In short...
Themes: Christianity; forgiveness; parables of Jesus.
Summary: This assembly, which is suitable for an act of collective worship, focuses on a parable that Jesus told which is found in the Bible and is popularly known as 'The Prodigal Son'.
Resources: The framework to download / print (pdf) and an image to display of the word 'Forgiveness' You will also need a whiteboard or chalkboard large enough for the children to see and a pen or chalk to write with.
The video
AMY: Hello, I'm Amy and this is a story about a farmer and this farmer had two sons.
The farmer was very kind to his children and one day he would pass on everything he owned to them. He would share out all his money between the two brothers.
But, even though he had everything he needed, the younger son wasn't happy on the farm. He wanted to be somewhere else, somewhere more exciting.
So, he went to his father and said he wanted to leave and demanded his share of his father's money now. Well, you can imagine how sad the farmer was.
But, he really loved his youngest son and decided to give him what he wanted.
The farmer was heartbroken.
So, the younger son began his journey. He had lots of money and he enjoyed spending it and spending it and spending it. His life was like one big party, until eventually the party ended. The younger son had spent all the money. He was left with nothing.
He was cold and hungry, he had nowhere to go and no one to help him. He realised he needed to get a job so he could earn some money. And do you know where he ended up? Back on a farm looking after the pigs.
He watched the pigs eat and eat and get fatter and fatter while he was so hungry. Can you imagine being jealous of a pig's dinner?
He went to bed feeling very sad and hungry and cold and lonely. He suddenly remembered his father and his brother and the farm where they all used to live. There was plenty of food and everything he could ever want, but he’d left it all behind.
He knew his dad had been sad and he wanted to say sorry. But would his father ever forgive him and take him back? The father loved both his sons very much and every day his youngest son had been away; the father had looked outside to see if his son was going to come back.
And then one day, there he was!
The younger son was worried he’d be in trouble, but his father was so happy to see him that he forgave his son right away.
And he threw a big party to welcome him home.
Even though the younger son spent all his money, he was completely forgiven. Can you imagine how that felt? Come in, guys. Thank you so much for helping tell this treasure story. It was first told by Jesus in the Bible. See you again soon. Bye!
This story is from Christianity and is one that Jesus told. It is found in the New Testament in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15.
In the story there is a farmer with two sons. The younger son wants his inheritance early and to leave the farm. The father lets him have his way and the younger son leaves. He lives a life full of parties and excitement…until the money runs out and the parties stop. He decides to return to the family farm and ask if he can work for his father. His father is so happy to be reunited with his son that he forgives him straightaway.
This story helps us to reflect on forgiveness. Forgiving someone means not holding their wrongdoings against them and instead making a fresh start. Christians believe this story shows how God feels about every person.
Duration: 3' 48".
Final words: 'See you again soon. Bye!'
Video questions
- What does the younger son tell his father he wishes to do? (He wants to leave the farm and have his half of his inheritance - the money that would normally be passed on to him when his father died)
- How does the father feel about this? (Very sad)
- What does the younger son do when he leaves the farm? (He spends all his time partying and spends all the money)
- How does the father react when the son returns to the farm? (He is overjoyed and forgives his son for spending all the money)
Key links
Assembly framework (pdf) document
Download / print the assembly framework ready for use
Image: the word Forgiveness. image
Click for the full size image.
1.Entry
Play your chosen music as the children enter.
2. Introduction
Ask the children to look at the board and then start to write numbers on the board. Ask the children to imagine that each number is a mistake that someone (or perhaps a toy character) has made. When you have filled the board, say that there are a lot of mistakes here and the person (or toy character) must be feeling sad about them.
Explain that forgiving someone is making a fresh start and we sometimes use the phrase 'to wipe the slate clean'. Clean the whole board so that it is clear and say that is a way of imagining what people try to do when they forgive someone. They choose to let go of all the mistakes and to start again.
Explain that the story in the video that everyone is about to watch is about the value of forgiveness.
3. Play the video
Duration: 3' 48". Final words: 'See you again soon. Bye!'
4. Time to talk
Lead a discussion about forgiveness by asking:
- What happens when the younger son’s money runs out? (He is sad, hungry and lonely and finds a job looking after pigs)
- What does the younger son decide to do? What happens? (He decides to return home to the farm, intending to become a worker there. His father is overjoyed to see him again and forgives him)
- This story is about forgiveness. The father found it easy to forgive his son. Are there times when it is more difficult to forgive other people?
- Why do you think forgiveness is important? What happens if we refuse to forgive?
5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from BBC collections below.
6. Opportunity for reflection
Let's take a moment to think about the amazing forgiveness in the story of 'The Prodigal Son'…
When people agree to forgive they agree to make a fresh start…
Think about how the son felt when he was forgiven by his father…
And how he might have treated other people after he had been forgiven… and given the chance to make a fresh start…
Think about times when you have forgiven… and about why it felt the right choice to make…
7. Opportunity for prayer
Begin with your usual form of address (‘Dear God’, ‘Let us pray’, etc) and:
Thank you for stories that help us to think about forgiveness.
Thank you for the parable of 'The Prodigal Son' and that You forgive.
Help us to be kind to others and to value forgiveness.
Thank you for the opportunities when we are able to make a fresh start.
Amen.
Suggested songs
Song: 'Down by the riverside' (Come and Praise, no 142. Vocal version)
1. I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside,
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside.
I ain’t gonna study war no more,
I ain’t gonna study war no more,
I ain’t gonna study war no more.
(Repeat)
- I’m gonna talk with the Prince of peace,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside,
I’m gonna talk with the Prince of peace,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside.
Chorus
- I’m gonna shake hands with everyone,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside,
I’m gonna shake hands with everyone,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside.
Chorus
- I’m gonna walk with my friends in peace,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside,
I’m gonna walk with my friends in peace,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside.
Chorus
'God is watching over you' (All about our school, no 7)
God is watching over you,
When you lay down to sleep,
When you wake he will keep
Always watching over you,
Now and forever more.God is watching over you,
When you lay down to sleep,
When you wake he will keep
Always watching over you,
Now and forever more.
Now and forever more.
Song: 'We will grow' (All about our school, no 10)
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
- Some things grow very quickly,
Sometimes they’re very slow.
Sometimes you can see What they’re going to be,
Sometimes you just don’t know.
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
- Sometimes it seems like magic
That happens every day.
But it’s all been planned,
Made by God’s own hand,
‘Cos creation it works that way.
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
We are growing together in love.
We are growing together in love.