From small acorns large oaks grow: Mary Jones
AGE: Juniors |
THEME: From small acorns large oaks grow: Mary Jones |
AIM: |
| To develop an understanding that God can use a young child as an inspiration to bring changes all over the world. |
PREPARATION: |
You will need:
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THE STORY: |
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How many of you have really, really wanted something but knew that you didn't have enough money to buy it? Can you remember what it was? (You could here take some examples if the situation allows it and list them on a flip chart/whiteboard). In a situation like that you have at least two choices. What do you think they could be? (Take some suggestions and list them as above). Yes, you can either do without it or save up your money! In the story I have for you today the first choice, of doing without it, was not an option as the little girl really, really wanted something. So she decided to save up to buy it. What do you think she wanted to buy? (Take some suggestions and list them as above). I'm afraid to say that none of your suggestions are correct! Let me help you by saying that she had to save up for a long time. How long do you think she saved for? The correct answer is six years! Now then, any ideas what she wanted? (Again take some suggestions and list them as above). You would think that she wanted something extremely costly. What she was saving up for was a Bible - one in her own language. The little girl's name was Mary Jones and she lived in the shadow of Cadair Idris mountain in North Wales. She was born in 1784 when times were very different to today - no running water in the house, bath or toilet, no electricity, no TV, or video, or Game Boy. Can you imagine it? Take a minute to think about how different your childhood and Mary's would be. (Again you could take some suggestions and list them as above). There were no proper schools in those days for children like Mary. She would however, go to a local farmhouse during the evenings to learn how to read. She learnt to read using - what do you think? Yes, the Bible. She learnt to read in Welsh as she would not have been taught to speak or read in English. Mary was determined to buy her own copy of the Bible. In order to do that she would need to save five shillings. If one 'old' shilling is equal to our 5p piece, how many pence would that be in our money? Yes, well done 25p. That doesn't sound too much does it? What can you buy for 25p today? Would you have to save for six years to buy something that's worth 25p? I don't think so somehow! I'm not going to give you a Maths or History lesson on comparing money when Mary was a child with today. That's something you may like to research during the week. However there were twelve old pence in a shilling. There was a halfpenny piece and there were two of those in a penny. (If you have a picture or poster of a Penny Farthing bike you could show it - ideally on whiteboard). There was also a smaller-valued coin called a farthing and you needed four of these to make a penny! Mary saved hard by collecting firewood, selling eggs and doing small jobs around the area. She kept her farthings and halfpennies. I forgot to tell you that in those days you needed 240 pennies for a pound! Anyway for six long years Mary saved and did without other things in order to buy her Bible in a language she understood. Eventually, at 16 years old she had her five shillings. But the story doesn't end there. She now had to walk around 25 miles from her home at Llanfiangel-ym-Mhennant to Bala. She did so WITHOUT shoes, walking on rough tracks and over fields covered no doubt with thistles! That was dedication. What would you be willing to do that for? After reaching Bala she knew she had to find a person called Thomas Charles. He sold Bibles. Nervous, tired but full of excitement she knocked on his door. Would he be in? Thankfully he was and he had six Bibles left. However, according to one version of the story, the six were already promised to others. Her face dropped. She was gutted. Six years of saving, 25 miles and covered in blisters and not a Bible! Put yourself in her shoes(!) how would you have felt? Thomas took pity on her and sold her one he'd promised a friend of his. Mary walked home - a happy young girl who now had a Bible to treasure and read. The story however does not end there either! So taken was Thomas Charles with Mary's story that during an important meeting in London he retold her story. As a result of this, on the 7th March 1804 the British and Foreign Bible Society was founded - 200 years ago. Little did Mary think when she started collecting her farthings that her story would be retold all over the world and that her determination would be a springboard to found the Bible Society? Her act led to millions of others benefiting all over the world. God can use even the smallest child in a remote cottage to bring blessings to millions. |
PRAYER: |
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Dear Lord Thank you for the story of Mary Jones. We thank you that the Bible was so important to her. Help us to read it more often and to learn more about you. Bless the work of the Bible Society as they celebrate 200 years of sharing Bibles - all thanks to a small little girl from Wales. Amen |
SONG: |
| 'Lord, the light of Your love (Shine, Jesus, shine)' No. 107 Power Praise Revised |
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS: |
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