30/10/11    4th Sunday before Advent

Theme: Chosing a Leader

Bible Reading

I Thessalonians 2: 9-13

Preparation

The apostle Paul stayed in Thessalonica and established a church there before he was forced to leave because the Jews were jealous of the way he preached. He wrote to his Christian friends to encourage them, and to answer their questions. In this reading he reminds them of his own conduct among them, reminding them that he worked for his living as well as preaching, and showed them by example the sort of life they should be living as people who loved God.

Introduction

You might like to think about the sort of people we choose as leaders. If you have time, you could collect some pictures of people that we see as leaders - politicians, sports stars, pop stars, actors etc.

The message

Shaun hated Tuesday afternoons. First of all they always had PE, and that was so embarrassing. As long as he could remember, he was the last person to be able to catch a ball, or balance or remember the steps of the dance. Even Rosie Jones could jump higher than him. If only it was summer, they could go swimming, which he loved - but it was only half way through the Autumn term.

But worse than any form of PE was what followed at the end of a Tuesday. All this term, ever since Mrs Pendleton had been their teacher, they had Talk Time - and Shaun hated it. Mrs Pendleton made them sit round in a circle, and they had to talk about things - sometimes they talked about how things that were happening in school; sometimes they found ways of making people feel special; sometimes they talked about 'issues'. It was all very interesting - but Mrs Pendleton spoilt it by making everyone say something.

Shaun had lots of thoughts - but they didn't often come out right. It had always been the same, from his very first day at school. Now he had lots of friends in the class, but he rarely put up his hand to answer a question, and never offered for a speaking part in class assemblies or entertainments. Every time he knew he would have to speak, his tongue seemed to stick to the top of his mouth, and his tummy knotted up inside so that he thought he would be sick.

The best time on a Tuesday, or indeed any day, was once the school day ended. Because of her work, Shaun's mum couldn't pick him up until 3.45. Somehow, he'd got into the habit of tidying up the classroom while Mrs Pendleton drank a cup of coffee and prepared some of the work for the next day. He didn't mind talking then, while he picked up books or sharpened pencils.

Today Mrs Pendleton was talking about leaders. What sort of person would you choose as a leader? James, who was top in almost every subject, felt that it ought to be someone who was very clever. Maria, who had family members all over the world, and was always flying somewhere, felt that the best leader was someone who understood the world. Oliver thought a leader ought to be a good sportsman. Jenna, who always had plenty of friends, felt that a leader should be someone who was popular. Shaun couldn't think of anything - but stuttered that it ought to be someone who could speak well. The class laughed at that point.

'Well,' said Mrs Pendleton, 'what about work? Would your leader work as well?'
Everyone thought that the leader should only do their special work, not anything else.

Sometimes, in Talk Time, Mrs Pendleton talked about religious things, and she encouraged the children to think about how their thoughts fitted in with their faith.
'Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the greatest leader of all.' she said. 'He taught that you couldn't be a leader without being a servant. She went on to tell the class all about the apostle Paul. Even though he was one of the most important followers of Jesus Christ (an apostle), he always remembered Jesus' words about being a servant. Paul was a tentmaker by trade, and, although he travelled all over the Roman empire telling people about Jesus, he didn't expect other people to pay for his food or his lodging. He usually worked as a tentmaker as well as telling people about God's love.

At the end of Talk Time, Mrs Pendleton announced that the class would have to choose a Class Captain, who would also represent the class on the School Council. Everyone was quiet for a moment. James really felt it ought to be him. Oliver was already captain of the football and cricket team, and realised that being captain could be quite hard work.

Suddenly Eleanor piped up, 'I know who should be Class Captain, Mrs Pendleton.
'Yes, Eleanor' encouraged the teacher.
'It should be Shaun… when I was so upset because Mum was ill, and wouldn't tell you, he helped me.'
'You remember when I fell over doing the high jump, and bruised myself, ' Rosie interjected. The rest of the class tried hard not to laugh, because they remembered very well. ' Well, I was really embarrassed, and never wanted to do sports again, but Shaun came and sat with me, and reminded me of all the things that he'd done wrong in PE - and then he entered the high jump competition, just so I wouldn't come last!'
' Yes,' said Michel, ' and when I first came here, and couldn't speak English properly, he always listened to me.'
'And when I'm rushing to be off with my friends, he helps clear up my base,' added Jenna.
'When I had to write that story for the competition - you know, the one I won,' James contributed ' he made sure that all my pencils were sharp.'

One by one, all the class thought of a time when Shaun had listened to them, or helped them, or made sure they had the things they needed. 'Yes,' nodded Mrs Pendleton ' and at the end of the day, Shaun comes up with some really good ideas about things we can do, or what would make the classroom better. I think you've made a really good choice.'

Shaun hardly knew what to say, apart from thanking everyone, and promising to continue to listen to them, to help them, and to find a way of speaking up for them, even if it was going to be hard.

Time to reflect:

What kind of leader would we be if we were chosen? Listen carefully to the words of the prayer and the afterwards we shall think about what are the special and important things it tells us about being a leader.

Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love:
where there is injury, pardon:
where there is doubt, faith:
where there is darkness, light:
where there is despair, hope,
and where there is sadness, joy.

Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Also this week -there are several stories about choosing leaders in the Bible, which show different qualities, e.g: David- I Samuel chp 16 vss 1-13; Gideon - Judges chp 6 vss 33-40; the temptations of Jesus and the wrong way to become a leader - Matthew chp 4 vss 1-11