The children from our Joyful Noise Sunday School led this morning’s worship service.
The service included ‘The Story Of St. Valentine’, beautifully narrated by Rebecca Pollard.
Here it is:
The story of Valentine’s Day begins in the 3rd century, with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian martyr. The Christian’s name was Valentinus.
Claudius, the emperor, had ordered all Romans to worship 12 gods, and he made it a crime to associate with Christians. Anyone caught being friends with a Christian could be put to death!
But Valentinus decided that was not fair. He was determined to follow in the way of Jesus, who taught that we should be friends with everyone. Not even the threat of death could keep him from following his faith. Because of this, he was arrested and sent to prison. He stayed there for the rest of his life. It was horrible.
During the last weeks of his life, while he was in prison, an amazing thing happened. The jailer had come to know Valentinus during the time he was in prison. He saw that Valentinus was a kind man and that he knew a great deal. He asked if he could bring his daughter Julia to Valentinus so she could learn from him.
Julia was a smart girl with a quick mind. She came to the jail, where Valentinus gave her lessons about science and math. He taught her to read, and told her about God. She learned so much from him.
The day came when Valentinus was going to killed for his faith. The evening before his death, Valentinus wrote a little note to Julia, urging her to keep learning and to stay close to God. He signed it, “from your Valentine”.
His death sentence was carried out the next day, February 14th, in the year 270, near a gate later named Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buried in Rome.
It is said that Julia herself planted a pink blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains as a symbol of abiding love and friendship.
On each February 14th, messages of love are exchanged all around the world, because of this brave man and his friend Julia.
Posted by Hank
Great banner too! I wasn't here for that service but I heard that the kids did a wonderful job. The concept of LOVE as that kind of brave giving of the self is sadly out of fashion in favour of mushy self indulgence (my goodness I must be getting old!)
ReplyDeleteTo offer our kids and ourselves the vision of Love as faithfulness to the truth and the sort of kindness that this story represents. (an adult simply taking time with a child, making sure she knows herself to be valued and cherished) that's what it's all about in the end isn't it?
That sort of thing doesn't sell Hallmark Cards or chocolates though!