Submitted by
S. Daly

Age Group
5-14

Aim
To rejoice after Easter
To examine mixed, unexpected emotions

Faith Group
Christian

Resources
A P.E. bench, a manger, a wooden boat. a cross

Time of Year
Just after Easter
Pentecost

Other Details
The three children acting as the trees can stand on a low P.E. bench to raise them up as they grow.

Script
1. Good morning. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today's assembly is about rejoicing.

2. The word rejoice means to feel great joy - or to celebrate.

3. We are very good at celebrating. We celebrate on many occasions: like: birthdays, weddings and christenings, like when a baby is born, like when we make our first Holy Communion, like when we pass exams, like when we get a job.

4. These occasions make us happy. We celebrate to show people that we are happy - and to share some of our joy with them.

5. An occasion we have just celebrated is Easter. We celebrate at Easter because Jesus died for us on the cross - and then rose again, showing that he was God.
He then encouraged the Apostles to set up the Church - to teach people the good news about God's love for them.

6. At Easter, Christians rejoice about this. The Church tells us that it is good to celebrate, but we should keep in mind what we are celebrating.

7. In fact, it is still Easter. Easter lasts for a few weeks, so we are still celebrating.

8. About 2000 years ago, the friends of Jesus were also celebrating. They were rejoicing. Their friend Jesus had died, but had come back to life.

9. Of course, the friends of Jesus were also a bit scared and confused. No one had ever died on a cross and then come back to life.

10. We sometimes have mixed emotions too. We can feel joyful, while at the same time being a bit anxious or confused about the future for example.

11. We have a play for you now, about three trees. In this play some trees have mixed emotions. Of course, trees cannot really speak, nor feel happy or sad, but in this play we are going to pretend that they can.

NARRATOR1: Once upon a time, in a forest, three young trees were growing side by side. As they grew, they became close friends. They used to talk to each other. They often spoke about what they would like to be when they grew up and became big, strong trees.

NARRATOR 2: The first tree said,

FIRST TREE: When I grow up, I would like to be part of a big, expensive hotel. I would like rich and famous people to stay at the hotel. I would like them to admire the colour and grain of my wood. Then I would be really happy.

NARRATOR 2: The second tree said,

SECOND TREE: When I grow up, I would like to be made into the tall mast of an elegant sailing ship. I would like to sail all over the world. Then I would be really happy.

NARRATOR 2: The third tree said,

THIRD TREE: When I grow up, I would like to be part of a great tower. I would like the tower to be so high that people all over the world would see it and marvel at it. Then I would be really happy.

NARRATOR 3: So the three young trees dreamed. Eventually, after many years, the trees grew up. They were very excited. Now they would be cut down and made into something splendid. However, things did not go the way that the trees had expected.

NARRATOR 4: The first tree did not become part of a big hotel. Instead, some of its wood was made into a simple manger. Hay was put into the manger for animals to eat. Then, one day, a baby was born - and was laid in the manger by his mother Mary. The tree had not expected this. It felt proud and full of joy. It had become part of the first Christmas.

NARRATOR 5: The second tree did not become the tall mast of an elegant ship. Instead, it was made into a humble fishing boat, like many others on the Sea of Galilee. One day, it carried Jesus and some of his friends. The tree had not expected this. It felt proud and full of joy.

NARRATOR 6: The third tree did not become part of a tall tower. Instead, it was made into a cross. It was used to crucify Jesus of Nazareth. The tree had not expected this. It felt sad and ashamed.
However, on the third day, Jesus came back to life. The tree felt honoured - and was full of joy at having been part of this great event - an event so great that, 2 000 years later, people are still talking about it.

12. So each tree ended up doing something different but important.
We can all do important things, in our own different ways.
One important thing we could all try to do, at this time of year, is to show people how Christians should live, especially as the Church was set up just after Easter.

13. In a way, the Church itself is like a tree. It began very small and has grown bigger and bigger over 2000 years - and is still growing.

14. Dear Jesus, a tiny seed can grow into a mighty tree. You started out with just a few friends and now you have millions of people who love you and follow you all over the world.
The tree of your friends is still growing and we are part of that tree today.
Thank you, Jesus.

15. We will now say the prayer that Jesus taught us. Our Father...

16. Now we will sing "The Tree of Life".