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)

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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.")

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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?