In and on God’s Hands

God will always remember to care for us

by Revd Catherine Williams (revised, originally published in 2005)

Suitable for Whole School (Pri) - Church Schools

Aims

To consider that we are all known individually by God and are safe in God’s hands.

Preparation and materials

• You will need some washable felt-tip pens in different colours.

Assembly

1. Ask the children if they have ever written on their hand in pen. (Assure them that telling you won’t get them into trouble!) Ask them if they have something written on their hands right now. Ask what kind of things they have written on their hands, such as spellings and phone numbers.
   
   
2. Explain that you want to find out how many names can be written on the palm of one of your hands.
   
   
3. Choose some volunteers to write their name on one of your hands - use different coloured pens and a mixture of children of different ages and staff until the palm of your hand is full. Count the number of names that you have managed to fit on your hand and tell the children.
   
   
4. Next, read out this verse from the Bible (Isaiah 49.16): ‘See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.’
   
   Explain that the Bible says that all of us are written on the palms of God’s hands. Many people believe that God knows every person in the whole world by name, and our names are written on his hands so that he will never let us go - we will always be safe with God. And this doesn’t only apply to us, but to all the people who have ever been and who will ever be.
   
   
5. Christians believe that this shows us just how enormous God must be, but also how much he still cares for each of us as individuals. He knows each of us by name and loves us. Isn’t that an amazing thought?

Time for reflection

Ask the children to sit quietly and look at the palms of their hands while you say the following words.

My hands can clap.
My hands can write.
My hands can catch
And hold things tight.

My hands can wave.
My hands can drum.
My hands can greet
- welcome everyone.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that our names are written on the palm of your hand.
Help us to remember that you love us and will never let us go.
Amen.

Song/music

‘He’s got the whole world’ (Come and Praise, 19)