God’s Helping Hands
An assembly from the Culham St Gabriel archive
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To consider the Holy Spirit as God’s special helper.
Preparation and materials
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You will need a screen and a bright light to create shadow images. Alternatively, you could use the following images of shadow animals, in which case you will also need the means to display them during the assembly:
- a dog, available at: https://tinyurl.com/z6skefa
- a rabbit, available at: https://tinyurl.com/jo3xufk
- a dove, available at: https://tinyurl.com/jhqfbf8 -
You will also need a useful gadget that gives people a helping hand, such as a grabber tool that helps elderly people to pick things up off the floor or a jar opener aid that makes it easier to open tight-fitting lids on jars.
Assembly
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Use the screen and the bright light to create some shadow images, such as a dog or a rabbit. (Alternatively, show the images of these shadow animals.)
Ask the children to guess what the animals are and invite a few children to have a go at producing their own animal shadow for the other children to guess. -
When the image of the dove is shown, point out that hands are very useful because they enable us to do many things. Ask the children for suggestions as to what we use our hands for.
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Explain that life would be much more difficult without hands. Show the helpful gadget and ask what task this could help with.
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Point out that all of us need a helping hand at some point in our lives. However, it is not just important to look for people to help us; it is also important to look for ways in which we can help.
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Explain that sometimes, giving a helping hand isn’t about doing something. It can also involve simply being there, being a support and comfort when times are difficult. It can take the form of being a reliable and trusted friend.
Time for reflection
In the Bible, the dove is often a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
Ask the children to make the shape of a dove with their hands.
Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is a trusted and reliable friend who is sent by God to help us and who is always there with us.
All of us have the opportunity to help others many times each day.
Let’s think of ways in which we could help other people today. Let’s look for ways in which we can help in any situation.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to be your special helper.
Thank you that your spirit is with us wherever we go.
Please help us always to look for ways in which we can help other people.
Amen.
Follow-up ideas
Find out about the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. For example, look at Acts 2.1-4.
Visit a church or cathedral and look for symbols of the Holy Spirit.
