Hide and Seek

Can you find Wally?

by Rachael Crisp

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To reflect upon the Christian belief that God sees us and knows us. 

Preparation and materials

• You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Hide and Seek) and the means to display them.
  
  
• Have available the YouTube video ‘Hideandseek’ and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 1.19 minutes long and is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRAkdEHVCEk&app=desktop
  
  
• Note: this assembly uses a few verses from Psalm 139. You may wish to read the whole psalm with older children. It is available at: https://tinyurl.com/n67wf2h

Assembly

1. Ask the children whether they enjoy playing hide-and-seek.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   Ask one of the children to explain the rules of the game. Ask the children to describe their best ever hiding place.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
2. Ask the children whether they have heard of the Where’s Wally books. Ask them to explain what the books are and why they like them.
   
   
3. Explain that the following video shows someone who is dressed as Wally hiding somewhere. Ask the children to watch carefully and point as soon as they see where Wally is hiding.
   
   Show the YouTube video ‘Hideandseek’.
   
   
4. Ask the children whether any of them have ever been lost.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
5. Point out that although playing hide-and-seek can be great fun because we know that people are close by and we will only be hidden for a short time, getting lost can be frightening.
   
   
6. Christians believe that although they may sometimes appear to be on their own with no other people around, God is always with them.
   
   Christians believe that the Bible teaches that we cannot hide from God. He sees everything because he is everywhere. There is nothing and no one that he cannot see.
   
   
7. King David is known to have been a powerful king. We first come across David as a shepherd boy who looks after his father’s sheep, but later in the story, he becomes a great king. David used to write poems and songs about how he was feeling. Some of these are found in the Bible in a book called Psalms.
   
   
8. Show Slide 1 and read out the words there.
   
   Ask the children how these words might fit in with the theme of hide-and-seek.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
9. Point out that in the video we watched earlier, Wally thought he could hide – but we found him! In a game of hide-and-seek, we are usually found.
   
   In this psalm, David explains that God sees us and is familiar with everything we do – even sitting down and standing up!
   
   
10. Show Slide 2 and read out the words there.
    
    Explain that David knew that wherever he was and whatever he was doing and feeling, God saw him and was with him. He could not hide from God because God could see him and still loved him. When David was good, God saw him and loved him. When David did something bad, God saw him and loved him. When David was happy or sad, God saw him and loved him.
    
    Christians believe that, just like David, we cannot hide from God. He sees us when we are in a room full of people and when we are by ourselves. He sees us when it is light or when it is dark; he sees us wherever we go in the world. Knowing this gave David a lot of comfort.
    
    
11. Show Slide 3 and read out the words there.
    
    Explain that David believed that because God saw him all the time, he could tell him any of his worries and concerns and God would always listen to him.

Time for reflection

Remind the children that people all over the world read Psalm 139 and seek reassurance and comfort from it. The psalm tells us that God sees everything, knows everything and cares about us very much.

Tell the children that you are going to ask them some questions that you want them to consider.

- Is there something that is worrying you today?

Pause to allow time for thought.

Remind the children that if we are worried or sad, it is really important to speak to someone about it.

- Do you ever feel lonely or without friends?

Pause to allow time for thought.

Remind the children that although it is wonderful that God sees us all the time, it is also important to speak to someone if we feel lonely or are struggling with our friends.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that you always see us and always care for us.
Thank you that when we experience hard times, you are there with us; that you guide us and look after us during these times.
Please help us to care for others.
Please help us to notice when other people are sad or lonely.
Amen.