Page |1
Prisoners Week 2014
Behind the Mask
16 – 23 November 2014
The Mission and Discipleship Council would like to thank Rev Bill Taylor, Chaplaincy Adviser to
the Scottish Prison Service, for producing this material on behalf of the Prisoners Week Planning
Group.
Contents
Matthew 23: 23-27 .................................................................................................................................. 2
1 Thessalonians 2: 1-6a ........................................................................................................................... 2
1 John 4: 7-21 ........................................................................................................................................... 2
Sermon Ideas ......................................................................................................................................... 2
The Prisoners Week Prayer ...................................................................................................................5
Young People’s Material ...................................................................................................................... 6
Children’s material ................................................................................................................................. 7
Musical Suggestions .............................................................................................................................. 7
Additional Resources ............................................................................................................................ 8
Page |2
Helping people prepare for reading the Bible in worship can make a
real difference. Overcoming nerves, reading in ways suitable to the
text, speaking clearly etc.
You may wish to email these three links to the people reading Scripture on Sunday to support them
in their involvement in worship: Managing your nerves; Creative readings; Worship at the Lectern
Matthew 23: 23-27
1 Thessalonians 2: 1-6a
1 John 4: 7-21
Sermon Ideas
“You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask… God is our witness.”
1 Thessalonians 2:5 NIV
Behind the Mask is the theme for Prisoners Week 2014. It offers an invitation to imagine what it is
like to be where another person is in life.
Mostly we answer ‘fine thanks’ when asked and bat it back with a ‘and you?’ Perhaps a little too
quickly, as we divert attention from what is really going on and buy time to consider what we
might say if probed further on the subject of how we are. Hopefully, most of the time, ‘fine
thanks’ is right enough and life is, in the main, good. But we all have our moments, maybe a fair
stretch of time, when life could not be described as fine.
In his book The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, the sociologist Erving Goffman reflected on
how we can change, sometimes subtly, who we are, depending on which group of people we
are with or the setting in which we find ourselves. Sometimes it can suit to project a certain
image, whilst behind it something else may be going on.
In prisons it is hard for people to be themselves with others round about them, with fellow
prisoners, with staff, even with family when they come to visit in the visits room. People long to
talk about matters they feel deeply about, but with the risk of being overheard or being seen to
express emotion, many opt for the ‘fine thanks’ approach. Much of the time awkward periods
of silence punctuate humdrum conversation, in which not a lot is said.
Page |3
Some would suggest that is not so unusual, and that in the course of daily life, many people only
interact with the masks: the ones they present to the world, and the masks presented to them.
We do not stop to wonder what is going on at a deeper level. ‘Behind the Mask’ invites us to
take the time to pause, consider, and maybe catch a glimpse of the person behind the mask. The
Prisoners Week theme offers us the opportunity to think again, and the chance to see others
differently, and perhaps also ourselves. In such soil the seeds of transformation can grow.
In the earliest theatres actors performed behind masks. By donning a mask the actor played a
part. It is from the world of Greek theatre that our word ‘hypocrite’ evolved, meaning ‘a stage
actor’. It wasn’t long before the practice took on a darker meaning – the word for ‘actor’ came
to stand for one who wore two faces, a pretender, practiced in the art of concealing their true
feelings and in portraying something else, one who put on an outward show while inside their
view of the world was very different. ‘Hypokrites’ may have been very skilled at impersonating
characters on stage, but as a consequence they could find themselves distrusted in other areas
of life.
We’re sometimes given the impression that the region from which Jesus came – Galilee - was a
bit of a backwater. True, Nazareth would have been a village in the days of Jesus’ boyhood, but
only four miles away lay Sepphoris, a major centre of learning, commerce and the arts. Some
have speculated as to whether Joseph might have worked on the large open air theatre that still
stands in Sepphoris to this day. Maybe Joseph would have taken with him the boy Jesus and
from such visits Jesus became familiar with the theatre. For sure, Jesus grew up in a time of
great cultural exchange so it is not a surprise to hear him use a theatrical term like ‘hypokrite’.
What is perhaps remarkable is that Jesus should apply this term to the religious people of his
day!
Jesus tackled them head on, challenging those who made a show of their religious devotion,
when in their hearts there was pride and arrogance. These ‘hypokrites’ focused on small
matters - like giving to God a tenth of the herbs they used for seasoning their food - whilst
neglecting the central teachings of the Law, such as practising justice and mercy and honesty.
They made sure everything on the outside appeared squeaky clean, but inside their attitudes
were full of self-centred ambition and greed.
Page |4
By contrast, Jesus invited people to live with an honesty that stemmed from a heart made right
with God. He came to set us free from pretence, that we might truly know God, ourselves and
one another. Jesus knew that it is fear that leads us to be other than ourselves: We are afraid
that people won’t accept us as we are and we know, after all, that is all we have got. “There is
no fear in love,” John tells us, “Perfect love drives out fear,” (1 John 4: 18) and with it the need
to pretend.
Jesus, who wore no masks, reaches out to all who wear masks of one kind or another. Inviting
us to set them aside, Jesus meets us with acceptance. Such unconditional love, such grace,
offers a new journey of transformation to people in prison and in many other places, as we
recognise ourselves and others, and find the liberty to be who we truly are.
Such transparent love characterised Jesus, and also his followers. Paul spoke about it when he,
Silas and Timothy visited the Church at Thessalonica: “You know we never used flattery, nor did
we put on a mask… God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you
or from anyone else” (1 Thessalonians 2: 6a).
'In the Bin' is a parable written by Robert Pearman and produced on video by Scripture Union.
The story goes like this: ‘Arthur Stanley Grimble is a man who wakes up every morning and
opens his wardrobe door to choose the mask that he will wear for the day ahead. He is feeling
good so he decides to put on the happy face. Just in case, he bundles a few others into his
briefcase and off he goes to the office. During the day he changes his face for whatever fits.
When he is instructing his staff he puts on a domineering, superior face, when he is with his boss,
a humble suppliant look, when he is with his secretary, a handsome, carefree expression, and so
the day goes on, a different mask to fit every occasion. Suddenly his routine is interrupted by a
dustman who comes into his office with a bin. The dustman opens his suitcase and sweeps up all
the masks and puts them in his bin. With a gentle, kindly look he removes the mask from
Arthur's face and puts that too in the bin. Arthur Stanley Grimble wants his masks back and a
scuffle takes place in front of an open window. The dustman with his bin is pushed off balance
and down he tumbles through the air to smash on to the ground several floors below. Arthur
Stanley Grimble panics, he rushes down the stairs to ground level and goes to the place where
the dustman fell. There is no sign of him now, or of his bin, just two red stains in the pavement,
Page |5
crossed in blood. Arthur Stanley Grimble tries to pick up the pieces and get on with his day. He
orders a new set of masks, a happy one, a sad one, an angry one, a charming one…’.
To any who are unsure about themselves Jesus reaches out in love, that in friendship with him
we may discover our true selves and come to know in the deepest places the depths of God's
love for us. Here, God would touch us with healing and forgiveness. Here, God would set us free
and bring us to life in its fullness. Here, we find, at last, the courage to discard the props and
travel on a journey that can change our lives, our communities, and our society.
Prisoners Week invites us ‘to see one another for who we are’. As we find the courage to be
ourselves we have a chance of journeying towards safer communities and more fulfilled lives’.
The Prisoners Week Prayer
“Remember those who are in prison,
as though you were in prison with them.”
Hebrews 13: 3
Lord, you offer freedom to all people.
We pray for those who are held in prison.
Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist.
Support with your love: prisoners, their families and friends,
prison staff, chaplains and all who care.
Heal those who have been wounded
by the activities of others,
especially the victims of crime.
Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, to love mercy,
and walk humbly together with Christ
in his strength and in his Spirit,
now and every day. Amen.
Page |6
Young People’s Material
Text messaging, instant messaging or tweeting has developed shortened ways of saying things.
Here are some examples (these could be displayed on a white chart or on PowerPoint):
Tb – Text back
TTFN – Ta Ta For Now
LOL – Laugh Out Loud
C&G – Chuckle & Grin,
CU L8R – See you later
How do you end your text messages, tweets or emails? Contributions to the list are welcome!
Before mobiles and tablets were so popular, people wrote letters to one another! They would
often finish their letters with the words “Yours without wax”. “Yours without wax!” that seems
bizarre, but it is what the phrase ‘Yours sincerely’ originally meant.
In the Greek language, there are two words which we have borrowed to make up our word
‘sincere’: ‘Sin’ meaning ‘without’ and ‘ceros’ meaning ‘wax’. It came from the market place
where you could buy alabaster vases. Some of these vases would be top quality. Others
however might have developed cracks as they were being made. Some unscrupulous merchants
would fill in the cracks with wax to make it seem as though these vases too were perfect. The
unsuspecting buyer would find out later that they had been duped when the sun came out and
the wax melted. However careful buyers went to the merchants who had signs above their
stalls saying ‘Sin Ceros’. They knew then that they were buying the real thing, the genuine
article.
So we still sometimes sign our letters with words that tell the reader what is in this letter is true.
Jesus helped people to live without pretending. Because they were loved so much by God, they
could be happy simply by being themselves.
Page |7
Children’s Material
Decorating masks: It can be messy, but fun! Plain masks can be acquired from a hobby or craft
shop or they can be cut out and made. With paints and other materials such as coloured paper,
sequins, feathers etc, masks can be decorated and worn with a little elastic.
Wearing masks can be a lot of fun, especially if there is a fancy dress party to go to as well! And
it is fun play acting and pretending to be a super hero or someone famous. But imagine if we
wore masks all the time, no one would get to see who we are, and what a pity that would be!
Musical Suggestions
CH4 506
All I once held dear
CH4 396
And can it be
CH4 189
Be still for the presence of the Lord
CH4 191
Do not be afraid
CH4 724
Feel for the people we most avoid
CH4 493
It’s me, it’s me O Lord
CH4 519
Love divine, all loves excelling
CH4 528
Make me a Channel of your Peace
CH4 279
Make way, make way
CH4 530
One more step along the world I go
CH4 533
Will you come and follow me?
Page |8
Additional Resources
Resourcing Mission
Resourcing Mission is host to Starters for Sunday and other key mission
resources for download and purchase. Online booking is available for
Mission & Discipleship events. Please check back regularly, as new items
are being added all the time. If there is something you’d like to see on
this new site, please contact us via the website.
Prayer Resources
These materials are designed to be a starting point for what you might look for in
prayers. Revealing Love is available now from St Andrew Press.
Music Resources
The hymns mentioned in this material are ideas of specific hymns you might choose for this
week’s themes. However, for some excellent articles on church music and ideas for new music
resources, please check out our online music pages Different Voices.
Preaching Resources
These materials are designed to be a starting point for what you
might preach this Sunday. Preachers Perspectives is a resource
where we have asked twelve preachers to share the insights they
have gathered through their experiences of writing and delivering sermons regularly.
Scots Worship Resources
The Kirk's Ear - Scots i the Kirk series for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost and other
times of the year
Wurship Ouk bi Ouk - Metrical psalms, hymns, prayers and words for worship
Scots Sacraments may give you helpful material if you are celebrating Communion or have a
Baptism.
The Mission and Discipleship Council would like to express its thanks to the Rev Bill Taylor for
providing us with this Sunday’s material.
Please note that the views expressed in these materials are those of the individual writer and not
necessarily the official view of the Church of Scotland, which can be laid down only by the General
Assembly.