Be
Reconciled to Your Brother and Sister
No Revenge; No Paybacks
Learning to Pray
Have No Anxiety About Anything
Judge Not and You Shall Not Be Judged
Matthew 5:21-26
"Be
Reconciled to Your Brother and Sister"
CHARLIE:
Hi,
children. Hi,
everybody. It's so
good to see all of you here tonight.
That pleases me so much.
Why don't all you children come up front...up here near the
altar rail....and sit on the floor.
OK? ....I'm so
glad to see all of you... There's
Chris....and Michelle...and Matt....and Adam.... (fingers
pointing). Ohh....I
am so pleased to be with you.
Now
sit down children. That's
right. OK.
We're about to begin.
(Wait until you sense everyone is seated...then continue.)
As
you may know, I am Jesus. I
am the Son of God. That
is, God is my Father. He
and I think alike. We're
of the same mind. What
God thinks, I think. What
God tells me to say, I say.
Now
I want you to listen real closely to my words.
...In the Old Testament it says, you shall not commit
murder. But I tell
you, anyone who is angry with his family or friends is going to
get into big trouble with God...and anyone who calls his family or
friends, bad names...like fool or dumb-dumb, or jerk...that will
make God really mad. In
fact, God will punish people who do that.
So, if you have gotten into a fight with somebody, you had
better make up with them. If
you come to church and come up to Holy Communion and still are
having "bad feelings" with somebody, you better leave
the church and go "make up" with that person and then
come back to church. God
wants you to be "at peace,"..."to make up"
with people you've had fights with.
...That's what my Father told me to tell you.
To help you understand what I'm trying to say, I'd like you
to watch what happened to my friends Charlie Brown and Lucy the
other day.
LUCY:
(Up
pops Lucy, left side of altar)
Charlie Brown. Charlie
Brown. What a jerk! What
a dumb-dumb! What a
pea brain! Do you
know why Charlie Brown is so dumb?
He can't throw a rock straight.
He's not smart in school.
He's a sissy...cuz he takes piano lessons.
And nobody wants Charlie Brown on their team.
He can't kick a soccer ball and he always strikes out.
Charlie Brown is a "loser's loser."
Buuuttt...he's
still my friend. We're
neighbors you know. When
there is nobody else to play with...like right now...I usually
play with Charlie.
(Shouts)
Charlie! Charlie
Brown! Can you hear
me?
CHARLIE:
(Slight
delay), then says, "Coming” (another delay, and then pops
up on the right side of the altar-stage) (puffing, huffing as if
out of breath from running)
Hi, Lucy. How are
you?
LUCY:
Fine,
Charlie. How come
you're puffing?
CHARLIE:
I
just finished piano lessons.
I was running home from my teachers' house.
LUCY:
Piano
lessons....Charlie Brown; you're a sissy if I ever met one.
Who ever heard of a boy taking piano lessons?
CHARLIE:
I
am not a sissy and don't you call me one.
What do you want to play?
LUCY:
I
don't know. How about dolls?
CHARLIE:
Noooooooooo....
LUCY:
How
about playing school?
CHARLIE:
No!
LUCY:
Wellllll.....Wellllll....
(Nodding her head with a smirk)
How about football? I'll hold the ball and you kick it. Here's my football...right here.
(She picks up the football)
CHARLIE:
Oh,
no you don't. You
always pull the ball away at the last minute.
I miss and fall on my face.
You make a fool out of me.
LUCY:
That
was last year, Charlie. I
won't do it again. I
promise. You can
trust me. Scout's honor. (Gesture)
Cross my heart and hope to die (gesture)...if I would do
that again.
CHARLIE:
I
still don't trust you.
LUCY:
Please.
CHARLIE:
Alllllll...right!
LUCY:
Good.
Here. I will
hold the ball. You
come and kick it. Kick
it real hard. With
everything you've got.
CHARLIE:
Ready?
LUCY:
Ready!
CHARLIE:
Here
I come! Thunderfoot
himself!
(Charlie
then charges the football. Lucy
jerks out the football. Charlie
flies up into the air, and falls down behind the stage, out of
sight). (You hear the noise...a pound, a boom, or a thud.)
(From
offstage, out of sight) Ohhhhhhhhh.
That hurt!!! (Tears in voice)
LUCY:
Hahahahahaha.
O, Charlie Brown. You are a dumb-dumb. When
will you ever learn?
CHARLIE:
(Comes
up into sight...slowly, like injured)
Lucy,
you are bad. You are
mean. I don't like
you. I'm NEVER going to play with you again. You did this to me last year.
I quit. We are
not going to be friends. NEVER!!!
LUCY:
Oh,
Charlie. It was just
a joke. I still like
you.
CHARLIE:
I'm
going home. I'm NEVER
going to play with you again.
(Lucy
and Charlie then go to their respective ends of the stage.
They turn their backs on each other, ignoring each other,
yet peeking to see if the other is looking.
No word is spoken. Silence for 7 seconds. Then
a narrator (operator of Jesus puppet) reads the following
narration).
NARRATOR:
One
day went by....and Lucy and Charlie would not speak to each other.
Then two days went by...and they still wouldn't talk.
Then three days...then four days...then five days.
This was a serious fight.
It was now Saturday. Tomorrow
was church and Sunday school and Lucy and Charlie still were mad
at each other.
JESUS:
(Suddenly
appears in the middle of the stage, between Lucy and Charlie)
JESUS:
Hi,
children. Hi,
Charlie. Hi, Lucy.
How are you guys?
CHARLIE:
& LUCY:
(Together)
Hi, Jesus (not enthusiastically like there are problems.)&
JESUS:
You
guys want to play??? ...Maybe
soccer???
CHARLIE:
& LUCY:
(Together)
Naaawwwww.
JESUS:
Why
not?
CHARLIE:
Lucy
and I aren't friends anymore.
We don't play together.
JESUS:
Why
not?
CHARLIE:
She
made a fool of me. And
she always calls me dumb-dumb.
LUCY:
You
are, Charlie. You are
a pea brain dumb-dumb.
CHARLIE:
You
leave me alone. You're
mean! You're bad!
You're icky! You're
not nice at all.
JESUS:
Come
on kids. That's no
way to talk. I don't
want you to fight and get angry with each other.
And neither does God.
And God doesn't want you to call each other names like
stupid, dumb-dumb, jerk and pea brain. God doesn't like that.
LUCY:
But
Charlie is a pea brain, Jesus.
CHARLIE:
No
I'm not.
JESUS:
No
he's not, Lucy. BOTH
you and Charlie were created by God.
BOTH of you are God's children.
God doesn't make dumb-dumbs and pea brains.
No. Not at
all. (Slowly)
God does not make dumb-dumbs...nor jerks....nor any other
bad name you want to call each other.
CHARLIE:
But
Lucy IS mean, bad and icky. She
just is. I'm just
telling the truth.
JESUS:
Well,
Charlie Brown...That isn't the way I want you and Lucy to feel
about one another. God
wants you to be friends. He
wants you to "make up" and not be mad at each other
anymore.
CHARLIE:
You've
got to be kidding. I'm
going to hate Lucy for the rest of my life.
JESUS:
Charlie
and Lucy....(a thinking gesture, finger to jaw, nodding head up
and down, like pondering...a slight pause as Jesus thinks)
Do you know how hot it gets in hell?
CHARLIE
& LUCY:
(Both
quickly look at each other and say together)
No....how hot?
JESUS:
It
gets so hot in hell that you sizzle your feet on the sidewalks.
CHARLIE
& LUCY:
Nooooooooooooo!
(Together)
JESUS:
And
if the two of you don't forgive each other, you know what?
CHARLIE
& LUCY:
What?
(Together)
JESUS:
It
says in the Bible that God in heaven will be very upset with you.
CHARLIE
& LUCY:
Really???
(Together)
JESUS:
Yes.
God is very serious about "making up."
He wants you to be friends.
When you get into a fight, God always wants you to make up.
....and if you come to church tomorrow morning to Holy
Communion and Sunday School....if you come to church tomorrow
morning and still haven't made up, you had better go back
home...make up....and then come back to church.
LUCY:
Really????
Does God really mean that?
JESUS:
Yes,
God does. Yes, I do.
If you are having a conflict with a friend....or with a
brother or sister...or one of your parents...with anybody....you
had better make up with them.
CHARLIE:
Holy
cow!
JESUS:
Holy
cow is right, Charlie Brown.
(Jesus
then continues, this time addressing the children in the audience)
And
you children out there....the big ones and the little ones.
My words are for you, too. I
know what my Father wants. No
name-calling. No anger and fighting. And
no “dirty word" name-calling either. And if and when you do fight and get angry, then you are to
make up.
LUCY:
But
isn't that impossible Jesus?
We all get mad and have fights. Do
you mean to tell me that if I get in a fight with Charlie Brown or
my mother, God won't like me anymore?
JESUS:
Oh,
no, Lucy. God will
always love you. Of
course, you will get angry. Of
course, you will have fights and arguments and disagreements.
But, that's why I tell you not to.
It's easy to fight. It's
so easy to get mad. It's
so easy to call each other names.
It's so easy to hold a grudge.
And because it's so easy, I tell you not to.
And besides, I DON'T LIKE IT.
I don't like fighting!
I don't like name-calling.
I don't like dirty words.
I don't like people holding grudges.
I DON'T LIKE IT.....but I love you kids (nods to Charlie
and Lucy). ...
And I love you kids out there, too (points to crowd).
Well,
I have to go. I want
to go and talk with God. Remember
now, I want you to make up.
Bye,
Charlie and Lucy.
Bye,
children. I will see
you here next week. (He
wave’s goodbye, disappears.)
CHARLIE:
I'm
sorry, Lucy.
LUCY:
I'm
sorry, Charlie Brown. I've
got to learn to stop calling you bad names, Charlie Brown.
I've just gotten into a bad habit.
I need to be a better friend.
CHARLIE:
And
I've got to stop getting mad at you so easily, Lucy.
I shouldn't do that.
LUCY:
Let's
be friends again. Let's
be good friends. OK?
CHARLIE:
OK.
LUCY:
What
shall we play?
CHARLIE:
I
don't know.
LUCY:
How
about football...
CHARLIE:
I
don't think so.
LUCY:
Well
then, how about soccer?
CHARLIE:
OK.
Let's go over to the soccer field.
(Both Lucy and Charlie drop down off stage)
Back
to Top
Matthew
5:39-42, 44-48
"No
Revenge; No Paybacks"
INTRODUCTION
JESUS:
Hello,
again children. It's
really nice to see you here again...hello there
I am happy that you have come to the church this evening to
be with other friends and to be with me for awhile.
Why don't you all come up here again, around the railing,
and sit down.....
I
told you last week, that because I am the Son of God, my Heavenly
Father and I think alike. We
are the same in many ways; we both love you very much and want to
be a part of your life.
If
you want to follow God's way, then you are to love people - care
about them as much as you care about yourself - and care about
what happens to them. The
strangest part of all this is that God wants you to do this not
only to your friends, but to your enemies, as well.
Yes, people who hurt you, people who are mean to you.
After all, God loves everyone he has created, and that
includes even people who are mean to you.
In the Old Testament, it said "an eye for an eye, and
a tooth for a tooth." Somebody
hurts you? You can
hurt them back. But I
say to you, be kind to your enemies.
No revenge. No
paybacks.
Now,
here are Lucy and Charlie to help you understand the things I have
just told you.
LUCY:
Oof!
MMM! Ah!
(Grunts and groans as she drops a pile of books on the
altar.) Boy!
These are heavy. I
wish I had someone to help me carry these dumb books home from
school. (Thinks for a
minute.) Hmmmmmm!
Oh, Charlie. Charlie Brown, wait for me!
Wait up, Charlie Brown.
CHARLIE:
(Coming
up from behind altar.) Get
away from me, you rotten person, Lucy.
LUCY:
Charlie,
I need you to carry my books for me.
Carry 'em to the corner for me, will you, Charlie?
CHARLIE:
NO
- NO
- that's N and O, as in absolutely not ever, never, no!
LUCY:
Aw,
c'mon, Charlie Brown. They're
heavy and I need some help ......
just to the corner. Huh? Please?
CHARLIE:
Lucy,
not only am I never-ever-never-going to carry your books, I am
also never-ever-never going to speak to you again.
As far as I am concerned, you no longer exist.
You are my worst enemy.
I would never do you a favor, not the eeniest, teeniest,
weeniest little favor will I EVER again do for you.
LUCY:
I
have a feeling, Charlie, that you are a little mad about
something. As a matter of fact, I don't think I ever saw you as mad in
your whole life as you are now.
CHARLIE:
That's
right, and I'm glad you are finally beginning to understand. As soon as I get you out of my life forever, my life will be
better than it has been since the day I first met you.
LUCY:
O.K.
What's your gripe?
CHARLIE:
You
know very well why I'm mad at you, Lucy.
And the thought that you wouldn't even remember makes me
even MADDER!
LUCY:
You
don't mean you're mad because of that little bit of teasing I did
at school today, do you?
CHARLIE:
LITTLE
BIT!!! That was the
most humiliating experience of my whole, entire life!
First you HIT me.....then you grabbed my sandwich and ate
it. You're always
taking my things. You
embarrassed me in front of all the kids!!
All the kids laughed at me.
LUCY:
Oh,
is that all? Is that
all it takes to make you so mad.....just to hit you and grab your
sandwich? Boy, it's really easy to humiliate you, Charlie Brown.
You get mad over nothing.
CHARLIE:
I'm
so mad at you I'd like to hit you back good and hard, just knock
your block off. I
would have slugged you right then and there if the teacher hadn't
come in the room. I
was so embarrassed, so humiliated.
LUCY:
But
you deserved it. You're
always bragging about how you make the best peanut butter
sandwiches ever. You
think you're so smart cuz you (imitating, and quoting Charlie in a
sing-song fashion) spread the peanut butter just right.
Bringing it to the very edge of the bread, but being
careful at all times not to let it droop down on the crust.
You were just sickening, I can tell you.
You deserved to be slapped.
CHARLIE:
It
doesn't matter anymore, Lucy, because I never want to talk to you
again. You are - as
of this noon - my worst enemy.
I hate you.
LUCY:
You
shouldn't even eat those ridiculous sandwiches, Charlie.
Don't you know you can get zits from eating peanut butter?
CHARLIE:
Forget
it, Lucy. It's over -
finished. Never -
ever - again. Especially
after you hit me.
LUCY:
Oh,
c'mon Charlie.
CHARLIE:
Get
out of my life. Go
away. You embarrassed
me! All the kids
laughed at me!
LUCY:
One
little tiny nudge, sort of. (Imitating
with hand)
CHARLIE:
Didn't
you hear me? Don't
you understand when I am hurt and mad?
LUCY:
I
was only teaching you a lesson.
CHARLIE:
I'm
never gonna talk to you again.
(Turns back and goes to the far side of the stage)
JESUS:
(Pops
up and whispers to Lucy, but whispers in such a way that the
audience can't hear what is being said.
The only clear whispered word is "sorry."
Then Jesus leaves and whispers, "Hi kids," to the
audience and drops down out of sight.)
LUCY:
(Pause)
Well, Charlie, maybe I did hit you a little hard....maybe I
really shouldn't have hit you at all.....(pause)
O.K. so I maybe didn't need to eat your sandwich, even
though.....well, I guess I really shouldn't have.
(Charlie not budging)
I suppose you did feel kind of dumb in front of everybody
when they laughed at you.
CHARLIE:
(Nods
wildly)
LUCY:
(Softly)
Guess I am your worst enemy ever.
CHARLIE:
(Nods
more gently)
LUCY:
Guess
we'll never again play together.....
CHARLIE:
(Nods
more hesitantly, less confidently)
LUCY:
Talk
together...share things. (Pause)
LUCY:
Charlie?
CHARLIE:
(Perks
his ear)
LUCY:
(Hesitantly)
I.....that is.....I'm.....er.....I'm sorry.
CHARLIE:
(Cocks
head in unbelief)
LUCY:
I'm
reeeeeeeeeally sorry - and even though I'm your worst enemy, I
still care about you, Charlie Brown.
Charlie?
CHARLIE:
Hmmmmmm?
LUCY:
I
think you need to get even with me - so tell you what.
Why don't you slap me back or throw my books down in the
mud?
CHARLIE:
What?
(Turning back to her)
What?
LUCY:
Sure
- it's O.K. - go ahead.
CHARLIE:
(Coming
closer) Really?
LUCY:
Sure,
I mean it. Here's my
cheek. Just haul off
and hit me right there. (Lucy
looking away from Charlie)
CHARLIE:
Boy,
would I love to. I
would just looooooooove to.
LUCY:
It
will make you feel better to get even.
CHARLIE:
You're
so right, Lucy. Sooooo
right! Here, just let
me have one good swat. (Lines
up - rears back - raises hand - stops - pauses in mid-air -
straightens up again)
LUCY:
C'mon,
here it is - my cheek - just waiting for your revenge.
Pay me back!
CHARLIE:
Don't
worry! I will!
Just give me a second here.
(Rears again, hand way back, pauses)
JESUS:
(Pops
up and whispers to Charlie but whispers in such a way that the
audience can't hear what is being said.
The only clear whispered words are "No revenge; no
paybacks." Then
Jesus whispers, "Hi kids," to the audience and drops out
of sight.)
LUCY:
Hmmmm?
I'm waiting. I'm waiting. Hit
me back.
CHARLIE:
It
won't make me feel any better.
LUCY:
Sure
it will. You'll feel
better after you hit me back.
People have to be paid back when they do something mean,
don't they?
CHARLIE:
No,
it will only make God feel worse.
LUCY:
What?
Well, why? Why
would it make God feel worse?
CHARLIE:
It
just will.
LUCY:
Even
if I hit you and took your sandwich?
And deserve a hit back?
CHARLIE:
That's
right, Lucy. I don't
think I would feel good about hitting you back, even though you
might let me. I'm really mad enough to hit you! But I guess it won't make things any better.
(Sadly, facing the realities of life)
It will just make things worse.
Rats!
LUCY:
Wow!
I never thought anyone could feel that way!
I thought you would really hit me.
Sometimes I just don't understand you at all, Charlie
Brown. No revenge?
No paybacks? Well, I guess we did learn about such a person
like that, didn't we? I
guess Jesus was like that. Wow!
Charlie, you just did something that Jesus did.
Isn't that something?
Did you ever think you would ever be like Jesus in any way?
CHARLIE:
No.
I never really did. But...I
guess it must be a good way to live.
LUCY:
I....ah.....guess
so. I don't
know.....but sometimes it works out pretty good!
C'mon, Charlie, let's walk together to the corner.
CHARLIE:
Let
me carry your books, Lucy.
LUCY:
Wow!
Just to the corner, Charlie.
That would be great!
CHARLIE:
No,
not just to the corner, Lucy.....all the way to your house. I'll do it for you.
LUCY:
What?
You gotta be kidding!
All the way to my house when I only asked for help to the
corner? You're a real
pal, Charlie Brown, and you know what?
When you get to my house, let's make some peanut butter
sandwiches, shall we? Together?
(Start going off) (Charlie carrying the books)
CHARLIE:
O.K.
Let's....
LUCY:
And
we won't cut'em will we, just flop 'em over so they don't lose
their flavor. O.K.?
CHARLIE:
O.K.
JESUS:
(Pops
up, looks up and whispers: "Kids,
if people are mean to you, don't be mean to them.
No revenge. No
paybacks. That's what
my Father wants. ...
Goodbye - see you next week.")
Back
to Top
Matthew
6:5-15
"Learning to Pray"
JESUS:
Hello,
again children. It is
so nice to see you here again tonight.
How are you? Come
up front for the puppet show.
Sit down there on the floor, right outside the altar rail.
Come on! All
of you children come on up front.
Let's see, there's Dana and Liz and Sarah and Matt and
Dan....ohhh, there are so many of you. Sit down there on the floor.
Pastor O'Neal. Pastor
Markquart, would you help the children get settled?
Good. Thanks.
Are we ready to begin pastors?
(Wait for pastor to say ok.)
I
told you last week and the week before that I am the Son of God.
God is my heavenly Father.
God and I are the same in many, many ways.
God loves you and so do I.
God watches over you and so do I.
What God thinks, I think.
What God says, I say to you.
I can tell you what's on God's mind and in God's heart.
Now,
about prayer. God
really wants you to talk to him.
That's what prayer is.
Talking with God. That's all. Just
talking with God. Telling
God what you are feeling and thinking.
God wants you to pray.
Often. Much. A lot.
A whole bunch. A lot of people don't know how to pray. You children out front, how many of you know how to pray?
Raise your hands if you know how to pray?
(PASTORS: Oh,
that's good.) ... Another
question: how many of
you pray at night before you go to bed?
Raise your hands. (PASTORS:
Oh, that's good.) ...
Let's see, how many of you pray before your meals?
Let's raise your hands, if you pray before you eat.
That's good.
I
am so pleased to see that you know how to pray and that you pray
often.
Tonight,
I want you to watch a couple of friends of mine, Lucy and good ole
Charlie Brown. They
are trying to learn what it means to pray.
Let's watch and listen.
LUCY:
Charlie!
Charlie Brown! Charlie! Charlie,
where are you? I have
no one to play with. Nothing to do.
Charlie, where are you?
CHARLIE:
I'm
coming Lucy, (feeling down, depressed voice).
LUCY:
Boy,
you don't sound very happy Charlie.
You sound like you're in the pits, down in the dumps.
CHARLIE:
I'm
not real happy today.
LUCY:
How
come Charlie Brown? Someone
steal your peanut butter sandwich?
CHARLIE:
No.
(Sad)
LUCY:
Someone
poke you in the nose and make you look like a fool?
CHARLIE:
No.
No. (Sadder)
LUCY:
Someone
jerk the football away from you, just as you were going to kick it
and you fell on your face again?
CHARLIE:
No.
No. No.
(Saddest)
LUCY:
Well,
then what's wrong Charlie Brown.
I didn't do anything this time.
Someone must have done something terrible to you to make
you feel this down.
CHARLIE:
It's
not you, Lucy. (Softly)
My grandma is sick.
LUCY:
What?
CHARLIE:
My
grandma is really sick (a bit louder).
LUCY:
How
sick Charlie Brown?
CHARLIE:
Sick!
I mean, really sick! She
is in the hospital and mom said grandma might not make
it...that...that...that... (Edge of tears).
LUCY:
That
your grandma could die?
CHARLIE:
(Nods
yes, slowly, ever so slowly)
LUCY:
I'm
sorry Charlie. I know
how you feel. My
grandpa died a year ago, and we were all really sad.
CHARLIE:
I
don't know what to do.
LUCY:
What
do you mean?
CHARLIE:
I
want to do something for my grandma.
LUCY:
You
can draw her a picture to hang on her wall in the hospital.
CHARLIE:
Yes,
I already did that.
LUCY:
You
can go see her in the hospital.
CHARLIE:
Yah,
that's what we did last night.
That's why I am so sad today.
Grandma really looked sick last night.
But she smiled really happy like when I hugged her.
LUCY:
Grandmas
like hugs.
CHARLIE:
But
I want to do something more for grandma.
LUCY:
Like....
CHARLIE:
Like....pray
for her.
LUCY:
Pray?
CHARLIE:
Pray.
LUCY:
Well,
my family never prayed very much.
We never go to church.
I don't know how to pray.
CHARLIE:
I'm
not sure either. I'm
not sure how to begin. I
wonder who would teach us.
LUCY:
Well,
how about Jesus. You
know, he was here the last two weeks.
He always seems to be around.
Let's shout to him. Maybe
he will hear us, Charlie.
CHARLIE:
OK.
CHARLIE
& LUCY:
JESUS!
JEEEEEEEESUS!!
JESUS:
Well,
hi kids. I heard you
calling for me. I
always hear children when they call my name and I'm always
available to talk. Just
like my father. We
love children when they call out to us.
CHARLIE:
Jesus,
my grandma is sick.
JESUS:
I
know.
CHARLIE:
I
made a picture for her wall and I went to the hospital. And I gave her a hug. She
liked that.
JESUS:
Yes,
I saw you in the hospital.
CHARLIE:
But
I want to do something more for my grandma.
I want to pray for her.
But I don't know how to pray.
LUCY:
And
neither do I, Jesus. Can
you teach us?
JESUS:
Of
course children.
CHARLIE
& LUCY:
Well,
how do you pray, Jesus?
JESUS:
Just
talk to God. Tell God
what you are feeling, thinking, what you need?
LUCY:
Is
that all prayer is, just talking with God?
I know how to talk, Jesus.
My mother says that I talk too much, that I talk all the
time. My mom gets tired of me talking.
JESUS:
That's
what prayer is, Lucy. Just
talking to God. And
you can't talk too much to God.
God never gets tired of you talking.
LUCY:
Never?
JESUS:
Never!
CHARLIE:
But
I don't know how to start. How
do you begin?
JESUS:
It's
easy Charlie. It's
just like talking to your mom or dad.
What do you say when you begin to talk to your mom or dad?
CHARLIE:
Well,
I say...."Mom.....Dad"
JESUS:
Well,
that's the way God wants you to begin...like talking to your
mother or father. That's
why I taught my disciples to begin their prayers by saying,
"Our Father."
LUCY:
What
if God's a mother and not a father?
JESUS:
God
is neither a man or a woman, Lucy.
That's not the point.
The point is, start your prayers with personal words you
use for God. Jesus,
Lord, God, Father.
LUCY:
I
like the word, God. I
am going to begin my prayers by saying, "God, it's me, Lucy,
are you there?
JESUS:
That's
good Lucy.
CHARLIE:
And
I'm going to begin, "Our Father in heaven."
I like that the best.
JESUS:
Everybody
begins their prayers in their own personal way.
CHARLIE:
And
then what Jesus? What
comes next?
JESUS:
Then
you thank and praise God!
CHARLIE:
Like
thanking God for my grandma?
LUCY:
Or
telling God I like the flowers of spring?
JESUS:
Yes.
And then you say....Your will be done.
God's, not mine.
CHARLIE:
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
I thought prayer was asking for things I want.
LUCY:
Yah,
like asking for good grades, or a new bicycle.
CHARLIE:
Or
asking God to make my grandma better.
JESUS:
Prayer
is asking for God's will to be done.
LUCY:
I'm
not sure I understand that.
CHARLIE:
I'm
not sure either, but what about my grandma.
When can I pray for my grandma?
She's sick. She's
dying. (Starts to
cry, with a quavering voice)
I'm afraid I won't have her to be my grandma anymore and
I'll miss her .
JESUS:
That's
what prayer is, Charlie. Telling
God how you feel and God will comfort you and make you strong.
CHARLIE:
Jesus,
will God heal my grandma?
JESUS:
Only
God knows that Charlie. But
God wants you to pray for her.
... For her to get well....or if she dies, that she will go to
heaven and be in heaven where your grandpa is.
CHARLIE:
How
did you know my grandpa died?
How do you know my grandpa is in heaven?
JESUS:
God
told me Charlie. I
know a lot of things. Now,
let's all pray.
Charlie,
Lucy, kids....fold your hands...bow your heads...let's begin.
CHARLIE
AND LUCY
AT THE SAME TIME:
LUCY:
God,
it's me Lucy. Are you
there?
CHARLIE:
Our
Father in heaven.
JESUS:
Then......
CHARLIE
AND LUCY
AT THE SAME TIME:
LUCY:
Thank
you for my....grandpa.
CHARLIE:
Thank
you for my....grandma.
JESUS:
Then.....
CHARLIE
AND LUCY AT THE SAME TIME:
Your
way God, not my way.
JESUS:
Then...
CHARLIE:
God,
I'm really worried about my grandma.
I'm afraid she is going to die.
I will miss her so much.
I love her so much. I
would really like it if you would make my grandma better.
Please make her well.
... Buuuuuut, if that's not the best way, I pray you will take
her to heaven to be with you and my grandpa.
JESUS:
That's
a good prayer, Charlie, God heard it.
I heard it. And
we will answer your prayer.
LUCY:
Is
that all there is to praying?
JESUS:
Yes,
and you sign off your prayers by saying, "In Jesus name. Amen."
CHARLIE
AND LUCY AT THE SAME TIME:
Thanks
for teaching us to pray, Jesus.
JESUS:
Pray
often Charlie and Lucy. Morning
and night and at meals. Whenever
you need to. Goodbye
kids....see you next week. (Jesus
drops out of sight)
CHARLIE:
I'm
going to pray for my grandma everyday.
LUCY:
So
will I Charlie Brown. Now
that I know how to pray. (Walks
off the stage) Glad
we are pals.
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Matthew
6:25-34
"Have No Anxiety About
Anything"
JESUS:
Hi
children. It's so
good to see all of you tonight.
Come up to the front of the sanctuary for the puppet show.
Come. Please
sit down on the floor outside the altar rail.
Pastor Markquart and Pastor O'Neal....would you please help
the children find a place to sit?
Thank you. It's
good to see all of you tonight.
There's _________, __________, _________.
That's wonderful to see you all here.
Are we ready to begin pastors?
(Pastors let Jesus know when everyone is ready).
Tonight
children, we're going to talk about worry.
People get worried about all kinds of things such
as...missing the bus for school, what clothes to wear to school,
getting bad grades at school, whether or not your friends at
school are mad at you. People get upset and worry about all kinds of things.
Adults have worries too:
about their jobs, children, family, health.
Yup, people spend a lot of time thinking and worrying.
Have
you ever seen your mom or dad be worried?
Let's see your hands if you have ever seen your mom or dad
be worried and upset? (Pastors
respond, oh yes, lots of hands up Jesus.)
Well, how about you kids?
Do you ever worry about things?
Do you kids ever worry?
Let's see your hands if you do?
(Pastors respond, Yes, these kids worry)
That's the way people are.
But
God wants you to know that God will take care of you.
Yes, that's what my heavenly father told me to tell you.
I
have another questions for you kids.
Does God take care of the birds?
Feed them? Give
them water? Watch over them day and night?
Raise your hands if you believe that God takes care of the
birds? (Pastors, Yes,
they all think that God takes care of the birds).
Well, if God takes care of the birds of the air, God will
certainly take care of you, all of you.
You are much more valuable than birds.
Soooooo....let's watch this scene between Lucy and Charlie.
LUCY:
I'm
so bored today. Wonder
what to do. Maybe
I'll bug good ole Charlie Brown again.
I really enjoy bugging Charlie.
Charlie is downright buggable.
I can get to him every time.
The way I pull the football away from him and he falls on
his face. Ha.
The way he gets embarrassed so easily when I call him
names. (Laugher)
Yup, Charlie is down right buggable.
Let's see....what can I do today.
Hmmmmm. (Lucy
then flips over the sign which says "Psychiatrist in." 5
cents). Charlie.
Charlie Brown. Where are you? What
are you doing today.
CHARLIE:
Hi,
Lucy. Just got home
from school. I almost
missed the bus. The
teacher kept me after school and I was late.
I mean REALLY late for the bus.
I don't know what I would have done if I would have missed
the bus. Maybe I
would have had to walk home.
Maybe I would have got lost...maybe....maybe (Charlie is
reading this paragraph very rapidly, breathlessly, and nervously,
like he is really upset. The
puppet is very nervous also.)
LUCY:
Charlie.
Did you come to the RIGHT place at the RIGHT time?
Here I am, your faithful friend.
So loving. So
kind. So caring for
you Charlie Brown. I
think you and I need to have a little chat about personal things.
CHARLIE:
What
do you mean Lucy?
LUCY:
Come
right over here Charlie. I'm
open for business right now.
I'm your favorite psychiatrist.
(Lucy flips a sign which says.
"Open.")
CHARLIE:
Well,
ahhh, ummmm, ahhh, hummmm...
LUCY:
Charlie,
tell me what you are worried about.
What's bothering you?
You seem all upset. What
are you all upset about?
CHARLIE:
Well,
I almost missed the bus. What
would have I done if I missed the bus?
Mom and Dad both work.
What would I do. Where
would I go? How would I get home?
LUCY:
Charlie,
don't worry, be happy. That's
my motto. You made
the bus. No big deal. But
how come you had to stay after school?
Have a fight on the playground?
CHARLIE:
No.
LUCY:
Lose
your books?
CHARLIE:
No.
LUCY:
Getting
bad grades?
CHARLIE:
Well,
ahh, I don't know. Maybe.
Sort of.
LUCY:
Charlie,
fess up. If you are
going to get help from me, you gotta tell the truth.
The truth about your grades, Charlie.
CHARLIE:
My
grades are bad lately. I've
been upset.
LUCY:
Did
you get some D's! and F's! Charlie
Brown?
CHARLIE:
Well,
I did get some D's and F's on some of my tests and when my report
card comes home, boy will my mom and dad get mad....when they see
that report card.
LUCY:
Buck
up and try harder. That's
another of my mottos. Buck
up and try harder
CHARLIE:
That's
what my mom is always telling my dad.
Try harder. ... (Slower, with feeling) I
hear them fighting at night, shouting at each other when they
think I'm asleep. They
think I can't hear them. Mom
says dad's job doesn't pay enough and mom had to go back to work.
We can't pay the rent.
Maybe we'll have to move and change houses and
schools...and....
LUCY:
Another
motto of mine, Charlie is, "Tough times are for tough people
or tough people make it through tough times," or something
like that. I always
get that one mixed up.
CHARLIE:
I'm
embarrassed to go to school.
I don't have fancy tennis shoes and cool sweatshirts like
all the other kids. I
don't dress radical. I'm
not one of the popular kids because I....I....I....If only I could
afford some Nike Airs....some cool tennis shoes, then maybe the
kids would think I'm neat. Buuuuuuuuuut.
LUCY:
Another
piece of advice from me. "Keep
your chin up. Put a
smile on your face. Look
happy and you will be happy."
CHARLIE:
And
grandma is still sick in the hospital.
There's been no change from last week, and mom and dad go
to the hospital to see her every night.
They really love her.
LUCY:
Think
positively Charlie. You
think positively and people always get better.
That's my advice to you and your grandma.
CHARLIE:
You
know Lucy; I'm not feeling much better.
You're giving me all this advice, but I'm not feeling any
better at all.
LUCY:
Well,
what did you expect for five cents?
CHARLIE:
Something
more, I wonder if Jesus could help.
Maybe I should talk to Jesus about these things.
LUCY:
To
be honest Charlie, your worries are more than I can handle. I'm in over my head. Why
don't we both call for him? OK?
(Charlie nods ok)
CHARLIE
& LUCY:
JESUS!
JEEEEEEEEEEEEEESUS.
JESUS:
Hi,
Charlie. Hi, Lucy.
Hi, kids. Nice
to see all of you. I
heard you calling my name and when children call my name, I always
come to listen.
LUCY:
Jesus,
Charlie has got a bundle of worries.
He has got so many worries that he's a worry wart.
I don't know what to say.
My advice doesn't seem to be helping my friend, Charlie.
JESUS:
Yes,
I have been listening to your conversation.
That's a tough situation that you're in Charlie Brown.
Those are tough struggles for anyone of any age, but
especially for a little guy like you.
CHARLIE:
I
am just so upset inside, so worried, I don't get my school work
done and I'm getting D's and F's and my parents will be mad at me
and......(Charlie is talking faster and faster)
JESUS:
I
know Charlie.
CHARLIE:
(Faster)
And my mom and dad don't have enough money and grandma is sick and
dying and I don't have cool clothes and the kids don't like me
and....
JESUS:
Charlie,
Charlie, slow down (in slow calming voice).
Calm down. Calmer.
...Calmer.... Yes, that's better. (Charlie
stops puffing)
You're
a wonderful boy, Charlie Brown.
God loves you so much.
And it's ok to have feelings like that....to be upset like
that.
CHARLIE:
It
is??
LUCY:
I
thought the Bible said you weren't supposed to worry....that all
worry was a sin....a big sin!
JESUS:
What
God means Lucy is that God doesn't want us to be SO worried about
looking cool, looking fresh....not so worried about the kind of
car we drive or how fancy our house is.
Many people want to impress others with their cool clothes
and hot cars... God
says that's kind of silly.
CHARLIE:
Is
it ok that I am concerned about my mom and dad?
About not having enough money to pay the rent?
JESUS:
Of
course, Charlie. God
is watching over your mom and dad and family.
God's concerned that you have a roof over your head and
heat in the house and food to eat.
CHARLIE:
Are
you sure God will take care of my family?
JESUS:
Charlie,
does God take care of all the birds on the earth?
CHARLIE:
Well,....well,
I guess so.
JESUS:
How
many birds are there on this earth Charlie and Lucy?
CHARLIE
& LUCY:
I
don't know.
JESUS:
Billions
upon billions and billions of birds.
And if God takes care of all of them, God will certainly
take care of you.
LUCY:
Really?
Wow!
CHARLIE:
Well,
how about my grandma? I
am so worried about my grandma?
JESUS:
Will
your worrying about your grandma make her live a day longer?
CHARLIE:
Well,
no.
JESUS:
Will
worrying about your grandma help her?
CHARLIE:
Well,
no.
JESUS:
Will
it help you?
CHARLIE:
No,
I feel worse. I get myself all upset.
JESUS:
Will
God take care of your grandma whether she lives or dies?
CHARLIE:
Well,
yes.
JESUS:
And
God will take care of you, too Charlie, no matter what.
That's just the way God is.
God will be with you, in you, and around you to give you
strength for every day.
LUCY:
And
me too!
JESUS:
Of
course, Lucy.
CHARLIE:
You
know what, Jesus?
JESUS:
What?
CHARLIE:
I
feel better. I feel
better knowing that you and God are in charge of this world, that
you are watching out for me, my family and everyone.
JESUS:
Good
Charlie. Gotta go.
Nice to see you children.
I'll see you next week.
Bye Lucy. Bye
Charlie. (Jesus drops
out of sight)
CHARLIE
& LUCY:
Bye
Jesus.
CHARLIE:
Well,
Lucy, what do you think? Do
you have anymore advice for the day?
LUCY:
(Takes
sign up) No, I don't
like this psychiatrist game.
How about....football.
(Both drop)
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