Spirit. We too have God inside us through his Holy Spirit, so we too can minister in whichever way God calls us. If you have time, discuss with the children different ways in which they might be called by God (eg. to being good family members, to resisting bad things such as bullying at school, in growing towards God, in doing their best whatever they do, etc.)
Prayers:
God of love, remind all of us in the church of the importance of our baptism. Help us to remember that we belong to you and that you will guide us and lead us to do always that which is right, if only we can hear you and follow you.
God of love, during this year may all nationalities of people become more tolerant towards each other. May we support those in need and improve the living conditions of the poorest. May our leaders work towards the survival of our world and of all human beings within it.
God of love, help us to be true to the baptismal vows made on our behalf. May we hold close to you, supporting the weak and showing love to all around us and may we learn to be unselfish in all our thoughts and actions.
God of love, we pray for all who are sick, dying or bereaved, asking you to be close to them and to pour your healing love into them. We pray especially for...
Blessing:
May you so grow towards God
in all your thoughts, words and deeds
that God will say of you,
"This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased."
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.
At Jesus' baptism God said, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." Let us so order our lives that God may say about us, "This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased."
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, when I fail to please you,
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when I'm sure I have pleased you, but have got it wrong,
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when I neither know nor care whether I have pleased you,
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Matthew 3:13-17 (NRSV)
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. [14] John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" [15] But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. [16] And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
Story:
Baptism tells us how God feels about us, and assures us that God is always there for us, no matter what we do or think or say, in a similar way to that which Holly demonstrated with her younger brother, Michael.
Holly And Michael
When Holly's baby brother Michael was born, he was so tiny that he couldn't do anything except cry, sleep and eat. But it didn't seem too long before he was sitting up and smiling, then crawling and finally walking. As soon as he started walking, little Michael began to fall over. Every time he fell over he would wail loudly and Holly or her Mum would come running.
Holly loved to pick up Michael and cuddle him and he would soon stop crying. As he grew older, Michael began to venture outside and to run around, but he still fell over from time to time. Then he would be covered in mud and Holly would cuddle him and take him indoors and pop him in the bath to wash him clean. He soon got covered in mud again, but Holly didn't mind. She loved Michael so much that she was always there for him, no matter what he did.
Soon after his second birthday, Michael began to talk. Quite often he spoke in scribble which only Holly could understand, but he began to learn more and more words and could soon speak in whole sentences. Holly spent hours playing with him and teaching him words and games. But sometimes Michael would throw a tantrum. To begin with, these tantrums frightened Holly. Michael would hold his breath until Holly thought he'd die, then he'd erupt into a terrifying rage in which he shrieked and screamed and drummed his heels on the floor.
Holly didn't know what to do. At first she would try to help Michael, but when he lashed out and hit her, she withdrew. After that, she got used to his tantrums (which were quite frequent) and would quietly wait until his anger was over. Then when he was spent and sobbing quietly, she would cuddle him until he was at peace again.
That pattern continued throughout their lives. Holly was always there for Michael when he needed her and when he didn't need her or want her, she quietly stayed away. Sometimes other people would tell Holly that Michael treated her badly and she should get angry with him or throw him out or refuse to see him ever again, but Holly would just smile and explain that she couldn't act in any other way because she loved Michael so much, even more than she loved herself.
After Holly died, when she was very, very old, she met God in Heaven. Holly was afraid that she wasn't good enough for God. But God smiled and cuddled her in his arms just like she used to cuddle Michael when he was small. And God whispered to her, "You know how much you love Michael? I love you just like that, only more. I'm here for you whenever you want me and when you don't want me, I'll quietly slip away. I'll pick you up and dust you down and wash you clean. I'll cuddle you and guide you and protect you. I've done that for you all your life, just as you've done it for Michael. I do that for all my children all through their lives, even though lots of them don't notice me and don't want me. But you noticed me, Holly. You are my beloved child and I'm well pleased with you."
And Holly was deeply happy with a huge happiness that she hadn't known existed, living with God for ever and ever.
Activity:
Try to attend a baptism service and point out the symbolism to the children:
1. The font is usually at the back of church nearest the point of entry because baptism marks entry into the church as a full member of the church.
2. Water is a sign of growth, to show that the baptised person grows towards God just as he or she grows physically. Water is also a sign of washing, to show that when the baptised person "falls down" and gets "muddy" inside, just as he or she falls down and gets muddy outside, he or she can be washed by God - called "forgiveness" by the Church.
3. Lighted candle is a sign that Jesus is light in the darkness. When life is dark and awful, the baptised person can turn to Jesus and ask for help. And when the baptised person is unsure which way to turn because life is complicated, Jesus will guide him or her.
4. The sign of the cross is an invisible badge which the baptised person wears for ever. The badge shows that they belong to Christ for the whole of their lives.
If you're unable to arrange a visit to a baptism service, baptise a doll and explain the symbolism as you go through the service.
Point out that after Jesus was baptised he was able to begin his ministry, because God was inside him through God's Holy Spirit. We too have God inside us through his Holy Spirit, so we too can minister in whichever way God calls us. If you have time, discuss with the children different ways in which they might be called by God (eg. to being good family members, to resisting bad things such as bullying at school, in growing towards God, in doing their best whatever they do, etc.)
Prayers:
God of love, remind all of us in the church of the importance of our baptism. Help us to remember that we belong to you and that you will guide us and lead us to do always that which is right, if only we can hear you and follow you.
God of love, during this year may all nationalities of people become more tolerant towards each other. May we support those in need and improve the living conditions of the poorest. May our leaders work towards the survival of our world and of all human beings within it.
God of love, help us to be true to the baptismal vows made on our behalf. May we hold close to you, supporting the weak and showing love to all around us and may we learn to be unselfish in all our thoughts and actions.
God of love, we pray for all who are sick, dying or bereaved, asking you to be close to them and to pour your healing love into them. We pray especially for...
Blessing:
May you so grow towards God
in all your thoughts, words and deeds
that God will say of you,
"This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased."
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.
