In short...
Themes: Global Forgiveness Day; forgiving; saying sorry; the parables of Jesus; Christianity.
Summary: This assembly, which is suitable for an act of collective worship, focuses on a parable that Jesus told which is found in the Bible and is popularly known as The Prodigal Son. Its focus is the value of forgiveness - expressed in the story by the father's forgiveness for his son. The story is ideal to link to Global Forgiveness Day - every 7 July. Our adaptation of the story imagines the family describing their experiences after the events have happened.
Resources: The assembly framework to download / print (pdf); an image to display of the word 'Forgiveness'; a transcript of the story to download / print.
The video
Scenes in italics are told in flashback.
Interviewer: Thanks for agreeing to speak to us. I understand this has been a difficult time for the family.
Father: Yes, it has been tough, but I think my son has learned an important lesson.
Younger son: Yeah, I mean I’ve been really selfish. A few months ago, I thought it would be a good idea to ask Dad for half of all his money.
Father: It was the money he would have received after I died. His inheritance. It was quite a lot of money.
Interviewer: Why did you let him have it?
Father: Well, I thought maybe he could do good things with it and spend it responsibly…
Interviewer: But, he didn’t?
Father: No, not exactly. He…he…
Younger son: I spent it all on having a good time. I wasted it, basically.
Older son: Yeah, you wasted Dad’s money alright! And he was worried sick about you when you were gone!
Father: Yes, yes you wasted the money and I was really worried about you! It’s just good to have you back!
Interviewer: So, what’s it like to be back home after all this time?
Younger son: It’s great, y’know. It’s so good to be back with the family. The time away really taught me about life, y’know? I became…humble.
Older son:‘Humble.’ Seriously?
Father: Now, now.
Older son: Dad, c’mon! He went away with all the money he was meant to get as an inheritance after you died! Did he spend it on, like, sensible things, like buying a house, or learning new skills, maybe getting married and starting a family? No…no, he didn’t! He spent the money on new clothes…and having a good time!
Younger son: I made some new friends…and enjoyed myself.
Older son: But when the money ran out, where were those friends then?
Younger son: I didn’t party all the time! I got a job! I worked hard.
Older son: You got a job because you didn’t have any money left! You were so desperate for money, you had to take any job you could find!
Younger son: Er…I’m trying to earn a little money. I was…wondering if you have any jobs you need doing? I could make some bread or maybe do some decorating…
Man: We got some pigs we need lookin’ after.
Younger son: Er…yeah…that’s…great.
It was at that time that I truly understood what was important in life, like, y’know…family.
Older son: You understood that you’d made a massive mistake more like!
Father: Now, now. He realised his mistake and he owned up to it.
Older son: No seriously, c’mon, tell the truth! The pay was bad, you got cold and hungry and the people you worked for wouldn’t even give you the pig’s food to eat. That’s when you really…‘found yourself’.
Younger son: I’m really sorry, okay? I was selfish and I can’t believe my dad has forgiven me. I’m so lucky.
Interviewer: Was it good to see your son when he returned?
Father: Oh, yes! He was so sorry when he came home.
Younger son: I’ve wasted all the money you gave me! I’m not worthy to be called your son.
Father: There, there. Don’t worry about all that! No, no, we should celebrate!
Older son: Seriously?
Look! All these years I’ve been working so hard for you and never once disobeyed you! Yet you never threw me a party!
Father: I will always love you both! We had to celebrate and be glad. We didn’t know where your brother had got to! He was lost but now is found.
The parable of the Prodigal Son
The story is an adaptation of one of the parables that Jesus told. It is found in the New Testament in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15.
A father and his two sons describe their recent experiences, as if being interviewed by a reporter or TV anchor. One day the younger of the two sons demands his inheritance of his father early, so that he can leave home and enjoy a new life in the city. The father agrees - saying he thought the son might use the money responsibly. However, the younger son wastes the money on new clothes and having a good time - much to the annoyance of the elder brother. When his money runs out the younger son is forced to find work looking after pigs and finally, exhausted and hungry, he realises he should return home and seek forgiveness. The father is overjoyed at the return of his prodigal son.
Duration: 3' 39"
Final words: '…He was lost, but now is found.'
Video questions
- What is an inheritance? (Often money, and usually received after someone has died)
- Why does the father say he agreed to give the money? (He says he thought his son could do good things with it and spend it responsibly)
- How in fact does the son spend the money? (Buying new clothes and 'having a good time')
- What job does the son get? (Looking after pigs)
- Why does the son return home? (He says it is because he had learned the value of family…but his older brother says it is because he was tired and hungry)
Key links
Assembly framework (pdf) document
Download / print the assembly framework ready for use
The word 'Forgiveness' image
Click to display image full size
Transcript - The Prodigal Son
Download / print a transcript of The Prodigal Son
Suggested assembly framework
1. Entry
Have the webpage open and play your chosen music. An internet search on 'songs about forgiveness' will yield many possibilities.
2. Introduction
Let the assembly know that today they'll be thinking about something that is very simple, but is often hard to do - saying sorry and offering forgiveness. (You could link the theme to Global Forgiveness Day on 7 July if the assembly is at that time of year.) Ask pupils if anyone would like to share an occasion when they forgave someone, or someone forgave them. Depending on the details, you could probe further by asking whether it was easy to do and how it made the individual feel. Let pupils know that they're going to watch a short video - an adaptation of a well-known story from the Bible - in which forgiveness is the key theme.
3. The video
Play the video. The duration is 3' 39" and the final words are: '…was lost, but now is found.'
4. After the video - Time to talk
Ask everyone to turn to the person beside them and say two things they remember from the video. (If you prefer you could ask the Video questions from the web page).
Then lead a discussion about forgiveness by asking:
- This story is about forgiveness. The father found it easy to forgive his son. Are there times when it is more difficult to forgive other people?
- Do you think the father was right to forgive his son?
- Do you think the older son should also forgive his younger brother?
- Why do you think forgiveness is important?
- What happens if we refuse to forgive?
5. Opportunity to sing
If your assembly is to include a song this would be a good time for it. Suggestions from BBC collections below.
6. Opportunity for reflection
Focus the reflection on the exploration of forgiveness:
Let's take a moment to think about the amazing forgiveness in the story of 'The Prodigal Son'…
When people agree to forgive they agree to make a fresh start…
Think about how the son felt when he was forgiven by his father…
And how he might have treated other people after he had been forgiven… and given the chance to make a fresh start…
Think about times when you have forgiven… and about why it felt the right choice to make…
7. Opportunity for prayer
Begin with your usual form of address (‘Dear God’, ‘Let us pray’, etc) and:
Thank you for stories like the parable of 'The Prodigal Son' that help us to think about forgiveness.
Help us to be kind to others and to value forgiveness.
Thank you for the opportunities when we are able to make a fresh start.
Amen.
Suggested songs
Song: 'We will grow' (All about our school, no 10)
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
- Some things grow very quickly,
Sometimes they’re very slow.
Sometimes you can see What they’re going to be,
Sometimes you just don’t know.
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
- Sometimes it seems like magic
That happens every day.
But it’s all been planned,
Made by God’s own hand,
‘Cos creation it works that way.
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
We are growing together in love.
We are growing together in love.
Song: 'While we live we learn' (All about our school, no 3. Vocal version)
While we live we learn, (while we live we learn,)
While we learn we grow, (while we learn we grow,)
And the more we grow, (and the more we grow,)
So the more we know, (so the more we know,)
And the more we know, (and the more we know,)
Then the readier we will be
For all life's big adventures
And all life's mysteries.
While we live we learn, (while we live we learn,)
While we learn we grow, (while we learn we grow,)
And the more we grow, (and the more we grow,)
So the more we know, (so the more we know,)
And the more we know, (and the more we know,)
Then the readier we will be
For all life's big adventures
And all life's mysteries.
For all life's big adventures
And all life's mysteries.
Song: 'Got a bit better' (All about our school, no 11)
Got a bit better at reading,
Got a bit better at sums,
Got a bit better at writing,
Just like all my chums.
Got a bit better at music,
Got a bit better at sport,
Got a bit better at painting,
All the things we’re taught.
Chorus:
We’re learning to be kind like everybody should,
All of us are trying to be children who are good…oh yes!
Got a bit better at helping,
Got a bit better at care,
Got a bit better at friendship,
Learning how to share.
We will all grow a bit daily,
Can’t believe how the time flies,
See the change as we move onward,
When we really try.
Chorus:
We’re learning to be kind like everybody should
All of us are trying to be children who are good…oh yes!
Oh yes, we are!
See also…
Treasure Champs: The Prodigal Son - our version of this story for a younger audience, from the Treasure Champs series.