Puppets - LOST THINGS

Lost Things – puppets

Mooster:  Hello kids! How are you this fine autumn day? Isn’t the weather fantastic? Has anyone started raking leaves yet?

Monkey Moe: (from behind the curtains), AHHHHHHHGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!    Where is it? Where is it?

Mooster: Uh Moe? Is that you?  

Monkey Moe:  (pokes head all around puppet stage) – Where did it go? Where did it go?

Mooster: Um, where did what go?

Monkey Moe: My monkey ball! (pokes head thru curtain finally) It destresses me!

Mooster: If it upsets you why do you want it back?

Monkey Moe: NO NO NO NO – not “distresses” DE-stresses – you know – takes away my stress!!! I’m stressed!

Mooster:  No kidding.   

Monkey Moe: See I got this great little de-stressing ball and I squeeze it whenever I get stressed out and it helps to relax me but right now I’m not very relaxed because I can’t find my destressing ball so I’m getting really stressed out about it and I need it now really bad which I probably wouldn’t need it except I can’t find it so I need it does that make sense to you??

Mooster: Uh, sure, Moe, whatever you say.
 

Monkey Moe: Oh good I’m so glad you understand so could everyone help me look for the distressing ball?

Mooster: Well actually I was going to do story time now and then~~~

Monkey Moe: AHHHHHHHGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Mooster: WHAT!?  

Monkey Moe: You can’t do story time until we find the distressing ball. I can’t concentrate. I can’t even sit still. (starts poking all around puppet stage again looking for ball)

Mooster: Ok ok – can everyone look around your seat real quick and see if you can find Moe’s distressing ball? Seems we won’t get our story in if we don’t find it. You know I could just buy you another one ~~

Monkey Moe: NO nO no – I have to have that one. It’s my best one!

Mooster: You have more?

Moe: Sure! I have 9 others, in all different colors, but I want my green one!  Okay that’s right everybody – look around you a little--Oh thank you thank you thank you everybody (still bouncing all over stage) do you see it yet do you see it yet? It’s green and squishy….

Mooster: They are looking Moe!

Songleader: Um, Moe, Is this it? (holds up ball)

Monkey Moe: Oh yes yes yes! Thank you! Can you please bring it to me?

Songleader brings it to Moe, Moe starts squeezing it a lot.

Moe: Oh that’s better! I can feel the stress leaving my body already! OK I think I can listen to the story. What’s it about today?

Mooster: Well today we are going to talk about a story that Jesus told. He said one time there was a woman who had ten pieces of silver. That’s like us having ten dollar bills and losing one of them. The woman became very upset because she couldn’t find her missing coin.

Monkey Moe: hahaha…that’s kind of silly, isn’t it? I mean, she had nine other silver coins!

Mooster:  Well, Moe, you had nine other stress balls but you were going nuts trying to find the green one!

Monkey Moe: Ohhhh yeah. I guess that coin was important to her, huh?

Mooster: It sure was, Moe.

Monkey Moe: So…what did she do?

Mooster: Jesus tells us in Luke 15:7 that she lit a candle and swept the whole house and looked diligently – that means she searched and searched – until she finally found it.

Monkey Moe: Oh wow – I bet she was happy once she found it.

Mooster: She sure was – Jesus said she was so happy she called all her friends together to rejoice with her.

Moe: Wow…she had a party because she found the coin?

Mooster: She sure did! A piece of silver back then was like having a piece of gold today … kind of like if your mom lost her wedding ring. It’s very valuable money-wise and it’s valuable because it’s close to her heart. It means something to her --- just like your stress ball means something to you.

Monkey Moe: Oh yeah. So….the moral of the story is that we should love money?  

Mooster: NO, Moe! Jesus was using this story to teach the people how much God loves them. He said that God loves us so much He searches us out – He seeks for us -  He wants us to be close to Him, to love Him, to trust Him as our Saviour.

Monkey Moe: Ohhhh…that makes more sense than what I said.

Mooster: Yes it does. And Jesus told the people that when someone responds to God and lets God find them, there is much rejoicing in heaven – all the angels rejoice!

Monkey Moe: What do you mean when someone lets God find them? The coin wasn’t trying to hide from the lady. My ball wasn’t trying to hide from me.

Mooster: No – but coins and balls are not human. People have a choice. They are often told that God is seeking them. They hear preaching and they are told about how much God loves them, but unless the person responds and accepts Christ, there is no rejoicing because there is no finding. Only when a person turns to God is there rejoicing in heaven.

Moe: I get it! Boys and girls – you are soooo much more important to God than money or toy balls or anything else. Jesus loved you so much He died for you and then He used His power to rise again fro the grave! He is alive in heaven right now! All you have to do is pray and ask God to forgive your sins and ask Jesus to come into your heart. You will be saved! Angels will rejoice! You will have a forever home in heaven!!

Mooster: That’s right Moe! Kids, if you don’t know for sure that you have a home in heaven please ask to talk to one of the adults after church tonight.

Moe/ Mooster: bye kids – we love you!

Puppets: Changing Seasons

Changing Seasons

Mooster:  Dum-de-dum-de-dum…(pokes head out from behind curtain) Hi Kids! How are you?  (Kids reply) Awesome! Have you seen all the beautiful weather we are having? The temps are dropping and the leaves are slowly changing color. It’s fall!!  I love fall. Did you know another word for “Fall” is “Autumn”?

Monkey Moe: (from behind the curtains), Wait just a minute, Mooster! Do I hear you saying you actually LIKE fall?

Mooster: Oh hi, Moe! Yep, I sure do! It’s my favorite season! I was just saying –

Monkey Moe:  Stop, stop, stop!!! How can this be your favorite season? Do you know what happens in the fall?

Mooster: Um, the trees turn pretty colors, the temperatures get cooler –

Monkey Moe: Stop! Go back to the trees for a minute. What ELSE happens to the trees?

Mooster: The leaves fall off the trees?

Monkey Moe: Bingo! THAT’S the part I’m getting to! The leaves fall off the trees! Do you know how that makes my treehouse look? Bare. Very, very bare.

Mooster:  Well, only for a few weeks, then you can hang Christmas lights and start decorating for Christmas and -  

Monkey Moe: You still don’t get this, do you. Go back to the leaves part. What happens to all those leaves that disappear off the tree? They land on the ground.

Mooster: Well, duh, Moe. They aren’t going to float up into the atmosphere! Of course they fall on the ground. Where else do you expect them to go?

Monkey Moe: But I have to rake them up! My mom thinks it looks too messy to have leaves all over the front and back yards, so I have to rake and rake and rake. I tried to tell her that leaf mulch was organically better to leave on the grass for the winter, but she doesn’t believe me. So I have to rake them in huge piles and bur n them off.

Mooster: My favorite smell in all the world! I  LOVE the smell of burning leaves in the fall. We go out and burn leaves, too. Roast some marshmallows, drink some hot apple cider or hot cocoa, smell the burning leaves. It’s fall!

Monkey Moe: Well I don’t like the raking part.

Mooster: Moe, you are one lazy monkey. Raking the leaves can be fun.  

Monkey Moe: Fun? How so?

Mooster: Well if you rake them up in a huge pile, then you can jump in them.

Monkey Moe: Why would I want to do that? Then I just have to rake them all up again.  

Mooster: Moe, you’ve never jumped in a pile of leaves?

Monkey Moe: Nope.

Mooster: You are missing out on some serious fun. How about if I come over and help you rake leaves, and then we can jump in the leaves for a while, then I’ll help you burn them off.

Monkey Moe: Wellllll….I guess maybe we could give it a try.

Mooster:  And that’s not all! After we burn them off, we can toss some old branches on there and roast marshmallows and drink hot cocoa!

Monkey Moe: Can we roase bananas, too? I love a hot, mushy banana between two graham crackers! MMMMMM Delicious! I call it a Smushy.

Mooster: Um, sure, Moe.

Monkey Moe: So…you don’t have any Bible verses for me on the subject of autumn?

Mooster: Oh, I do! Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books in the Bible, and chapter three is perfect for today. It says, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.” In fact, Chapter 3 verse 1 is our Bible verse to memorize! “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

Monkey Moe: Oh yeah…thanks for reminding me. Mom said I have to tear out all the summer plants that are dying and make the soil nice for springtime. Seems a lot of work to me.

Mooster: Well, there is a lot of work in maintaining a yard and garden. But Moe, didn’t you tell me you got to eat lots and lots of good fruits and veggies from your garden this year?

Moe: Yeah – wheelbarrows full of them. Mom had a great crop of everything! Well, except the chocolate plant. It didn’t do so well.

Mooster: Your mom planted chocoloate?

Monkey Moe: Not Mom, me. I plant a Hershey’s bar (without nuts – I don’t like nuts in my chocolate) and I watered it and NOTHING grew there. I was very disappointed.

Mooster: Um, Moe, you don’t plant chocolate bars and hope to grow plants. You have to plant seeds to get plants.

Monkey Moe: Ohhhh….so that’s what happened.

Mooster: Well anyway, your family saved a LOT of money by not having to buy groceries at the store, right?

Monkey Moe: Yeah.

Mooster: So it was a good thing to have a garden. So it was worth all the work of preparing the soil and weeding and everything.

Moe: Well, I guess if you put it that way, yes it was.

Mooster: Well, the seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter are kind of like our lives. When we are young, it’s springtime, and we are growing. When it is summer, we are weeding and reaping and enjoying the fruits of our labor. When it is fall, we are tearing up the old and getting ready for the new. And winter is like our time of rest. Older folks retire and take life at a slower pace. In the garden, the winter time is when the land rests. No tilling or planting or weeding. It just sleeps. And when it wakes up in the spring, it’s ready to be used again.

Moe: Oh, I guess I hadn’t thought of all that. That makes sense.

Mooster: Yep. And, that can apply to our spiritual lives as well. Springtime is like when we first know Jesus as our Savior. Right after we ask Him to forgive us of our sins and live in our hearts and rule our lives. Then it’s summertime – the Holy Spirit helps us grow and mature. Reading our Bible every day and praying and coming to church and Sunday School – all these things help us grow spiritually and the Holy Spirit helps us weed out the bad things in our lives that aren’t supposed to be there.

Moe: So what’s fall and winter?

Mooster: Fall is kind of like when we see older folks. They are retired and enjoying their hobbies and their grandchildren. They maybe can’t be as active as they once were, but they can be VERY important in helping their grandchildren understand God and they can spend time teaching them about the Bible.

Moe: I think I know what winter might be. Is winter when we die?

Mooster: Well, yes, Moe, it can be when we die, but unlike winter here on earth, where winter lasts forever and then spring finally comes, when we die, we are immediately with Christ, and it’s like springtime forever in heaven! There’s no more pain or sorrow or aching bones or sickness. So winter is a really, really short season spiritually.

Moe: Wow, I had never thought about all that, Moe. Thanks for taking the time to explain all that! Hey…do you want to come over to my treehouse and rake leaves? I think I’d like to try jumping in a pile today….

Mooster: Sure, Moe! I think I have some instant hot cocoa and marshmallows, too.

Moe: OH, and I have bananas and graham crackers!!

Mooster: Um…yeah. I guess I can try one of your “Smushies” too!

Moe: Hey kids – make sure you enjoy all the seasons that God gives you. Right now it’s fall – maybe you can rake leaves for your older neighbors or bring them some homemade cookies. Jump in some leaves! Enjoy all the crispy, crunchiness of falling leaves and thank the Lord for making seasons.

Mooster: Excellent advice, Moe!! Bye kids – see you next time!

Puppets: Waiting on the Lord

Waiting on the Lord

Mooster:  Hi Kids! How are you?  (Kids reply) Great!! I’ve been looking forward to children’s church tonight. In fact I ---

Monkey Moe: (from behind the curtains, shouting, “Wait for me! Wait for me! Gotta hurry” .. pokes head out of curtain) “Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy- Okay, I’m here, let’s get started!”

Mooster: Well good evening, Moe! I was just saying –

Monkey Moe:  That’s great, Mooster! Can you get on with the story?

Mooster: Um, well, Moe, you seem like you’re in a big rush –

Monkey Moe: I AM! Don’t you know there’s only 87 days until Christmas? I have to go to the mall tonight after story time and start my Christmas lists!

Mooster: Wow! You sure do start your Christmas shopping early! How do you know already what everyone in your treehouse wants for Christmas?

Monkey Moe: Huh? Who said anything about SHOPPING? I said I was going to the mall to start MY Christmas lists! You know – the stuff I want everyone else to buy for me!

Mooster:  Ohhh….I see.

Monkey Moe: Yeah, well, time’s a-wastin’! Let’s get on with the story for the night, huh? Stores close at nine!

Mooster: Moe, you said lists…plural…as in .. more than one list. Why is that?

Monkey Moe: Oh brother, Mooster. Of course – everyone has more than one list don’t they? I have it all systematically worked out – no two items are the same on any list, so I don’t have to worry about getting two of something. I have a list for my parents to buy for me, one for my brothers and sisters to buy for me, one for my teachers to buy for me, one for the Pastor to buy for me, one for my grandparents on my dad’s side, one for my grandparent’s on my mom’s side, one for my friends, and one for my aunts, uncles, and neighbors. Neat, huh?

Mooster: My word. I have never done that. I usually have a little list that I give my mom and dad. They tell whoever asks what’s on it.

Monkey Moe: Oh brother. Well, I can teach you how to do it right if you want.

Mooster: No thanks. I’m good.

Monkey Moe: So, time’s ticking away here – what’s the story about?

Mooster: Waiting on the Lord.

Monkey Moe: Waiting for what?  

Mooster: For whatever. For anything. For everything.

Monkey Moe: Oh. Wow. You mean gifts too? Oh wait, wait – I know what you are talking about! Doesn’t the Bible say that every good gift cometh from the Lord?

Mooster: Well, yes, Moe, but it’s not talking about video

Monkey Moe: Blustering banana bugs! I’ve left out a vast resource for gifts! I never thought about making a list to give God for me for Christmas! Ho boy – this is gonna be the best Christmas ever!

Mooster:  That’s not the point! The point here is that we are to wait on God for His perfect timing in every part of our lives. And yes, God does give us gifts – His most precious gift to us is eternal life with Him in heaven, if we accept the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, when He died to pay for our sins. That’s the best gift of all.

Monkey Moe: Oh. Yeah. You are right, Mooster. My salvation is the BEST thing I’ve ever received. Do you think I’m maybe…well…just a little tiny bit…just a teeny weeny bit….too interested in receiving gifts?

Mooster: Yes, I do. How about you wait and not go to the mall, and listen to the story instead?

Monkey Moe: Um. I guess I can do that.

Mooster: Great! Here’s a verse from Isaiah 40: 31. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

Monkey Moe: What does waiting upon the Lord mean? Is He coming for a visit? Should I clean my room?

Mooster: Well, in the days when there were kings everywhere, there were people who waited on them – that means they served the king. They would bring him things that he needed or asked for, like important papers, or clothing, or carriages, or food, or whatever. It was their job to serve Him.

Moe: Oh. So that verse means we should be serving God?

Mooster: Yes. Sometimes you will hear someone say they don’t know who God wants them to marry, or where they should live or go to school. So they are praying about it and waiting on God. By that, they should mean that they are both waiting for an answer or direction from God, but also that they are waiting on Him, or serving Him, while they are waiting for the answer. Waiting can be used both ways.

Monkey Moe: Are there more verses about waiting?

Mooster: Yep. Psalm 37:9 says, “For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.”

Monkey Moe: That sounds pretty good – inheriting the earth!

Mooster: God rewards our patience when we trust Him and serve Him.

Monkey Moe: Sometimes it’s hard to wait for things, though.

Mooster: Yes, it is. In Jeremiah, it tells us that God is the giver of rain and showers, and that we should wait on Him because He has made all those things.

Moe: Well, let’s go back to the serving part. How do we serve God?

Mooster: We can serve God in many ways. We can serve Him by obeying our parents. By helping our neighbors. By giving our time to do tasks for people, like…let’s say your neighbor’s yard needs raking, but they can’t do it because they are old or in a wheelchair. You can rake their leaves for them and you can tell them that you are doing it because you love the Lord Jesus Christ. Your service to others is a service to God.

Moe: That’s cool! What about going to church, praying, reading my Bible, and memorizing verses. Are those all ways I can serve God, too?

Mooster: Yep. Sure! Those are all great ways to serve Him.

Moe: Um. Mooster?

Mooster: Yes, Moe?

Moe: Do you think I should maybe…reconsider my Christmas lists? Maybe I should make some lists instead of ways I can serve God. Things that I could do for others to show Christ’s love to them.

Mooster: Moe, that is a very excellent idea! Did you know, I know of a lady who got saved, partly because she saw how people who loved her, served God by taking care of her when she was dying. She saw Jesus through the service of those people. So you see – serving others IS serving Jesus!

Moe: Kids – I guess I had a good idea! Maybe this week you can go home and think of ways that you can wait on God – serve Him by serving others. Mooster – do you have a list of things you can do to serve God?

Mooster: As a matter of fact, I don’t! But I think it’s a great idea. Do you want to work on your list while I work on mine tonight? Instead of going to the mall, that is.

Moe: OH, hahahahah. Yeah. I don’t think I’ll be going to the mall anytime soon. Christmas is a long way away and I have more important things to think about – like waiting on God. Should we go back to my treehouse to make the lists? We can have banana shakes while we work on them!

Mooster: Sounds great! What are we waiting for?

Moe and Mooster: BYE KIDS!