Meaningful Chocolate 2014 Resources for Advent Assembly Title 5: A family Christmas KS1-2 NOTES to accompany Powerpoint presentation Assembly 5: A family Christmas KS1-2 1
Aim: To review the different roles each character plays in the Christmas story, reflect on the roles we play in our family at Christmas and encourage children to make peace, love and joy the centre of their Christmas Notes give a guide to: 1. the central characters of the Christmas story and their reactions to Jesus birth 2. introduce the children to the idea of peace and joy being the centre of the Christmas story 3. reflections on a me centred Christmas Preparation and resources: PowerPoint presentation Notes Points for reflection Song suggestion Prayer suggestion Technical: Please familiarise yourself with the presentation beforehand particularly the slide transitions and make any adjustments necessary. The fonts used are Arial or Helvetica. The first slide gives opportunity for you to add your school name, logo and ethos statement. 2 Assembly 5: A family Christmas KS1-2
1. Introduction Open presentation Your school logo here Name of your school Ethos statement here I bring you good news that will give great joy to all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. To begin the assembly announce a dramatic reading from the Bible - the well known passage from Luke chapter 2. It can be announced by children dressed as angels or perhaps a school bell being swung by a town crier. Then another angel announces Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests. Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests. Assembly 5: A family Christmas KS1-2 3
GOOD NEWS! PEACE! JOY Explain that the first Christmas was about good news, joy and peace. Remind the children of the central characters in the Christmas story and ask the children if they can remember what the characters thought and said. The following slide transitions reveal 3 reactions on each page in order from left to right. I believed the angel I was scared I sang for joy I wonder what Mary, Joseph, Herod, the Wise men and the Shepherds thought about their first Christmas? Can you remember what Mary felt when she was told that she was going to have a baby? I believed what! the angel said I questioned! whether it! was my! baby I married Mary Joseph was engaged to Mary but he knew he wasn t the father of Mary s baby. He thought Mary was cheating on him so he planned to divorce her. But an angel told him that Jesus was the promised God King - the one that they had been waiting for and he loved Mary and trusted her and he married her and supported her. 4 Assembly 5: A family Christmas KS1-2
We ask lots! of questions We saw the! star and believed! it meant a new! king was born We look! at the facts! The wise men were were very clever. They were probably the first scientists - they studied the stars and when they saw a special star and believed it would lead them to a new King, they planned their journey and set off bringing presents with them. I m more! important! than anyone I ll stop at nothing! to get what I want I m the king! around here! Herod believed the wise men and he probably paid them for their information. In history he is recorded as a ruthless murderer who would stop at nothing to keep his throne secure. He was worried that someone was threatening to take his place as King and he was clever too! He suggested that he wanted to worship the new King but he was definitely not going to let another King rule in his place! We saw the! angels and! believed - all! they said! We couldn t stop! talking about it! It s simple! We! had to check the! story out! The shepherds were pretty straightforward. They believed everything that the angels said and couldn t stop talking about i! They were like children - so enthusiastic about everything. Assembly 5: A family Christmas KS1-2 5
The main characters in the Christmas story reacted very differently but they all believed that Jesus was going to be a great King. But Jesus was not the powerful King that everyone thought he would be. He didn t become a soldier King who would conquer the world by force. The message behind the story (and it s a very simple one) is that there was a purpose for Jesus being born good news of peace and joy which would change the world through love. The news was to everyone. Explain that so many people find Christmas isn t full of peace and joy.. Many people struggle to afford Christmas. Some families are grieving a loved one or struggling to cope with illness. There are family arguments and people say things they shouldn t. Will I get what! I want this! Christmas? Will I have a! good time! this! Christmas? ME How am I going! survive! Christmas! dinner with! granny? How am I going to afford to buy presents this! Christmas? Do I really have! spend a! week with my dad/! sister/brother? Explain that you want to celebrate Christmas differently this year and this is what you are thinking Christmas has become about putting ME in the centre. We think all the time about Christmas and how we are going to party or get through a day with granny or watching boring films etc etc. Explain that you ve got an idea and you want your audience to think about it for a moment. Explain that we are often very self centred and we get very wrapped up in the idea of my Christmas. This is how it might look The text transitions run from bottom left, upwards... Demonstrate! thankfulness! and pleasure in everything Help others to! enjoy their Christmas Good! news! I will Be prepared! to share and! be a peace-! maker Be thoughtful in giving Give my time! generously Ask what happens if you take the ME from the centre and put love, peace and joy into the centre? What might happen? Does Christmas change its emphasis completely. Is the emphasis on giving? 6 Assembly 5: A family Christmas KS1-2
Make a difference this Christmas ME Reflection Look at the diagram and think of one example you can do that would make a difference to the way your family celebrate Christmas. Will you make a difference this year? This diagram is also available as a worksheet pdf so that if you wish to develop this theme in the classroom you can make copies that children can fill in individually. Song suggestion www.outoftheark.co.uk/songs-for-every-christmas.html Every Christmas Prayer Lord God Thank you for Christmas Help me to work out how I can help others to enjoy Christmas And help me to discover what it means to put others first Assembly 5: A family Christmas KS1-2 7