Newsletter 49
Newsletter 49 from Maurice Sweetsur
Contents.
A story for Remembrance Sunday - Doing your duty.
Teaching Tip 35. Presenting puppet skits and plays.
Play. The Unmerciful Servant.
Teaching Tip 36. Steps to forgiving others.
Important Recall Notice !!
A story for Remembrance Sunday - Doing your duty.
At sixteen years of age Ronald Heys was too young to join the armed forces, but he did want to play his part in the defence of Britain during those dark World war ll days when many towns and cities were under attack from the German bombers. Thus Ronald volunteered to be a messenger between the Fire Service headquarters and the various fire depos, in his home town of Bootle, near Liverpool.
One dark evening when the "blackout" was being enforced, Bootle was under attack from 'fire' bombs. Ronald was given a message for one of the depos. and set out on his bicycle to deliver it. On his way, he crashed into a pile of rubble and glass. Although cut and bruised from his accident, Ronald managed to continue his journey and get his message delivered.
Ronald was then asked to deliver a second message, to which he gladly agreed. This time Ronald crashed his bicycle into an abandoned vehicle, which he didn't see in the dark. However the boy still managed to continue his journey and deliver his message.
For the third time that evening Ronald was asked to deliver a message, to which he readily agreed. This time he crashed into a bomb crater, but once again managed to continue on and deliver his message.
Ronald was fairly badly injured by now, but another message came in and as Ronald was the only person available to deliver it, again he volunteered. This time a bomb fell quite close to Ronald, and he was thrown from his bicycle by the shock wave. But nothing was going to stop Ronald that night, and he managed to deliver his fourth message. Having done that, the first thing he said was "Any more messages, Sir?"
Ronald was awarded the British Empire Medal for his bravery that night. But when anyone commended him for what he had done, he would reply "I was only doing my duty."
Because of Ronald Heys and many more like him who simply "did their duty", Britain was saved from tyranny.
Conclusion. Jesus wants us to do our duty to God and to others. How do we do this? Jesus summed it up this way :- "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself" (Luke 10.27).
In other words to do our duty is to put God first in every area of our lives, and to treat others as we treat ourselves. And you all love yourselves! Do you lie to yourself? No. Do you hit yourself? No. Do you steal from yourself? No. You are all good to yourselves. If you are thirsty, do you say "I can't be bothered to get myself a drink right now? No. You just go and get one. In the same way that you are good to yourselves, you should be just as good to others. That is loving your neighbour. That is doing your duty.
T.T. 35 - Presenting puppet skits and plays.
This depends on why you want a group to present a play or skit. If your intention is to present it to a larger grouping, the best way is obviously to get your chosen performers to learn their lines. However, to do this well, usually requires lots of time and rehearsal. If, however, you simply wish to have a play or skit as an alternative way of telling a story, or to complement it - remembering that children are likely to remember more if they participate rather than just hear or see something - then there are a number of alternative ways you could consider.
Puppet skits. I usually record the skit beforehand, and then simply play it back as the children operate the puppets. I use 'different' voices for the different puppet characters. However, if you are not too confident in doing this by yourself, you could use someone else to provide a few of the voices.
I used to hide behind the puppeteers and read the script as they performed. However I soon discovered that with some classes it is not a good idea for "teacher" to remain out of sight for too long! However, I have used older children to read the script in this way, and even had the puppeteers read it themselves
Plays. There are two ways in which I do this. In both cases, I act as Narrator and intermingle with the children as they act out their play. 1. I hold the script in my hand, and simply hold it in front of the characters to read their part at the appropriate times. 2. I whisper the needed words to the actors at the appropriate times. This works especially well for younger children whose reading skills may not be too high.
At face value, both of the above methods seem rather 'clumsy', but you must bear in mind that the purpose of the exercise is not a perfect production, but to involve the children as much as possible. In fact I usually find that children are very keen to act out stories in this way - especially if there is plenty of action.
Check out http://christianstoriesandplays.blogspot.com for all my plays and puppet skits.
Play - The Unmerciful Servant.
Note. This play is based on the parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18. 21-35).
Characters, King, King's Secretary, Two Guards, Three Servants, Jailor.
Narrator. One day the King decided that it was time for his servants to pay back the money they owed him.
King. Guards! Bring in the first servant (Guards march the first servant to the King). Secretary! How much does this servant owe me?
Secretary. (Consulting her 'Record Book') This servant owes you $100.
King. Pay me back my $100. (The servant pays the King the money he/she owes). You are free to go. Guards! Bring in the second servant. (The second servant is brought before the King). Secretary! How much does this servant owe?
Secretary. This servant owes you 1 million dollars!
King. You owe me a million dollars. Pay me back.
Second Servant. (Falling to his knees and pleading). Oh please, I will pay you back every cent, I just need a little more time to get the money.
King. I am going to be really generous to you. I am cancelling your debt. You are free to go.
Narrator. So the second servant left the King's presence, having been forgiven a debt of 1 million dollars. As he went, he meets the third servant.
Second Servant. You owe me $2. Pay me back my $2.
Third Servant. (Falling to his knees and pleading). Please, I will pay you back your $2. I just need a little more time.
Second Servant. (Grabbing the third servant by the throat and beginning to choke him). That's not good enough. I want my $2 back now.
Third Servant. Please, Just give me a little more time to pay you back.
Second Servant. No. I want my $2 back now. Guards! This servant owes me $2. Throw him into jail until he pays his debt.(The third servant is thrown into jail).
Narrator. (Turning to the audience). Who saw what happened? (A number of hands should go up). Do you think it fair that the second servant was forgiven a debt of 1 million dollars, but he wouldn't forgive the third servant $2? No! Neither do I. Well, go and tell the King what you saw (Choose someone to do this).
King. Guards! Bring back that wicked servant. (Second servant is brought back before the King). Is this true what I hear. I forgave you 1 million dollars, but you wouldn't forgive your fellow servant $2? (The second servant has nothing to say). Guards! Throw this servant in jail. And release the other servant.
Conclusion. Jesus died on the cross so that each one of us could be forgiven all the wrong things we have ever done. In comparison to all the wrongs we have done, any wrongs that have been done against us are probably rather like comparing $2 with a million dollars. If we want Jesus to forgive us when we do wrong, we must forgive others that wrong us.
T.T. 36 - Steps to Forgiving others.
Jesus said "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6. 14,15).
Here is a simple three step reminder of how we can forgive others from our hearts.
1. Make a decision. You need to choose to forgive someone that may have hurt or harmed you. Don't wait until you feel forgiving or good thoughts towards that person - because you would probably wait for ever! No. By an act of your will you choose to forgive that person. By doing this you are not saying that what that person did is not important or doesn't matter. No, what you are basically doing is handing that person over to God to deal with in whatever way He chooses. As for you, you have chosen to forgive them.
2. Pray. Tell God about your decision. You could pray a prayer like this. "---------------- hurt me, but I choose to forgive them. From now onwards I will think and act as though that person never hurt me. I know this may be hard at times, but I know you will help me, because your Word says that 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'."
3. Guard your thoughts. Just because you have chosen to forgive a person, and told God about it, doesn't mean that you will never feel unkind thoughts towards that person - perhaps when you see them again, or even think about them. This is when you need to guard your thoughts. Refuse to dwell on those unkind thoughts. Reject them and remind yourself that you have forgiven that person, and then pray that God will bless them. If you continue to do this, you will eventually find that you really have forgiven that person from your heart.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4.32).
Important Recall Notice!!
(Forwarded by Helen Setser)
The Maker of all human beings, is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the
heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of
the same defect in all subsequent units.
This defect has been technically termed, "Subsequential Internal Non-morality", or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.
Some other symptoms:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish, or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion
The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.
The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.
Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.
Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, JESUS will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E.
(Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth), for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing
the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on JESUS.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The
SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice!!!
Thank you for your immediate attention.
ALL MY LOVE . God
Contents.
A story for Remembrance Sunday - Doing your duty.
Teaching Tip 35. Presenting puppet skits and plays.
Play. The Unmerciful Servant.
Teaching Tip 36. Steps to forgiving others.
Important Recall Notice !!
A story for Remembrance Sunday - Doing your duty.
At sixteen years of age Ronald Heys was too young to join the armed forces, but he did want to play his part in the defence of Britain during those dark World war ll days when many towns and cities were under attack from the German bombers. Thus Ronald volunteered to be a messenger between the Fire Service headquarters and the various fire depos, in his home town of Bootle, near Liverpool.
One dark evening when the "blackout" was being enforced, Bootle was under attack from 'fire' bombs. Ronald was given a message for one of the depos. and set out on his bicycle to deliver it. On his way, he crashed into a pile of rubble and glass. Although cut and bruised from his accident, Ronald managed to continue his journey and get his message delivered.
Ronald was then asked to deliver a second message, to which he gladly agreed. This time Ronald crashed his bicycle into an abandoned vehicle, which he didn't see in the dark. However the boy still managed to continue his journey and deliver his message.
For the third time that evening Ronald was asked to deliver a message, to which he readily agreed. This time he crashed into a bomb crater, but once again managed to continue on and deliver his message.
Ronald was fairly badly injured by now, but another message came in and as Ronald was the only person available to deliver it, again he volunteered. This time a bomb fell quite close to Ronald, and he was thrown from his bicycle by the shock wave. But nothing was going to stop Ronald that night, and he managed to deliver his fourth message. Having done that, the first thing he said was "Any more messages, Sir?"
Ronald was awarded the British Empire Medal for his bravery that night. But when anyone commended him for what he had done, he would reply "I was only doing my duty."
Because of Ronald Heys and many more like him who simply "did their duty", Britain was saved from tyranny.
Conclusion. Jesus wants us to do our duty to God and to others. How do we do this? Jesus summed it up this way :- "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself" (Luke 10.27).
In other words to do our duty is to put God first in every area of our lives, and to treat others as we treat ourselves. And you all love yourselves! Do you lie to yourself? No. Do you hit yourself? No. Do you steal from yourself? No. You are all good to yourselves. If you are thirsty, do you say "I can't be bothered to get myself a drink right now? No. You just go and get one. In the same way that you are good to yourselves, you should be just as good to others. That is loving your neighbour. That is doing your duty.
T.T. 35 - Presenting puppet skits and plays.
This depends on why you want a group to present a play or skit. If your intention is to present it to a larger grouping, the best way is obviously to get your chosen performers to learn their lines. However, to do this well, usually requires lots of time and rehearsal. If, however, you simply wish to have a play or skit as an alternative way of telling a story, or to complement it - remembering that children are likely to remember more if they participate rather than just hear or see something - then there are a number of alternative ways you could consider.
Puppet skits. I usually record the skit beforehand, and then simply play it back as the children operate the puppets. I use 'different' voices for the different puppet characters. However, if you are not too confident in doing this by yourself, you could use someone else to provide a few of the voices.
I used to hide behind the puppeteers and read the script as they performed. However I soon discovered that with some classes it is not a good idea for "teacher" to remain out of sight for too long! However, I have used older children to read the script in this way, and even had the puppeteers read it themselves
Plays. There are two ways in which I do this. In both cases, I act as Narrator and intermingle with the children as they act out their play. 1. I hold the script in my hand, and simply hold it in front of the characters to read their part at the appropriate times. 2. I whisper the needed words to the actors at the appropriate times. This works especially well for younger children whose reading skills may not be too high.
At face value, both of the above methods seem rather 'clumsy', but you must bear in mind that the purpose of the exercise is not a perfect production, but to involve the children as much as possible. In fact I usually find that children are very keen to act out stories in this way - especially if there is plenty of action.
Check out http://christianstoriesandplays.blogspot.com for all my plays and puppet skits.
Play - The Unmerciful Servant.
Note. This play is based on the parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18. 21-35).
Characters, King, King's Secretary, Two Guards, Three Servants, Jailor.
Narrator. One day the King decided that it was time for his servants to pay back the money they owed him.
King. Guards! Bring in the first servant (Guards march the first servant to the King). Secretary! How much does this servant owe me?
Secretary. (Consulting her 'Record Book') This servant owes you $100.
King. Pay me back my $100. (The servant pays the King the money he/she owes). You are free to go. Guards! Bring in the second servant. (The second servant is brought before the King). Secretary! How much does this servant owe?
Secretary. This servant owes you 1 million dollars!
King. You owe me a million dollars. Pay me back.
Second Servant. (Falling to his knees and pleading). Oh please, I will pay you back every cent, I just need a little more time to get the money.
King. I am going to be really generous to you. I am cancelling your debt. You are free to go.
Narrator. So the second servant left the King's presence, having been forgiven a debt of 1 million dollars. As he went, he meets the third servant.
Second Servant. You owe me $2. Pay me back my $2.
Third Servant. (Falling to his knees and pleading). Please, I will pay you back your $2. I just need a little more time.
Second Servant. (Grabbing the third servant by the throat and beginning to choke him). That's not good enough. I want my $2 back now.
Third Servant. Please, Just give me a little more time to pay you back.
Second Servant. No. I want my $2 back now. Guards! This servant owes me $2. Throw him into jail until he pays his debt.(The third servant is thrown into jail).
Narrator. (Turning to the audience). Who saw what happened? (A number of hands should go up). Do you think it fair that the second servant was forgiven a debt of 1 million dollars, but he wouldn't forgive the third servant $2? No! Neither do I. Well, go and tell the King what you saw (Choose someone to do this).
King. Guards! Bring back that wicked servant. (Second servant is brought back before the King). Is this true what I hear. I forgave you 1 million dollars, but you wouldn't forgive your fellow servant $2? (The second servant has nothing to say). Guards! Throw this servant in jail. And release the other servant.
Conclusion. Jesus died on the cross so that each one of us could be forgiven all the wrong things we have ever done. In comparison to all the wrongs we have done, any wrongs that have been done against us are probably rather like comparing $2 with a million dollars. If we want Jesus to forgive us when we do wrong, we must forgive others that wrong us.
T.T. 36 - Steps to Forgiving others.
Jesus said "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6. 14,15).
Here is a simple three step reminder of how we can forgive others from our hearts.
1. Make a decision. You need to choose to forgive someone that may have hurt or harmed you. Don't wait until you feel forgiving or good thoughts towards that person - because you would probably wait for ever! No. By an act of your will you choose to forgive that person. By doing this you are not saying that what that person did is not important or doesn't matter. No, what you are basically doing is handing that person over to God to deal with in whatever way He chooses. As for you, you have chosen to forgive them.
2. Pray. Tell God about your decision. You could pray a prayer like this. "---------------- hurt me, but I choose to forgive them. From now onwards I will think and act as though that person never hurt me. I know this may be hard at times, but I know you will help me, because your Word says that 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'."
3. Guard your thoughts. Just because you have chosen to forgive a person, and told God about it, doesn't mean that you will never feel unkind thoughts towards that person - perhaps when you see them again, or even think about them. This is when you need to guard your thoughts. Refuse to dwell on those unkind thoughts. Reject them and remind yourself that you have forgiven that person, and then pray that God will bless them. If you continue to do this, you will eventually find that you really have forgiven that person from your heart.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4.32).
Important Recall Notice!!
(Forwarded by Helen Setser)
The Maker of all human beings, is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the
heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of
the same defect in all subsequent units.
This defect has been technically termed, "Subsequential Internal Non-morality", or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.
Some other symptoms:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish, or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion
The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.
The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.
Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.
Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, JESUS will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E.
(Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth), for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing
the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on JESUS.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The
SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice!!!
Thank you for your immediate attention.
ALL MY LOVE . God
posted by Maurice Sweetsur @ 7:07 PM
