Father s Day: toys for boys: play and trust

Transcription

1 All-age worship Father s Day: toys for boys: play and trust Introduction: Father s Day is not easy! It is a secular day that came into being around 50 years ago and the cynics would say it s simply another card and gift buying occasion. But it does feature prominently in family life and is a good opportunity for churches to invite people along for a special service. This outline can be used in a Eucharist or in a family service. The readings suggested are not from the lectionary but specially chosen. It is suggested that you give red roses to Dads echoing the Mothering Sunday tradition and making sure that we value fathering as a gift. Readings Deuteronomy 32: 6b 14 or Genesis 18: 1-15 John 15: 9 11 [12-17] You will need: A large piece of paper or old bed sheet and marker/fabric pens Lots of football scarves [without teams!!] An indoor goal net or basket ball hoop A container with lots of small balls e.g. table tennis size and an empty bucket OR a dartboard A selection of men s birthday and other cards Photo of dad throwing and catching baby A selection of items [or pictures of them] e.g a football, laptop, hammer, carrier bag, baby sling] Mini credit cards with picture on Single red roses to give away Luther Vandross Dance with my father again Before the service You will need to put up a large sheet of paper or old sheet divided into four sections with the heading Things about Dads The sections are headed: glad, sad, special, funny. As people [of all ages] arrive invite them to go to the sheet and write things into the different sections. Delay the start of the service to allow everyone to have a go! If you want you could put a short explanation nearby e.g Please write as many things as you like. You could also write about a granddad or step-dad.. or memories from long ago.

2 Glad things you are thankful for e.g. My Dad makes great burgers Sad things that are difficult e.g I still miss my dad after 20 years Special things that are unique e.g My Dad can stand on his head Funny things that make you laugh e.g. when Dad plays air guitar Hand out scarves to various people We gather Opening hymn Informal welcome/formal introduction We are all part of the rhythm of life, we are born, we give birth, We live in relationships, we search for meaning, we make choices, we face endings. We suffer the loss of those we love. As we celebrate this day of our journey together, peace be with you. And also with you Making ready Invite people to wave their scarves and their arms- as if they were at a football/rugby match or at a concert. Voice: Thank you God for our Dads Voice: Thank you God for our Mums, Voice: Thank you God for our families Voice: Thank you God for the family of the church Voice: Thank you God that you are our God and Father. Amen. Invite different people to say each sentence from different parts of the church We say sorry Making connections: Football focus: In all our services we take time to think about things that have gone wrong, even on a happy day like this. Father s get it wrong, children get it wrong, everyone gets it wrong. Sometimes it s our fault, sometimes it s just that there are bad and sad things in our world. Sin is an old word meaning to miss the mark, so this morning, after the words, we are going to say sorry or feel sad by coming forward and picking up a ball and placing it in the bucket in front of the net, just as if we had missed the goal. Whilst we do this some music will play. Or One hundred and eighty!! Sin is an old archery word meaning to miss the mark, so as we say these words this morning, simply look at the dart board and remember how we too miss the mark

3 [This could be read by several voices] We are sad for those who have no children.. We are sad for those who have no dads.. We are sad because we have hurt other people.. We are sad because we have been hurt by others. We are sad for all the hurts in God s world.. Listen to some music e.g Luther Vandross Dance with my Father again Hear the word of grace in Jesus Christ: The love of God for us never fails. Nothing can separate us from that love. Rise up, know you are forgiven, and live in freedom and faith. Amen. Gloria/hymn or song Collect of the day or God our Father, you gave yourself to the world in Jesus To make a way for us to reach you. Now as the body of Christ, may we give ourselves in service, Proclaiming the good news of your love, And being your people in the world. Amen [from Seasons and Celebrations 1998] We listen Please sit [if using only one readings, suggest Deuteronomy] Deuteronomy/Genesis see Message bible for a different reading John read verses [suggest CEV bible] Talk Invite some people either to bring the banner to the front or to read things from it. Talk about it with the congregation, add other memories. Dad s are clearly pretty amazing! Show lots of men s birthday cards with football, cars, fishing, drinking. They are clearly an active bunch who take risks, do things, and have fun.. Show picture of baby being thrown and caught [search Google images] - Dads are usually the ones who play these

4 kind of adventurous games, bringing laughter and joy. The reading from Deuteronomy tells us the same kind of things. It s a wonderful word picture of God enjoying his people, soaring with them on high, feeding them the best things, exploring the world. It s a joyful and fun image of relationship. The reading from Genesis told us about Abraham, getting busy, showing hospitality, welcoming guests, being glad at the promise of fatherhood. Because parenting is good news it is a delight and a joy, bringing us times of play and laughter. But there is another side of the coin: and many people feel abandoned and lost. Jesus reaches out to them to show them the love of the Father, for fathering is about compassion and care, providing and loving as well as fun and laughter and underpinning this is trust: Jesus talked about the same relationship with God the Father, a relationship that will be full of delight and, yes, fun! But we don t often use those words about God the Father. We put the emphasis on a whole lot of other things, God s compassion and care, all of which are good, but need balancing with the joy and delight. But of course, we can only play with abandon because we trust.. Invite a parent and child to come out the front and demonstrate the trust game [where the child has her back to the father and then falls backwards.. knowing the father will catch her] That s the real heart of the relationship. We love dads because they are fun. We love them because they provide for us. We love them because they can fix things when they are broken. But most of all we love them because they love us.. and it s the love that allows us to trust them for all the other things. The love of our families Dads, mums, brothers, sister, grandparents and others all of it helps us to understand God s great love. Today we especially give thanks for fathers and remember that God is our father we can trust him, love him and play! We declare our faith Making connections We ve been thinking about the story of love and about families, so let s stand and speak out together what we believe: We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth is named. We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith and fills us with his love. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high We believe in one God; Father Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

5 We respond Either invite people to hold out the items or pictures or show them on a screen. Hold out football or similar item God our father, thank you for all the fun things in our lives, for freedom to play and moments of laughter. We remember today those whose lives are sad because they are alone or afraid or unable to be with those they love. Help them to know that you are their father. Lord in your mercy hear our prayer Use different people to hold items and to pray, using one or more voices. These words are only suggestions please adapt as appropriate to your situation. Hold out laptop or similar item God our father, thank you for the work that goes on in our world, in offices and factories, in shops and schools, in fields and hospitals. We pray that as our dads and others go about their work they will know your presence and that you will help them to work with wisdom and honesty. Lord in your mercy.. hear our prayer Hold out shopping bag or similar item God our Father, thank you for our homes and families and for our food. We remember those in the world who are struggling because of war and injustice, especially children who have no-one to provide for them. Help us to share what we have with them and give courage to all who work for peace. Lord in your mercy.. hear our prayer Hold out baby sling or similar item God our Father, thank you for your love for each one of us. Help us in this church to show that love to one another and to the community around us so that everyone may come to know that you are a father to all. Lord in your mercy.. hear our prayer If not a Eucharist, end the prayers with the Lord s Prayer The Peace God makes peace within us let us claim it. God makes peace between us let us share it. The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you. Hymn (During which an offering may be taken ]

6 Suggest using children and families to bring up bread and wine, and to take offering [if this is done] When the table is ready invite father and children or a group of dads to say offertory prayer using this form: With this bread that we bring [hold out bread] we shall remember Jesus. With this wine that we bring [hold out wine] we shall remember Jesus. Bread for his body, wine for his blood, gifts from God to his table we bring. We shall remember Jesus. Eucharistic prayer suggest prayer D or E Continue with Lord s Prayer and invitation During the distribution of communion invite children and others to continue writing things on the large sheet/paper We go out into the world (said by Minister or others) Blessing [this or similar] God of love, passionate and strong, tender and careful, watch over us and hold us all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. [If you are using roses to give away, invite some children to bring them to the front and pray: Lord our God, thank you for the gift of fathers, For all they show us of your love, For all the joy they bring us, For all the laughter we share. Be with them in times of play and times of rest, In times of delight and times of despair, In the beauty and in the sadness, In their work and in their homes On this and every day.. Amen.]

7 The Dismissal Voice; We go in joy and laughter We go! Voice: We go to play and to share We go! Voice: We go to learn and to love We go! Voice: We go in the name of God, father, son and Spirit We go! Go in the light and peace of Christ. Thanks be to God. As people leave the church give either a single rose or a small credit card with a picture on one side and a short scripture on the back e.g That your joy may be complete John 15: 11 Additional resource: Poems e.g. First Lesson by Phyllis McGinley [from Tapestry of Voices, ed Michele Guinness] or Starlight by Philip Levine [from Being Alive ed Neil Astley ]