After Jeremy had welcomed everybody, especially the children and their families, Christine, who led the service, told the assembled congregation a little bit about our themes and what we had been up to during the week.
Before Christine spoke to us the children, and WOW4 team, sang the action song that they had been learning during the week!
"Zacchaeus was a very little man, and a very
little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Saviour he wanted to see.
And as the Saviour passed that way, He looked up in the tree,
And he said, “Now Zacchaeus, you come down;
For I’m coming to your house for tea… Yes, I’m coming to your house for tea.”
He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Saviour he wanted to see.
And as the Saviour passed that way, He looked up in the tree,
And he said, “Now Zacchaeus, you come down;
For I’m coming to your house for tea… Yes, I’m coming to your house for tea.”
As she sought to explain the relevance of the Zacchaeus story, Christine introduced the man himself (in the form of Geoffrey)!
With the help of the children they demonstrated how, in his greed, Zacchaeus had been swindling (effectively stealing from) the people. She explained how Jesus knew that, wealthy as he was, Zacchaeus was not a happy man. We noted how Jesus recognised his need, came into his life and totally transformed him. Zacchaeus more than made up to the people by repaying four times what he had stolen and giving half his possessions to the poor. More importantly, not only were the people happy but Zacchaeus himself became a much happier man.
Christine noted that this happens to us too. If we get to know Jesus, and let him into our lives, we too will not only be better people but be happier people too.
After the confession, absolution and affirmation of faith, prayers of thanks were led by Iona.
During coffee in the hall after the service, Geoffrey auctioned a couple of paintings, that Maude had created and donated, for our St. Vincent's appeal.
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[A BIG THANK YOU to Christine, Geoffrey, Iona, Maude and all the other WOW4 helpers for their contributions not only to the club but also to the service. Thank you too to all the WOW4 children and their families who supported the club and the service so enthusiastically.]
