What a load of differences!

Martyn Payne

Introduction:

One of the challenges of facing change is that it will almost certainly mean meeting people who are different. This can be frightening and it is much easier to stick with those who are like you and like what you like. The following presentation for an assembly with follow-up activities for the classroom explores the way in which differences can be enriching. When children move on to new classes, new schools and new situations, the changes they encounter can help them discover more about themselves and help them grow into the best they can be. The assembly explores how Jesus brought together a whole new team of very different people (his disciples) who in the end became friends that went on to change the world. The classroom activities look at the feelings associated with change and also explores what it means to step into something new, using the story of the calling of the disciples.

Preparation:

The Bible stories about Jesus choosing the disciples can be found in Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16.

The call of the first four disciples is in Mark 1:16-20.

There is a retelling of this story in The Barnabas Schools' Bible, story 257, 'The four fishermen', page 226.

Development:

Here is a script for presenting the choosing of the twelve disciples for an assembly:

What a load of differences we have here this morning!

Different faces, different smiles,

Different names, different hairstyles,

Different eye colours, different shoe sizes,

Different heights, different widths(!),

Different voices, different talents

Different characters, different personalities.

What a load of differences we have here in the assembly hall!

It's too much... too many... too scary!

I much prefer it when people are more like me.

When they wear the same sorts of clothes, have names I know, are more my size and share my ideas.

But the trouble is that things change. New schools, new classes, new teachers, new routines. Why does it have to change?

Once upon a time Jesus was faced by a load of differences.

Some were young and some were old.

Some were clever and some were 'not so clever'.

Some were easily confused and some were very strong-minded.

Some were talented and some could do only one thing.

Some were angry and some were peaceful.

Some were suspicious and some were over-enthusiastic.

But Jesus knew he needed them all in his world-changing team.

And each time Jesus chose someone to follow him, the others said:

We don't need you.

But Jesus said:

Oh yes, we do!

(Rehearse this, so that two halves of the assembly chorus back these responses at the appropriate points in the story!)

Jesus chose hot-headed, loud-mouthed, never-stop-to-think-about-it Peter.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Jesus chose angel-faced, quick-to-smile, far-too-young-looking John.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Jesus chose quick-eyed, clever-in-class, good-at-languages Andrew.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Jesus chose grumpy-faced, stick-in-the-mud, 'I don't believe it!' Nathaniel.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Jesus chose very-excitable, won't-ever-give-up, always-in-a-rush Philip.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Jesus chose thoroughly-nice, his-mummy-loves-him, he'll-go-far James.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Jesus chose good-at-maths, rather-selfish, 'I'll do anything to succeed' Matthew.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Jesus chose never-trusting, always-doubting, 'I'm-not-sure-about-this' Thomas.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Jesus chose not-very-strong, easily-overlooked, 'I'm-too-small' James.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Jesus chose temper-losing, tantrum-throwing, 'I'll smash your face in' Simon.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Jesus chose very-impatient, money-loving, 'I'll-do-it-my-way' Judas

And the others said: We don't need you

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

And finally, Jesus chose nobody-special, easily-overlooked, 'what's his name?' Jude.

And the others said: We don't need you.

But Jesus said: Oh yes, we do!

Yes, Jesus chose each one of these twelve disciples, with all their load of differences.

And they became a great team.

They became great friends working together

The twelve disciples became a team that changed the world (with just one substitute before extra time!)

Because God can bring our differences together,

to help each one of us become the best we can be.

And change can lead to something better for everyone!

Follow-up activities for the classroom:

1. Play an 'all change' cross-the-circle game. Cross the circle if:

... you are already 8/9/10/11 (depending on which Year Group you are working with).

... you like the colour blue/red/green.

... you had cereal for breakfast this morning.

... you like Doctor Who.

... you have ever been to the circus.

... you like things to stay the same.

... you like things to change.

2. What a lot of differences there are in this room. Differences can be scary, but they can also be exciting. When things change we meet differences.

3. Play an In/Out exercise in a circle, in which everyone starts by facing outwards and the on the signal, 3-2-1-In, they all turn in and become a statue expressing feelings associated with change, for example, excitement, boredom; hope/anticipation; uncertainty; fear; suspicion; shock.

Next, set off walking around the room and ask them to interact with different attitudes:

avoiding each other (no eye contact)

with suspicious looks

with uncertain smiles

with friendly smiles and nods

with warm handshakes

Move into groups of four or five.

4. Meeting something new

In groups, imagine you are exploring a garden of a tumbled-down house in the country. You come across a door in one wall. It looks old but inviting. Where might it lead? What are your arguments for trying it or leaving it? As a group, act out what you would say, with some for going through it and others against!

5. Now make a link to Mark 1:14-20, where Jesus calls the first disciples to something new.

Set the context for what happened to the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James and John. Act out fishing and mending nets; comparing catches and looking at the weather; laughing and joking when Jesus arrives. Sketch in some background and then Jesus' invitation to start something new with him. Follow me is the offer of an adventure. What do they do?

Explore the decision to follow Jesus with a choice circus for Simon Peter and some of the others. What reasons are there for staying and what reasons for going? You could hot seat some of the disciples' friends and family to discover what they thought about the decision to leave the fishing job and follow this new teacher.

6. There is a reflective story about the life of Peter on our website, which you might like to use with the class to see what this decision to meet change meant for Peter - see Peter's story.

What encouragements about change, meeting difference and facing new experiences are there in these stories for the children?