Daily Worship

Scene: A noisy creche, full of toys and chaos

Rhona Cathcart August 03, 2025 1 0
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Image credit: Unsplash
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Hosea 11: 1-2; 10-11 (NIVUK)

‘When Israel was a child, I loved him,
    and out of Egypt I called my son.

But the more they were called,
    the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
    and they burned incense to images.

 

10 

They will follow the Lord;
    he will roar like a lion.
When he roars,
    his children will come trembling from the west.

11 

They will come from Egypt,
    trembling like sparrows,
    from Assyria, fluttering like doves.
I will settle them in their homes,’
    declares the Lord.

A noisy creche, full of toys and chaos. A harassed woman, Alma, stands in the middle. She raises her voice to be heard over the hubbub.

Alma: Ephraim! Enough is enough. Show yourself right now!

[The camera focuses on a small boy peeking out from inside a craft cupboard. He is covered in an indescribable mix of paint, mud, food, you name it.]

Alma: (with a mixture of anger, exasperation and relief) There you are! Why didn’t you come when I called?

Ephraim: Didn’t want to.

Alma: Why on earth not?

Ephraim: Thought you’d be mad.

Alma: And why might I be mad?

Ephraim: ‘Cos…( He gives a helpless shrug as he indicates the state of his clothing, his face, the room)

Alma: Exactly!

Ephraim (tentatively) Are you mad?

Alma: Yes! (Ephraim shrinks) But I still love you, you nugget. Now come and help me clean this up. (Ephraim sneaks in for a hug) 

 

Prayer:

 

Lord

Help us to always recognise the roar of love 

Calling us back to safety and home. 

Amen.