The Biggest and Best Gift in the World

The gift of love is the best gift of all

by Janice Ross

Suitable for Whole School (Pri) - Church Schools

Aims

To consider that the gift of love is greater than any other gift. (This assembly could be used for a Christmas service.)

Preparation and materials

• You will need a leader and two readers. One reader will play the part of the shopkeeper and the other will play the part of the customer.

• You will need four boxes varying in size from a small chocolate box to a box for an appliance such as a washing machine or fridge.

• You will also need an image of the Nativity and the means to show it during the assembly. An example is available at: http://tinyurl.com/h2zusft

Assembly

Leader: As Christmas approaches, everyone starts to think about buying presents. The shops are full of ideas. It is not always easy to choose the right gifts, but perhaps this little play will help.

The shopkeeper is standing behind a table when the customer enters.

Shopkeeper: How may I help you?

Customer: Good morning. I need a box to send a Christmas parcel. I was wondering if you had any old boxes.

Shopkeeper: I certainly do. The recycling doesn’t get collected until next Wednesday and we’ve had so many supplies coming in for Christmas that we have loads of spare boxes! Let me see what I have.

The shopkeeper brings out a small box, perhaps one that has had chocolates in it.

Shopkeeper: I wonder what might have been in this.

Leader: Ask the children for suggestions as to what might have been taken out of this box.

Customer: Thank you, that is a really useful box, but I’m afraid I’m looking for something bigger for my present.

Shopkeeper: OK. How about this one?

The shopkeeper brings out a slightly bigger box, perhaps a shoebox.

Shopkeeper: How about this one? Now, what might I have taken out of this one?

Leader: Allow the children to make some suggestions.

Customer (shaking head): Thank you, that’s a really good box, too, but no, it’s still too small.

The shopkeeper brings out a bigger box.

Shopkeeper: What about this one? It’s a good, sturdy box. I wonder what might have been in this one.

Leader: Allow the children to make some suggestions.

Customer: I’m so sorry, but it’s still too small.

Shopkeeper: This must be a massive present you’re sending! But I always aim to please! OK, I think I have the very thing you’re looking for. This is my biggest box.

The shopkeeper brings out the biggest box available.

Shopkeeper: I wonder what might have been in this one.

Leader: Allow the children to make some suggestions.

Customer: I’m sorry, I feel really bad saying this, but it’s still not big enough!

Shopkeeper (looking exasperated): OK, can you tell me what size of box you have in mind? How wide has it got to be? Maybe the children could help us.

Leader: Invite some children to come to the front. Ask them to join hands and stretch out across the room.

Shopkeeper: Would you like it this wide, perhaps?

Customer (shaking head): Actually, it would need to be a lot wider than this room.

Shopkeeper: Oh, right! And what about height?

Leader: Invite a child to come forward and stretch up tall on their toes.

Customer: Well, actually, I’d need it a lot higher than that.

Leader: Invite an adult to come forward and stretch up tall on their toes.

Shopkeeper: What about this height?

Customer: No, it needs to be higher! Oh yes, I forgot to say: this gift is for everyone in the world . . . so I’m going to need a lot of boxes!

Shopkeeper: May I ask what the present is?

Customer: Well, I wonder if any of the children can help you with that.

Shopkeeper: What is a gift that can be spread to everyone in the world?

Customer: A gift that actually won’t fit in any box, but is more important than all of the presents we will receive this Christmas . . .

Shopkeeper: A gift that we especially think about at Christmastime.

Leader: Listen to a range of responses.

The gift that the customer is speaking about is the gift of love. Christmas is a time when we give presents to the people we care about. It is a time when we especially enjoy being in the company of those people whom we love and who love us. However, Christmas is also a time to think about the wider world and to consider how we can show love to those in need.

Time for reflection

Christians believe that Christmas is a special time to remember that God showed his love to the world by sending baby Jesus. They believe that Jesus is God’s son sent from heaven.

Show an image of the Nativity, available at: http://tinyurl.com/h2zusft

Prayer
Dear God,
We thank you for the gift of Jesus.
Thank you that you love us.
Thank you that you show us your love.
Please help us to show love this Christmastime.
Amen.

Song/music

Any Christmas song.