Submitted by
S. Daly
with an additional idea submitted by F. Macnaughton, see below.

Age Group
9-12

Aim
To consider bravery

Faith Group
Christian

Resources
The prayer response could be displayed on a large sheet of paper

Time of Year
Lent just before Holy Week

Other Details
There is an additional idea at the end of this script, submitted by F. Macnaughton, suitable for ages 4-11

Script
1. Today's assembly is about being brave.
Think of the things that you don't like doing; sad things, difficult things, painful things. Everybody is afraid of doing something.
Some people do not like going to the dentist, or having injections, or taking unpleasant medicine.
Some people are scared of diving off the top board, or of thunder and lightning.
Some people do not like owning up, or find it difficult to do right when everyone else is doing wrong.
Even brave people can be afraid, but what makes them brave is that they say, "Even though I'm frightened, I'm not going to run away."
They have courage.

2. There are lots of stories in the Bible about people being brave. This is because God likes brave people.
One day, Saint Paul wrote a letter to his friends in Corinth. He lived at a time when it was dangerous to be a Christian. If you were a Christian, you ran the risk of being persecuted and killed.

3. This is what Saint Paul said in his letter:
" I know what it is like to work hard and to live dangerously.
I've been beaten up more times than I can remember, been in more than one prison, and faced death more than once.
I've been shipwrecked three times; and once I was adrift and out of sight of land for twenty-four hours.
I don't know how many roads I've tramped.
I've faced bandits; I've been attacked by fellow-countrymen and foreigners. I've met danger in city streets and on lonely roads and out on the open sea. I've been in some tight corners - but never worried.
I've lost my way, but never my courage.
I've been on the run, but never abandoned.
I've been knocked down, but never knocked out.
This is nothing I can't face; but I know where my strength comes from - it comes from Jesus." (2 Cor. 11:23-28)

4. Saint Paul must have been afraid at times, but he was brave. He never ran away from danger. God gave him the courage to do this.

5. We are approaching Easter now. The week before Easter is called Holy Week. During this week, Jesus and the Apostles were called upon to be very brave.
On Holy Thursday, Jesus realised that he was about to die, and he was afraid. He cried out in agony to God, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. " But he added, "Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine."

6. When Jesus was arrested, the Apostles fled in fear. Peter was the only brave one. He followed Jesus and the soldiers. However, three people asked Peter if he knew Jesus and each time he said no - he was too scared to say yes.

7. On Good Friday, Jesus was crucified. The Apostles were left alone now and they were very frightened. They hid.

8. On Sunday, Mary Magdalene found that the tomb was empty, and learned that Jesus had risen. She went to tell the Apostles.
Again, Peter was the only one brave enough to go and see for himself.
The other Apostles remained in hiding until the Holy Spirit came down to give them strength and courage - and it was God who sent them this strength.
Once God had made them courageous, they were able to go out and teach people about God.

9. So, whenever we face a difficult situation, we should remember that God will give us the strength to deal with it - and make us brave.

10. Jesus always encouraged people - this is mentioned several times in the Bible.
"Courage!" Jesus said to the man, who was sick with the palsy.
"Courage!" he said to the scared woman, who crept up and touched him in the crowd.
"Courage!" he said to the disciples, terrified in the storm on the lake.
"Courage!" said the Risen Christ to Saint Paul, when he was up against it in Jerusalem - and when there seemed every reason to despair.

11. God will never let us down. If we need his help, we only have to ask.
God, you invite us to work with you. You ask us to do many hard things, but we will always be brave and do what you want.

12. The response is... We will be brave if you help us.
Lord, to share with others, we have to be brave... Response...
Lord, when we find our school work hard, we won't give up... Response...
Lord, when everyone is doing wrong, we will do right... Response...
Lord, when other people need our help... Response...
Lord, when people mock us because we are Christians, we will be like Saint Paul... Response...
Let us now sing Do Not Be Afraid, by G. Markland (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 147)

Additional Idea
We took the 'Being Brave' script and used it for our Easter service held in church. It was conducted by primary 5.

Under section 1, we had children mime the various descriptions, with pliers and big syringes for the dentist and injections, a boy diving off a chair, and two children having a row over a broken window.

In sections 2 and 3, we had Paul dressed up walking around the chancel and acting out his script.

In sections 6,7 and 8, we again had children miming and acting what the narrator was saying.

Similarly, in 10, we had children playing the parts, including a boatload of disciples, and a palsyfied man.

In section 12, some children had made a huge banner with the response on it, so that everyone could follow the prayer.

This model worked very well, was simple and uncluttered, didn't involve laborious preparation of props etc.
It still helped the younger children who related to the visual miming, as well as the older children who engaged with the verbal narration.