SKIN DEEP

February 14, 2010
Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Props: A copy of the story Stellaluna by Janell Cannon, published by Harcourt Brace & Co., 1993. It is also part of a collection called The 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury, stories selected by Janet Schulman, published by Alfred A. Knopf, 1998. Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling would also work as an example of not superficially judging others.

Sometimes we meet people who do not look like us, and we decide we don’t like them, are afraid of them, or think they are strange. When we get a chance to know them we find out we were wrong about these feelings, because, as the saying goes, “Looks are only skin deep.” Often as not, we discover all sorts of interesting things about them, enjoy being with them, and forget how they look. People are not only what they seem to be on the outside, but what they are on the inside matters as well. This is a story about just that idea. Listen to the story of Stellaluna (or whatever story you chose).

(Read the story. The story may be longer than the time you are allotted, so be sure to read it aloud ahead of time and time it. If it is too long, decide what parts you will skip over or simply explain.)

Stellaluna and the three birds, Flitter, Flap, and Pip, discovered they were quite different from one another, but that each had qualities that were right for them. They were different, but they could still be friends. If you meet someone who is not just like you, remember “Looks are only skin deep.” Get to know them and you will discover they have some interesting qualities that are not like yours, but which are just right for them.

Today’s Children’s Worship Bulletin has some activities about a time when the disciples discovered some interesting and new things about Jesus and began to look at Jesus in a new way. Try to do these activities.

Let’s pray: You have made an interesting world for us to live in, creator God, and we thank you for that. Help us to appreciate the wonderful differences you have included in your creation. We pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.