The Shepherds – God doesn’t always do what you expect

Based on the story of the Shepherds at the time of the birth of Christ and the fact that by God calling these men, who lets be honest in the worlds eyes weren’t the most important people around, God doesn’t always do what you expect.
Parts: The sketch has been written for a minimum of: ·         4 Shepherds – Are normal working class lads. ·         2 Angels – Speak throughout in loud dramatic voices. If you want to get more people involved you can use some extras simply as walk on roles. Scene Shepherds are sat in a line warming their hands against a fire, or drinking out of mugs. One has a bucket in front of him which he keeps dipping his hands into and rubbing whatever is in there together to try and get clean. He actually has socks in the bucket but these should not be revealed until later. The 2 Angels walk on behind the shepherds and Angel 1 nods knowingly to the other as they walk across the stage and stop on the other side to say the following...
Angel 1	And the time came, while Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, for the baby to be born.
Angel 2	As it was written Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
Angel 1	Now there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
Angel 2	Whilst the Angels (Pause dramatically and sweep arms towards the shepherds) watched over the shepherds.
Angel 1	And though, verily, I say unto you, it was a bit nippy.
Shepherd1	I’m really cold. Aren’t you?
Shepherd2	Not really. Oh no look what I’ve done (Lifts up a pair of grey socks out of a saucepan) I've washed all the colour out of my socks.
Shepherd3	What colour were they to begin with?
Shepherd2	Blue
Shepherd3	BLUE?
Shepherd1	Yeh, like my hands. Aren't you two cold?
Shepherd3	(Ignoring) What temperature was the water you used to wash them in? Temperature can make all the difference you know.
Shepherd2	About 40 degrees, that’s about right isn’t it?
Shepherd1	(Shepherd tands up calling to God) LORD, PLEASE WARM ME UP
	(All look at shepherd 1)
Shepherd 3	What are you doing?
Shepherd 1	Asking God to warm me up.
Shepherd 2	Asking God to warm you up? What makes you think God will turn up here and make you warm.
Shepherd 3	You’re just an insignificant shepherd on a hill. What makes you think God has time for the likes of you?
Shepherd 4	God doesn't always do what you expect.
	(All stop and turn to look at Shepherd 4)
Shepherd 2	What are you on about?
Shepherd 4	God doesn’t always do what you expect.
Shepherd 1	Yes that’s right. Why shouldn't he come down and make me warm. God doesn't always do what you expect.
	(Awkward silence)
Shepherd 3	You’re right though - It is a bit nippy.
Shepherd 1	(Starts to hop from leg to leg as he wants to go to the toilet) All this cold air...well its gone straight to my...to my err…I’ve got to go. (He runs off the stage with knees together)
Shepherd 4	Go where?
Shepherd 2	Let’s just say a bush is being nurtured!
All Shepherds	Oh!!!
	(All go back to what they were doing)
Angel 1	And then suddenly we, the Angels of the Lord, appeared to them, and the glory of God shone around them and they were terrified.
Angel 2	The Shepherds were terrified not the angels… obviously (Shepherds shake/be terrified). So we said to them…
Angel 1	We bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Angel 2	Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the lord.
	(Shepherds go down on knees, heads bowed in humble prayers)
Angel 1	Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the Angels praising God and saying…
	(Shepherds prostrate themselves and if you have them available bring more Angels on)
Angel 1 & 2 plus others if available	Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.
Angel 1	And then the Angelic host left them and when they had gone the shepherd said.......
	(Shepherd 1 comes back on at this point)
Shepherd 1	What are you lot doing laying down there.
	(All the shepherds get up and are very excited)
Shepherd 4	The Angel of the Lord has appeared to us.
Shepherd 2	He did, He did. It was amazing.
Shepherd 3	It was, it was… wow….
Shepherd 4	He told us a saviour has been born today in the town of Bethlehem.
Shepherd 1	An Angel told you that did he? (Picks up a mug and sniffs it) What have you been drinking?
Shepherd 4	(Continuing) and they said he is Christ the Lord.
Shepherd 1	And then I suppose even more appeared and started singing.
Shepherd 2	Yes, they did. You heard it to?
Shepherd 2, 3 & 4	(All excitedly speak over one another saying how amazing, exciting, wonderful, scary awesome, and ‘did you see the big one in the middle’ etc)
Shepherd 1	(Shaking head then suddenly shouts to stop interrupt the hubbub) LOOK! (Then calmer) You really expect me to believe that God sent his Angels to a few insignificant men on a hill.
All	YES
Shepherd 4	Look, we did say earlier God doesn't always do what you expect.
Shepherd 1	OK prove it. Take me to the saviour.
	(Then all except Shepherd 1 get up and start walking off)
Shepherd 1	What’s up? where are you going
All	To prove it. (Leave the stage)
Shepherd 1	What? Really? You’re going! Well hold on then, wait for me. Watch out don’t go near that bush. Oh sorry (runs off after the shepherds).
Angel 1	Accordingly they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and their saviour, a baby lying in a manger.
Angel 2	And when they had seen Him they spread the word concerning all they had been told about this child.
Angel 1	Thus we now find the Shepherds returning to their flock
Angel 2	As a consequence of their experience they are glorifying God and praising God for all the things they have heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Angel 2	Verily…(pause) As they had been told by us (smiles)
Angel 2	Verily indeed. (Pause and smiles back) Yep, we told em!
	(Shepherds come back on, all a bit dazed and in awe of what they have seen)
Shepherd 1	WOW, that was amazing. We have seen our saviour. So beautiful.
Shepherd 2	Praise God
Shepherd 3	Hallelujah
Shepherd 1	Who would have believed it? Of all the people God could have told he chose to tell us.
Shepherd 4	It’s good isn’t it? It’s exactly what we were saying earlier.
	(All turn to look at the Shepherd 4)
Shepherd 4	God doesn't always do what you expect.

A nativity tale for use in Church

A fun traditional nativity tale told by a Donkey - who was there! Parts – ·         Donkey Narrator – A cheerful innocent ·         Angel Narrator – Joyful and enthusiastic. ·         Mary. ·         Joseph ·         Inn Keeper ·         Angel – 4 are suggested but at least two are recommended. Having said that many more can be used to make up a heavenly host. ·         Shepherds – as many as you want. ·         Kings – Traditionally 3 but you can have more. The sketch can be acted by a combination of older and younger children. It uses the basics of the traditional Church nativity. Props and dressing up are required if you want to get the best out of it. Dressing up to look like the parts above is best plus you can add more angels and animals if you want. As for props you should have, as a minimum, ·         a manger, ·         a star on the end of a stick, and ·         a tail for a donkey.
The scene contains the crib which is centre stage. There is a baby doll all wrapped up in swaddling cloths. It can’t be seen by the audience. There is one angel stood to one side of the crib or if they are tall enough they can stand behind it. The Donkey walks on from one side to the other and stands at the side of the stage.
Donkey	Hello everyone, my name is Donald. Donald Key. My friends call me Don.
Angel	Hello Don Key
Donkey	Hello Angel
Angel	Are you going to tell all these lovely people about the good news?
Donkey	I’m just about to start. I was there you know.
Angel	I know you were. Ooohhh I get excited. I’m ready, let’s hear your tale.
Donkey	(Looks at his tail) I don’t understand. (shakes it) My tail doesn’t make any noise. How can you hear it?
Angel	No, not your tail, your tale. Your story. I want to hear your side of what happened.
Donkey	Oh I see. Sorry! I should have understood or as my old mum always said eeyor, eeyor, ee ought to know better. (He gathers himself and then begins) Now then, I want to start from the beginning. Are we ready? (Pause) Then I’ll begin. A long time ago the Roman Emperor Augustus decided to count all the people in his kingdom and said that everyone had to go to their home town to be counted. LOOK THERE THEY ARE! (Points to Mary and Joseph)
Mary and Joseph start at one side of the hall start to walk around it. If there is only an aisle up the middle then walk up and down it.
Donkey	This census meant Joseph and Mary had to leave Nazareth where they lived and go to Bethlehem, which was the home town of Joseph, so they could be counted.
Mary	It's a long way isn't it Joseph.
Joseph	Yes my dear
Mary	Are we there yet
Joseph	No not yet.
About a third of the way round the hall.
Mary	Its a very long way isn't it Joseph
Joseph	Yes my dear
Mary	Are we there yet
Joseph	No not yet
About two thirds of the way round the hall
Mary	It's a very very long way isn't it Joseph
Joseph	Yes my dear
Mary	Are we there yet
Joseph	No not yet
Very nearly at the front of the hall
Mary	It's a very very very long way isn't it Joseph
Joseph	Yes my dear
Mary	Are we there yet
Joseph	Yes!
Donkey	…And they finally reached Bethlehem but because of the census there was no where for them to stay and all the inns were full.
When they get to the front Joseph knocks on the pulpit or an imaginary door. The Innkeeper appears.
Joseph	Hello Inn Keeper. Is there any room in your inn
Inn Keeper	(Shakes his head) No!
Donkey	Aha but there was you see. Angel did you something to do with his change of heart.
Angel	Now that would be telling, but Mary was about to have the baby and the inn keeper did notice this and he thought again and found room in his stable.
The Innkeeper looks at Mary and waves his hand to get them to follow him and he leads them up to the crib. Mary and Joseph sit down and Mary takes the baby out of the crib.
Donkey	It was in this stable where the baby was born. A little boy. Mary wrapped him up to keep him warm and placed him in a manger to sleep. The child was named Jesus.
Angel	You were in the stable that night weren’t you Don.
Donkey	I was. It was wonderful. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords born in a humble stable bare. Amazing. Although they were all so very tired they fell asleep and Joseph eesnored, eesnored, eesnored.
Angel	Yes but the tale doesn’t end there.
Donkey	Ah yes, you know what’s coming next. You were there for this bit. Why don’t you explain what happened.
Shepherds start walking slowly down the centre of the isle.
Angel	Ooohh can I? Ooohhh I Can. OK, here goes. Now out in the fields nearby there were some shepherds. Oooohhh look there they are (Points to the shepherds). What had happened was an Angel of the Lord had appeared to them and told them that the King had been born that day. Oooohhh there was worship and so much joy out there. The shepherds were very excited and went straight to the town to look for the King.
When the Angel says King they all cheer and shout their way to the front. Shepherds sit at the feet of Mary and Joseph who smile and welcome them in.
Angel	When they found our Lord they worshipped him
Donkey	It was great when they turned up. There was one shepherd, eeecould, eeecould, eeecouldn’t believe what he was seeing, eeeeeeefainted.
One shepherd faints, the ones around him help him sit back up.
Angel	What happened next?
Narrator	Well, a bit later three kings from the east came to Jerusalem and asked "where is the one to be born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him".  When they heard eeewas, eeewas, eeewas to beeborn, beeborn, beeborn
Angel	Are you OK Don?
Donkey	(Croaky) I’m a little horse!
Angel	I know you are but would you like me to help anyway?
Donkey	Thank you, you’re a good neeeeigh…bour
The three kings walk down the centre aisle. The King at the front can should a stick up high with a star hanging from a string.
Angel	When the three kings, oooohhh look there they are, (Points at the kings) when they heard he was to be born in Bethlehem they went on their way and the star, ooohhhh look there it is, there it is, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the baby Jesus was.
Whilst Donkey says the next sentence the three kings bow, give the gifts and take their positions in the nativity. Mary and Joseph smile and thank them.
Donkey	They followed the star and when they arrived and saw baby Jesus they bowed down and worshipped him and then they gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Angel	And that’s the end of your tale
Donkey	(Looks at the end of his tail then it dawns on him) Oh the end of my story. Yes it is the end of mine but it is the beginning of his. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Now that is the end of my story but it could be the beginning of yours if you choose to believe.

How do you believe?

How do you believe?

A simple one man sketch performed with the use of hats to show when each person is talking. There are only two characters.

What do you believe?

Funny you should ask that. I’ve been thinking about it and I’ve written it down.

Brilliant.

Ok, this is that I believe.

I believe in the one living and true God, creator, preserver and ruler of all things, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Him alone I worship, and in him I put our trust.

I believe that God, in his infinite love for people, gave his eternal Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who became human, lived on earth in perfect love and obedience, died upon the cross for our sins, rose again from the dead and lives for evermore, saviour, judge and king.

Oh! That’s err

I’ve not finished yet

Sorry

I believe that, by the Holy Spirit, I receive through faith the forgiveness of sins, newness of life as children of God and strength to do his will.

I believe in the one holy, catholic – although I’m not a catholic -, apostolic church, wherein by the same Spirit, I am, with my brothers and sisters in Christ, made one Body of Christ to worship God and serve him and all people in his kingdom of love.

In the fullness of time God will renew and gather in one all things in Christ.

(Looks expectantly)

(Looks blank - Maybe side glance at audience)

(Looks even more expectantly)

(Looks confused and nervous)

(Looks extremely expectant)

(Smiles)

)Smiles back)

When I learn something I like to see how it’s done.

(Sighs with relief) That’s a relief, all I know is since I believed in Jesus my life has changed and I have peace and people who care around me. Come with me. I’ll show you.

End

It’s good to know what you believe – vital to know what you believe. It’s just as vital to be able to show people as well.

Let’s Pray

Thank you Jesus that you came and showed us what to believe and taught us how to behave – to love one another. Lord, we come before pledge to learn about you through the Word, to grow in you through our worship, and to know you better through our prayers.

Holy Spirit we invite you in. Please lead us deeper into God.

Amen

Dancing Free

Hugh loved to dance. He was so free when he danced. He danced all day. For Hugh, life was one long dance. He loved being free, free to move his arms, free to leap, free to move slowly, free to move gracefully, free to move fast and wild. To Hugh, it just felt right. For Hugh, or to give him his full name, Hugh Manity, dancing was freedom itself. Oh how Hugh Manity loved to be free.

One day, during one of his favourite dance moves involving a wild flailing of the arms whilst leaping high into the air, Flesh approached him quietly. Flesh knew Hugh Manity very well. He had known him all his life and knew all his strengths and weaknesses.

“You look happy” He said. Hugh nodded and smiled and carried on flailing and leaping.

“Are you happy because you are free?” asked Flesh. Hugh nodded again and tried a leap with a twist in it.

“It’s good being free isn’t it?” said Flesh. Hugh nodded but a small frown had entered his forehead. He wanted to dance and was being distracted. Flesh noticed the frown.

“I’m annoying you aren’t I? Is it because I am interrupting you” He suggested. “I better stop interrupting you hadn’t I?” There was a pause.

“It’s rude to ignore people you know” Flesh turned and looked away. At this comment Hugh stopped dancing. He didn’t want to be rude. Hugh, stood with his hands on his hips and looked at Flesh. Flesh smiled and said “Thank you”.  

Hugh returned to his dance, but chose a more graceful move this time. Flesh watched. “You know”, observed Flesh “I know someone who does that movement much better.”

Hugh tried harder and leaped higher and longer and waved his arms more wildly. “Oooh, I like that move.” Flesh said thoughtfully “I suppose being jealous of your betters can drive you to that, but you’ll never be as good as them.”

Hugh slowed down feeling disheartened. Flesh stepped closer to Hugh and puts his hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry though” he says “Someone will love you for your dancing… probably…maybe… who knows?”

Hugh’s dance slowed to a stop. His shoulders slumped and he looked down at his feet. Hugh Manity wanted to be loved. How could he be free if he wasn’t loved?

“Don’t be sad, I have an idea,” Flesh tried to encourage him and Hugh looked up hopefully “Let’s try some things that can improve your dancing. Things to make you feel better. Things to help you get your freedom back. You want to be free again don’t you?”

Hugh nodded earnestly. He wanted to be free.  

Flesh handed over a hat. Hugh put it on. “This is a lucky hat,” said Flesh proudly “If you wear it you will come into great wealth, possibly. It’s worth a gamble isn’t it? Give it a try.” It was quite a heavy hat. It weighed him down a bit but it would be worth it for the money.

“The thing is wealth is great, it’s cool, and it sets you free.” Flesh advised. Hugh liked the idea of looking cool. He put it on and tilted the hat slightly to one side to look even cooler.

“Now try on these boots” Flesh handed over a large pair of boots. Hugh looked at them doubtfully. “Go on, try them. They will make you look beautiful when you dance. You want to be loved, don’t you? And to be loved you have to look beautiful. These boots are perfect for you. If you know you are beautiful you will be loved and then you can be free.”

Hugh wanted to be free, and he knew he had to be beautiful. He put them on and tried to move but they were cumbersome and he started to get frustrated at how they restricted his movement, his freedom.

As Hugh started to lose his patience Flesh gave him some gloves. “Now these are brilliant” he said “There are things out there you will want to touch, things that are important to set you free, but these things can make you feel bad when you touch them. If you wear these gloves you can’t feel bad because you aren’t actually touching it and you can be free in the important things you shouldn’t really touch – makes sense really!”

It didn’t make sense to Hugh but he didn’t like feeling so restricted and if there are things out there that can make him feel free again, even if they could make him feel bad, then he had better wear the gloves.

Hugh put them on. These too were heavy, but he didn’t care, he wondered what things he could touch with them.

“You look amazing, You have so many things that can set you free, you must be feeling so free!” urges Flesh.

Hugh wondered why he didn’t feel free when he had a hat to give him wealth, boots to make him beautiful and gloves to stop him feeling bad. He tried harder to dance but the hat, boots and gloves stopped him moving freely.

“Are you OK? Flesh asked.

Hugh put his thumbs up. He did not want to admit he couldn’t dance. He did not want to admit he was failing. He did not want to admit he didn’t feel free when he had so much. He started to think that maybe he should try something else.

“I have something else for you.”Said Flesh, “Something that will help you regain some of your old freedom” Flesh knew Hugh very well. He knew how he was feeling and wanted to help. Flesh gave Hugh a bottle to drink from. “This can also ease some of the pain you’re feeling from not being able to dance anymore.”

The words ‘not being able to dance anymore’ hit Hugh hard. He realised at that moment he couldn’t dance anymore. It hurt. He took a swig of the drink. He took another, then another, then he slumped to the ground. The pain was awful. He drank again and laid down and curled up in a ball, in pain. He wanted to be saved from this pain. He desperately wanted to dance. He desperately wanted to be free.

At this moment his heart reached out and he cried for help and a man walked up to Hugh. The mans’ name was Spirit.

“Hello” said Spirit. Hugh, still on the floor, looked up, waved and had another swig of the drink. Hugh hoped he can help.

Spirit turned to Flesh, “I heard his cry. Why is he in pain and not dancing in freedom?” He asked.

Flesh knew Spirit. He had met him before. “Hello Spirit” He said  

Flesh knew Spirit would come when he heard the cry, although he hoped he wouldn’t as he wanted to do the helping. Spirit always came when he heard Hugh Manity call for help.

That’s Hugh Manity that is.” Said Flesh, awkwardly.

“I know who it is” Said Spirit. “Why is he not free?”

“He tried to be free.” Flesh replied.

“He needs help” said Spirit.

“I am helping him to be free. He is nearly there. I’ve got so many things that help. He doesn’t need your help”

“Did you give him these things?”

“I did. They will help him”

“Oh Flesh” Said Spirit both angry and sad at the same time.

“I’d like to see you try” Said Flesh in a sudden flash of temper. He didn’t like Spirit interfering.

Spirit knelt down beside Hugh Manity. “Hello Hugh” he said “I know who loves you. You are loved.”

Hugh opened his eyes. “Good he can hear me” thought Spirit.

“Do you remember when you danced free?” asked Spirit quietly.

Hugh nodded. “You didn’t have all these things then. Give them up”

Hugh put the bottle down and took off the gloves. He waved at Spirit who smiled back at him.

Flesh was at boiling point. “How is he going to be free if he gives all these things up?” he shouted.

Flesh was very angry and also absolutely dumbfounded at the suggestion of giving things up. “Don’t do it” he cried out. He glared at Spirit “You know Hugh Manity needs all these things to be free.”

Spirit gave Flesh a look. The type of look that makes Flesh crawl - and he did.

He turned back to Hugh and said “You don’t need these things to be loved. You don’t need them to be free.”

Hugh took his hands away from the bottle. Hugh had his gloves off already and Spirit asked “Why have you got these huge boots on?”

  

Flesh was whimpering in the corner “They make him look beautiful” Hugh smiled. He loved looking beautiful.

The One who loves you, did so before you had boots. Hugh Manity heard this and believed it. He removed the boots and wiggled his feet and toes. It felt good. 

“I suppose he has to the hat off as well” snarled Flesh.

“You suppose right” smiled Spirit.

“Where is the hope going to come from now? Without the lucky hat he can’t have wealth, he can’t have anything good” Flesh was seeing red now.

“Oh Flesh you are so wrong.” Said Spirit “Hugh Manity take off all that is holding you back.”

Hugh obeyed. He knew it was right and he gave up all that Flesh had given him. Spirit reached out helped Hugh Manity to stand.

Flesh is now defeated.

Spirit explained to Hugh Manity “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Spirit pauses and declares with strength and love “And I will say this …When the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.”

Hugh Manity heard and believed and danced again and is free.

My little boy is bigger than me

My little boy is bigger than me.

His voice is deeper too.

But I still clean up after him

And wipe the seat of the loo.

My little boy is bigger than me

He’s more fit and he’s stronger.

But I still fetch and carry for him

I promise not much longer.

My little boy is bigger than me

He seems to have more brain.

He must have got them from his dad

Cos I want them back again.

My little boy is bigger than me.

He even has more hair.

But I still have to hug him

When he needs to know who cares.

My little boy is bigger than me.

I’ve given him all that I can.

I was happy that I did so,

Cos now he’s become a man.

The Girl of my Dreams

I know the exact time that

our eyes first met.

From that moment you were in my heart.

But I had to ignore that raging doubt,

that, some day, we would have to part.

I’d do anything for you.

You know I would.

I’d give my heart, my life, my money.

I’ve done it all once, and I’d do it again,

to hear you laugh at one of my funnies.

This new man that you’ve met.

He’s half my age.

He’s got muscles where I’ve got fat.

He’s kind, polite and he treats you well.

I don’t like him. Nor does the cat.

Now you want to marry

this perfect man.

When you told me your face did shine.

It took me back to that very first day,

when your eyes first met mine.

Now I look at you,

With him in church

And my eyes, they begin to water.

You make a good couple, you really do,

and you’re a wonderful, wonderful daughter.

Life is like a supermarket trolley

Life is like a supermarket trolley: no matter how you push it, it never goes in the right direction. Well, that was Brian and Bob’s experience as wandered through the supermarket, struggling to control their unruly trolleys. (You know what it’s like). They both saw lots of things they wanted but, just how do you deal with so much choice? And choose you must, because sooner or later, there is the checkout.

Brian and Bob were happy enough wandering through the store. They both saw lots of things they liked but they both found it was a struggle controlling their trollies.

“Oooh that looks interesting” said Brian as he reached up to put some Wicked Rice into his trolley. “I’ll give that a try”. Bob wasn’t so sure. He walked on and it was at this point they parted company, sometimes trollies just drift apart.

As Bob walked on through Life’s Supermarket Brian saw, next to Wicked Rice, was some Living Water. He considered it for a fleeting moment and chose to move on without picking it up, as he was distracted by some Evil Enchiladas. He had no idea what they were but he wanted some, so he put them in his trolley next to the rice. Brian tried to wheel his trolley backwards to the Living Water but discovered it only went one way, so he pushed his trolley forward.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT CHOICE NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. YOU DON’T KNOW IF A SECOND CHANCE IS COMING.

“Ouch!” he bumped his knee as one of the wheels got stuck and seemingly refused to rotate and acted like a brake. It slowed him down. He grumbled and grimaced as he tried to move his trolley forward. He was a trying hard to keep control of it but trollies can be hard. As he moved slowly he took the opportunity to pick up some bad beans and saucy sausages. He went to move on, then he thought “You know what, I’ll have a few more of them, they can’t do me any harm.”

SOMETIME WHEN YOU ARE HURTING IT CAN BE EASY TO MAKE BAD CHOICES.

As he moved forward he noticed again there was an offer on the Living Water. It looked like you got the Bread of Life with it, a kind of two for one. He tried to manoeuvre the trolley towards it but couldn’t make it go sideways. He tried looking from a distance to see exactly what the offer was. As he strained to see what it was, a man walked by and saw Brian looking at the bread. The man smiled and said “Man cannot live on bread alone” Brian laughed at that. This was true he thought and walked on.

PERSUASIVE TALK FROM WELL MEANING BUT FRANKLY MISLEAD PEOPLE CAN DISTRACT YOU FROM MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE.

Brian continued on, his trolley seemingly having a mind of its own as it skewed sideways and bumped into the side of the aisle. He stopped and took a deep breath, he was annoyed at the lack of control he had over his trolley. He had noticed other people on their shopping trip of life had experienced trolley problems. Some had even fallen over. Some had given up. On the other hand he had noticed some people seemed to be fine with their trollies and they had so much more than him. Why was he so unlucky? He looked at the shelves he had clattered into. There was the Living Water again. “They are really trying to sell this” he thought.

SOMETIMES CIRCMSTANCES CAN OCCUR THAT CAN REALLY MAKE YOUR CHOICE BLACK AND WHITE

He noticed for the first time the water came with a free Cup of Salvation. Now that was a good offer. He went to read the small print on the cup. It’s good to read the small print in Life’s Supermarket.

As he picked up the cup, he noticed on the shelf next to the water were some Tempting Truffles.

OH NO – NOT AGAIN! IT IS TEMPTATION THIS TIME

He put the cup down and moved swiftly with his trolley, yes strangely but swiftly with his trolley, towards what was tempting him - The Truffles. He picked them up and checked his watch. His time was up, he had better checkout.

Did he have time to look at the Living Water offer? He chose not to bother. It was probably too good to be true.

He made his way to the checkout. He saw Bob and waved. Bob wave back and shouted across to him “How’s your shopping trip been in Life’s Supermarket?”

“It’s been alright,” Brian replied “I’ve picked up all sorts of things, some good some not so much. My trolley has been awful though. I’ve felt like I haven’t been in control at all”

Bob said he had experienced exactly the same problems and then he explained “…although when I picked up the Living Water and put it in my trolley, an assistant came along and helped me with the shopping.”

“I didn’t know you could get help” said Brian.

“I read it on the side of the packaging and decided to believe it. I chose to give it a try. And I also found with the cup of salvation you get all your shopping paid for.”

Brian stood there dumbfounded. His mouth dropped wide open. “Really? He asked. “Everything paid for”

“That’s what it said on the packaging. That’s why I put it in the trolley. That and the free assistant. They’ve been amazing, really helped me when I was in trouble in aisle 3. Anyway, here I am at the checkout, checking out” said Bob with a smile and a hope.

“Me too” Said Brian “My shopping trip of Life’s Supermarket has ended as well”.

Brian looked at the cashier, then over at Bob, then his mouth dropped open, again, but this time in amazement as the cashier with Bob saw the Cup of Salvation in his trolley and waved him through.

Brian then looked back at the cashier at his checkout. The cashier looked back at him. They both looked in the trolley. It was too late. He knew it.

Brian could see Bob leaving. Was that a new shopping trolley Bob was pushing? Brian felt his teeth beginning to gnash as he realised what he had chosen, or hadn’t chosen. To think all he had to do was believe, and pick up the Living Water and put it in his trolley. Why hadn’t he done it? It really was that simple. It was then Brian felt the tears starting to well up and his anger made his teeth gnash even harder.

Prayer

Lord God, Almighty Father. Lord Jesus. Holy Spirt we welcome you and ask you to lead and guide our hearts and minds as we come before you now. We will now enter a time of prayerful reflection. To consider the story and your trolley as you push through Life’s Supermarket.

Life really is like a supermarket trolley. It is difficult to push, it rarely seems to go in the right direction, no matter how it is shoved, but we thank you Lord that there is help.

First of all - Let us reflect on our trolleys, or in other words our lives. We acknowledge life is difficult to control on our own, Lord we acknowledge you are willing to step in and help. 

Show us what we should do, show us what choices we should make.

Lord Jesus, we thank you we can pick up the Living Water. Lord we want to pick you up and bring you into our lives.

We acknowledge life is an opportunity to ask you in. For you to save us from the things we do wrong.

Lord Jesus, we choose you. Lord Jesus, We choose you the Son of God. We ask you now to please come into our lives.

Lord please bless us with your Holy Spirit that we may move through our lives according to the way you want us to live. Holy Spirit please come and assist us and help us.

We thank you Jesus for the choice. We thank you Lord Jesus we choose you. The son of God.

Amen