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Never mind that all the prizes were a random draw- these were real winners, people.

What is a cake pop? You take a cake and crumble it, then you mix it with icing to make it sticky. Roll it into balls and freeze it so that when you dip it in chocolate it doesn’t break apart.

We made parchment paper cones to pipe on the melting wafers / ‘white’ chocolate and some got dipped into coconut. They were yummy!

Joey: Hey Martha, did you read today’s scripture reading?

Martha: Yep! What did you think?

Joey: Oh — I didn’t have time to read it. What was it about?

Martha: Oh, well, it’s the part of the bible where Mary first finds out that she’s going to be Jesus’ mom, and she talks about how blessed she is, how great God is, and how lucky she is.

Joey: Well, that makes sense, being Jesus mom was a pretty big honour!!

Martha: Do you really think so? I think I would have been scared if I was Mary!

Joey: What? How could you say that!? She got to have baby Jesus, and then the wise men came and gave expensive presents!

Martha: She had the baby in a BARN! How do you think that worked Joey?

Joey: Oh, ew! I don’t want to think about that! I’m a dude.

Martha: She had to ride a donkey for 3 days, eat old food, beg the innkeeper for a room (you know, he lost their reservation) and then baby Jesus was born in a stable because someone finally felt sorry for her and gave her some privacy.

Joey: I guess I never really thought about it.

Martha: Well, maybe you should think about it, before going on about how lucky she was!

Joey: Hmm, well, wasn’t both Mary and Joseph were great great great great great grandchildren of King David.

Martha: That means that they were royalty. That’s hard to believe! Things must have really changed – they should have had luxurious accommodations. But they had a donkey instead of a chariot and a stable instead of the Bethlehem Hilton.

Joey: Martha. Did you know that Mary never complained. In fact her heart was full of joy.

Martha: That’s amazing. Did you know that the same is true today. It doesn’t matter whether people are rich or poor – when God lives in our hearts people feel joy even when life dishes out lima beans.

Joey: Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. The more you speak with God, the greater is our joy. Mary spoke to God alot. And God even sent the angel Gabriel to speak to Mary.

Martha: Joy can be like our secret weapon. When joy grows in our hearts – we can face any situation in life.

Joey: Did someone write a song about joy.

Martha: I think so. There is even a special verse with the words ha ha ha in them to make that everyone will have a smile on their face today.

Martha: Happy New Year Joey!

Joey: *worried* uh huh… so far so good!

Martha: …oh… okay. Usually people say “happy new year to you too.”

Joey: Oh right. Sorry, I’m just worrying about my resolutions.

Martha: You’re worrying again?

Joey: Again? Oh no! Do you think worrying less should be another resolution? That would be hard! And then what if I couldn’t do it! Then it would just be the first of my resolutions to fall like dominos!!!

Martha: Well, maybe that shouldn’t be a resolution for you …

Joey: Oh phew!! I’m worried enough about the resolutions I’ve got, let alone worrying about not worrying!

Martha: What are you’re other resolutions?

Joey: First, I resolve to finish my homework on time. Second, I resolve to stop being late for school.

Martha: That doesn’t sound so bad! Why are you worried?

Joey: Well, I haven’t really had time to test them out because school doesn’t start until tomorrow. So I’ve just been worrying about it until today.

Martha: Well, stop worrying! Do you have homework due tomorrow?

Joey: Oh no! I do and I haven’t started yet! I’ve failed my new year’s resolution just like I worried that I would!

Martha: Calm down! You can still do you’re homework this afternoon.

Joey: Of course! I can! Alright! Oh wait! But what if it takes a long time and I have to stay up late to keep one resolution, but then am late for school tomorrow! Oh no! I’m doomed to fail one or the other.

Martha: Don’t worry be happy.

Joey: What?

Martha: You’re not going to get any work done if you worry the whole time. So, stop worrying and get to work! It’s like that song…

Joey: So basically – Don’t worry, be happy, pray often and do my best?

Martha: You’ve got it! It’s like that song!

**musical introduction**

Martha:
Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don’t worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don’t worry, be happy……

Joey & Martha:
Does grass worry ‘bout what to wear?
No it just grows some flowers there,
Don’t worry, be happy
God knows if the sparrow fall
You know you’re hair? he count them all
Don’t worry, be happy

Martha:
Do birds ever gather food?
No ‘cause God always feeds them good
Don’t worry, be happy
God loves his children so
He takes care and watch them grow
Don’t worry, be happy.

Joey: I’m gonna give you my phone number, you feel worried, you call me and I make you happy!

Martha: You’d better get started on your homework instead Joey!

VERSION TWO! LESS SINGY, MORE TALKY

January 4th, 2009
Matthew 6:25-34

Martha: Happy New Year Joey!

Joey: *worried* uh huh… so far so good!

Martha: …oh… okay. Usually people say “happy new year to you too.”

Joey: Oh right. Sorry, I’m just worrying about my resolutions.

Martha: You’re worrying again?

Joey: Again? Oh no! Do you think worrying less should be another resolution? That would be hard! And then what if I couldn’t do it! Then it would just be the first of my resolutions to fall like dominos!!!

Martha: Well, maybe that shouldn’t be a resolution for you …

Joey: Oh phew!! I’m worried enough about the resolutions I’ve got, let alone worrying about not worrying!

Martha: What are you’re other resolutions?

Joey: First, I resolve to finish my homework on time. Second, I resolve to stop being late for school.

Martha: That doesn’t sound so bad! Why are you worried?

Joey: Well, I haven’t really had time to test them out because school doesn’t start until tomorrow. So I’ve just been worrying about it until today.

Martha: Well, stop worrying! Do you have homework due tomorrow?

Joey: Oh no! I do and I haven’t started yet! I’ve failed my new year’s resolution just like I worried that I would!

Martha: Calm down! You can still do you’re homework this afternoon.

Joey: Of course! I can! Alright! Oh wait! But what if it takes a long time and I have to stay up late to keep one resolution, but then am late for school tomorrow! Oh no! I’m doomed to fail one or the other.

Martha: Don’t worry be happy.

Joey: What?

Martha: You’re not going to get any work done if you worry the whole time. So, stop worrying and get to work! It’s like that song…

Joey: You’re right Martha. I think I might be able to get things done by tomorrow if I concentrate. But what if I make a mistake later and fail my resolutions? One day I’ll let my guard down and it will all be over!

Martha: Resolutions don’t work like that Joey- if you make a mistake, you don’t have to give up! Just don’t make that mistake again!

Joey: How can I stop from making a mistake?

Martha: It says in the bible “seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you!”

Joey: All what things?

Martha: All the things that you’re worrying about.

Joey: So what should I do?

Martha: Make sure that you’re doing what God has planned for you — like getting you’re homework done — and pray to him to help you get it done. He’ll help you have enough strength and enough time to get things done.

Joey: God wants me to get my homework done?

Martha: Of course! Part of being a Christian is doing your very best at your work. For us that’s school.

Joey: So basically – Don’t worry, be happy, pray often and do my best?

Martha: You’ve got it! If your first resolution is to seek the kingdom of God, then God will help you with the rest.

Joey: You’re right Martha. My resolutions don’t seem so overwhelming now. But I’d better go get started on my homework right now!!

Martha: Me too! I haven’t started either!

Joey: Gooood morning Martha!

Martha: Hi Joey! Umm… do you think I should be a piano maestro, a ballerina, or a kung fu movie star when I grow up?

Joey: Those sound like boring jobs – what do they have to do with bugs?

Martha: Nothing! That’s why I like them!

Joey: Well then don’t look at me! Why are you trying to decide that now?

Martha: I have an important life decision to make. Right now, I’m in ballet and piano lessons. But I just found out that they are doing karate lessons at school! So this morning I asked my mom if I could sign up.

Joey: What did she say?

Martha: She said I’m too busy to do all 3 and I have to pick 2.

Joey: So what are you going to pick?

Martha: I don’t know!! I’ve been praying about it all morning, and God hasn’t told me which one yet. What if I drop piano, but he wanted me to be a piano maestro when I grow up?

Joey: You expected God to answer you already?

Martha: I prayed for like 1/2 an hour while eating my breakfast! This is pretty time sensitive, I thought God would be right on it!

Joey: Well, maybe it doesn’t matter, or maybe God already knows that you’ll make the right decision on your own.

Martha: How am I supposed to know if I am making the right decision?

Joey: Well, the life that God has planned for you fits you perfectly, because he knows exactly who you are. If you don’t choose piano, probably he wouldn’t plan for you to be a piano maestro. If you’re making the right choice, maybe you won’t hear from God at all.

Martha: Oh no! I just want some verification here!

Joey: Well, God is our heavenly father, right? So think of it like this – say you brushed your teeth before you went to bed, what would your parents say?

Martha: Say? Nothing – I’m supposed to brush my teeth…

Joey: Exactly! And what would happen if you didn’t brush your teeth?

Martha: They’d make me do it!

Joey: Right! So, sometimes when you’re on the right track, God seems quiet. But if we listen carefully, we should hear him speak up when we’re getting off track.

Martha: So should I keep praying about this or what?

Joey: You can – but don’t forget to also thank God. You’re pretty lucky that your trouble is that you have to choose 2 of the 3 things you want to do! Lots of people can’t even have one.

Martha: God has been pretty good to me.

Joey: It’s like Psalm 13 – David was wondering why God wasn’t answering his question, but at the same time, he remembered how much he trusted God and how good God had been to him.

Martha: So David trusted that God’s silence was not because God had forgotten about him, so he thanked the lord for being good to him and for God’s unfailing love.

Joey: And don’t forget Martha, one of the things that you should thank the Lord for is your parents! You’re pretty lucky that you can talk to them about these things too!

Martha: You’re right Joey. I asked God to guide me, so I should trust that he will tell me if something is important. The Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the apple seed, the Lord is good to me.

Joey: Johnny Appleseed?

Martha: Amen!

Martha: Joey, sometimes I just don’t understand why God doesn’t answer my prayers.

Joey: What do you mean?

Martha: Last week my teacher said that she was going to give us a new seating arrangement at school. I really wanted to sit beside Jenny more than anything in the whole world!!

Joey: Who’s Jenny?

Martha: The coolest girl in my class! Anyway, I prayed SO HARD! I just KNEW God would want me to sit with her because I wanted to so much!

Joey: And…. you didn’t get to sit with Jenny?

Martha: Right! God didn’t answer my prayer. I just don’t understand.

Joey: So God did answer your prayer -

Martha: What?

Joey: He said no…

Martha: What? I don’t think you understand how prayer works, Joey.

Joey: Did you know I wanted a bike more than anything else for Christmas?

Martha: …so we’re not talking about my thing anymore?

Joey: I didn’t get one – I got a puppy instead. With bikes, you don’t have to brush them, or feed them, or walk them and pick up their poo.

Martha: But there are so many great things about puppies! I love mine!

Joey: But that’s not what I was thinking when I found out I wasn’t getting a bike.

Martha: So what did you do?

Joey: I brushed him, and fed him, and walked him and picked up his poo. And you know what? All that walking is even better than having a bike!

Martha: Even with all those chores?

Joey: If I was biking instead of walking the dog, I would be too busy to notice anything. I see so many cool things on my walk! And it’s been way to cold to bike – the breeze would freeze my eyeballs into ice cubes. And the other day when I went to pooper-scooper, I found $10 on the ground.

Martha: 10 Dollars??? That’s awesome!

Joey: You bet! Anyway, I wasn’t changing the subject. I’m saying, sometimes what we want isn’t what’s best for us. And God knows what is best, and so sometimes when he says no, he is really telling us, ‘you should have a dog so that you can find ten dollars and buy the new BATMAN COMIC!’

Martha: well, I don’t think that I will buy the new Batman comic, but I guess that I won’t be too sad about not being able to sit next to Jenny. I AM sitting next to a boy named Fredrick.

Joey: A… boy? Fredrick? oh… well… maybe you are just supposed to make friends with Jenny at recess…

Martha: Don’t worry Joey… you will always be my favourite boy.

Joey: Oh… well… I AM GOING TO SUNDAY SCHOOL!

Joey: Good morning Martha!

Martha: Hi Joey – do you think I’m the smartest girl in my class?

Joey: What? Why?

Martha: I’m just wondering if maybe THAT’s why my teacher paired me with the stupidest girl in my class for science.

Joey: Stupidest girl? That’s not very nice Martha, why do you say that?

Martha: Oh, well she’s an american, her parents are here on exchange for the year.

Joey: ….and how does that make her stupid?

Martha: I don’t know — aren’t all American’s stupid?

Joey: That’s a terrible thing to say!!

Martha: What? Everyone says it! Even my PARENTS say it. It must be true, right?

Joey: Well….. Everyone says Canadians are nice… have you never met a mean canadian?

Martha: oh….

Joey: Remember that mean person, who was mean to you that one time?

Martha: The cashier at the store? Or the mean girl in my class?

Joey: Exactly! You can’t just make up your mind about people, you never know what they’ll be like.

Martha: But then why does everyone say that American’s are stupid?

Joey: It’s really easy to make assumptions about people. But, God wants us to love everyone. In the bible there was a man named Ananias, and he had made up his mind about Saul.

Martha: Saul — didn’t he change his name to Paul and write a whole bunch of books in the bible?

Joey: Exactly! Before that Saul HATED the christians and they were terrified of him. If he got his hands on a christian they were LUCKY if he put them in jail.

Martha: What? I would be making some assumptions about Saul for sure!

Joey: Anyway, God decided enough is enough. Time for Saul to become Paul and become his disciple, so he stopped Saul in the middle of the road, blinded him with a flash of light and said “Stop persecuting me!”

Martha: Blinded him? Paul was blind?

Joey: No, this is where Ananias comes in. Three days later, God told Ananias to go see Saul and Ananias said “no way!” He had heard about all the bad stuff that Saul had done and was scared. But God made him go anyway.

Martha: That sounds much scarier than doing science with Sandra!

Joey: Ja. But when Ananias went there Saul was able to see again, and he was baptized right away and started preaching!!

Martha: That’s incredible! Can you imagine telling people you were there when Saul became a christian! Everyone else would have been afraid that he would find out they were a christian let alone talk to him about Jesus!

Joey: Right. Because they were listening to assumptions about him, just like how some people assume all American’s are stupid. We should listen to what God tells us about people instead.

Martha: Why are all your stories about me in the end!?

Joey: Martha, you be nicer to Sandra. God loves her, just as much as he loves you, and it doesn’t matter if she’s American or Canadian, smart or dumb, he still wants you to love everyone.

Martha: …well Joey, some people are easier to love than others.

Joey: But we still have to try for everyone.

Martha: Some people, I can’t help but love…. ((Martha leans toward Joey))

Joey: I ..what? Oh… I gotta go….

Joey: no… I was busy reading a REALLY interesting story

Martha: this week’s reading was pretty interesting!

Joey: you don’t understand! This was REALY exciting – espionage, ninja escapes, baskets…

Martha: Yup, that sounds like this week’s reading…

Joey: NO way! There was this guy who was like a Ninja! The King’s guards were out to get him, so he escaped OUT THE WINDOW!

Martha: …are you sure you didn’t read this week’s Bible reading?

Joey: Definitely. In this story the guy used to be a bad guy, but then he became a good guy, but none of the other good guys trusted him…

Martha: That sounds about right…

Joey: Maybe there are some similarities, but THIS story was TRULY EPIC

Martha: Would you like to hear the story of the bible verse?

Joey: Fine! I doubt it will be as interesting.

Martha: Remember from last week, Saul used to be a Christian hater, but then Jesus had a little talk with him, and now he’s a Christian. Anyway, the Pharisees didn’t like that Saul was now preaching about Jesus, so they sent people to go kill him.

Joey: Did YOU read the ninja book?

Martha: No, this is the Bible. They put guards at all of the roads out of the city, so he couldn’t get away!

Joey: This is amazing – what did he do?

Martha: His friends took him to the city wall at night and lowered him through a window in the wall.

Joey: Just like a ninja! This does sound like the story I read.

Martha: I know! After escaping Damascus, Saul went to Jerusalem to be with the Christians there.

Joey: That’s a good idea, they would protect him for sure!

Martha: Do you think so? Remember he used to be one bad dude last time he was in Jerusalem!

Joey: Oh! So what happened?

Martha: In Jerusalem they were all scared of him. What would you do if you thought someone wanted to kill you, and then out of the blue, they said they were your brother?

Joey: Well, I don’t have my black belt yet, so I would probably run. Really fast.

Martha: Me too. Those first Christians were way braver than we were, because eventually they became friends. Saul turned out to be a super important Christian, and he helped lots of new Christians later in his life.

Joey: That was an exciting bible story! Maybe I did read it last week… Let’s go to sunday school!

Martha: Good morning Joey!

Joey: Good morning! Have I told you about my fortune?

Martha: Like from a fortune cookie?

Joey: No – like riches. I have a money making plan.

Martha: Oh really? What is it?

Joey: Alright, this summer I am going to get jobs, doing yard work and stuff like that for my neighbours, to make some money. Then I’m going to put 10% of it into a long term savings account.

Martha: How long term? What are you saving up for?

Joey: Well, my dad has been reading me the hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy, and there is a restaurant at the end of the universe.

Martha: Where does the universe end?

Joey: You mean when? Not for a long time! That’s why I only need to put that small amount in my account – by the time it gets to the end of the universe, with all the compound interest I’ll be able to afford to eat there!

Martha: Wait – isn’t that a fiction story?

Joey: Um, it’s a guide, Martha. For hitchhikers. The hitchhikers guide to Europe isn’t fiction, is it?

Martha: Well – I guess not. So you’re going to save 10% for your dinner in a billion years, don’t forget 10% for tithing too.

Joey: What’s that?

Martha: Tithing! You know – when you give 10% of your earnings to God.

Joey: What? God wants part of my money?

Martha: God helps you to make money – he makes you strong enough to work, and he gives you opportunities. He gave you the money.

Joey: I guess so –

Martha: It’s just like your investment for the end of the universe – except instead you’re investing into the kingdom of God.

Joey: Investing eh! That sounds pretty good . . .

Martha: This week we read about Cornelius, who gave money to the poor. God was very happy with him for using his money for good. So he sent an angel to tell Cornelius to meet Peter.

Joey: I can give God ten percent of my earnings, especially if he really owns it all anyway! Let’s see, ten percent for the restaurant, ten percent for tithing, that leaves me eighty percent to do whatever I want with!

Martha: What are you going to spend your money on?

Joey: I’m thinking of saving up for a helicopter.

Martha: A HELICOPTER??

Joey: Sure! I can fly around town, I can fly it to school. I wonder if they’d let me park on the roof?

Martha: That’s… that’s just… I can’t believe it… you… will… WILL YOU FLY ME TO SCHOOL IN YOUR HELICOPTER!?

Joey: Well… okay! VRRROOOOOM! *exits*

Martha: He’s so silly. *pause* VRROOOOOOM! *exits*

Martha: Good morning, Joey! How are you today?

Joey: SSSSHHH! *looking around*

Martha: What’s with you?

Joey: I’m listening.

Martha: What are you listening to?

Joey: If God speaks to me, I don’t want to miss it.

Martha: So, you don’t want me to talk to you, because you might not hear God?

Joey: Ya. SSSHH!

Martha: What if God wants to speak to you through me?

Joey: Oh, I didn’t think of that. What am I going to do!? What if I miss something important that God is trying to tell me?

Martha: You think that if you have a conversation with me, THAT will stop God from talking to you? I think you’re underestimating God, just a little bit.

Joey: Do you really think so? I’m just worried about missing something important.

Martha: Are we talking about the same God? The same one who wanted to give Saul a message, so blinded him for three days?

Joey: Um, yes. I guess Saul didn’t miss that message!

Martha: The God who sent an ANGEL to Joseph when he found out Mary was pregnant?

Joey: I think I’m getting the picture here…

Martha: The same God who has Jonas swallowed by a GIANT FISH when he tried to run away from God?

Joey: I don’t want to be swallowed by a giant fish!

Martha: When Peter didn’t understand what God was trying to tell him, he gave Peter the same dream THREE times.

Joey: Could we go back to the fish? You don’t think God will have me swallowed by a giant fish, do you?

Martha: That depends, Joey – is that what it takes for God to get a message through to you?

Joey: No – no, no fish required! SSSH! I’m going to listen!

Martha: Jonas was swallowed by a big fish because he tried to run away and hide from God. But you’re not trying to hide from God. You’re more like Peter – you’re listening, but if you don’t get it, God will probably tell you three times.

Joey: What did God tell Peter three times, anyway?

Martha: Well, God told Peter something three times more than once. But, in Acts chapter 10, Peter had a crazy dream where God showed him all these animals that Peter thought it would be a sin to eat, and God told him to eat them. Peter was totally confused, so God showed him the exact same vision three times, and then Peter got it.

Joey: That’s a totally crazy dream.

Martha: I’ve never dreamed about an animal that I was supposed to kill and eat.

Joey: Last night I had a dream where I made this crazy pizza with rocky road icecream, blue cheese, worms, and pineapple. And then, in the dream my mom came in and made me eat the whole thing. What do you think it means?

Martha: How many times did you have this dream?

Joey: Just once.

Martha: Joey, maybe it means that you shouldn’t eat candy right before bedtime. *exit*

Joey: How did she know?? *exit*