18/7/2010 Proper 11

Theme: Mary Jones and her Bible

Bible Reading

Amos chapter 11 verses 11-12

Preparation

Print off the story of Mary Jones from http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/maryjones.pdf and a copy of the Lord's Prayer in Welsh http://www.christusrex.org/www1/pater/JPN-welsh.html If you have an old Victorian Bible in school you could use this as a prop. The Bible Society website is at http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/

The story would also make a successful drama

Introduction

How many of you have really, really wanted something but knew that you didn't have enough money to buy it? Can you tell us what it was? Did you get it in the end? How did you get it? How long did you have to wait? Would you have waited years and years for it or would you just give up on the idea?

The Message

Read Amos chp 8 vss 11-12

This is a strange reading from the Bible. It says that people will be so desperate to hear God's word and find out about Him, that they will go rushing all over the country looking for information - just like they were starving and hunting for food. You may think that sounds a bit far fetched, but there is a true story about a girl called Mary Jones who lived in Wales over 200 years ago. She did exactly what Amos said in his prophecy, and our story will tell you why she did it.

Tell Mary Jones' story using the Bible Society's booklet (you may have to summa rise the story depending on time). At an appropriate moment show the version of the Lord's Prayer in Welsh - discover this was the language that Mary spoke and wrote, and this is why she needed the Bible in Welsh not English. If you have time you might like to try the reverse - to see how children can cope with the Lord's Prayer in Welsh!

When people in London heard Mary's story they formed the Bible Society. The Society is now active in Bible translation across the world, not just Wales, but in a very real sense it was the story of one little girl just your age which has helped bring the Bible to millions of people in their own language.

Prayer

Dear Lord
Thank you for the story of Mary Jones and her Bible. Help us to think about how important the Bible is to millions of people and to read it more often, and to learn more about you.
Amen