Primary Current Assemblies


YOU'RE A STAR!
An Epiphany assembly

By Penny Hollander

Suitable for Whole School

Aim

To explore the fact that the knowledge of Jesus’ birth extended far beyond his birthplace.


Preparation and materials

• You will need: 4 large cut-out stars, one much larger than the others.
• Pictures of the night sky and stars.
• Stars and stickers, if used in school as incentives.
• Photos/pictures of popstars.
• Boxes/items representing gold, frankincense, myrrh.
• Rehearse in advance a small group of older children in the play: Narrator 1, Narrator 2, First Wise Man, Second Wise Man, Third Wise Man, Teacher of the Law.
• You could also have someone to play Mary holding the baby Jesus.

Assembly

1. Ask the children to look at all the pictures: of the night sky, the stars and stickers and popstars. Ask them what these items all have in common. Hopefully, they will recognize that the theme is stars!
   
2. Talk about what stars in the night sky are, the different names and patterns they make in the sky and that the people who study them are called astronomers. Ask the children if they know the names of any stars. Be mindful of the difference between stars and planets!
   
   (If appropriate) The children are awarded stars or stickers in school for being ‘stars’ in different ways – good work, effort, helpfulness, kindness, etc. – all the things we value in school. Some classes even have ‘star of the week’ awards. It means that teachers and other people in school recognize and appreciate the children’s efforts and achievements. Discuss how the children feel when they get such awards.
   
   Sometimes people say, ’You’re a star!’ when you’ve done something really good. Pop, film and sport idols are called ‘stars’ too because so many people like their songs or films or appreciate their sporting ability – they are very popular – ask the children for examples.
   
3. Talk about the stars that give people light and also direction. Astronomers can look into the night sky and find different groups of stars as well as individual ones. They are always looking for new ones. Sailors navigate by the stars. 2,000 years ago it was the same story!
   
   Narrator 1:  There were some very clever men who were astronomers. This meant they studied the stars and became very excited when they realized that they had spotted a new one in the night sky. The star was moving across the sky. They immediately set out to find out exactly where it would lead them.
   
   Narrator 2:  They consulted their books and discovered that this star would lead them to where a new king had been born. They found out that they needed to go in the direction of Jerusalem. When they got there they started asking people where they could find this new king.
   
   First Wise Man:  Where is this child who was born to be the king of the Jews?
   
   Second Wise Man:  When we were in the east, we saw his star.
   
   Third Wise Man:  Now we have come to worship him.
   
   Teacher of the Law:  You must go to Bethlehem in Judea. A long, long time ago, one of the prophets wrote that this would happen, and where the new king would be born.
   
   First Wise Man:  We must hurry on, then. We don’t want to miss him.
   
   Second Wise Man:  We want to give him our presents. The best we could find. Fit for a king.
   
   Third Wise Man:  Yes, we are important men, but not as important as him.
   
   Narrator 3:  The wise men hurried on to Bethlehem, always following the star, until it led them to a stable in Bethlehem. There in the manger was the baby – Jesus. He didn’t look very important but they knew that he was the greatest king of all time.
   
   First Wise Man:  I have brought you gold (holds up star).
   
   Second Wise Man:  And I, costly frankincense (holds up star).
   
   Third Wise Man:  This is the finest myrrh (holds up star).
   
   All three Wise Men:  We have followed the star to find you, travelling for many miles, but you are the greatest star of all (holding up the largest star).
   
4. End this part of the assembly by reminding the children that people as ‘stars’ don’t have to be rich, famous or clever. The baby Jesus would have appeared to be none of these things, but his coming into the world has influenced and changed people’s lives ever since.

Time for reflection

Reflection

We are all stars in different ways.

We all have talents and gifts.

They may not appear as great to us but they are important and should be appreciated.

Let us pause for a few moments and think about what gifts we could offer to other people,

just as those wise men, and the shepherds before them, offered their gifts to Jesus.

Prayer

Thank you, God,

for the greatest gift of all that you could give us – Jesus.

Please help us to share what we have with others today –
the gift of friendship, of helping someone or maybe just giving them a smile.
Amen.

Song

‘The Virgin Mary had a baby boy’ (Come and Praise, 121)