Updated 31 January, 2003

2nd Sunday before Lent - 23/02/03

Theme: Light and Dark

Bible Reading

John 1. 1-14 (with the suggestion that verses 5 and 9 only be read)

Preparation

Read through the story several times

Introduction: Discuss the use of fables and parables as means of understanding great truths. Explain that this story is a fable and ask the children to think about what great truth it contains.

Story - The Glooms

It is quite possible that you have never met a Gloom. Unless you spent a lot of time in the dark, and can see in the dark, you certainly won't have met one.

Glooms are strange creatures that spend all their lives keeping out of the light. They live in cupboards and attics, in coal holes and under floorboards. Some Glooms even live underground. The one thing that they all hate is light.
If, by some strange chance, you saw a Gloom you would notice one very special thing about them. They have two feet and four hands. The feet are used for walking or tunnelling. The lower set of hands is used for feeling and eating and scratching. The upper set of hands is always held over their eyes. This is just in case they should come out by mistake into the light.

It isn't much fun being a Gloom. Because they live in the dark, they can't see anything, so they have to do everything by touch. They search for food by touch. They comb their fur by touch, clean their teeth by touch but never clear up the mess in their bedrooms.

Glooms live in big families. The leader is usually the oldest Gloom who is also responsible for teaching the Gloomlets. The Gloomlets go to Gloom School everyday for the National Gloom Curriculum. The younger ones are in Gloom Stage One and the older ones, yes - you've guessed, are in Gloom Stage Two.

Using all the resources of modern technology we have been able to record a lesson taken just before Christmas in a Gloom School. You must imagine a group of young Gloomlets sitting in the dark listening to their Grandfather.

'Gloomlets,' he said, 'today is a very happy day for all Glooms. It is the shortest day in the year. It is the day we enjoy the longest darkness. To celebrate the day we will sing the Gloom National Anthem.'

The Gloom Grandfather then spoke the following words.

'Darkness has hidden
All things around us,
Light is forbidden,
Ever to shine.
Praise for the long night,
Praise for the non sight.
May darkness reign over
Your lives and mine.'

The younger Glooms joined in and sang the other verses, which were not recorded.

Now it so happened that a new Gloomlet was at school for the first time that day. His name was Joshua. Joshua was the sort of child who liked to ask questions. Suddenly the most amazing thing happened. Joshua asked the question that Glooms were never supposed to ask.
'Why do we live in the dark?'

Grandfather Gloom was badly shaken. He thought for a moment and then answered.

'Because we have always lived in the dark.'

'But,' said Joshua Gloom, 'we don't have to. We could take our hands away from our eyes. Then we would see the light!'

'Don't even suggest it,' shouted Grandfather Gloom. 'That would mean a whole new world - a new way of life - a change of direction. No sensible, intelligent, thinking Gloom would ever want to live in the light.'

In break time Joshua slowly persuaded his friends to take their hands away from their eyes. Soon more and more Glooms had done so. What a difference it made. Life was so much better. By the time they went home all the young Glooms could see.

The name Joshua is actually the same name as Jesus.

Read John 1. 5 and 9 again.

'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.'

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for bringing light into our dark world. Help us to live in the light and not hide in the dark. Amen