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Responsibility lies with us

Key Stage

3 and 4

Theme

Responsibility lies with us

Preparation

Look for a local, national or international situation which is currently in the news, or one which is of ongoing concern. Collect relevant details, perhaps including quotations from newspapers or pictures.

Prepare an OHT for projection that contains the outline of the situation either as bullet points or 'headlines'.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan can be found in Luke 10: 25-37.

Development

  • Show the OHT. Outline the situation and ask, or say, what needs to be done.
  • Point out that very often, when we come face to face with a shocking situation, the response is "THEY" ought to do something.
  • Ask, who has ever met one of "THEM"? We know they exist because people are always referring to them. It seems they are the problem solvers of the world, as in "THEY ought to do something". If this is the case then they are not doing a good job, as the world's problems seem to multiply. So if no one seems to have met them, and there seems to be no outcome to their work, do they exist at all?
  • Perhaps we are describing them wrongly. Maybe we should substitute "I" or "WE", for "THEY". It then becomes "I" ought to do something, or "WE" ought to do something. This seems much more helpful - and do-able.
  • There is still a problem: many of the problems of the world are so overwhelming that we feel that whatever we do won't make a difference... BUT...
  • Listen to the parable of the Good Samaritan (either read or told aloud).
  • The Samaritan was going about his daily business. He came across a problem, he stopped and he did what he could. Then he involved others (the innkeeper). He didn't solve the problem, but he did do something.
  • The Samaritan did what he could and then he carried on with his daily routine. It is possible for all of us to do the same. God does not require us to stop all we are doing and become professional problem solvers. We are just asked to take notice of what is happening around us, and to become involved where appropriate. As it says in the gospel of Matthew 25: 45, what we do to others we are doing to God.

Follow-up Work

  1. Look for - Five situations in the news locally or nationally where help is needed.
  2. Write down - All that could be done to help solve or relieve that situation.
  3. Look at - The list you have made each day.
  4. In silence - Ask yourself the questions
    • Who can I help the most?
    • What can I do, either to meet the need or involve others?
  5. Bring - Your thoughts to the next Collective Worship.

Music

'When I needed a neighbour, were you there?' (Hymns Ancient and Modern New Standard 433)