The Sword in the Stone Sunday Service Children s Story Materials: Pictures to show while telling the story OPTIONAL: a sword Preparations: Prepare any necessary materials. Invite children up to steps of altar. Reader of story sits in a chair with children sitting on floor in front of her. Include children s story, even if there are no children in your congregation, to welcome families who may come to the service. You can add your own creativity to the stories. You may feel comfortable using puppets, props or presenting them just as they are written. Feel free to adjust the content to fit your time frame. However, for the spiritual development of the child, we encourage keeping as much of the Ascended Master s Teachings as possible. Time: Approximately 10 minutes depending on storyteller delivery and children s responses. Good morning and welcome. Today our story is about King Arthur, one of the embodiments of beloved El Morya. El Morya is an ascended master and chohan of the first ray. Here is a picture of El Morya. (Show picture.) Do you know what Godly attributes El Morya showed through many of his embodiments? (Allow children to respond.) Yes, courage, dependability, faith and God s will, all representing the first ray. Because he outpictured these virtues, he was allowed to rule over many kingdoms, which he did wisely and well. 1
There are many legends surrounding King Arthur. Here is one version of the story of Arthur and the sword Excalibur that shows how Arthur was obedient to God s will. The Sword in the Stone (Based on the story King Arthur and his Knights by Howard Pyle) Our story begins in the fifth century with King Uther who reigned in the south of Britain. He was a good king who kept his country safe and peaceful. King Uther loved a beautiful woman, Igraine, and wanted to marry her. But, alas she did not accept his proposal. There also lived at this time the great prophet and alchemist Merlin who we know was an embodiment of our beloved Saint Germain. (Show picture.) Merlin had powers that some called magical. These powers were actually the ability to use God s flow of energy to bring forth God s will on earth. Merlin said to King Uther, I will arrange for you to marry Igraine but only on the condition that when you have a child, you will give him to me. These are troubled times and I promise that your child will be raised in a secret place where no one will know his true identity. King Uther agreed, Yes, I promise, for I trust you. Uther knew Merlin would raise his child according to God s will. King Uther and Igraine married and when they had a baby son, who they named Arthur, King Uther kept his promise. Merlin took the child to the honorable knight Sir Ector, who had another son named Kay. Sir Ector was called the Trustworthy Knight 2
because of the noble manner in which he treated others. It was in this family that Arthur and Kay grew and learned together as brothers. Now it came to pass that the noble King Uther was old and ready to pass from this life. He called for Merlin. Merlin, I am concerned that I am not long for this life and have need of a king to succeed me. It is my earnest wish that my son Arthur wear my crown. I bid him therefore that he claim it in a righteous and just spirit, when the time is right. Merlin said, I assure you that your wish will be granted according to God s will. Shortly thereafter King Uther passed away, and, as Merlin had feared, there was now great conflict over who should be the next king. The knights and great men began to battle for the throne. As a result, there was no new king for a long time. Several years later, Merlin went to London to speak to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most important man in the Church. Merlin said to him, Call the knights to London. Tell them to fast and pray to prepare for this holy time of year. It is then that we will find the new king. The Archbishop obeyed and summoned all the knights to London. It was the season of Christmas, and in the great cathedral, a service was held. The people prayed that they receive a sign indicating who was to be their rightful king. Following the service there appeared in the courtyard a strange, white stone, like marble. In the stone was a steel anvil with a great, glistening sword thrust into it. The sword had letters of gold written on it, which read: 3
Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all England. Everyone was surprised and the Archbishop himself came outside to look. Understanding this as the sign they were praying for, he said, I grant permission for any of the knights to try to pull the sword from this stone. Many tried hoping to be king, but no one could even move it. He is not here, said the archbishop. God will make him known when the time is right. Then he set a guard of ten knights to keep the stone, and the Archbishop appointed a day when all should come from near and far to try at the stone. In the meantime, outside of London the knights had been invited to participate in a jousting tournament. One of the families summoned to this tourney was Sir Ector and his two sons Sir Kay and Arthur. Sir Kay, now old enough to participate, took young Arthur along as his esquire- at- arms to carry his spear and pennant. It was during the first round in which Sir Kay, fighting with great strength and determination, broke his sword. (Show picture.) Arthur, run to find me another sword, so that I continue in this tournament, he commanded his younger brother. Arthur obeyed immediately. He remembered seeing the sword in the courtyard and hastened there. The sword in the stone stood alone as all the knights were now at the tournament. Arthur approached the stone, took the sword in his hand and pulled. It came out of the stone easily. (Show picture.) 4
Arthur ran back to his brother with the sword. When his father and brother saw it, Sir Ector did ask, Where did that sword come from? (Show picture.) I pulled it from the stone in the courtyard, Arthur answered innocently. Sir Ector and Sir Kay exchanged glances. For, they knew the meaning of this action. Arthur, are you sure it was the sword and stone in the courtyard? Yes, Father, it was the same, replied Arthur. His father then, went with Sir Kay and Arthur back to the place outside the church. Sir Ector put the sword in the stone again. Now pull it out, he said to Arthur. Arthur pulled and again he easily removed the sword from the anvil. Sir Ector saw this and he and Sir Kay fell to their knees in front of Arthur. You are my King, Sir Ector said. Arthur did not understand. What do you mean? he asked. Arthur, Sir Ector said slowly, 'I love you very much, but I am not really your father. Sir Ector then went on to tell the story of Merlin bringing Arthur to him for his safety. Now, I know why he did this, continued Sir Ector. Arthur knew in his heart that what his father was saying was true. He accepted his mantle and said, I will work to be a fair and just king. I will listen to your words, because I love you as my father. Sir Kay, my brother, you will be an important knight and a friend to me. 5
The story of the Sword Excalibur was just the beginning of the wondrous life of King Arthur. For he went on to rule fairly just as he promised and Sir Kay did become one of his knights. King Arthur understood that to rule as King was the Key to the Incarnation of God. And so as the story of King Arthur lives on in our hearts, we can strive each day to become more of the incarnation of God in our own lives as King Arthur did. CONCLUSION: Our beloved Guru Ma gave us some beautiful teachings about the spiritual meaning of the sword. She said that only Arthur could free the sacred sword Excalibur because it was the symbol showing God s authority for Arthur s divine mission. It was only with the sword of God s will that Arthur was able to form the mystery school of Camelot and the Brotherhood of the Round Table. You can see here in this picture (Show picture.) that the sword is in the shape of the cross of Christ and it represents the threefold flame of each person. The Sword Excalibur represents the threefold flame of each of you. The power of your sword is determined by your own path and attainment. 1 Let s end our story today by expressing our love to El Morya. Please stand and face the picture of El Morya on the altar as we say three times, Hail El Morya. (Recite 3x) Thank you and have a wonderful day. 1 Comments on Camelot Elizabeth Clare Prophet December 31, 1976 Energy Is God Pasadena, California 6
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