What Have You Made?
An assembly from the Culham St Gabriel archive
Suitable for Whole School (Pri) - Church Schools
Aims
To consider the importance of craftspeople and how people can be changed in various ways.
Preparation and materials
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You will need a selection of hammers (if possible, include a small hammer and a large hammer, or mallet), nails, screws, a screwdriver, a rough piece of wood, a ‘worked’ piece of wood (this might be a box, a figure or something else that has been crafted) and a large stone.
Assembly
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Show the children the selection of tools and discuss what each would be used for. Discuss how a skilled person can use tools to make something beautiful or practical. Ask the children to give ideas as to what could be made by using the tools available.
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Point out that, as well as making fantastic models and beautiful crafts, the tools can be used for very practical jobs, such as hammering in a nail to hang a picture on a wall. The tools are a sort of ‘strength’ that adds to our own strength.
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Show the large stone to the children. Point out that a small, fine hammer is needed for delicate work and a large mallet might be used to work on a large piece of stone. Keeping safety in mind, ask one or two children to pick up the tools, compare their weight and try a simple, safe swinging or hammering action.
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Point out that the Bible tells us that Jesus was a craftsperson. He was a carpenter – he used wood to make things, following in the footsteps of his father, Joseph.
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The Bible also talks about people being ‘shaped and crafted’. This means that people can be changed and shaped into kinder people and can have their talents and abilities developed and improved – they can be ‘crafted’ in some way!
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Ask the children the following set of questions.
- Are you like a piece of wood or a piece of stone?
- Are you people who are easily crafted, like wood? That means that you are willing to learn and change.
- Or are you stubborn and hard, like stone? That means that you are unwilling to change and grow as people. -
Nobody is perfect. We all have things to learn. We all have changes that we could make to become better people. Are we willing to learn from our mistakes? Are we willing to take time to think about our actions and see the changes that we need to make in our lives?
Time for reflection
Christians believe that God made everyone. Pause for a moment and remember that you are very special. You have special qualities and gifts that are unique to you. There is no one else in the whole world who is identical to you!
However wonderful we are, there are things in all of us that need changing. Pause for a moment to consider if there is anything that you would like to change in your life. If you feel that you need help with this, talk to someone about it.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that you have made each one of us.
Thank you that each of us is unique and special.
Please help us to change when we need to.
Please help us to be willing to be shaped by life’s experiences.
Amen.
Song/music
‘If I had a hammer’ (Come and Praise, 71)
