Temptation

February 13, 2005

Meet today's cast...
Fr. Charlie: Quite a wit, pastor of our flock	Dr. Moody: Puppet doctor who helps the puppets deal with different feelings or moods that they may have.	Bubba: Good natured, loves the beach and surf-boarding, simple-minded and silly
Wendy is a worrier. She is always finding something to worry about and her friends try to encourage her to take her worries to Jesus.	Jill: Bubbly personality. Jokes around and loves candy.	Scooter: Always "scooting" around, going in all directions, busy, busy, busy, trying to learn to take time to slow down.

FR. CHARLIE: Good morning boys and girls! A few days ago a SPECIAL time in our church began called LENT. Lent is a time where we learn how much Jesus loves us. Also, in the Gospel today there’s a word my friend Dr. Moody is going to help me to explain.

DR. MOODY: (may want to use a German accent) That’s right, Fr. Charlie, and the word is TEMPTATION! Jesus is in the desert and the devil is trying to tempt him--which means he’s trying to get Jesus to do something WRONG and……

Out comes Bubba, Scooter, Jill, and Wendy singing:

“OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DOO
I’VE GOT A PERFECT PUZZLE FOR YOU
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADAH DEE
IF YOU ARE WISE YOU’LL LISTEN TO ME!”

BUBBA: Hi Fr. Charlie and Dr. Moody—we’re pretending to be Oompa Loompas!

FR. CHARLIE: Oompa Loompas!…what are Oompa Loompas, Bubba?

BUBBA: Oh, they’re little people in the movie, “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory”. Have you ever seen that movie, Fr. Charlie and Dr. Moody?

DR. MOODY: Yes, but a long time ago! Scooter, wasn’t there something about golden tickets?

SCOOTER: Yep! Mr. Wonka decides to run a contest. His factory was closed for a long time but he decides to open it one more time to 5 people who win golden tickets.

WENDY: And those tickets were hidden in bars of Wonka Chocolate. They were sent to stores all around the world, right Jill?

JILL: Uh, Huh…in fact, 5 kids found the golden tickets and won a tour of the factory withWilly Wonka and a chance to win a LIFETIME supply of chocolate!

FR. CHARLIE: WOW! But, Bubba, when each child won, wasn’t there a man whispering something to each of them?

BUBBA: Yep…his name was Mr. Slugworth. He told each one, “I want the secret formula for the Everlasting Gobstopper candy. When you get inside the Chocolate Factory STEAL it, bring it to me, and I will give you LOTS OF MONEY!”

DR. MOODY: AHHH…so that sounds like Mr. Slugworth was TEMPTING the children to do something wrong. Didn’t the same thing happen to Jesus, Scooter?

SCOOTER: Yeah! That sneaky little devil tried to TEMPT Jesus but HOW did he do it Dr. Moody?

DR. MOODY: He did it by making things sound good and by making Jesus THINK that He’d be happier if He did them! Just like Mr. Slugworth told the kids--If you steal the candy, you’ll be rich and happy! Wendy, have you ever been tempted?

WENDY: Uh, huh…Once, when Dad and I went to a store, I saw a toy I just HAD to have but he said, no. I got mad and wanted to take it and put it in my pocket.

DR. MOODY: What about you, Bubba?

BUBBA: Well, my sister, Charlene, and I were using some crayons and she DARED me to draw on the bedroom wall. I said no but THEN…she DOUBLE-DARED me!!!

DR. MOODY: Jill, can you give us an example of a time when you were tempted to do something?

JILL: Yep…My little brother won an AWESOME prize in school and he didn’t want to share it. So, when he wasn’t looking I was going to grab it and hide it from him.

DR. MOODY: Scooter..you’re the last one. What about you?

SCOOTER: My friend, Freddie, and I were playing a game and I was winning. All of a sudden he started winning! I wanted to say something mean & tell him he was cheating.

DR. MOODY: Those are good examples of temptation. Jesus was tempted just like all of you. He had to decide between right and wrong.

JILL: But, sometimes that’s REALLY hard to do!

FR. CHARLIE: Yes, saying no to temptation is difficult to do sometimes but you will discover that making the RIGHT choice can make you happy! Wendy, what can you do if you’re not sure what choice to make?

WENDY: Sing the Oompah Loompah Song?

FR. CHARLIE: No, Wendy, but take a look at the bracelets you and Jill are wearing. There are 4 letters on them. Bubba, can you take the marker you have and write those letters on that paper, please.

BUBBA: Will do, Fr. Charlie! (Bubba goes to the easel) OK, I’m ready!

FR. CHARLIE: Bubba, write the letters “W…..W…..J…..D”

BUBBA: (As Bubba writes each letter, he will repeat them)
W………W……….J……….D. What do they stand for, Fr. Charlie?

FR. CHARLIE: They stand for WHAT….WOULD…..JESUS……DO. If you’re tempted to do something, think of Jesus ….what would He do, right Dr. Moody?

DR. MOODY: That’s right! On this first Sunday of Lent we learn that Jesus understands temptation. He knows what’s it’s like to have to decide between right and wrong. Jesus loves you and He will help you make the right decisions.

FR. CHARLIE: Yes, He will! Now, my friends, Dr. Moody and I would like to know what you all did when you were tempted. Wendy, what did you do when you wanted to take the toy in the store?

WENDY: I decided that it was wrong to steal, so I didn’t take it.

FR. CHARLIE: Good decision, Wendy. That’s what Jesus would do!

DR. MOODY: Bubba, did you write on the wall?

BUBBA: Well, when my sister DOUBLE-DARED me, I wanted to! But, then I thought about my Mom and I didn’t want her to get mad at me, so I didn’t do it.

FR. CHARLIE: Bubba…that’s what Jesus would do. Now it’s your turn, Jill. Did you take your brother’s prize?

JILL: I almost did, but then I remembered how hard he worked to win that prize. He didn’t need to share it with me. I told him I was happy for him.

FR. CHARLIE: Jill, that’s what Jesus would do. It feels good when we make the right decision. OK, Scooter, your turn.

SCOOTER: Well, I know Freddie didn’t cheat in the game…I just DON’T LIKE to lose. It is JUST a game and he’s my best friend, so I decided not to say anything.

FR. CHARLIE: Excellent choice, Scooter. That’s what Jesus would do.

WENDY: I was just thinkin’. TEMPTATIONS are like tricks! Jesus was tempted just like us. He knows it’s hard to make choices sometimes, but He made the right decisions.

FR. CHARLIE: Yes He did. During LENT, think about how much Jesus loves you. You are so important to Him. He wants to see you happy and wants to help you make the right choices when you are tempted…and temptations happen all the time! When that happens, just remember our

PUPPET PULPIT PASSWORD LETTERS TODAY:

W………….W…………..J……………..D

Each puppet takes a turn:

“WHAT” “WOULD” “JESUS” “DO”

FR. CHARLIE AND DR. MOODY TOGETHER: What Would Jesus Do!

Puppets say “Good-Bye” and as they are going out will sing, “Oompa-Loomp…”

As the Puppets leave, have them start singing the OOMPA-LOOMPA SONG!

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