Always There
We need not fear
by Alison Groves
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To encourage us to trust in God in difficult situations.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Always There) and the means to display them.
- Have available the YouTube video ‘Daniel and the Lions’ Den – Friends and Heroes’ and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 3.48 minutes long and is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8tXENptCSo
- Optional: you may wish to play the song ‘You need not fear’ by Big Ministries, in which case you will also need the means to do so. It is 4.50 minutes long and is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw4oKy6suTo
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Ask the children to look at the pictures and work out what they might have in common.
Listen to a range of responses. - Explain that the pictures show things that people might be afraid of: snakes, speaking in front of people, spiders, hospitals, the dark, clowns, not understanding schoolwork, dogs, heights and flying.
Point out that some people don’t find these things frightening at all whereas others are frightened by at least one of them.
Talk through the examples. You may wish to discuss further ones with the children. - Show Slides 2-5 in turn.
For each slide, ask the children to spot which fear has disappeared. (On Slide 2, the snake is missing; on Slide 3, the clown is missing; on Slide 4, the image showing a fear of heights is missing; and on Slide 5, the image showing a fear of hospitals is missing.) - Explain that you are going to show the children a video about someone in the Bible who was brave despite being very frightened.
Show the YouTube video ‘Daniel and the Lions’ Den – Friends and Heroes’. - Explain that even though Daniel knew that continuing to follow God meant that he would face the lions, he continued to pray. Daniel trusted God and the lions didn’t harm him.
Time for reflection
The story of Daniel and the lions’ den reminds us of the importance of standing up for what is right. Christians believe that the story also teaches us that God is with us in every situation, no matter how tough it may seem.
Encourage the children to reflect on their present circumstances. They might be starting a new school or a new class. They may have moved to a different town or their best friend might have moved away. They might be afraid of many things.
Encourage the children to speak to someone about their fears. Suggest that they consider how God knows their situation and is always with them.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that you are always with us, watching over us, right by our side,
No matter what may be happening in our lives.
Thank you that we can always trust you.
Thank you that there are always people we can talk to.
Thank you that you always listen.
Amen.
Song/music
‘You need not fear’ by Big Ministries, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw4oKy6suTo (4.50 minutes long)
