	Being Afraid
	Aim To encourage children to tell someone when they feel afraid and to learn about Jesus helping Peter when he felt afraid. Preparation Read Matthew's Gospel chapter 14 verses 23-32, Peter tries to walk on the water. You will need to get a child to do a large painting, in advance, for this assembly. The painting A dark sky; green rough sea; a brown boat with some scared disciples faces in it; Peter up to his knees trying to walk on the water. Have a figure of Jesus cut out of white paper ready to glue on. Focus Use a flip chart or overhead projector to show: the painting above a scared face a picture of a block of flats. Sound effects. If possible have a recording of a storm ready to play. START by listening to the storm sounds/ music. Story - The Stairs Nadine was pleased with her picture. (Put up your painting.) It was a brown boat, on a rough green sea. Who do you think these people are? (Fishermen, disciples, sailors, may come as replies.) They were fishermen who were also special friends of Jesus called disciples. This is Peter. (Point to Peter.) She was pleased with the scary faces and with her cutting out. (Show the white cut out picture of Jesus.) She was going to glue him on the water tomorrow, just near to him... (point to Peter.) Who do you think he is? It's Jesus. Where will Nadine stick him? (Let a child come out and glue him on.) Nadine was glad that the story had a happy ending and that Jesus came to save Peter. Fancy trying to do what Jesus did! And in the middle of the night too! No wonder he got scared when he looked about him. Walking on water was truly a miracle, she thought. When it was home time. Nadine got her coat. Dad was working late today so she was going with Chloe. Chloe's Mum let Nadine push the buggy with the baby in. It was a long walk to the flats, but it was fun being allowed to push Joel. When they got there, Nadine waved good-bye and went to the stairs that went up to the first floor of the block of flats where she and Dad lived. She'd go to Mrs Rigby's, their neighbour and wait there for Dad to come home. This was what she always did when Dad worked late. Nadine always felt grown up doing this last part of the journey on her own. She was never scared. There were 12 stairs, then a turning, then 12 more, and Mrs Rigby lived at the top. She'd counted them loads of times. But today was different. The lights in the stair well were out. It was quite dark, and as she turned the bend in the stairs, four big boys were blocking her way. She didn't know what to do and suddenly, she was terrified. She stood still and couldn't go forwards or backwards. Her legs felt like jelly and she wanted to cry. The boys looked at her and didn't move. They grinned in a nasty way, and then... Dad was beside her! "Hello Sunshine", he said, taking her hand very firmly, "I got away early today. Just in time it seems!" He lifted her up and they went on up the stairs together. The boys ran off when they saw Dad. "Are you O.K.?" Dad asked as he put here down at their front door. Nadine burst into tears. She was so glad to be home, and so glad Dad had come at that moment. "I didn't know what to do." she sobbed. "It's never happened before. The darkness was awful and then those boys..." "Well, I think its time to see if you can stay with Chole's Mum in future. Let's go and see Mrs Rigby and let her know you are safely home, and we'll tell her all about it. Then you won't need to come up here on your own any more will you?" Thinking Time Play the storm music again. Let the children sit quietly and listen. Then ask them if they've ever felt afraid. Briefly explain that just like Peter, Nadine knew what it was like to be really scared. Encourage the children not to mind owning up when they are afraid, particularly of other children, or situations which they don't want to talk about. Let them know it is important to tell someone. Prayer Thank you Lord Jesus that you are always there for us, even though we can't see you. Help us to remember that we can always talk to you, and that you will help us be sensible and tell someone when we are scared. Amen Song When I feel Afraid: Audrey Bomford In everything that I do: Children's Praise No. 90 Marshall & Pickering
	A Primary Vision resource provided by the Stockport Christians in Schools Trust

Being Afraid

Aim

To encourage children to tell someone when they feel afraid and to learn about Jesus helping Peter when he felt afraid.

Preparation

Read Matthew's Gospel chapter 14 verses 23-32, Peter tries to walk on the water.

You will need to get a child to do a large painting, in advance, for this assembly.

The painting: A dark sky; green rough sea; a brown boat with some scared disciples faces in it; Peter up to his knees trying to walk on the water.; Have a figure of Jesus cut out of white paper ready to glue on.

Focus

Use a flip chart or overhead projector to show:

the painting above
a scared face
a picture of a block of flats.

Sound effects. If possible have a recording of a storm ready to play.

START by listening to the storm sounds/ music.

Story - The Stairs

Nadine was pleased with her picture. (Put up your painting.) It was a brown boat, on a rough green sea. Who do you think these people are? (Fishermen, disciples, sailors, may come as replies.)

They were fishermen who were also special friends of Jesus called disciples. This is Peter. (Point to Peter.)

She was pleased with the scary faces and with her cutting out. (Show the white cut out picture of Jesus.) She was going to glue him on the water tomorrow, just near to him... (point to Peter.)

Who do you think he is?

It's Jesus. Where will Nadine stick him? (Let a child come out and glue him on.)

Nadine was glad that the story had a happy ending and that Jesus came to save Peter. Fancy trying to do what Jesus did! And in the middle of the night too! No wonder he got scared when he looked about him. Walking on water was truly a miracle, she thought.

When it was home time. Nadine got her coat. Dad was working late today so she was going with Chloe. Chloe's Mum let Nadine push the buggy with the baby in. It was a long walk to the flats, but it was fun being allowed to push Joel. When they got there, Nadine waved good-bye and went to the stairs that went up to the first floor of the block of flats where she and Dad lived. She'd go to Mrs Rigby's, their neighbour and wait there for Dad to come home. This was what she always did when Dad worked late. Nadine always felt grown up doing this last part of the journey on her own. She was never scared. There were 12 stairs, then a turning, then 12 more, and Mrs Rigby lived at the top. She'd counted them loads of times. But today was different. The lights in the stair well were out. It was quite dark, and as she turned the bend in the stairs, four big boys were blocking her way.

She didn't know what to do and suddenly, she was terrified. She stood still and couldn't go forwards or backwards. Her legs felt like jelly and she wanted to cry. The boys looked at her and didn't move. They grinned in a nasty way, and then...

Dad was beside her! "Hello Sunshine", he said, taking her hand very firmly, "I got away early today. Just in time it seems!" He lifted her up and they went on up the stairs together. The boys ran off when they saw Dad.

"Are you O.K.?" Dad asked as he put here down at their front door.

Nadine burst into tears. She was so glad to be home, and so glad Dad had come at that moment.

"I didn't know what to do." she sobbed. "It's never happened before. The darkness was awful and then those boys..."

"Well, I think its time to see if you can stay with Chole's Mum in future. Let's go and see Mrs Rigby and let her know you are safely home, and we'll tell her all about it. Then you won't need to come up here on your own any more will you?"

Thinking Time

Play the storm music again.

Let the children sit quietly and listen.

Then ask them if they've ever felt afraid. Briefly explain that just like Peter, Nadine knew what it was like to be really scared.

Encourage the children not to mind owning up when they are afraid, particularly of other children, or situations which they don't want to talk about. Let them know it is important to tell someone.

Prayer

Thank you Lord Jesus that you are always there for us, even though we can't see you. Help us to remember that we can always talk to you, and that you will help us be sensible and tell someone when we are scared.
Amen

Song

When I feel Afraid: Audrey Bomford
In everything that I do: Children's Praise No. 90 Marshall & Pickering