Francis of Assisi Puppet Show & Reflection Questions
Performed by our youth and children at our 9.30am service on Sunday 4 October, 2026
Scene 1 – Meet Francis
Narrator:
About 800 years ago, in a town in Italy called Assisi, there lived a young man called Francis.
Francis:
That’s me!
Narrator:
Francis came from a wealthy family.
He had beautiful clothes.
Francis:
Very nice!
Narrator:
He had plenty of money.
Francis:
Even better!
Narrator:
Francis loved having fun and dreamed of becoming somebody important.
Francis:
Very important!
Friend:
And famous?
Francis:
Of course!
Friend:
Francis the famous!
Francis:
I like the sound of that.
Narrator:
But Francis’s life didn’t turn out quite the way he expected.
Something began to change.
Scene 2 – Francis Changes
Narrator:
One day Francis met a man suffering from leprosy.
In Francis’s time, people with leprosy were often feared and avoided.
Francis was frightened too.
Francis:
I think I’ll go the other way.
Narrator:
But Francis stopped.
Instead of walking away, he went towards the man and showed him kindness.
Francis:
I don’t want to walk away anymore.
Narrator:
Francis began to understand something about Jesus.
Jesus didn’t walk away from people who were suffering or forgotten.
Jesus moved towards them.
And Francis decided that was how he wanted to live too.
Friend:
What about your beautiful clothes?
Francis:
I don’t need them.
Friend:
Your money?
Francis:
I can share it.
Friend:
What about being famous?
Francis:
That’s not important anymore.
Friend:
So what is important?
Francis:
Following Jesus.
Narrator:
Francis chose a simpler life.
He shared what he had.
He cared for people others ignored.
And he tried to live in the way of Jesus.
Scene 3 – Francis and the Wolf
Wolf:
GRRRRRRRRR!
Friend:
WHAT WAS THAT?
Wolf:
GRRRRRRRRR!
Friend:
A WOLF!
Wolf:
Of course I’m a wolf!
Narrator:
There’s an old story about a fierce wolf that was frightening the people of a town.
Wolf:
GRRRRR!
Friend:
Someone needs to get rid of that wolf!
Francis:
I’ll talk to him.
Friend:
You’ll WHAT?
Francis:
Talk to him.
Friend:
Francis… he’s a WOLF!
Wolf:
I heard that!
Francis:
Why are you frightening everyone?
Wolf:
I’m hungry!
Francis:
Maybe we can find another way.
Wolf:
Does the other way involve food?
Francis:
Yes.
Wolf:
I’m listening.
Narrator:
The story says Francis helped the people and the wolf make peace.
The people would make sure the wolf had food.
And the wolf would stop attacking them.
Friend:
So nobody had to fight?
Francis:
No.
Friend:
They found a way to make peace?
Francis:
Exactly.
Wolf:
And I got dinner!
Scene 4 – What About Us?
Narrator:
Francis lived about 800 years ago.
But I wonder what would happen if Francis walked into our church today.
Francis:
I’m here!
Narrator:
Francis, what would you notice?
Francis:
I’d notice someone who was alone.
I’d notice someone who needed some care.
I’d notice whether people shared what they had.
And I’d notice whether people were making peace.
Friend:
Would you want to know if we’re important?
Francis:
No.
Friend:
Rich?
Francis:
No.
Friend:
Famous?
Francis:
Definitely not.
Friend:
So what would you want to know?
Francis:
I’d ask one question.
Are you following Jesus?
The Francis Challenge
Narrator:
And Francis leaves us with a simple challenge.
Francis:
Live simply.
Francis:
Love generously.
Francis:
Care for others.
Francis:
Make peace.
Francis:
And above all…
FOLLOW JESUS.
Narrator:
Francis didn’t ask us to become like Francis.
He showed us what can happen when we choose to follow Jesus.
ALL:
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care for others.
Make peace.
Follow Jesus.
Wolf:
And don’t forget to feed the wolf!
THE END
Reflection questions:
- Francis’s idea of what mattered in life changed. What helps us recognise what really matters in our own lives?
- Francis moved towards someone he had previously avoided. Who might we find difficult to approach or include, and what could help us take that first step?
- In the wolf story, both the wolf and the townspeople had to change. What does this suggest about our own part in making peace?
- What is one thing from the story of St. Francis that we will take into the coming week?