7/2/2010 Epiphany 5

Difficult Tasks

Bible Reading

Luke 5:1-11

Preparation

Read the story so that you are familiar with the plot and can tell it in your own words.
Find some of the tools you use in different jobs you do and find hard/disheartening, e.g. a red pen for marking books/ a duster/ garden fork for weeding etc.

Introduction

Show the children some of the things you have chosen and explain why you find the associated tasks difficult, e.g .because it needs doing all over again in a short time/ because it is boring/because it never works as you want it to.

Ask the children what they find hard to do. This could include schoolwork like reading or maths, or keeping their room tidy, or keeping still in assembly!

Set the scene for the story by explaining that James, John and Simon (choose three children to play these parts as you introduce them) were fishermen by trade in the time of Jesus and sometimes found their work very hard.

The Message

This is not an easy story to use in collective worship because the miracle at its centre poses so many questions. It is better to focus on the qualities of discipleship shown in the story and their relevance to the children.

The story lends itself to a dramatic re-telling. You can narrate as the children act out their roles, eg begin with James, John and Simon spending a long and wearisome night throwing out their nets, but catching nothing. Emphasise their tiredness and their disappointment. Introduce Jesus and explain how he told Simon to try again and how this time their nets were full. Emphasise their surprise and their pleasure. Conclude the story by explaining how James, John and Simon left their job as fishermen and followed Jesus.

Choose some of the tasks mentioned in the introduction; one that you need to be taught (eg maths) and one with which you need help (eg dusting!) Explain how Jesus is both teacher who shows us the right things to do and the right path to follow and friend, who is there when we need him, especially when we feel disheartened and unsuccessful. What we need to do, like James, John and Simon, is to Listen (to what Jesus tells us, like we listen to our teachers), Trust (as we would a friend) and Follow (live our lives as Jesus teaches us)

It would be good to have these words written on card and held up as each is explained. They could then provide a focus for the prayers.

Prayer

Dear Lord, please help us to stop and be quiet sometimes and listen to you when you speak to us through the Bible or through other people.

Help us to remember that, even in our sad times, you are with us because you are our friend.

May we try to be like James, John and Simon and live every day as you want us to, trying to show your love to others.

Amen.