Good Copy

To think about copying and learning from Jesus

by The Revd Guy Donegan-Cross

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To think about copying and learning from Jesus.

Preparation and materials

• You will need a sketch pad and pen, a flip-chart or OHP with WWJD written on it, and a shoe cleaning kit.

Assembly

1. Begin by doing a quick, funny sketch of a child who is sitting in front of you. Show everyone. Say it's not a very good copy!
   
   Note: If you prefer you can prepare by having the drawing mostly finished so that you just add a few details at the start of the assembly.
   
   
2. Ask the children if they think they copy others in any way. Say that we all copy people as we grow up, and when we are adults too. Sometimes we copy others doing good things, and sometimes we copy them doing bad things. We copy people's clothing styles and speech patterns, and we also copy behaviour. See if the children can think of examples of each of these. Say that copying someone can be hard, especially if they stand out against the crowd.
   
   
3. Play the mirror game. Ask two children to stand at the front, side on to the rest of the assembly. One of them is to perform a mirror image of the actions of the other. Ask them to start by the leader miming having a wash, eating breakfast and brushing their teeth. If time allows ask other pairs to do the same exercise with different mimes or abstract movement. Make the point that if the leader goes too fast or moves too suddenly it can be difficult for the other person to follow.
   
   Also say that copying or following someone doesn't make us exactly the same as them. We are still ourselves, even when we try to follow a leader.
   
   
4. Say that Christians want to copy one person. Who is that? - Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus showed us the best way to live. Ask for a volunteer to come out to stand at the front. While you clean their shoes for them, tell the story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet. Point out that Jesus said the best way to copy him was to serve others.
   
   
5. Show the letters WWJD. What do the children think they stand for? The answer is: 'What Would Jesus Do?' A lot of Christians find this helpful, because when you are in a situation where you are not sure what to do, you can pray, and try to copy Jesus. Copying him does not mean looking like him, but trying to live in the same way he lived. That's a good copy!

Time for reflection

Dear God,
We all need someone to show us the way.
Thank you that we can copy Jesus.
In his name.
Amen.

Song/music

'I was lying on the roadway' (Come and Praise, 88)