AGE:
Infants and Juniors |
THEME:
Lent |
AIM: |
| To explore what is involved in saying 'no' when faced with a choice between right and wrong. |
RESOURCES: |
- Preparation: It can be helpful if this follows assemblies on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday because this emphasizes that Lent is a demanding time requiring preparation. Older children would appreciate the idea that in sharing a festival people can support each other.
- Materials: Large cue cards for children to follow (see 'Development' below).
|
DEVELOPMENT: |
Begin by explaining that Lent is when Christians remember the time that Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for the difficult period ahead. Emphasize that he was:
- alone
- in an unfriendly environment
- gathering strength for what would happen next.
Choose one of the temptations and act it out using whispered voices. One child, who would be able to express feelings to the whole school, can stand in the middle as Jesus. A second person, adult or child can take the role of the devil telling Jesus to turn the stones to bread, throw himself from the top of the great temple or be ruler of all the countries he can see. Half the children could begin to whisper phrases to support the devil such as 'the bread smells so good'. These phrases could already be on large cards that are held up. The remaining half of the children could then begin to whisper phrases rejecting the devil such as 'God will feed you when you need it' or 'trust God'. If you can orchestrate it, the group representing the devil gradually becomes softer and fades away. This would leave the quiet, firm voice of right. (Children may know the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19.12.)
Ask the children to devise a possible situation in school where they might feel like Jesus. It could be a playground situation where they are being pressured to takes sides against one other child, or to copy the answers to some difficult work rather than admitting they need help. Focus on parallels with the factors identified earlier in the situation for Jesus:
- alone
- no friends to support you
- an unfriendly environment
- it's difficult to refer to school rules when a teacher is not involved in the discussion
- gathering strength for what may be difficult tasks
- we need to have strategies for coping in these situations.
Work out what the different voices would be saying and act out this situation. Return to the theme of Lent as a time each year when Christians think about how they can say 'no' to what they know is wrong. |
READING: |
| Bible reading: Matthew 4 |
MUSIC: |
The Lord's Prayer: African Sanctus, David Fanshawe, Silva classics SILKD 600
(Or your school may be familiar with a particular setting of the Lord's Prayer.)
'Father hear the prayer we offer' (Mission Praise)
'Father, I place into your hands' (Mission Praise)
|
REFLECTION: |
| Ask the children to cup their hands together as if they were looking into a small television screen. The screen will show a moment they remember when they had to make a decision between right and wrong. What were the different voices saying? What made it hard to do the right thing? |
FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES: |
Build some more assemblies on each of Jesus' responses to the devil e.g.:
- What helps us to feel strong?
Make a list - food, prayer, support of friends, etc. Should we expect life to be easy just because we follow Jesus' teaching?
- What should rule our lives?
Being as rich as possible, being in charge of lots of people, winning everything or the way we live our lives?
Alternatively, use these headings as the basis for class or group discussions. |
