The Wandering Minstrel
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to worship:
While the Prodigal Son was still far off, his father saw him, ran to him, put his arms around him and kissed him. In our worship today, let us turn to God so that he may run to us, put his arms around and kiss us.
Invitation to confession:
Jesus, for the times when we run away from you,
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, for the times when we have wasted our inheritance on dissolute living,
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when we return to you,
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 15:1-3
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. [2] And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
[3] So he told them this parable:
"There was a man who had two sons. [12] The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. [13] A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. [14] When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. [16] He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. [17] But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! [18] I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." ' [20] So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. [21] Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' [22] But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Story:
The Prodigal Son was a typical teenager who set out to enjoy the club and drug scene but got dragged into more than he bargained for.
Today's story, told in terms of a cat with the wanderlust, perhaps removes some of the blame from the Prodigal Son and makes him a little more understandable.
The Wandering Minstrel
Minstrel was a wanderer. He always thought it must be in his blood, for his mother was a wanderer before him. True, the house was comfortable enough. There were warm radiators and comfortable cushions and a bowl of food put out for him morning and evening. And often members of the family would stroke his thick fur and croon gently to him. What more can a cat need?
But Minstrel was a wanderer. He liked nothing better than to wander off by himself and explore. Fortunately the house had a big garden with trees at the bottom so that when he was small, Minstrel had plenty of scope for his wanderlust. But as he grew bigger, Minstrel ceased to be satisfied with the garden and began to wander further afield.
Once he had an unfortunate brush with a car which left him stunned, lying in the kerb at the side of the road. After that Minstrel stayed home for a few days. But then he forgot the car and began to wander again. Sometimes he stayed out for two or three days at a time, but he always returned home.
That is, he always returned home until he discovered The Alleycat. The Alleycat was a big ginger tom with a very uncertain temper. He terrorised the neighbourhood by snarling and spitting at any cat which ventured near. Minstrel thought he was terrific. He longed to be like The Alleycat, who had such an exciting life out on the streets, stealing food from dustbins and being king of all he surveyed. It was so much better than living in a tame house with just a silly garden.
Minstrel began to hang out near The Alleycat. He started slowly at first, making sure that he didn't get too close since he didn't particularly want a cuff on the ear from The Alleycat's large paw. As the Alleycat grew more used to him, Minstrel stealthily inched his way closer and closer until he was hunched submissively at The Alleycat's feet. Then he joined The Alleycat, hissing and spitting and scratching with him at any other cat which came near.
They made a good team, Minstrel and The Alleycat. They soon learned to hunt together and Minstrel would always allow The Alleycat first bite at any mice or small birds which he caught. The Alleycat grew bigger and stronger. Minstrel grew a little thinner and weaker because he had less food. But it was an exciting life and one he greatly enjoyed.
When Spring and Summer passed into Autumn and Winter, the supply of young birds diminished and the mice hibernated. Minstrel and The Alleycat were forced to return once more to ravaging the dustbins for their food. Or rather, Minstrel was forced to ravage the dustbins and pass any food he discovered onto The Alleycat, who continued to be fat and sleek. But without adequate food, Minstrel grew so thin and so weak that the day came when he was no longer able to spring up onto the rim of the dustbins.
"Help me!" he mewed to The Alleycat, but the Alleycat just snarled and spat and drove him away. So weak that he could hardly move, Minstrel began to drag himself along the arduous journey home. It took him two weeks, and there were times when he thought he might die with the effort. But at last he made it.
As he staggered up the drive with his mangy, bedraggled fur hanging off in tufts, the door of the house burst open. Two children came running out, their faces filled with joy.
"Minstrel!" they cried. "You're home! Oh, darling, darling Minstrel! Come on. We'll feed you and look after you. Oh! We're so glad you're back, we love you so much."
And with that, they gathered Minstrel into their arms, took him indoors, gave him the biggest and best feed he had ever seen, stroked him and petted him and loved him, then laid him gently in a clean, fresh bed with a soft cushion beside a warm radiator and let him sleep.
I'd like to tell you that Minstrel never wandered off again, but it wouldn't be true. He couldn't help but wander because it was in his nature. But he never again wandered far and now he always came back to his wonderful home and all the love that was waiting for him there.
Activity:
As today is Mothering Sunday, make gifts or cards for those who care. These may be mothers and/or fathers, grandparents, guardians, etc.
Suitable gifts could be small baskets made out of card, decorated and filled with a few sweets. Or a small decorated cardboard container to carry home the traditional Mothering Sunday posy of flowers. Or a thank you card with added glitter. Or a figurine made out of salt dough.
Prayers:
Understanding God, keep your church on the right pathway. When we wander off, call us back before we have wandered so far that it becomes difficult to return.
Understanding God, we pray for all parents and families, especially those families where relationships are difficult or strained. Enable parents to guide their children with a light touch and enable children to afford their parents due respect, so that each may enhance the other.
Understanding God, when we're tempted by bright lights and excitement and thrills, hold our hands as we explore all that the world has to offer. Keep us close to you so that we will remain safe in your care.
Understanding God, surround those who are sick with your healing love. May they know your strength and your presence with them as you welcome them with the fatted calf. We pray especially for ...
Blessing:
May you remain on the path
To your Heavenly Father.
May you enjoy all the riches and love
he longs to pour upon you.
May your spirit of wanderlust
Be tempered by his guiding hand.
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.
While the Prodigal Son was still far off, his father saw him, ran to him, put his arms around him and kissed him. In our worship today, let us turn to God so that he may run to us, put his arms around and kiss us.
Invitation to confession:
Jesus, for the times when we run away from you,
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, for the times when we have wasted our inheritance on dissolute living,
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when we return to you,
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 15:1-3
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. [2] And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
[3] So he told them this parable:
"There was a man who had two sons. [12] The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. [13] A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. [14] When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. [16] He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. [17] But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! [18] I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." ' [20] So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. [21] Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' [22] But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Story:
The Prodigal Son was a typical teenager who set out to enjoy the club and drug scene but got dragged into more than he bargained for.
Today's story, told in terms of a cat with the wanderlust, perhaps removes some of the blame from the Prodigal Son and makes him a little more understandable.
The Wandering Minstrel
Minstrel was a wanderer. He always thought it must be in his blood, for his mother was a wanderer before him. True, the house was comfortable enough. There were warm radiators and comfortable cushions and a bowl of food put out for him morning and evening. And often members of the family would stroke his thick fur and croon gently to him. What more can a cat need?
But Minstrel was a wanderer. He liked nothing better than to wander off by himself and explore. Fortunately the house had a big garden with trees at the bottom so that when he was small, Minstrel had plenty of scope for his wanderlust. But as he grew bigger, Minstrel ceased to be satisfied with the garden and began to wander further afield.
Once he had an unfortunate brush with a car which left him stunned, lying in the kerb at the side of the road. After that Minstrel stayed home for a few days. But then he forgot the car and began to wander again. Sometimes he stayed out for two or three days at a time, but he always returned home.
That is, he always returned home until he discovered The Alleycat. The Alleycat was a big ginger tom with a very uncertain temper. He terrorised the neighbourhood by snarling and spitting at any cat which ventured near. Minstrel thought he was terrific. He longed to be like The Alleycat, who had such an exciting life out on the streets, stealing food from dustbins and being king of all he surveyed. It was so much better than living in a tame house with just a silly garden.
Minstrel began to hang out near The Alleycat. He started slowly at first, making sure that he didn't get too close since he didn't particularly want a cuff on the ear from The Alleycat's large paw. As the Alleycat grew more used to him, Minstrel stealthily inched his way closer and closer until he was hunched submissively at The Alleycat's feet. Then he joined The Alleycat, hissing and spitting and scratching with him at any other cat which came near.
They made a good team, Minstrel and The Alleycat. They soon learned to hunt together and Minstrel would always allow The Alleycat first bite at any mice or small birds which he caught. The Alleycat grew bigger and stronger. Minstrel grew a little thinner and weaker because he had less food. But it was an exciting life and one he greatly enjoyed.
When Spring and Summer passed into Autumn and Winter, the supply of young birds diminished and the mice hibernated. Minstrel and The Alleycat were forced to return once more to ravaging the dustbins for their food. Or rather, Minstrel was forced to ravage the dustbins and pass any food he discovered onto The Alleycat, who continued to be fat and sleek. But without adequate food, Minstrel grew so thin and so weak that the day came when he was no longer able to spring up onto the rim of the dustbins.
"Help me!" he mewed to The Alleycat, but the Alleycat just snarled and spat and drove him away. So weak that he could hardly move, Minstrel began to drag himself along the arduous journey home. It took him two weeks, and there were times when he thought he might die with the effort. But at last he made it.
As he staggered up the drive with his mangy, bedraggled fur hanging off in tufts, the door of the house burst open. Two children came running out, their faces filled with joy.
"Minstrel!" they cried. "You're home! Oh, darling, darling Minstrel! Come on. We'll feed you and look after you. Oh! We're so glad you're back, we love you so much."
And with that, they gathered Minstrel into their arms, took him indoors, gave him the biggest and best feed he had ever seen, stroked him and petted him and loved him, then laid him gently in a clean, fresh bed with a soft cushion beside a warm radiator and let him sleep.
I'd like to tell you that Minstrel never wandered off again, but it wouldn't be true. He couldn't help but wander because it was in his nature. But he never again wandered far and now he always came back to his wonderful home and all the love that was waiting for him there.
Activity:
As today is Mothering Sunday, make gifts or cards for those who care. These may be mothers and/or fathers, grandparents, guardians, etc.
Suitable gifts could be small baskets made out of card, decorated and filled with a few sweets. Or a small decorated cardboard container to carry home the traditional Mothering Sunday posy of flowers. Or a thank you card with added glitter. Or a figurine made out of salt dough.
Prayers:
Understanding God, keep your church on the right pathway. When we wander off, call us back before we have wandered so far that it becomes difficult to return.
Understanding God, we pray for all parents and families, especially those families where relationships are difficult or strained. Enable parents to guide their children with a light touch and enable children to afford their parents due respect, so that each may enhance the other.
Understanding God, when we're tempted by bright lights and excitement and thrills, hold our hands as we explore all that the world has to offer. Keep us close to you so that we will remain safe in your care.
Understanding God, surround those who are sick with your healing love. May they know your strength and your presence with them as you welcome them with the fatted calf. We pray especially for ...
Blessing:
May you remain on the path
To your Heavenly Father.
May you enjoy all the riches and love
he longs to pour upon you.
May your spirit of wanderlust
Be tempered by his guiding hand.
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.
