|
MAKING TRUTH INTERESTING (Given by a Senior Confirmation Class)
HYMN:
"WITH GOD IN PRAYER"
"How great it is! How glorious!
-A holy splendidness:
When young folks their lives in truth do yield
To Christ as his own-with zeal.
If but the Savior the heart may win
-The youthful heart complete
From secret fault and open sin
Subdued at Jesus' feet."
They listen to first verse. . . (Three Confirmands sitting
together in the home of one of them.) (Announcer, please play
chorus of first verse softly in the background
so that speaking may be heard.) ELEANOR: "Say, girls, I am
surely glad you came over tonight. You can perhaps join me in the
study of our Confirmation lesson."
RITA: "That's why we came over, Eleanor."
JACQUELINE: "But don't you girls think we had better turn
the radio off if we are going to study our
Confirmation lesson ?" ELEANOR: "Sure, but I love that
song they are singing. We all know it, why
can't we join in and sing it first?"
RITA: "That suits me fine. I like that song, too."
(The rest of the Confirmands are coming in . . . Whisper ing.
. .)
ELEANOR: "Hey, there, you scholars, but
what a strange coincidence. Why do you all
come in to see me?" CLAIR OLD: "Because we are worried
about our test at the
85
CONFIRMATION CLASS IN KETCHIKAN 1944
next class meeting, that's why. You look as though you all got it
already on your fingertips."
ARTHUR: "Why, all we need now is the minister. Here is the
whole class. Isn't that funny?"
ELEANOR: "What's so funny about that, 1'd like to know? It
won't be so funny if we flunk in that test the minister is going to
give us. But before I turn the radio off, we want you all to join in
and sing that song they are singing."
ARNE: "How can we do that? We are no radio singers, are
we?"
VIVIAN: "Swell, then we can learn. I agree with Eleanor.
It's lots of fun to sing with the radio. I often do that at home. I
am sure we all know the last verse to that song. Come on, kids,
let's sing. . ."
86
"Young friend, perhaps you ask us now
If this is really so.
o come to Jesus, 'fore him bow
He'll set your heart aglow.
When he alone clears clouds away
It shines into your soul
Bend down in pray'r 'fore God today
And all, yea all is well."
(The Pastor enters when they sing the chorus and joins in
singing it. . . .)
CHORUS
"Sing, all young folks, sing
Your youthful beauty bring,
The young folks like wreaths of morning dew
'Round Golgotha cross stand true
Like birds in spring I sing so free,
The festal robe I wear
The loveliest sight that I can see
Is young folks with God in pray'r."
SONJA: "Look there, you; the Pastor is here!"
PASTOR: "Why, class, what is this? Here I come to make a
home-call on this family, and I find you all here. I hope I'm not
intruding, my dear ones, am I?"
ELEANOR: "Not at all, Pastor, not at all, is he, kids?"
ALL: "Why, no."
LEIF: "That's just swell, pastor. One of the Confirmands
just said a while ago, that all we lacked was the minister, and here
you come."
PASTOR: "But what kind of a get-to-gether party is this,
and who made it up?" JEAN: "Why, pastor, we
met the other group, all these of the class,
outside the house here as we came in to see Eleanor.
87
. . . We had heard that Rita and Jacqueline had gone over before
to see her about the lesson."
SONJA: "That's right, pastor, and we are just a little
worried about the lesson."
HAROLD: "But it seems very interesting."
EDDIE: "But kind of hard, though. . . . Still, I think we
can get it if we try." PASTOR: "Good idea,
folks. Supposing we get to work and tackle the lesson. Perhaps I
could help you with it a little." CLARICE: "We always get
it easier, pastor, when you explain the lesson to us." ARNE:
"Will you kindly do that, Pastor? I guess we all agree
to that."
ALL: "We sure do."
PASTOR: "Well, then children, with the hostess' permission,
we shall go to work." ELEANOR: "That is
perfectly O.K. with me. But it really is too
much to expect." PASTOR: "Not at all, my Confirmands. I am
here to serve and help you. Let me see, who has a Catechism to let
me use? "
VIVIAN : "You may use mine,
Pastor."
PASTOR: "Thank you. . . . And here I see you have the lesson
all marked, pages and questions and all. . . . However, there is
something we call orientation, which means to get the right focus on
things, and to get things kind of in an organized manner. And to
begin with, I think we had better get a right outlook or perspective
of things. Nothing like getting a good start, you know. First of
all, class, who can tell me on what other book our classbook, the
Catechism, is built . . . Who knows?"
JEAN: "You have taught us that all the teaching in our
church is built on the Bible, the Word of God."
88
PASTOR: "That is correct. . . . And now, will someone tell
us who wrote the Bible and how the Bible is divided according to its
contents, and also the time written . . . and whatever else you have
in mind. It will all count in that test, you know."
VIVIAN: "I'd like to take that, Pastor. And I say that the
Bible is God's own inspired word, and that God got men and women
over a period of about 1,600 years to write it down for Him. These
writers were practically from all walks of life, but all were
obedient to the voice and command of God. The book itself is divided
into the Old and the New Testament, and these two testaments
comprise 66 books, together, larger and smaller. Genesis is the
first book in the Bible and Revelation the last."
PASTOR: "Indeed very good. . . . And why did God command
these people to write the Bible? Tell me also who ought to read it,
and what is the central truth or lesson in the Bible? Can someone
answer that, too, then I would say you have a wonderful start."
ARNE: "Well, Pastor, I should think that God wanted the
truth to be known, and if the Bible is His own word, as our church
claims for it, then we also know that God wants all people to read
the Bible and regard it a very precious gift. But I guess that a lot
of people like the movies better, and the funnies. The main thought
or gist of the Bible is that God has created man in His own image.
But the devil fooled man in the garden of Eden and tripped Adam and
Eve, and thus God's image was ruined. But we learn in the Bible how
this image of God can be restored by learning about and believing in
God's Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us, and thus paid for our sins
and saved us. I guess that is right isn't it?" PASTOR: "It
surely is. You certainly would get a 100 for that, young man. And
now will someone tell us how the
89
Catechism is built up or arranged? I mean, how it is
systematically divided into parts or classes."
HAROLD: "In five parts. Do you want me to name them?"
PASTOR: "Yes, if you please. That is quite important."
HAROLD: "The first part is the Ten Commandments, or the law;
the second part gives us the three Articles of Faith, the third
teaches us the Lord's Prayer and how to understand each' part of it;
the fourth part is about Baptism, and the fifth part gives us the
teaching of the other Sacrament, the Lord's Supper."
PASTOR: "Very well, that is fine. Now we are orientated. But
the time is flying fast, and I suppose you folks are tired now
already . . . After all, this is not the regular class period."
CLARICE: "No, we are not tired. It is interesting. But if
the Confirmands want to sing a song for a change, I shall be glad to
accompany you at the piano."
ELEANOR: "Yes, why not sing our Catechism song, Pastor.
We all like that one."
PASTOR: "Our Catechism song, that is a good name for it. You
mean the hymn that is divided like the Catechism and really has everything
in it of these parts."
ELEANOR: "Yes, I mean that one we are learning, No. 110, ,
'Fear My Child Thy God and Lord.'"'
CLAIROLD: "If we know that hymn by heart I think we have the
whole Catechism well in hand. I am going to learn that hymn to get
more help in learning what it is all about. And as these great
truths are set to music it is easier for us to take hold of it. I
think we ought to sing the entire hymn." LEIF: "I think so
too. We were promised credit for it if we know
it well. It isn't so hard to learn." PASTOR: "I thank God
for the interest you are showing and for the
spirit in which you take hold of the work in the
90
confirmation class. And you are right. It is a great hymn. But I
don't want to tire you out."
JACQUELINE: "If someone else will say a verse of it I will
start. I know the first verse already." ARTHUR:
"Go ahead, Jackie, I'll take a verse too, and I am sure
others know some of the other verses." PASTOR: "Good
enough. Let us hear how much of it you know."
JACQUELINE:
"Fear, my child, thy God and Lord,
And revere His name and word,
Holy keep the Sabbath day,
Honor to thy parents pay,
Kill not, shun adultery,
Steal not, lies and slander flee,
Keep from coveteousness free."
ARTHUR:
"In the Father I believe,
Who to all did being give,
And in Jesus Christ His Son,
Who for man redemption won;
And my faith 1 also place
In the Holy Ghost, whose grace
Sanctifies our souls and ways."
PASTOR: "Here is a heritage for life, my dear young people.
I hope you will always treasure such fine teachings and sentiments.
Now we ought to sing these two verses."
ALL SING THE VERSES ABOVE.
VIVIAN: "May I say the third verse, Pastor. And I think Jean
and Eleanor will say the last two. May we?" PASTOR: "All
right, go right ahead. You know we all enjoy it. And radioland is
all ears . . . listening . . . listening . . . And God is standing
by blessing us all "
91
VIVIAN:
"Father, throned in heaven above, Hallowed be Thy name in
love; Let Thy kingdom come, we pray, And Thy will be done alway;
Give us food, forgiveness send,
In temptations aid extend,
Save us, Thou, when comes our end."
JEAN:
"God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, Three in One.
I, baptized into Thy name,
As Thy child Thy blessing claim: Grant that in Thy covenant grace
I my trust in Thee may place, Till in heaven I see Thy face."
ELEANOR:
"Jesus, let my soul be fed
With Thyself, the living bread, For Thy flesh is meat indeed, And
Thy cleansing blood I need; Let it cleanse from sin and shame, That
Thy death I may proclaim, And forever bless Thy name."
92 |
