The Bridge-Builder
St Andrew’s Day is on 30 November
by Brian Radcliffe
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To consider the life of Saint Andrew, and how we can build bridges in our own lives.
Preparation and materials
- Have available an image of the Saltire, the flag of Scotland, and the means to display it during the assembly. An example is available at: https://tinyurl.com/5n7p2kff
- The stories about Andrew that appear in this assembly are taken from three Bible passages: John 1.35-42, John 6.1-13 and John 12.20-26.
- Optional: you may wish to show some images of famous bridges during the ‘Time for reflection’ part of the assembly, in which case you will also need the means to do so. Some examples are available at: https://tinyurl.com/3r399b9x
Assembly
- Show the image of the Saltire, the flag of Scotland.
I’m sure you’re all familiar with this flag. It was displayed a lot during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer. It is, of course, the flag of Scotland, which is known as the Saltire. If you look closely at a Union Jack, you will see that the Saltire is incorporated there too.
The patron saint of Scotland is St Andrew, and 30 November marks St Andrew’s Day, which is Scotland’s official national day. According to tradition, the cross on the Saltire represents St Andrew, who is supposed to have been crucified on this kind of cross, a martyr for his Christian faith. - So, who was St Andrew?
He was a fisherman, and one of the very first of Jesus’ disciples. Why did Jesus choose Andrew? Maybe it was because Andrew had a very special skill: he was a bridge-builder. You’re probably wondering what I mean by that. Well, Andrew was very good at bringing people together. - It was Andrew who introduced his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus. John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, had told Andrew about Jesus, and Andrew had realized Jesus’ significance. Andrew shared the message about Jesus with Simon Peter, who eventually became Jesus’ most important disciple. Under the name Peter, he became the leader of the Early Church. Andrew built the bridge between Peter and Jesus.
- Then, when Jesus wanted to feed a huge crowd of people who had been listening to him, it was Andrew who brought forward a young boy who had the only food available, five loaves and two fish. These became the resources for Jesus’ famous miracle, when he fed a crowd of more than 5,000 people. Andrew built the bridge between the boy and Jesus.
- Later, when another disciple, Philip, was approached by some Greeks who wanted to be introduced to Jesus, he went to Andrew to help him out of a difficult situation. The issue was whether it would be OK to bring together non-Jews and Jews when the two groups wouldn’t usually mix. Philip wasn’t sure whether his actions would cause trouble. Andrew was the one who helped Philip make the successful introduction. Andrew built the bridge between the two groups of people.
Time for reflection
Ask the students, ‘How good are you at building bridges?’
Show the images of famous bridges, if using.
There are various types of bridge.
- The simplest is the beam bridge, which can be something as basic as a log that spans a narrow river.
- Another common type is the arch bridge, like the Iron Bridge in Shropshire and the Rialto Bridge in Venice.
- Suspension bridges, such as Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, are more complex.
- One of the most complex types of bridge is the cantilever bridge, like the Forth Bridge near Edinburgh.
However, the purpose of all of these types of bridge is the same: to provide a route that joins two locations, which otherwise would involve a detour.
It’s not difficult to see the gaps that separate people from one another. There are differences that arise from age, gender, race and social group that prevent relationships from developing. Prejudice can play a big part in this. There are also the fractures that are caused by argument, suspicion, gossip or misunderstanding. In these scenarios, at best, people ignore one another; at worst, they show antagonism. That’s where the bridge-builder comes in.
To bridge a gap, we need to look at the problem from both sides. We also need to examine the gap in between, to see whether there are jumping-off points in the middle, steps towards a meeting. Is it easier to start from one side or the other? Perhaps it is easier to build from both sides and meet in the middle. Bridge-builders want to help bridge the gap.
Bridge-building across rivers and valleys can be a dangerous business: people have been killed in the process. It can also be difficult to build bridges between people. We need to choose our words carefully and be patient. Our timing may be crucial, and we must try to avoid any misunderstanding. However, when the two sides are joined, it’s bound to be worth it. Bridges cement new relationships, create new possibilities and remove tension. Bridge-builders make any community a better place to be part of.
Challenge the students to see where they might be bridge-builders today!
Song/music
‘Fix you’ by Coldplay, available at: https://youtu.be/k4V3Mo61fJM (4.53 minutes long)
