Gospel Puppet Show: God Cares for Those Who Mourn

Gospel Puppet Show

June 9, 2013

3 Pentecost

Characters:

Jesus

Disciple Peter

Widow: Miriam

Widow’s Son: Josh

(sounds of people mourning)

Peter:  Jesus, we’re coming to the village of Nain.  I see something ahead.  There must have been an accident.  Shall we go around the village to avoid the problem?

Jesus:  No Peter, let us go and see if we can help.

(arriving at the woman and a covered body)

Peter:  It looks like we're too late to help.  The son of this widow has died and they are having a funeral.  Let’s not disturb the funeral.

Jesus:  I feel very sad for this woman.  She lost her husband and now she has lost her only child.  God cares for those who are suffering and we must show her that God cares for her.

Peter: How will we do that?

Jesus:  Let's go and see.

(Jesus meets the widow)

Jesus:  What is your name?

Widow:  My name is Miriam.

Jesus:  What happened?

Widow:  My only child Josh got a really bad fever and then he died.  I lost my husband and now I have lost my son.  Now only God can help me get through this.

Jesus: Do not cry, Miriam.  God cares for widows and orphans, and I am here to prove this.

(Jesus goes to the covered body)

Jesus: Josh, Rise and get up.

(Josh, pushes the grave cloth aside)

Josh:  Wow.  Mom where am I?  Have I been in a long sleep?  And who are these people?

Widow:  Josh, you got very sick and we thought you were dead.  But this nice man Jesus came and he has now brought you back to my life.  And God has answered my prayer.  I know that God cares for me.  Thank you Jesus for showing me that God loves and cares for us.

Jesus:  Peter, this is our mission in life.

Peter: What mission?

Jesus:  It is our mission to show people about God’s love and care.  It is our mission to tell good news to people about God’s love.  Can you remember that?

Peter:  Yes, I can and do you think the boys and girls here today can remember this important mission?  Can you boys and girls remember to show everyone that God loves and cares for them?

All:  Yes we can.

Peter:  Good, then lets get to work.  Good bye!

Gospel Puppet Show; Healing of the Centurion's Servant Cycle c, proper 4

Gospel Puppet Show

June 2, 2013

2 Pentecost

Characters:

Claudius

Junius

Father Phil

General Claudius:  psst.  Father Phil could I talk to you?

Father Phil:  General Claudius, what are you doing here?  Shouldn’t you be off fighting a war?

General Claudius: Well, we’ve had peace for a while and I have been able to be home but I have had sadness in my house.

Father Phil:  What happened?

General Claudius:  Well, one of my employees and best friend, Junius has become very ill and I am worried about him.  I’ve taken him to all of the best doctors and they say that they have done all that they can do.  And I need a favor from you.

Father Phil:  What do you need from me?

General Claudius:  Well, you know that I have been very friendly and helpful.  I have help to build some places of worship.   You know that I respect God.  And I would like you to go asked Jesus a favor for me?

Father Phil:  What do you want me to ask him?

General Claudius:  I want you to ask him to come to my house and heal my best friend Junius.  Will you do that for me?

Father Phil: Okay but I don’t know when I am going to see him.

(Claudius leaves)

(Jesus pops us on the other side of the puppet theatre)

Jesus: Father Phil, how are you?

Father Phil:  Jesus, you frightened me.  I need to see you and talk with you.  How did you know?

Jesus: Just call it divine knowledge.  So what do you need?

Father Phil:  The Roman General Claudius said his employee and friend Junius was really sick and he heard about you and he wanted me to ask you to go to his house to heal his friend.  Can you go?

Jesus: Sure, off I go.

 (Jesus disappears…after a while Claudius reappears)

General Claudius:  Father Phil, could I speak with you again?

Father Phil:  You already are speaking with me, so continue.

General Claudius:  I don’t want to waste the time of Jesus.  I am a General and I give orders and my orders get obeyed.  Jesus is greater than I am and I am sure that he can just heal my friend without coming to my house.  I am not worthy to have such an important person as Jesus in my home.

Father Phil:  Okay, I’ll try to find Jesus again.

(Claudius disappears and Jesus reappears)

Father Phil:  Jesus, I need…..

Jesus:  Yes, you need to talk to me and tell me that General Claudius thinks that I can heal his servant without even coming to his house.  And he is correct.  I have already healed his friend.  And I think that he has great faith to believe in me even though he does not see me.

Father Phil:  Isn’t that like our faith too?

Jesus:  Yes, it is.  Only a few people get to see me and talk with me.  But many people do not see me but they still believe in me and they still know my love, goodness and health.

Father Phil:  This is the faith of all of our children here too.  They live about two thousand years after you but they still gather together because of your love and kindness.

Jesus: Yes and I salute the faith of all who don’t see me but still believe in my love and kindness.

Father Phil:  Thank you Jesus for teaching us about faith. 

Puppet Show for Trinity Sunday

Gospel Puppet Show

May 26, 2013

Trinity Sunday

Characters:

Officer George

Father Phil

  

Sign on the Puppet Theatre

Security Agent, Security Systems and Driving Instruction

Fr. Phil: (knocks on the puppet theatre) Is anyone in?  I need some help.

Officer George:  (pops up)  Hello, I’m Officer George here.  Can I help you?

Fr. Phil:  Yes,  I need some one to teach a friend of mine how to drive.

Officer George:  Happy to help you.  Just have them come and sign up and I will be do the driving instruction.  I have never had a ticket but I wrote lots of tickets for speeders when I was a traffic cop.

Fr. Phil:  Great, I’ll have my friend come by to see you and sign up for the class.

(Officer George leaves)

Fr. Phil:  Oops, I forgot that I needed something else.  (Fr. Phil knocks on the theatre again)   Hello, is anyone still in the office?

Officer George: (pops up)  Yes, I’m still here.  Do you need another driving lesson?

Fr. Phil: No, I want to talk to your security person.  I need to have an alarm installed at my home.

Officer George:  Well, you’ve come to the right place.  I’ll be happy to help you.

Fr. Phil:  But aren’t you the Driving Instructor?

Officer George:  Yes, but I also install alarm systems.  Is that a problem?

Fr. Phil:  Well, no but you must be a busy person.  I will give you my address.  When can you come by and give me a bid.

Officer George:  I’ll come by tomorrow and help you decide what kind of alarm system that you need.  Good bye…..(Officer George disappears)

Fr. Phil:  Oops.  I forgot I still need something.  I need a security guard to come by each night and check our property.  Knock!  Knock!  Is anyone still there?

Officer George:  Oh, hello.  I see you are still here.  How can I help you? 

Fr. Phil:  I want to talk with your security agent.  I need a watchman to check out the church each night.  Can I hire one of your night watchmen?

Officer George:  Yes, you can.  I am the night watchman.

Fr. Phil:  How can you be the Driver Instructor, the alarm installer and the night watchman?

Officer George:  Well, I could ask you how you, the one and same person, could need a driver instructor, an alarm installed and a watchman.

Fr. Phil:  Well, as a person I have many needs.

Officer George: So you can be just one person and have many needs?  Don’t you think that I can be one person and have many jobs and titles?  I am a Driving Instructor, an alarm installer and a watchman.  Fr. Phil as a priest you should be able to understand that?

Fr. Phil:  Why do you say that?

Officer George:  Well, today is Trinity Sunday.  God is One, but we know God in different ways in God’s different Persons.  We know God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Fr. Phil: Officer George, thank you for your instruction about the Trinity.  Do you think this will help the children at St. John’s understand the Trinity?

Officer George:  Maybe a little…but now you’ve given me a fourth job, a teacher.  I think that I’ll stick to my three jobs.  Good bye, as you see I’m a very busy person having three different jobs.

Fr. Phil:  Good bye Officer George and thank you.  God must be a very busy God since there are so many people who have so many needs.  It’s a good thing that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Don’t you think so?

Pentecost Puppet Show: Happy Birthday Party of the Church

Gospel Puppet Show

May 19, 2013

Day of Pentecost

Characters:

Dovey the Dove

George

Dovey: (singing) Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you.  Happy birthday Christian Church.  Happy birthday to you!  And many more!

George: Why did you sing Happy Birthday to the Church Dovey?

Dovey:  Well today is the Day of Pentecost and the Day of Pentecost is the Birthday of the Church.  Let’s see the church is 2013 minus 33 equals 1980.   Happy 1980^th birthday to the church.  But who’s counting?

George: Obviously you are counting.  We are a pretty old group of people.

Dovey:  Yes, you are one of the oldest and long lasting organizations that ever existed.

George: I wonder why the church has lasted so long.  Do you think that the church will still be here after I die?

Dovey:  Well George, you’re not going to die for awhile but yes the church will be here after you die to have more birthdays.

George:  How do you know Dovey?

Dovey:  Well, because even though you are a member of the church, the church is really not about you.

George:  Well, what is the church about?

Dovey:  The church is about Jesus Christ.  His message of love was so wonderful and it created so much excitement in people they called his message Good News or Gospel.  And Jesus said if we just keep sharing this good news to each new group of people who are born then this message will live forever.  This is why the church will continue to have birthdays forever.  Do you know what Pentecost means?

George:  Do I have time to Google it?

Dovey: Goo..goo…goo…Google it?  What’s that?

George:  It’s like a big storage brain outside of me where I store all of the information of the world and maps.  Google maps can even tell me where to go.

Dovey:  Well, I’ve got a built in Google maps and GPS.  Did you know that my family has been making a nest and laying eggs in the same tree for more than a hundred years.  I’ve got GPS in me that automatically tells me where to go.

George:  Wow, where did you get that?  That’s better than Google maps.

Dovey:  God made me this way and God the Holy Spirit is everywhere like a divine GPS system.  But the Holy Spirit became better known to everyone on the Day of Pentecost.

George: So what does Pentecost mean?

Dovey:  It means 50 days after Easter and it is the day when the Holy Spirit became known to the friends of Jesus.

George:  What happened on the Day of Pentecost?

Dovey:  Well, the Holy Spirit was discovered by the friends of Jesus and they were happy and joyful and they found that the Holy Spirit helped them to tell the Good News about Jesus in every language.

George:  So the Holy Spirit is like a great Google translator?

Dovey:  I guess you techies might say it that way.  Yes, the Holy Spirit is the wonderful personal energy of God’s love with us to help us to continue to tell the Good News about Jesus so that the church will continue to have birthdays into the future.

George: Wow!  Pentecost and the Holy Spirit are exciting.  But where are we going to get 1980 candles for the birthday cake?  Oh well, at least we can sing Happy Birthday.  Sandra, can you hit it on the piano and help us sing?

Everyone:  Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you.  Happy birthday Christian Church.  Happy birthday to you!  And many more!

George:  Do you think I can have some chocolate cake for the church’s birthday party?

Puppet Show for Mothers Day

Gospel Puppet Show

May 12, 2013

7 Easter   Mothers Day

Characters:

Jane

Henry

Father Phil:  Boys and girls, Jane and Henry are with us.  Can you give them a welcome.

Jane:  Henry, did you know that I have the best mom in the world?

Henry:  Are you sure about that?  I think that I have the best mom in the world.

Jane:  But my mom is so great, she’s like Jesus.

Henry: Well, my mom is great too and she’s like Jesus too.  How is your mom like Jesus?

Jane: Well, she’s kind to me.

Henry: So’s mine; she makes me waffles in the morning.  And remember Jesus fixed a fish breakfast for his disciples.

Jane:  Okay, but my mom drives me everywhere.  To school, to ballet, to soccer, to my friends house, to the movies and to get ice cream.

Henry: My mom drives me everywhere too.  How would we do anything if mom didn’t drive us?

Jane:  And my mom always makes my birthday special.

Henry:  So does mine and she also makes Christmas and Thanksgiving special for me and our family.

Jane:  My mom goes shopping with me and she helps me to pick out pretty clothes.

Henry:  Well, my mom shops for my clothing and she doesn’t make me go with her.  I trust her good taste.  And don’t you notice how I am such a fine dresser?

Jane:  I guess if you like twenty shades of denim, you’re a good dresser.

My mom gets me accessories and shoes, Dorothy shoes.

Henry:  My mom reads to me at night before I go to bed.  And she makes the stories so interesting.

Jane:  Well, my mom tells me stories about when she was young.

Henry: Well, my mom taught me how to cook my own eggs.  I can do them  “over easy.”

Jane:  Well, my mom taught me to ride my bike without training wheels.

Henry:  Well, my mom sings to me at night before I go to bed.

Jane:  Well, my mom taught me how to read.

Henry:  My mom, taught me how to do my arithmetic.

Jane:  My mom taught me how to spell.

Henry:  My mom bought me a brand new bike.

Jane:  My mom bought me new leotards and tutus for dance.

Henry: Well, I admit my mom never did that for me.

Jane:  So see, my mom is better.

Henry: Well has your mom ever bought you a toy truck?

Jane:  Well, no, I don’t want a truck.

Henry:  Well, I don’t want a tutu or leotards, touchee.

Fr. Phil: Henry and Jane, can we agree that you both have great moms?

Henry:  Okay.

Jane: Okay

Fr. Phil:  I know something else about your moms.

Henry: What’s that?

Fr. Phil:  Your moms pray for you, just like Jesus prayed for his friends.  Your moms pray for you all of the time.  They think about you when they are not with you.  And they love you and care for you and they want the very best for you.

Jane:  I think it’s wonderful to have a mom?

Henry:  Mom’s are the perfect delivery system for bringing us into the world.

Fr. Phil:  And after delivery the lifetime work of motherhood begins.  When you are forty or sixty or more you’ll still want to come home for the favorite dish that your mom cooked.

Jane:  I have a prayer today?

Henry:  What is your prayer today, Jane?

Jane:  Thank you God for my mother and for all mothers!

Henry: A thousand Amens to that prayer.  Can all of the children say Amen?

Children:  Amen!

Jane: And can the children say, “Happy Mother’s Day?”

Everyone:  Happy Mother’s Day.

Puppet Show for Good Shepherd Sunday

Gospel Puppet Show

April 21, 2013

4 Easter

Characters:

David the Shepherd

Sheep, Lion, Crocodile

Fr. Phil

Father Phil:  Boys and girls, today is good Shepherd Sunday.  And a long time ago when the Bible was written, there were lots of sheep to take care of.  When the people of the Bible tried to teach about being a good leader, they said being a good leader was like being a good shepherd.  And Jesus was a good shepherd because he was a good teacher and leader.  But there was also a famous shepherd boy who became the King of Israel.  His name was David.  David, hello, do you have time to talk?

(David is busy rescuing a sheep from a lion)

David, are you there?

David (out of breath after rescuing a sheep):  Sorry, I had work to do.  I had to chase the lion away from my sheep.

Fr. Phil:  David, that is dangerous.  You could get hurt by the lion.  You must be very brave.

David:  Well, I want to take care of my sheep.  I get to know all of my sheep and so I don’t want them to get attacked and hurt.

Fr. Phil:  So, you are good shepherd.

David:  Well, I try to be.  I like to be out in valleys and mountains with the sheep.  It gives me time to pray.  And also I can write some poems too. 

Fr. Phil: Have you ever written a poem?

David: Yes, I wrote one that begins, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want for anything.”  I wrote that because I am out alone with the sheep and I have come to know God.  And so I feel like God, the Lord is my shepherd; and because I feel like God takes good care of me, then I want to be a good shepherd and take good care of my sheep too.

Fr. Phil:  Well, you were a good shepherd.  And God noticed because God made you to be King of Israel.

David:  Being a good king is like being good shepherd.  You have to care for people.  A good King, a good leader is like a good parent.  A good leader takes care of people who need care.

Fr. Phil: Well, people and sheep often need lots of care.  Babies need care, sick people need care, and hungry people need care.

David:  Yes, since the Lord God is good shepherd, God wants all of us to be good shepherds.

Fr. Phil:  Do you mean that these boys and girls can be good shepherds too.

David:  When they help their moms and dads they are good shepherds.  When they take care of your younger brothers and sisters they are good shepherds.  When they do their chores they are good shepherds.

Fr. Phil: So some times we are sheep and some times we are shepherds?

David:  Yes, that is true.  When we need help, we are like sheep.  And when we help others we can be shepherds.  Oh, Oh, I have to go.  I see that a sheep has wandered near the river and I see a crocodile.  See you later.

(David leaves to rescue the sheep from the crocodile)

Fr. Phil:  Boys and girls, David was a good shepherd because he discovered that he sometimes was like a sheep and God was his good shepherd.  God sent Jesus to be a good shepherd for us.  So when we need help we can ask for help.  And when we are strong, we can be good shepherds too.  Can you remember to be a good shepherd?

Delivering Alleluia Back in Time for Easter

Gospel Puppet Show

March 31, 2013

Easter Sunday

Characters:

Hairy the Profit

Fr. Phil

Father Phil:  Boys and girls, I received a phone call from Hairy the Profit and he was very worried and anxious.  He said that he wanted to see me right away.  He said it was important.  Hairy are you around?  Where are you?

Hairy: Hello boys and girl.  Have you seen the Padre?  Is he sleeping again?  Where is the Padre?

Father Phil:  Hairy, I’m right here.  And of course, I’m not sleeping; it’s Easter Sunday.  Though I will be preaching later and that might help some get some sleep.  You look terrible Hairy, what’s wrong?  And by the way is your name Harry, short for Harold?

Hairy:  No, my name is Hairy, H-A-I-R-Y.

Father Phil: Could of guessed that from the amount of hair on your body.  But what’s the matter why are you worried?

Hairy:  I have special delivery that needs to arrive for Easter Day and if it doesn’t come, we won’t be able to start Easter.

Fr. Phil:  That’s terrible; what is so important that would delay Easter.

Hairy: You will soon know; but if it doesn’t show up.  I’ll be leaving town in embarrassment.

Fr. Phil:  Well, Hairy, it must be very serious.

Hairy: It is and I do not want to delay Easter.

Delivery Person:  Excuse me, is there a Hairy Profit here?  I have a package for him from the Postal Service.

Hairy:  I’m Hairy Profit.  Whew! You saved the day.  Please give the package to Father Phil.

Delivery Person:  Let me verify your identity, Do you really spell your name, H-A-I-R-Y  P-R-O-F-I-T?

Hairy: Yes, do you have a problem with that?

Delivery Person:  No, your mom and dad sure got the name right.

Hairy: Father Phil, hurry and open the Package.  What’s in there?

Father Phil: Okay, there is a letter in here and the letter says, “Dear Hairy, please get a haircut.  Love, Mom.  Is that what you were expecting?  How was that letter holding up Easter?  If you get a haircut can we start Easter?

Hairy: No that was not what I was expecting.  I am so disappointed.  That was not what I needed to start Easter.  I am so embarrassed.

Delivery Person:  Hello, there is a special delivery for Hairy Profit from UPS.  Is there a Hairy Profit here.

Hairy:  I’m here.  Hurry up.  Maybe this is what I was expecting.  Please come and give that package to Father Phil.  Father Phil open it up and tell me what it is.

Fr. Phil:  Okay be patient.  And here it is.  It is a special delivery from before the season of Lent.  Do you know what it is?  It is the Word Alleluia.  And it has arrived just in time for the Easter.

Hairy:  Yes, now we can begin Easter because Alleluia has returned just in time for Easter.  Alleluia.  Alleluia.  Alleluia.  Aren’t you happy that we can say Alleluia again?

Fr. Phil:  Yes, we are and thank you Hairy for getting Alleluia to us on time, and as a friend could I say something to you?

Hairy:  I guess so.

Fr. Phil:  Get a haircut.  And Good bye! 

Two Childrens Sermons for Easter

Easter Sermons for Children

In this sermon, have the entire congregation, one by one share the Easter Message "Christ is Risen."  Make a baton and write on it the traditions that the church has passed on.  This is to illustrate to the children the transmission of the Easter message for all of these years.

Sermon One: Passing the Baton in the Great Relay Race

   What Christian Feast Day is more important? Christmas or Easter?  They are both very important but Easter is the most important Christian day of the Christian year.  Why?  If Jesus had not come back alive, we would not celebrate Christmas and we would not even exist as a church

  When the resurrection of Christ happened, the friends of Jesus who saw him alive again after his death began to share the story.  And now that story has been share for about 2000 years.  If the church is about 2000 years old, that means that there has been about 100 generations using 20 years as the average length of a generation.  So how has the message of the life, the death and resurrection Jesus been remembered for 2000 years?  By one parent sharing the message with their children and their children share the message with their own children. 

  If we have about 100 people here let us see how long it takes to share the message. One by one, let’s share the message, one time for each generation.  Let’s see how long it takes to say Christ is Risen around this entire gathering.  Okay start.

   But the church has not just passed on spoken message.  We have passed it on in things that we can see and touch and feel.  And so I have made a baton for a relay race and I’ve written some things on the Baton.  The Bible.  The Old Testament Stories.  The New Testament Stories.  Creeds. Holy Spirit. Water of Baptism. Oil of Baptism and Confirmation.  Fire of Baptism.  Bread and Wine of Eucharist.  Prayers for the Sick.  Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Lay Persons.  Marriage Rings.

  These are things of the church that have been shared for 100 generations.  These things have been passed on from family to family for 2000 years.  And that is why we are here today, because someone told us the message about Jesus Christ and because the church has passed on the various things that have helped us to remember that Jesus rose again.  And because the Holy Spirit is inside us giving us the hope that we are going to live beyond our deaths.  And why do we believe that we will live beyond our deaths?  Because Jesus Christ lived beyond his death; he did it to show us what will happen to us after we die.  We will live beyond our death and we will live with God.  That is why this day is such a happy day and it is why we shout: Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!  The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia!  Amen. 

Sermon Two:  The empty Easter Egg

  Let me tell you today about an Easter Egg hunt that took place on Easter Sunday in a church.  And the Sunday School teacher wanted to teach a lesson to the children on Easter Sunday.  So Mr. Jones during Sunday School on Easter Sunday, said to his class, “Today is Easter Sunday and so we want to do something special.  We are going to have an Easter Egg hunt.  I’ve have already hidden the eggs.  So let’s go outside and look.  And I want each of you to find only one egg.  And when everyone has found one egg, then we will come back to the classroom and each of us will open our egg in front of the entire class.  So the entire class of twelve children ran outside to look for the eggs in a place on the lawn where Mr. Jones had hidden the eggs.  One by one each child found an egg.  One child said, “I’ve found my egg.”  Another child said, “Please help me find my egg.”  And finally after about 10 minutes each child found an egg.  Mr. Jones rang a bell and said, “Come into the classroom.”  And so the children came back into the classroom each holding an egg.  Now these eggs were not real eggs, they were plastic hollow eggs so that there could be a hidden treat inside of the egg.

   When they were seated in the classroom, Mr. Jones said, “Now one by one we are going to open each egg to see what’s in the egg.  And let me tell you, there is a surprise in one of the eggs and whoever has the surprise will get something special.”

  One by one the eggs were opened.  Johnny said, “I have a dollar bill in mine…I bet I won the prize.”  Mary opened hers and she found some very nice chocolates so she said, “No, these are really the best chocolates, so I bet I won the prize.”  Jimmy opened his egg and he had a little Lego man so he said, “I think I got the best prize.”  Grace opened her egg and she had a cute little furry bunny rabbit and she said, “I won!”  Gloria opened her egg and found a silver dollar and she said, “Wow!  I hit the jackpot!”  Jeremy opened his egg and he found a lovely ring that fit his finger and it had a red jewel on it, so he said, “Surely this must be the best prize.”  Betsy then opened her egg and she found a cute little baby chick, and she was thrilled because she knew she had won.  Todd opened his egg and found a shiny whistle and he blew the whistle because he thought he had won.  Everyone who heard the loud noise, said, “Stop blowing the whistle, it hurts our ears.”  Joey opened his egg and he found a little race car…just what he wanted, and so he believed he was the winner.  Margaret opened her egg and she found a cute little teddy bear and she was happy.  Harry opened his Easter Egg and he found a porcelain little Dalmatian.  And he just loved those spotted dogs.  And then there was only one person and one egg left to open and it was Lucy’s egg.  Everyone said, “Hurry and open it let us see.”  But Lucy got very shy and so she hid her egg under desk so that no one could see her open it.  She looked down as she opened it and when she got it opened, her face turned red and said.  Everyone shouted, “What did you get Lucy?  Did you win?  What did you get?”  And Lucy looked up and said, “I lost…I did not get anything…my egg is empty.”  And the children laughed at her and said, “Mr. Jones really played a joke on you.”

  Then the children asked Mr. Jones, “Tell who won the best prize?”

 And Mr. Jones said, “Children, Lucy won the best prize and so she get this special prize, a new Bible.”  The children said, “Why did Lucy win?  Her egg was empty?”

  Mr. Jones said, “Today is Easter.  And when the women went to the tomb of Jesus what did they find?”  They found that the tomb was empty and because it was empty they were winners, because that meant that Jesus was still alive.

  And so Lucy’s egg was empty.  And she wins the prize on Easter to remind us that the empty tomb of Jesus means that Christ is alive and that he is still with us today. 

   So as winners today let us be happy about the empty tomb of Jesus.  Let us say, Alleluia, Christ is Risen.  The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia! 

Moses and the Burning Bush

March 3, 2013

Characters:

Shepherd boy. Asa

Moses

Voice of God

Sheep

Moses and Asa are watching the sheep in Midian

Asa:  Moses, why are you a shepherd?  I know that you are very smart.  I have seen you read Egyptian writing.

Moses: Well, believe it or not, I used to be a Prince in Egypt.  When I was a born, to save my life my mom put me in a floating basket.  And an Egyptian princess found me and adopted me.  And so I was raised in a palace in Egypt.

Asa:  Then what are you doing here?

Moses:  I saw that the Egyptians were harming my people and so I tried to help but my own people thought that I was too much like an Egyptian.  So, I had to run away to save my life and I ran a long, long ways away.  I came here to Midian.

Asa:  You have lived here for a long time; I know your children.

Moses:  Yes, I got married to Zipporah and we have children.  My father-in-law is a Midian priest but he also has lots of sheep so I work with him and my children get to see their grandparents.  I can’t complain.  I have a wife and family and a job.

Asa:  Moses I have to go.  I will come back tomorrow to help watch the sheep.  Bye.

Moses:  Bye Asa, thanks for the help.

(A lighted bush appears when Moses is alone with the sheep)

Moses:  O no, there is a fire in that bush over there.  I better go put out the fire.  I don’t want a fire to spread and burn up all of the good grass for my sheep.

Voice of God:  Moses, stop!  This is not a fire you can put out.  I am God and I need to get your attention.

Moses:  Well, you sure have my attention.  Wow!  Are you sure this fire won’t burn all of the grass and tree?

Voice of God: Moses, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  You know that all of the family of Jacob got stuck in Egypt after Joseph went to Egypt.

Moses:  Yes, I know.

Voice of God:  Moses, I want you to go back to Egypt and lead the children of Israel back to this place where I will give them a special law.  And I want you to lead them back into their land.

Moses:  I can’t do it God, because I already tried and the Egyptians want to kill me and my own people don’t accept me as a leader.  How can I go back?  How do I know that you are not a mirage?

Voice of God:  Well, look at this bush it seems to be burning but it does not cause a destructive fire.  This is special fire from God.  This is proof that I am God.  And you need to tell them that I have a special name.

Moses:  What is your special name?

Voice of God(profoundly):  My name is “I am that I am.”  I am that I am.  I am that am.”

Moses (bowing and cowering to the ground):  Wow, now I know that you are God and that you will help me go back to Egypt and bring my people out of slavery.  But I will need your help.

Voice of God:  Moses, go and I will help you and I will do lots of great works to convince your people Israel and the Egyptians to let them go.

(the burning bush goes away)

Moses: Wow, did I just dream?  I better go and tell my family.  I have to obey God.

Puppet Show on the Meaning of Halloween

A lesson about Halloween

Puppet Show starring Roary the Lion

Roary:  Roar…Good morning boys and girls.  My name is Roary the Lion.  How are you today?

Do you know what holiday is coming up?

What is it called?

It is called Halloween.

Can you say Halloween?

Do you know what Halloween means?

Does it mean we get dressed in costumes?

Does it mean that we go Trick or Treating?

Yes, it does mean that but I want to tell about how we came to have Halloween.

Are you ready?

Okay….

Can you say, “All Hallow’s Eve”

All Hallow’s Eve.

When people began to say, “All Hallow’s Eve” real fast it began to sound like Halloween.

If you say All Hallow’s Eve real fast…it can sound like Halloween.

All Hallow’s Eve, All Hallow’s Eve, All Hallow’s Eve,   Halloween!

Do you know what All Hallow’s means?

How many of you know what a super hero is?

Is Batman a superhero?

Is Superman a superhero?

Are Ninja Turtles superheroes?

Are Power Rangers superheroes?

Also we have other kinds of heroes like princesses.

Snow White.  Belle.  Oriel.  Cinderella.

And at Halloween we wear costumes of superheroes and princesses.

We also have other heroes like baseball players.  The San Francisco Giants?

And football players?

And we have famous Olympic gymnastic heroes?

But do you know what All Hallow’s means?

It means All Saints.  Can you say All Saints?

Have you heard the word Saint?

What church are we at today?  We're at Saint John's church today.

Who was Saint John?  St. John was a famous hero.  He loved God and he helped other people to love God.

Have you heard about St. Mary?  St. Mary was a hero too.  She was the mother of the baby Jesus.

So saints are heroes.  They are God’s heroes.  They are heroes of our church.  And there are many heroes who did some very nice and kind things.

All Saint’s Day or All Hallow’s Day is the day when we celebrate all of the heroes who loved God in a very special way.

And so the evening before All Saint’s Day is called All Hallow’s Eve or Halloween.

It is the Day before the celebration of God’s famous heroes.

So as you put on your superhero costumes and your princess costumes remember God’s heroes.  And they are called saints.

And you are called to be a hero too.  You are a hero when you are kind and good.

Can you say, Thank you God for Halloween?

Can you say, Thank you God for heroes?

A Puppet Show on Wonder

Puppet Show

October 17, 2012

A lesson in Wonder

Father Phil:  Boys and Girls, I want to introduce to you the famous Roary the Lion.  Here’s Roary!

Roary:  Roar!  Roar!  Hello boys and girls.  How are you today?  Roar!  I want to play a game.

Father Phil:  Roary, what game do you want to play?

Roary:  Let’s play “Stump Father Phil”

Father Phil:   Stump Father Phil.  Can you tell these children what that means?

Roary:  Stump Father Phil means that I am going to ask you questions that you can’t answer.

Father Phil:  Are you sure?  How will you know that I don’t know the answer.

Roary:  Well, I bet I can make you say, “HMMM, I wonder.”  And make you stroke your chin.  Here’s the first question.  How many stars are in the sky?

Father Phil:  Hmmm, I wonder!

Roary:  See I gotcha.  How many leaves are on all of the trees in Morgan Hill?

Father Phil:  Hmm, I wonder!

Roary:  I Gotca again!  How many leaves of grass are on the front lawn?

Father Phil:  Hmm, I wonder!

Roary:  I Gotch again!  I am stumping you Father Phil.

Father Phil:  Well, you are stumping these boys and girls too.  The boys and girls have been stroking their chins too and saying, “Hmmm, I wonder.”

Roary:  Well, you know learning in life is about wonder.  I wonder about numbers and letters and when I wonder I want to learn.  And all of these boys and girls are coming to school because they wonder about many, many things.

Father Phil:  Wonder is a wonderful thing.  Do you know another word for Wonder?  It is the word “Awe.”  Can you say awesome?

Roary:  Awesome!  I like that word.  I use it a lot.  I must have lots of wonder in me because I say Awesome all of the time.  Can the children say “Awesome?”

All:  Awesome!

Father Phil:  We say that God is so big and great and we say that God is Awesome.  If God made this world, the trees, the stars and the sky of outer space then God is bigger and greater than this world.

Roary:  So can we say that God and this world are Awesome?

Father Phil:  Yes we can!  God is Awesome.  This world is Awesome.

Roary:  What holiday is coming up?

Father Phil:  Children, what holiday is coming up?  Halloween.

Roary:  At Halloween some people talk about being frightened and saying “boo.”  Even though I am a strong lion, I still don’t like to be frightened.

Father Phil:  Do you know that there is a good way to be scared?

Roary:  No, what is a good way to be scared?

Father Phil:  The good way to be scared is to have wonder.  When we have wonder we drop our jaws and we say Wow!  That awesome.

Roary:  Well, I like wonder and awesome better than being scary.

Father Phil:  Well, I think that means that we can have an awesome and wonderful Halloween and not a scary Halloween.

Roary:  Boys and Girls, do you want to have a wonderful and awesome Halloween?

Father Phil:  Roary, you’re awesome!  Thank you.  Boys and Girls can you say, “Roary, you’re awesome!”  Let’s give Roary a big hand.

A Puppet Show on Joy

Puppet Show

October 10, 2012

A lesson in Joy

Father Phil:  Boys and Girls, I want to introduce to you the famous Roary the Lion.  Here’s Roary!

Roary:  Roar!  Roar!  Hello boys and girls.  How are you today?  Roar!  I’ve got to clear my throat.  I must have swallowed a hair ball.  Roar!  Cough!  Okay what do you want, Big Daddy Phil.

Father Phil:  Roary, they don’t call me big daddy.  They call me Father Phil.  But now that you’re here, would you help teach us a lesson today?

Roary:  Okay, what do you want to teach?

Father Phil: I want you to teach these children about joy.

Roary:  Joy?  I once had a cousin named Joy.  How do you think she got the name Joy?

Father Phil:  Well, joy is something very wonderful and that’s why we want to learn about joy.

Roary:  Well, first do you think these children can help me spell joy?  It’s only three letters.  Give me a “J”.

All:  “J”

Roary:  Give me an “O.”

All: “O”

Roary: Give me a “Y.”

All:  “Y”

Roary:  And what does that spell?

All:  It spells joy.

Roary:  Yes, it spells joy.

Father Phil:  Roary, but we need to do more than spell joy; we need to understand what joy is.

Roary:  Well, first of all joy is a wonderful gift from God. 

Father Phil:  How do you know it is a gift?

Roary:  Have you ever seen a baby smile?

Father Phil:  Yes, I have seen lots of babies smile.  I love to see babies smiles.  It makes me very happy.

Roary:  Well, joy is a smiling baby.

Father Phil:  Is joy the same thing as happiness?

Roary:  It is like happiness but it is more than happiness.

Father Phil:  How is joy more than happiness?

Roary: Joy is a gift from God.  Happiness depends upon what happens.  Did you know that that you can have joy but also be sad?

Father Phil:  How can I have joy and still be sad?

Roary:  Well, when you fall scrape your knee, are you happy?

Father Phil:  Well, no.  I am sad to hurt my knee.

Roary:  But even when you hurt your knee and when you are sad, there are so many other good things in your life.  Like you have parents who love you.  A teacher will give you a Band Aid.  Your puppy will still be friendly to you.  The sun will still shine.   The trees will still be beautiful. 

Father Phil:  So just because one bad thing happens to me to make me sad; at the same time there is so much that is good and lovely and beautiful in this world, I can still have joy in my life because life is still very good.

Roary:  Bingo!  Joy means you know deep in your heart that life is still very good, even if sometimes you are sad about something bad that has happened to you.

Father Phil:  You know that I don’t know why a baby smiles.  A baby cannot talk and tell me why she is happy.

Roary:  Well, I think God made babies to know joy and so they smile just because they are alive.  And that’s how you know that joy is a gift from God.

Father Phil:  Thank you Roary for teaching us about joy.

Roary:  You’re welcome.  And boys and girls can you be thankful for the gift of joy?

Father Phil:  Now let me see a big joyful smile.

Roary:  Can you say, “Thank you God for the gift of Joy!”

All:  Thank you God for the gift of Joy.

Roary:  Bye, bye and have a very joyful day!

Father Phil: Bye, bye Roary and thank you for the lesson about joy.