In short...
Themes: Christianity; Judaism; Old Testament; Tanakh; prophets; remembering.
Summary: This assembly, which is suitable for an act of collective worship, focuses on a story from the book of 2 Kings found in the Old Testament of the Bible and in the Nevi’im in the Tanakh.
Resources: The framework to download / print (pdf) and an image to display showing the word 'Remembering'. You will also need some images of statues or memorials, or you could use an object - or a picture of an object - that is a reminder of somebody else.
The video
JONAH: Hello, I'm going to tell you a story all about a man named Elijah, and how when he went away, it upset his great friend Elisha.
Elisha lived in a land long ago where kings could be cruel, life was tough, and there wasn't enough food to go around. But, there was one man who made everything seem better and his name was Elijah.
Elijah could do all sorts of amazing things. Not only was he kind and faithful, he also knew when it would start raining again.
Now, Elisha knew he would need to go away, so he needed somebody to take over his important work and he chose… Elisha.
Elisha wanted to learn and remember as much as he could, so he followed Elijah everywhere.
Eventually, they arrived at a river, but there was no way across, no bridge, no nothing. And then, Elijah did something strange. He took off his coat, folded it up and then beat it on the ground.
And at that moment, the water stopped. And they were able to cross the river. Elijah had parted the waters. This guy was really something special.
And then it was time for Elijah to go, but he didn't just vanish. At first, there was a great whirlwind… and then there was a chariot. But not a normal chariot made of, well, wood and metal. This chariot was made of fire and it was as if it swept Elijah up into heaven. And all of a sudden, he was gone.
Elisha was on his own now, and he had to continue Elijah's good work. But how would he do that? Here he was on the wrong side of the river with no way to get back.
But then he saw something on the ground. Elijah's coat! Elisha picked it up. This would help him remember Elijah and everything he had taught him.
And the coat suddenly reminded him how to get back across the river.
And at that moment, Elisha knew that even though Elijah had gone, he would always remember him and he would be able to carry on Elijah's good work.
Thanks for helping me tell this treasure story. It's from the Bible and the Torah. And we'll see you again next time. Bye!
This story is in the Jewish Tanakh (in the Nevi’im, which contains the stories of the prophets) and in the Old Testament of the Bible. It's about two prophets called Elijah and Elisha. A prophet is someone who tells people or teaches people about God and what God wants.
Elisha is a disciple and an assistant of Elijah. He follows Elijah and learns from him. In this story, at the end of Elijah’s work/ministry, we hear about Elijah performing a miracle with his coat, which parts the waters of the river (Jordan) so that Elijah and Elisha can cross. Elijah is then taken up to heaven on a chariot of fire and his coat is left on the ground. Elisha picks the coat up and, remembering what Elijah did, is able to cross back over the river. The coat helps Elisha remember Elijah and continue his own work as a prophet.
Duration: 3' 35''
Final words: 'And we'll see you again next time. Bye!'
Video questions
- At the beginning of the story we find out that Elijah and Elisha need to do something. What is it? (They needed to cross the river)
- What does Elijah do? (He puts his coat on the water and it makes a path for them to cross the river)
- What happens when they reach the other side of the river? (Elijah is taken away on a chariot of fire but his coat drops to the ground)
- What does the coat remind Elisha? (That he can cross back over the river in the same way Elijah did)
Key links
Assembly framework (pdf) document
Download / print the assembly framework ready for use
Image: the word Remembering. image
Click for the full size image.
1. Entry
Play your chosen music as the children enter.
2. Introduction
Ask the children to look at the images of statues. What are the statues for? (They help us to remember people or events that have happened in the past.) You might refer to a local person who is famous for something or an important historical event - eg showing a war memorial. Explain that the story that everyone is about to watch is about the value of remembering.
3. Play the video
The duration is 3' 35" and the final words are: 'And we'll see you again next time. Bye!'
4. Time to talkYou could begin by asking the Video questions above to aid children's recall of the main events of the story. Then continue by asking:
- How do you think Elisha felt when Elijah suddenly left on the chariot? And when he saw the coat? (The children might say that he was sad as his friend and teacher had gone. They might say thankful because the coat reminded Elisha of Elijah)
- Why is it good to remember people or events?
- Are there any things that we remember every year? (You could mention Remembrance Sunday, religious festivals or other yearly celebrations)
5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from BBC collections below.
6. Opportunity for reflection
Let's spend a few moments thinking about remembering…
Perhaps there is an object or a photo that you have that reminds you or your family of someone special…
Maybe you can think of a special place or a statue or memorial that reminds people of something that happened in the past that is good to remember…
Think to yourself for a moment about someone you like to remember… and what it is that makes that person special to you.
7. Opportunity for prayer
Begin with your usual form of address (‘Dear God’, ‘Let us pray’, etc) and:
Thank you for the story of Elijah and Elisha.
Thank you for objects, stories, events and people that remind us about what is good and inspire us too.
Help us to be thankful for these stories and to remember them.
Amen.
Suggested songs
Song: 'Chain of love' (All about our school, no 14. Vocal version)
- For the children of tomorrow
We’ve got to make it a better place,
Fill the world with love and laughter,
Make a fresh start for the human race.
(Chorus)
Chain of love, chain of love,
Circle the world with a chain of love,
Chain of love, chain of love,
Circle the world with a chain of love.
- No more war and no more hunger,
No more jealousy and hate,
Say goodbye to greed and sadness,
Make a change now or it will be too late.
(Chorus)
(Middle eight)
Circle the world, circle the world,
Circle the world, circle the world.
- Doesn’t matter where you come from,
Doesn’t matter where you’ve been,
Different race or creed or colour,
We are the same underneath our skin.
(Chorus)
Chain of love, chain of love,
Circle the world with a chain of love,
Chain of love, chain of love,
Circle the world with a chain of love.
Circle the world with a chain of love.
Song: 'Being a friend' (All about our school, no 8. Vocal version)
Being a friend is the best thing you can be,
‘Cos in the end friends are something we all need.
You could score a goal for England,
Be a pop star on TV,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend is the best thing you can do,
Time and again it’s our friends that help us through.
You could be a millionaire,
Or fly a rocket to the moon,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever do.
Whatever we grow up to be,
And live in harmony,
Together we all need to see
That friendship is the key!
Being a friend is the best thing you can be,
‘Cos in the end friends are something we all need.
You could score a goal for England,
Be a pop star on TV,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
'God is watching over you' (All about our school, no 7)
God is watching over you,
When you lay down to sleep,
When you wake he will keep
Always watching over you,
Now and forever more.God is watching over you,
When you lay down to sleep,
When you wake he will keep
Always watching over you,
Now and forever more.
Now and forever more.
