Toby's Dive
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to worship:
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." We can no longer see Jesus with our eyes, so let us ask him to help us to believe.
Invitation to confession:
Jesus, sometimes we keep our eyes tightly closed because we don't want to see.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes our eyes are open but we fail to look in the right direction.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we focus only on our own concerns and desires.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 20:19-31 (NRSV)
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [20] After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
[24] But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
[26] A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [27] Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." [28] Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" [29] Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. [31] But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Story:
Although questioning is something to be encouraged and leads into new and rich fields, doubt and fear can be paralysing and prevent us doing anything.
In this story, Toby had to overcome his doubt and act as though he believed before he reached his reward.
Toby's Dive
Toby was huddled on the high diving board, shivering. The water was so far away that Toby felt sick just looking at it.
The previous week, Toby has missed swimming club because he had a bad cold. But at school next day, all his friends had crowded round him, high with excitement.
"Guess what, Tobes? Guess what we did? We dived off the high board! Lots of times! It's easy!"
Toby had scowled. "Huh! Don't believe you! You're just having me on! You lot are scared to death of the high board!"
But even as he spoke, Toby had had an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach that something marvellous had happened and he had missed out. His friends were so different. Full of confidence and somehow excited. Deep down inside he knew they spoke the truth, but he wasn't about to acknowledge that. The fact that they had done it and he hadn't, made him feel small and frightened and alone and resentful.
Now that his cold was better and he was back at swimming club, he had seen his friends happily and confidently clambering up the steps to the high board and nonchalently diving far down to the water beneath.
The coach had said to him, "Go on, Toby. You can do it. Just remember your technique and stick to it. Forget the height. Just let your training take over."
So Toby had reluctantly climbed up. To start with his friends had cheered him on, but as he clung to the rail, too terrified even to step out to the end of the board, they had looked embarrassed and sidled off. Now it was worse. Toby had glimpsed a nudge and a giggle aimed in his direction and he knew it was only a matter of time before one of his friends folded his hands underneath his arms, flapped like a chicken and began to squawk.
Toby looked down and caught his coach's eye. His coach gave an almost imperceptible nod and Toby was nearly sure he winked.
Toby shut his eyes and prayed. Then before he had a chance to change his mind, he let go of the rail, ran to the edge of the board and jumped high in the air. Before he knew what was happening, his body took over and he folded into a perfect dive. As he entered the water, Toby knew it was the best sensation he had ever had in his life and he wanted to repeat it.
He climbed out of the water with his eyes shining, as all his mates cheered.
Activity:
You need:
A whiteboard or flip chart
Coloured pens or markers
A card for each child
Coloured pens or crayons.
Ask the children if they have ever felt afraid of doing something and write their answers briefly on the whiteboard or flipchart. When all have contributed, discuss the different fears and ask what it feels like to be afraid. Write a list of the symptoms – pounding heart, dry mouth, sticky palms, trembly legs, etc. Point out that everyone feels those same symptoms when they are afraid or doubt themselves and their own ability. Tell the children that even grown-ups feel afraid and discuss some of the things that grown-ups might fear – speaking in public, going somewhere new for the first time etc. Some of these fears may be very similar to those expressed by the children.
Ask the children how their fears and doubts can be overcome (by facing them, praying about them, then acting as though they aren't afraid, even though they are.)
Give each child a card and ask them to draw on the front a picture of their worst fear. On the inside, get them to write a prayer asking God to help them overcome their fear. On the back, they should write the date and something like, "From today, I will try to face this fear and act as though it doesn't exist."
In a week or two, ask them how they've got on.
Prayers:
Understanding God, when our self doubts and fears stop us from being the people you want us to be, support and help us.
Understanding God, when fear causes evil and destruction by people and nations, bring peace to human hearts.
Understanding God, when churches look inwards instead of outwards because they are afraid of new ways, give them strength and guidance.
Understanding God, when people are sick and are frightened of what the future might bring, give them comfort and heal them.
Blessing:
May you be strong to conquer your fears,
Bold to face your doubts,
And confident in Jesus Christ who rescues 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 said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." We can no longer see Jesus with our eyes, so let us ask him to help us to believe.
Invitation to confession:
Jesus, sometimes we keep our eyes tightly closed because we don't want to see.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes our eyes are open but we fail to look in the right direction.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we focus only on our own concerns and desires.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 20:19-31 (NRSV)
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [20] After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
[24] But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
[26] A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [27] Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." [28] Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" [29] Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. [31] But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Story:
Although questioning is something to be encouraged and leads into new and rich fields, doubt and fear can be paralysing and prevent us doing anything.
In this story, Toby had to overcome his doubt and act as though he believed before he reached his reward.
Toby's Dive
Toby was huddled on the high diving board, shivering. The water was so far away that Toby felt sick just looking at it.
The previous week, Toby has missed swimming club because he had a bad cold. But at school next day, all his friends had crowded round him, high with excitement.
"Guess what, Tobes? Guess what we did? We dived off the high board! Lots of times! It's easy!"
Toby had scowled. "Huh! Don't believe you! You're just having me on! You lot are scared to death of the high board!"
But even as he spoke, Toby had had an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach that something marvellous had happened and he had missed out. His friends were so different. Full of confidence and somehow excited. Deep down inside he knew they spoke the truth, but he wasn't about to acknowledge that. The fact that they had done it and he hadn't, made him feel small and frightened and alone and resentful.
Now that his cold was better and he was back at swimming club, he had seen his friends happily and confidently clambering up the steps to the high board and nonchalently diving far down to the water beneath.
The coach had said to him, "Go on, Toby. You can do it. Just remember your technique and stick to it. Forget the height. Just let your training take over."
So Toby had reluctantly climbed up. To start with his friends had cheered him on, but as he clung to the rail, too terrified even to step out to the end of the board, they had looked embarrassed and sidled off. Now it was worse. Toby had glimpsed a nudge and a giggle aimed in his direction and he knew it was only a matter of time before one of his friends folded his hands underneath his arms, flapped like a chicken and began to squawk.
Toby looked down and caught his coach's eye. His coach gave an almost imperceptible nod and Toby was nearly sure he winked.
Toby shut his eyes and prayed. Then before he had a chance to change his mind, he let go of the rail, ran to the edge of the board and jumped high in the air. Before he knew what was happening, his body took over and he folded into a perfect dive. As he entered the water, Toby knew it was the best sensation he had ever had in his life and he wanted to repeat it.
He climbed out of the water with his eyes shining, as all his mates cheered.
Activity:
You need:
A whiteboard or flip chart
Coloured pens or markers
A card for each child
Coloured pens or crayons.
Ask the children if they have ever felt afraid of doing something and write their answers briefly on the whiteboard or flipchart. When all have contributed, discuss the different fears and ask what it feels like to be afraid. Write a list of the symptoms – pounding heart, dry mouth, sticky palms, trembly legs, etc. Point out that everyone feels those same symptoms when they are afraid or doubt themselves and their own ability. Tell the children that even grown-ups feel afraid and discuss some of the things that grown-ups might fear – speaking in public, going somewhere new for the first time etc. Some of these fears may be very similar to those expressed by the children.
Ask the children how their fears and doubts can be overcome (by facing them, praying about them, then acting as though they aren't afraid, even though they are.)
Give each child a card and ask them to draw on the front a picture of their worst fear. On the inside, get them to write a prayer asking God to help them overcome their fear. On the back, they should write the date and something like, "From today, I will try to face this fear and act as though it doesn't exist."
In a week or two, ask them how they've got on.
Prayers:
Understanding God, when our self doubts and fears stop us from being the people you want us to be, support and help us.
Understanding God, when fear causes evil and destruction by people and nations, bring peace to human hearts.
Understanding God, when churches look inwards instead of outwards because they are afraid of new ways, give them strength and guidance.
Understanding God, when people are sick and are frightened of what the future might bring, give them comfort and heal them.
Blessing:
May you be strong to conquer your fears,
Bold to face your doubts,
And confident in Jesus Christ who rescues 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.
