Searching for God

An assembly from the Culham St Gabriel archive

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To encourage us to think about and discover new things about God.

Preparation and materials

• You will need the word ‘DISCOVERY’ displayed vertically, and the means to add words to it during the assembly.

• You will also need a dictionary.

Assembly

1. Ask the children what the word ‘discovery’ means. You may wish to record their ideas, which may include ‘finding out’, ‘questions’, ‘asking’, ‘exciting’ and ‘something new to be found by exploration’.

2. Ask for a volunteer to look up the word ‘discovery’ in a dictionary and read out its meaning.

3. Ask the children to think about discoveries that people have made in the past in history, medicine, nature or places. You could lead on to archaeological finds, hidden civilizations and maybe even treasure. Explain that people need the correct tools if they are going to carry out archaeological digs.

4. Point out that Christians believe that God is a treasure waiting to be discovered. They believe that God can be found in many ways and in many places if we use the correct tools.

5. Show the children the vertical word ‘DISCOVERY’.
   
   Ask the children if they can think of a word for each letter that helps us remember how we can find out more about God or about other things. Leave the ‘Y’ until you have discussed the ways of finding out listed by the other letters.
   
   - Detect
   - Investigate
   - Search
   - Check
   - Observe
   - View
   - Enquire
   - Read
   - Y

Time for reflection

We can find out more about God by asking questions, reading the Bible, talking to people about him and searching for him in the natural and beautiful world we live in. He is all around us if we look and let him show us how great he is.

All of the words listed are useful in our search to discover God, but the most important is still empty . . . the ‘Y’.

Add the word ‘Yourself’.

Most important in our search for God is the delight of discovering him for ourselves and finding out how much he loves us.

Prayer
Dear God,
Help us to see your wonder in the beauty of the world.
Help us to ask questions and to search out answers.
Help us to discover your greatness and share in your love.
Amen.

Follow-up ideas

Find out about famous people who have made great discoveries, such as pioneers, explorers, scientists and doctors.

Find some stories or passages in the Bible that tell you about God.

Ask people to visit school to discuss what they have discovered about God, and how they know and feel about him.