2023學年完整公開課版HaveAParty

Let'sHaveAParty

Summary

Interactionbetweenlivepeopleandpuppet-askingwhyHolyCommunioncan'tbeamorejoyfuloccasion.

Scripture

Isaiah25:6-9,Philippians4:4-13,Matthew22:1-14

Characters

Pastor

MrRocky

Robin

Pastor:Robin,inaminuteIwouldliketointroduceyoutoamanthatwasamongthefirstdisciplesofJesus.Children,canyoutellRobinthenameofthatdisciple?

Children:MrRocky.

Pastor:Yes,MrRocky,andRobin,don'tforgettheMr.Heinsistsonthat.He'sfromtheoldschool.

Robin:Allright.I'llbeonmybestbehaviour.

Pastor:Youneedtobe.Mostofthetimehe'salittlegrumpy.Buthemeanswell.

MrRocky:Iheardthat.

Pastor:Ohdear.Ididn'tmeantooffendyou,MrRocky.

MrRocky:We'lltalklater.Who'sthatpersonwiththecurlyhair?

Pa:That'sRobinMann.He'sasinger-song-writerinourchurch.

MrR:Hmm.Hmm.Myeyesareoldbutyousinger-song-writer:whatcolourisyourguitar?

Rob:Pink.

MrR:Ithoughtso.Isthatactingyourage?Amiddle-agedmanplayingapinkguitar?

Pa:Shhh.MrRocky,Robinisourguest.Don'tyouoffendhimlikethat.He'sanartistandartistsaresensitivepeople.

Rob:PastorEdgar,Ithoughtthatweweregoingtohaveaparty.Thispuppetturnsouttobepartypooper.

MrR:Watchit,son.

Pa:That'senoughyoutwo.Let'shaveaparty.Thechildrenarewaitingforit.

Rob:Idon'tcomeherethatoften,sowhatsortofpartyshouldwehave?

Pa:Ithoughtweaskthechildren.Children,whatisthebestpartythatwecanhave?Whichpartiesdoyoulikebest?

Children:Birthdayparty,dress-upparty,Christmasparty,pyjamaparty,weddingparty,...

Pa:Ohtherearemanykindsofparties.Theyareallgood.Whatshallwedo?Idon'tknow.MaybeweaskMrRockyforadvice.MrRocky,whatisthebestpartythatwecanhave?

MrR:CelebrateHolyCommunion.

Pa:Youcan'tbeserious.Didyouhearthat,children?...HolyCommunion.Whatdoyouthink,Robin?

Rob:Well-it'snotreallythatcoolanaffair.WhenpeoplecomeupforHolyCommunionhardlyanyonesmilesandnooneletsloose.

Pa:Precisely.Andthereisnorealfood.Theonlybitethatwegettoeatisathin,tastelesswafer.

Rob:Yes,Iagree.AndIhatehowthewafertendstosticktomygum.It'snotreallysuccessfulpartyfood.

Pa:Thewineisgoodbutonesipisnotenoughforaparty.

Rob:Yes,Iagreeagain.Therecouldbeadecentglassforeveryone.

MrR:Areyoutwofinished?HolyCommunionisthebestpartythatyoucanhave.It'snotthefaultofHolyCommunionthatyoudon'tknowhowtocelebrateit.

Pa:Whatdoyoumean?

MrR:HolyCommunionisamealthatwasgiventousbyJesus.Andwhenwefirstateanddrankwithhim,plentyoffoodanddrinkfilledourtummiesandsatisfiedoursenses.Attheendofitwesangforjoy.

Rob:That'sinteresting,MrRocky.Whythendidweendupwithtastelesswafersandtinysipsfromacommoncup?Whospoilttheparty?

MrR:Therearealwayspeoplethatrejectpasttraditions.Theysometimesplaypinkguitars.

Rob:Benice,puppetman.Youhaven'tansweredthequestionyet.

MrR:Puppetman?Puppetman?...

Pa:Don'tstartagainyoutwo.IthinkIknowwhythemealofHolyCommunionbecamethetastelesssnackfoodoftoday.It'sjustmorepractical.

MrR:Whatcanbeimpracticalaboutagoodmeal?

Pa:Ohcomeon.Can'tyousee?CelebratingHolyCommunionSundayafterSundaywithsomanypeopletakessomeorganizing.Breadbecomeshardandoldafterawhile,butwaferscanbestoredforyearsandusedwheneverrequired.That'spractical.Also,ifweatemorethanthewaferanddrankmorethanalittlesipofwine,wewouldbeinchurchforhours.Weneededtospeeduptheprocess.That'sonlypractical.

Rob:Thatmayallbepractical,butitdefeatsthepurpose.Theatmosphere,thetasteandthejoyofthemealisgone.

MrR:Robin,don'tburdenyoursensitivesoul.Thischurchdoesn'tneedanothertormentedartist.Letmecheeryouup.HolyCommunionisnotjustaboutavoluptuousmeal.Everyonealsoreceivessomethingelse.

Pa:What'sthat?

MrR:Youshouldknow.What'swrittenintheBible?WhatdidJesusdoandsaywhenhesetupthemealofHolyCommunion?

Pa:You'reright.Ishouldknow.IdosaythewordseveryCommunionSunday.

MrR:Well,ifyousaythewordseveryCommunionSunday,let'sseewhetherthecongregationhasalsolearntthembynow.

Pa:YoumeanIshouldtestthem?

MrR:Yes,thatwouldbefun.

Pa:Allright.(turningtothecongregation)I'msorrybutyouheardwhatMrRockywants.Imakeastartandthenpleaseanyonethatcancontinue,pleasestandupanddoso.Herewego:"OurLordJesusChristonthenightwhenhewasbetrayed..."

V:"tookbread,andwhenhehadgiventhanks,hebrokeitandgaveittohisdisciplesandsaid:"

W:"Takeandeat.Thisismybodywhichisgivenforyou.Dothisinremembranceofme."

X:"Inthesamewayhetookthecupafterthesupperandwhenhehadgiventhanks,hegaveittothemandsaid:"

Y:"Drinkofitallofyou.Thisismybloodofthenewcovenantshedforyoufortheforgivenessofsins."

Z:"Dothisasoftenasyoudrinkitinremembranceofme."

Pa:Thankyouverymuch.Thatwaswelldone.Whatdoyousay,MrRocky.

MrR:Yes,thatwasgood,muchbetterthantheirpastorwhostillgetsthewordswrongoccasionally.

Pa:Don'tbegrumpy.

Mr.R:Allright.Didyoulistenandunderstand,guitar-man?ItisasIsaid.HolyCommunionisnotjustaboutavoluptuousmeal.Everyonealsoreceivessomethingelse.

Rob:WealsoreceiveJesus.Isthatit?

MrR:Yes.Explain.

Rob:Jesussaidaboutthebreadthatitwashisbody,andaboutthewinethatitwashisblood.Thatmeans:Jesushimselfisinthefoodandwhenweeatanddrinkbreadandwine,Godforgivesusoursins.

MrR:Welldone.Thatpromisesaparty.Don'tyouthink?Nomatterwhetherweonlyhaveatinywaferandatinysipofwine,wereceiveJesushimselfandallhisbenefits.Whatmorecanyouwantfromfood?That'srealfood,realdrink.

Rob:Iknowasongaboutthat.

MrR:Iwasafraid,youwould.

Pa:MrRocky,giveRobinabreak.I'dliketohearasong.

Rob:Wesingthesongtogether.It'sonyoursongsheetonpageX.Thesongiscalled'RealFood,RealDrink'...

Pa:Dearpuppet,Isawyourockingwiththemusic.

MrR:Doesthatsurpriseyou?MynameisMrRocky.

Pa:ButIthought...Nevermind!Thankyouforthesong,Robin.Didyoulikeit,children?

Children:Yes.

Rob:MrRocky,youareoneoftheearliestdisciplesofJesus.MaybeyouarethepersonIcanaskaquestion.

MrR:Goahead.

Rob:HolyCommunionseemstobeaprettyseriousmatter.NotonlywasJesusnailedtothecrossandgaveuphislifethatway,nowhecontinuestogivehimselfasourfoodforeternallife.

MrR:What'sthequestion?

Rob:I'mgettingtothat.IfHolyCommunionissuchaseriousmatter,whocanreallydaretoeatanddrinkthatmeal?

Pa:Whatdoyoumean,Robin?

Rob:Don'tyousee?HolyCommunionisfartoomysteriousandmind-bogglingtoberelaxedaboutit.It'scalledHolyCommunionbecauseJesusisholywhointurnmakesthefoodholyandsoon.

Pa:I'mnotgettingit.

Rob:Don'tyousee?Wearenotholy.Sohowcanweeataholymealwithoutgettingintotrouble?It'sbadenoughnottowashyourhandsbeforeameal,buthowcanyouasanunholysinnercomeintothepresenceofourholyGod.Thathasalwaysspelledtroubleforpeopleofalltimes.

MrR:That'sthesensitiveartistspeakingagain.Youalwaysseerealitywithdifferenteyes.Butyouareright.WeshouldnotbeinvitedtoHolyCommunionbecausewedon'tdeserveit.Howeverlistencarefully:Weareinvited.

Pa:Hangon,MrRocky.Aretherenohindrancesforanyone?Canreallyanybodycomeforward?

MrR:Well,thosepeoplethatdonotwanttopartywithGodandthatdonotwanttolivewithGod,theybetterstayaway.ButifyouknowthatyoureceiveJesus'bodyandbloodfortheforgivenessofsins,andifyouknowthatyouneedforgiveness,thenyouaremorethanwelcome.

Rob:Whythenaren'tchildrenwelcome?

MrR:Whatdoyoumean?

Rob:Children,areyouallowedtoeatbreadanddrinkwineatHolyCommunion?

Children:No.

Rob:Howdoyoufeelaboutit?Doyouthinkthat'sgood?

Children.Yes.No.

Rob:MrRocky,whyaretheynotinvited?

MrR:Children,thisgetsalittlecomplicated.YoumaynotyeteatanddrinkatHolyCommunion,butyouareinvited.Whenyoucomeup,youreceivetheblessingthatflowsfromthemeal.

Pa:MrRocky,Iwouldn'tlikemydaughterstodrinkwineyet.Theyaretooyoung.

MrR:Nopastor,that'snotit.Children,youareinvitedtoHolyCommunionbutyoumayonlyeatanddrinkJesus'bodyandbloodwhenyouarealittleolderandunderstandalittlemoreaboutit.

Rob:Areyousayingthatadultsfullyunderstandwhattheyaredoing?

MrR:No.IknowthatHolyCommunionremainsamysteryforanyone,butstill:childrenmaywaituntiltheydounderstandmoreandcanshowmorerespect.

Rob:Allright.Ihaveanothersong.Children,I'llsingitwithyou,becauseitiscertainthatyouareinvitedtobewithGod.

(Robinandthechildrensing'Youareinvited'.)

Pa:Now,Ihavetoconfesssomething.Idon'twanttobeaspoil-sport,butIdon'tthinkit'srighttocallHolyCommunionaparty.

Rob:Whynot?Didn'twedecidetogetherthattoday'sthemewouldbe:'Let'shaveaparty'?

Pa:Yes,wedid.ButyousaidyourselfthatHolyCommunionisaseriousmatter.IthastodowithJesus'bodythatwasgivenintodeathandhisbloodthatwasshedforus.Don'tyouthinktheword'party'soundsalittleirreverent?

Rob:Idon'tknow.Whatdoyouthink,MrRocky?

MrR:Iappreciateyoursentiment,Pastor.However,theBiblesaysthattherewillbeahugebanquetinheaven.Doyouthinkthatbanquetatleastwillbeaparty?

Pa:Yes,heavenisawonderfulplaceandIexpectafestiveatmosphere.

MrR:Ifthebanquetinheavencanbecalledaparty,socanHolyCommunion.

Pa:Why?

MrR:It'ssimpleHolyCommunionisnothinglessthanaforetasteofheaven.InHolyCommunionweanticipatethegreatpartyinparadisethatGodhasalreadypreparedforus.

Rob:DoesthatmeanthatatHolyCommunionalittlebitofheavencomesdowntoearth.

MrR:Youcanputit