Kingsford Church of Christ

Tanglewood's Secret (Term 1 Odd years, 2011, 2013, ...)

Tanglewood's Secret is a story about a boy and girl living with their aunt in county England around 1930.  Through various struggles the children, and particularly the girl, Ruth, find  out about Jesus and  how he can change their life.

We watch one episode per week from the VHS video production (the DVD version has about 10 minutes cut out which spoils some parts of the story). There are 7 episodes.

For the first few episodes we have work sheets with "What did you see?", "What do you think?", "What does God say?" and an activity.

Week 1

In the first episode we meet most of the main characters, learn about the setting, and discover that Ruth doesn't get on well with her Aunt.

We talk about the commandment "Honour your mother and father" and whether that should apply here.

Week 2

We meet another more main character, the boy Terry who fights with Philip and then becomes friends, and also Mr Tandy, a shepherd whose sheep has become lost.

Ruth wonders if she can ever be good and  we talk about  Paul's struggles with not being able to do what he knows he should, and how God might feel about that.  Maybe we sometimes like that sheep.

Week 3

The children want to earn some money and try selling flowers.  Four different people in town give 4 very different reactions.  We compare this with the parable of the sower.  People respond to God differently too.

Week 4

Ruth runs away, hides in a church, meets the minister and has a long talk.  The minister gives her a picture of a sheep being rescued.

Week 5

Terry has an accident and Ruth learns to pray.  We talk about how to do that too.  We also have a word-finder for John 3:16.

Week 6

Ruth is finding that Jesus is helping her get on better with her Aunt.  Terry is quite unwell.

Week 7

The children talk about what they could do to help Terry, and about how much of a sacrifice they should make.  As they do their Aunt offer help well beyond what they themselves could manage.  The minister comes and comforts Terry and tell him about heaven.  And he dies.

Ruth doesn't understand why her prayers weren't answered, and Mr Tandy explains how they were.

We talk about live and death, heaven and earth, sacrifice and how God and turn anything we willingly give into much more.