Scene: A noisy creche, full of toys and chaos

Rhona Cathcart August 03, 2025 7 0

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Hosea 11: 1-2; 10-11 (NIVUK)

1 

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

2 

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.