Celebrating Creativity
The 2022 Commonwealth Games runs from 28 July to 8 August
by Janice Ross (revised, originally published in 2014)
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To encourage us to appreciate that we all have creative ability.
Preparation and materials
- You will need a means to record the children’s suggestions in the ‘Assembly’, Step 1.
- Have available an image of the creative team that will deliver the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the means to display it during the assembly. An image is available at: https://tinyurl.com/mvr7hw6a
- Further information about the 2022 Commonwealth Games is available at: https://www.birmingham2022.com/
Assembly
- Christians believe that God is a creative God who made people with many gifts and talents.
Ask the children, ‘How many creative talents can you think of?’
Make a list of the children’s suggestions.
Art, music, dance and sport will probably be among the first on the list, but encourage the children to consider that within these, there are many different talents.
Ensure that the children also identify creative talents such as hospitality (making people feel welcome), organizational skills, public speaking and so on. - Tell the children that the twenty-second Commonwealth Games is taking place in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August 2022.
- Identify sport as a creative talent that will be widely appreciated. Ask the children about their favourite sports.
Listen to a range of responses. - Preparations for these Games have been going on for several years.
Ask the children, ‘What creative talents are needed for such an event?’
Listen to a range of responses.
Answers might include organization, hospitality, route-planning, building work, technology, advertising, music, dance and so on. - Note that no single talent is more important than any of the others in the delivery of a successful and memorable Games.
- Show the image of the creative team that will deliver the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Explain that these people are in charge of delivering the opening and closing ceremonies for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The ceremonies provide an opportunity to showcase the best creativity and innovation in the West Midlands.
These four people are part of a group that is leading the showcase, but each member of the group will have a team full of many people. - There will be writers, dancers, choreographers, costume designers, technicians, advertisers and many more. Ask the children to imagine if one of the costume designers were to say, ‘I want to do the advertising,’ or if one of the technicians were to say, ‘I want to design the costumes.’
Listen to a range of responses.
Point out that we all have a tendency to think like this. We look at other people’s talents and personalities and wish that we were more like them. Wouldn’t it be great if we were happy with our own gifts? Everyone is made to be creative. Everyone has talent.
Time for reflection
The Bible talks about people being like parts of a body, where each part is equally important (1 Corinthians 12.12–26).
Ask the children, ‘What if the thumb said to the leg, “I’m not a leg, so I don’t belong to the body,” or “I’m not an eye, so I’m no use here”? What if the head said to the feet, “I don’t need you”?’
The Commonwealth Games would never happen if the thousands of talented people involved took that attitude!
So, what are our creative talents? Let’s be grateful for them, celebrate them and realize that they are unique to each one of us.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for big events such as the Commonwealth Games.
Thank you that they give people the opportunity to use their gifts and talents.
Thank you for creative talent and teamwork.
We ask for the Games to be a success, both for those taking part and for all the excited spectators.
Please help us to realize the importance of teamwork.
Amen.
Extension activities
- Research the 2022 Commonwealth Games. You could start by finding out how many sports will be included and how many countries will take part.
- You could form a team to set up a Commonwealth Games Day for your school.
