Spring Is Coming!

There is hope; things will get better

by Rachael Crisp

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To reflect upon the idea of having hope even when we are feeling sad.

Preparation and materials

• You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Spring Is Coming!) and the means to display them.
  
  
• You will also need the YouTube video ‘“Annie” (1982) - Tomorrow’ and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 1.10 minutes long and is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yop62wQH498

Assembly

1. Ask the children what they understand by the word ‘hope’.
   
   Show Slide 1.
   
   Ask the children to read the dictionary definition of the word ‘hope’.
   
   
2. Explain that sometimes, we have to have hope in something that we can’t see. For example, when the ground is covered in snow, we know that the grass and flowers are underneath, but we can’t see them. However, we hope and trust that the snow will melt and the grass and flowers will grow and blossom. We cannot see it happening at the time, but one day, we will see the new grass and flowers. We know that after winter comes spring, when rabbits and lambs will be born. We know that in order to see a beautiful rainbow, we have to experience the rain. We know that there are times when we feel sad and we can’t see a way out, but we can choose to have hope that it will get better.
   
   
3. Show the YouTube video ‘“Annie” (1982) - Tomorrow’.
   
   
   
   In the song, Annie is imagining that tomorrow will be a brighter day.
   
   Ask the children to think about what they put their hope in and really trust, such as their parents, teachers, football team and so on.
   
   
4. Explain that Christians believe that even when they are experiencing difficult situations, they can still trust in God for the future. They have hope in God that he won’t leave them and will help them.

Time for reflection

Conclude by saying that having hope is really important. What we hope in and what we hope for are really important. Christians believe that they should put their hope in God.

Show Slide 2.

Christians believe that God is the only sure thing, the only thing that can be totally relied upon forever.

Prayer
Dear God,
When things go wrong, help us to keep hoping.
When we are sad, help us to remember that happiness will come.
When we are lonely, help us to remember that people care for us.
When we are worried, help us to trust that you will never leave us.
Please help us to live in hope.
Amen.