Primary Current Assemblies



KEEP GOING

By Guy Donegan-Cross

Suitable for Whole School

Aim

To explore the value of perseverance.



Preparation and materials

• You will need a feather, and some small prizes. 
• Optional: a piece of metal, a hammer, a saw, a candle.

Assembly

1. Ask for three volunteers. One at a time, tickle their nose with the feather, timing who can last the longest without scratching! Give prizes.
   
2. Ask the children whether they are good at enduring. Sometimes it’s very necessary. Tell this story, with visual aids if possible.
   
   Once upon a time there was a piece of iron, which was very strong and very hard. Many attempts had been made to break it, but all had failed.
   
   ‘I'll master it,’ said the axe. And his blows fell heavily upon the piece of iron, but every blow only made the axe's edge more blunt, until it finally ceased to strike and gave up in frustration.
   
   ‘Leave it to me,’ said the saw. And it worked back and forth on the iron's surface until its jagged teeth were all worn and broken. Then, in despair, the saw quit trying and fell to the side.
   
   ‘Ah!’ said the hammer, ‘I knew you two wouldn't succeed. I'll show you how to do this!’ But at the first fierce blow, off flew its head and the piece of iron remained just as before, proud and hard and unchanged.
   
   ‘Shall I try?’ asked the small soft flame. ‘Forget it,’ said the axe, saw and hammer. ‘What can you do? You're too small. You have no strength.’
   
   But the small soft flame didn’t listen to them. Instead, it curled itself around the piece of iron, embraced it and never left it until it melted under its warm irresistible influence.
   
3. The Bible says, ‘Love always endures.’ And Christians believe that Jesus kept going even when life got tough – in opposition, in persecution, and in death – because he loves us. That’s why Christians believe God never gives up.
   

Time for reflection

Reflection

Ask the children to think of something difficult they have to do at the moment – maybe a hard bit of work, maybe someone they are trying to be friends with. In their own way, they can ask God to help them keep going.

Prayer

Thank you that you never give up on us even when we find life hard and difficult.

Help us to keep going, to endure, even when we’re feeling right at the end of our strength.

Amen.

Song

‘He who would valiant be’ (Come and Praise, 44)

‘When I needed a neighbour’ (Come and Praise, 65)