A Royal Baby
A celebration of the birth of the new royal baby – May 2015
by Becky May
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To enjoy and celebrate the birth of the new princess, and to reflect on what it means to be a royal baby.
Preparation and materials
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You will need newspapers showing photographs of the coverage of the birth of the new princess, or images to project for the children to see, and a box, gift wrapped as a present.
Assembly
- Good morning, I wonder who can tell me what very exciting event happened this weekend?
(Invite the children to share their ideas, encouraging them to think about the birth of the new princess.) - I wonder if any of you saw the news on the television or in the paper? There were so many people waiting to hear when the baby was born, and to see their first glimpse of the new baby.
(Encourage the children to share their own stories about how their families watched the news, or what they remember noticing in the pictures, as you share with them some of the images from the newspapers or projected on to a screen.) - I wonder if any of you have a new baby in your family?
(Invite some of the children to share their own 'new baby' stories.) - So when your new baby was born, were there lots of cameras waiting outside to take a photo? Did your family appear in the newspaper? Were there lots of police cars outside the hospital to keep the crowds of people out of the way?
- Why is this baby so special, then, that all those things happened this weekend when she was born?
(Invite the children to share what they understand about this baby being a princess, and a member of the royal family.) - This is no ordinary baby: this tiny newborn baby girl is a princess, and one day, she could even become our Queen! Everybody was waiting for her to arrive because a new member of the royal family is such a special thing for our whole country, and even further across the world!
- I wonder what presents you would buy for a new Royal baby? Perhaps a miniature crown, or a special golden teddy bear? I am sure that William and Catherine will receive lots of presents for their new baby.
(Invite the children to share their ideas.) - Did you know that there was once a baby born and hardly anybody noticed? He wasn't born in a fancy hospital with police and news cameras waiting outside. I wonder if you know who that was?
(Invite the children to share their ideas.) - Let me tell you a bit more about when he was born. This baby was born in a smelly stable, and he had some very unusual visitors; some shepherds from the hills, and some very wise men, who understood that this baby was some kind of king. At first, they went looking for him in a palace, where you might expect to find a new baby king. They even brought a present suitable for a baby king: some gold, along with some other more unusual presents too. Now, I wonder if you know who I'm talking about?
(Invite the children to share their ideas.) - Of course, I'm talking about Jesus. We usually remember his birth at Christmas time. But did you know that Christians believe Jesus was born to be a king? The Bible tells us that he came to rule over a special kind of kingdom, where we all live in the way that God wants us to live. When Jesus was born, there was no town crier and no newspapers, but a few people noticed and celebrated the arrival of a new king.
Time for reflection
Let us make ourselves really quiet and think for a moment: when a new baby is born, people celebrate, whether it's a new baby in our own family, a new princess or when Jesus was born. We all have different ways of celebrating because, in that tiny baby, we can see so much hope for the future; we can see reasons to celebrate and be happy.
The birth of the new Royal baby is something we can all celebrate together, a very special new baby to give thanks to God for.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for the safe arrival of the new baby princess. Thank you that you have given her a family to love her and to take care of her. Thank you for all new babies, a very special gift for us all to enjoy. We pray for the new princess, that you will protect her and bless her as she grows to take her place in the world.
Amen.
Song/music
'He's got the whole world in His hands' (Come and Praise, 19)